VirginiaHB752026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Medical marijuana; administration to terminally ill patients.

Sponsored By: Karen Keys-Gamarra (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Medical cannabis; administration to terminally ill patients; report. Directs the Department of Health to promulgate regulations specifying that hospital staff may store, dispense, and administer cannabis oil when a patient has valid certification and exempts such staff from criminal penalties for possession of cannabis oil. The bill directs the Department of Health to convene a work group to discuss the implementation process for providing cannabis products to patients in medical care facilities and report on its discussion to the Chairs of the House Committee on Health and Human Services and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by November 1, 2026. This bill incorporates HB 486. This bill is identical to SB 332.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

11 provisions identified: 11 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Emergency room security and 24/7 doctor

Hospitals with emergency rooms must have a licensed physician on duty and present at all times. They must create a security plan based on a risk assessment, which may include an off-duty police officer or trained security; the health commissioner can grant a waiver if a different level is appropriate. In emergencies, staff can take verbal orders, but the clinician must sign within 72 hours or another authorized doctor must co-sign.

Naloxone access and substance-use care plans

Emergency departments must use protocols to screen, plan follow-up care, and may give or prescribe naloxone at discharge. Hospitals may work with the state health department to provide naloxone to uninsured patients. For postpartum women identified with substance use, hospitals must create a written discharge plan and notify the community services board to manage it.

Nursing home family contact and refunds

If a family council asks, the facility must send family notices up to six times a year. Nursing homes must disclose their admissions policies to applicants. After discharge or death, the facility must refund unspent patient funds within 30 days of a written request, not including entrance fees. During a COVID-19 public health emergency, residents must be allowed at least one visit every 10 days unless the patient or representative declines.

Nursing home health and safety rules

Residents must be offered a yearly flu shot and a pneumococcal shot, unless it is unsafe or they refuse. Facilities must train mandated reporters on how to report adult abuse and the penalties for not reporting. Before longer stays, facilities must check if a potential resident is on the sex offender registry. Each facility must carry at least $1,000,000 in general liability per occurrence and professional liability at least equal to the state recovery limit per patient occurrence.

Stronger state standards and emergency capacity

The Board must align hospital and nursing home rules with federal Medicare and Medicaid standards. It sets minimum rules for construction, staffing, infection control, disaster plans, and facility security. The Board can license by bed count and by service type. During declared disasters or emergency orders, facilities may add temporary beds without a new license for the order period plus 30 days if they can safely staff them.

Clear notices on therapy and air transport

Before elective surgery, hospitals must tell you if you will likely need outpatient physical therapy and ensure you pick a therapy provider before you leave. If you do not have an emergency medical condition, the hospital must warn you in writing before arranging air transport that you may choose ground transport and that you may owe charges if the air provider is out-of-network or not covered.

Cannabis oil allowed in care facilities

Authorized hospital, nursing home, hospice, and assisted living staff may store, dispense, and give cannabis oil to patients who have a valid state certification. The law gives these staff criminal immunity for this work. This lets certified patients keep using their medicine while in a facility.

Hospital patient rights and visitor access

Hospitals must give you a copy of your patient rights when you are admitted. As an adult patient, you can choose who visits you, unless safety or medical limits apply. Facilities must also allow patients to use their own smart assistant devices under HIPAA-safe policies.

Rules for labor and psychiatric admissions

Hospitals that offer obstetric care must have a protocol to admit or transfer any woman who arrives in labor. Hospitals with inpatient psychiatric units must use a clear refusal protocol, including direct doctor-to-doctor communication. If toxicology results raise questions about stability, the on-call doctor must speak with a toxicology expert if asked.

Hospital workplace violence reporting and safety

Hospitals must run a workplace-violence reporting system, tell all employees how to use it, and ban retaliation against reporters. Hospitals must keep incident records for at least two years, report data each quarter to clinical leaders, and send a de-identified annual summary to the health department.

Standards for neonatal care and donation

The state sets levels for neonatal care based on staff, ratios, equipment, and protocols. Hospitals must also follow organ donation rules, have agreements with an organ procurement group, a tissue bank, and an eye bank, notify them quickly, and train staff.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Karen Keys-Gamarra

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 388 • No: 98

House vote 3/11/2026

Conference report agreed to by House

Yes: 95 • No: 1

Senate vote 3/11/2026

Conference report agreed to by Senate

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/6/2026

Senate insisted on amendments Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

House vote 3/4/2026

Senate substitute rejected by House

Yes: 2 • No: 94

Senate vote 3/2/2026

Education and Health Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/2/2026

Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/27/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/27/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Reported from Education and Health with substitute

Yes: 14 • No: 0

House vote 2/17/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 95 • No: 1

House vote 2/12/2026

Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute

Yes: 18 • No: 2 • Other: 1

House vote 2/10/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

Yes: 7 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0555)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 555 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/13/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB75)

    4/1/2026House
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026House
  6. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  7. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB75ER)

    3/30/2026House
  8. Enrolled

    3/30/2026House
  9. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  10. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB75)

    3/19/2026House
  11. Conference report agreed to by House (95-Y 1-N 0-A)

    3/11/2026House
  12. Conference report agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/11/2026Senate
  13. Conference Report released

    3/11/2026
  14. House Conferees: Keys-Gamarra, Laufer, Kent

    3/10/2026House
  15. Conferees appointed by House

    3/10/2026House
  16. Conferees appointed by Senate

    3/10/2026Senate
  17. Senate Conferees: Favola, Bagby, Head

    3/10/2026Senate
  18. House acceded to request

    3/9/2026House
  19. Senate insisted on amendments Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/6/2026Senate
  20. Senate requested conference committee

    3/6/2026Senate
  21. Senate substitute rejected by House (2-Y 94-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026House
  22. Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/2/2026Senate
  23. Education and Health Substitute agreed to

    3/2/2026Senate
  24. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    3/2/2026Senate
  25. Read third time

    3/2/2026Senate

Bill Text

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