VirginiaHB7962026 Regular SessionHouse

Regulatory boards; adjustment of fees, recovery of disciplinary and monitoring costs, report.

Sponsored By: Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31 (Republican)

Became Law

Summary

Professions and occupations; adjustment of fees by regulatory boards; recovery of disciplinary and monitoring costs. Repeals the provision of law that requires, following the close of any biennium, when the account for any regulatory board within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) shows revenue to be a certain percentage greater than expenses, such regulatory board to distribute excess revenue to current regulants and reduce its licensure or certification fees so that fees are sufficient but not excessive to cover expenses. The bill also repeals the provision with respect to the Department of Health Professions (DHP) that requires, following the close of any biennium, when the account for any regulatory board shows expenses allocated to it for the past biennium to be a certain percentage greater than moneys collected by the board, the board to revise its fees so that such fees are sufficient but not excessive to cover expenses. The bill makes it permissive for the regulatory boards within DPOR and DHP to annually revise the fees levied by it for certification, licensure, registration, or permit and renewal so that the fees are sufficient but not excessive to cover expenses. Regulatory boards are also permitted to recover reasonable administrative costs associated with investigation, disciplinary proceedings, monitoring, and confirming compliance with any terms and conditions imposed from any person who is (i) licensed, registered, certified, or issued a multistate licensure privilege by any regulatory or health regulatory board and (ii) issued a finding of a violation of law or regulation from such regulatory or health regulatory board. Such administrative costs shall not exceed $500 for regulatory boards within DPOR and $1,500 for health regulatory boards within DHP.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Licensing boards can bill violators

If a board finds you violated rules, it can charge you for its administrative costs. Health boards can charge up to $1,500 per matter. Other boards can charge up to $500 per matter. Boards must publish a cost schedule before charging. These charges go to the board’s account and are not fines.

More oversight of licensing fee changes

Boards can change fee rules using a faster process, but must give at least 30 days’ notice, publish the proposal and evidence, and hold a public hearing. After fee changes, the department reports these changes to the House and Senate appropriations chairs by November 1, 2026, and every year after. Health board fee money stays in a special fund and can only pay health boards, the monitoring program, and the department, with limited exceptions.

Licensing fees kept close to costs

After each two-year period, DPOR boards must return any extra money if their surplus is over $100,000 or over 20% of past expenses. Boards may change fees when expenses and collections differ by more than 10%, and may adjust amounts up to 1.5 times inflation since the last fee. A board cannot raise fees unless recent and expected costs show a real need. Starting July 1, 2028, most boards cannot keep reserves larger than the last renewal cycle’s spending; the Board of Medicine is exempt.

One code section is repealed

The law repeals Virginia Code § 54.1-2708.2. The text here does not explain what that section did.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 410 • No: 89

Senate vote 4/22/2026

Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation

Yes: 39 • No: 0

House vote 4/22/2026

House concurred in Governor's recommendation

Yes: 67 • No: 33

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote 3/4/2026

Senate substitute agreed to by House

Yes: 69 • No: 26

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/3/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/25/2026

Reported from General Laws and Technology and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations Block Vote

Yes: 15 • No: 0

House vote 2/17/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 68 • No: 28

House vote 2/11/2026

Reported from Appropriations with substitute

Yes: 20 • No: 2

House vote 2/11/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

Yes: 7 • No: 0

House vote 2/3/2026

Reported from General Laws with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote 1/29/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026Senate
  2. House concurred in Governor's recommendation (67-Y 33-N 0-A)

    4/22/2026House
  3. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1071)

    4/22/2026Governor
  4. Reenrolled bill text (HB796ER2)

    4/22/2026House
  5. Reenrolled

    4/22/2026House
  6. Approved by Governor-Chapter 1071 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/22/2026Governor
  7. Signed by President

    4/22/2026Senate
  8. Signed by Speaker

    4/22/2026House
  9. Governor's recommendation adopted

    4/22/2026Governor
  10. Governor's recommendation received by House

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

    3/14/2026Governor
  12. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    3/14/2026House
  13. Signed by Speaker

    3/12/2026House
  14. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB796)

    3/11/2026House
  15. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB796ER)

    3/11/2026House
  16. Enrolled

    3/11/2026House
  17. Signed by President

    3/11/2026Senate
  18. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB796)

    3/9/2026House
  19. Senate substitute agreed to by House (69-Y 26-N 0-A)

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

    3/4/2026Senate
  21. Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

    3/4/2026Senate
  22. Committee substitute printed 26109027D-S1

    3/4/2026Senate
  23. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    3/4/2026Senate
  24. Read third time

    3/4/2026Senate
  25. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/3/2026Senate

Bill Text

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