# Virginia SB1359: Health carriers and pharmacy benefits managers; prohibited conduct, civil penalty.

Virginia SB1359, Health carriers and pharmacy benefits managers; prohibited conduct, civil penalty., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Kannan Srinivasan (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-01-27 (Failed to report (defeated) in Commerce and Labor (5-Y 9-N 1-A)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1359-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB1359
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Health carriers and pharmacy benefits managers; prohibited conduct, civil penalty.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-13
- Last action: 2025-01-27, Failed to report (defeated) in Commerce and Labor (5-Y 9-N 1-A)
- Sponsor: Kannan Srinivasan (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Commerce and Labor
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (5 yes, 9 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Prohibited conduct by health carriers and pharmacy benefits managers; civil penalty; enforcement. Prohibits any carrier, pharmacy benefits manager, or representative of a pharmacy benefits manager from (i) requiring that a covered individual purchase pharmacy services exclusively through a mail-order pharmacy or retail pharmacy affiliated with a pharmacy benefits manager or (ii) prohibiting or limiting a covered individual from selecting a pharmacy or pharmacist of his choice that has agreed to participate in the health benefit plan according to the terms of the plan. The bill adds a civil penalty of $5,000 for a violation of prohibited conduct by health carriers and pharmacy benefits managers and adds that the State Corporation Commission has authority to investigate any such violations.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Kannan Srinivasan (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-01-27 | Senate | Failed to report (defeated) in Commerce and Labor | fail | 5 | 9 | 1 |

## Actions (4)

- 2025-01-27: Failed to report (defeated) in Commerce and Labor (5-Y 9-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2025-01-19: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB1359) (Senate)
- 2025-01-13: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate)
- 2025-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2025 25103353D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Substitute, 2025-01-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1030919.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1030918.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1019747.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1019746.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1030919.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1030918.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1019747.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1019746.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1359-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).