# Virginia SB161: Health insurance; limit on cost-sharing payments for prescription drugs under certain plans.

Virginia SB161, Health insurance; limit on cost-sharing payments for prescription drugs under certain plans., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Russet Perry (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0642)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB161-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB161
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Health insurance; limit on cost-sharing payments for prescription drugs under certain plans.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-07
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0642)
- Sponsor: Russet Perry (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 11 (302 yes, 125 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Health insurance; limit on cost-sharing payments for prescription drugs under certain plans. Requires each carrier that offers a health plan in either the individual or small group market to ensure that at least one health plan in each of the bronze, silver, gold, and platinum levels of coverage in each rating area in the individual and small group market conform with the following: (i) a plan that offers a platinum level of coverage shall limit a person's cost-sharing payment for prescription drugs covered under the plan to an amount that does not exceed $150 per 30-day supply of the prescription drug; (ii) a plan that offers a gold level of coverage shall limit a person's cost-sharing payment for prescription drugs covered under the plan to an amount that does not exceed $200 per 30-day supply of the prescription drug; (iii) a plan that offers a silver level of coverage shall limit a person's cost-sharing payment for prescription drugs covered under the plan to an amount that does not exceed $250 per 30-day supply of the prescription drug; and (iv) a plan that offers a bronze level of coverage shall limit a person's cost-sharing payment for prescription drugs covered under the plan to an amount that does not exceed $300 per 30-day supply of the prescription drug. The bill requires that any plans offered to meet its requirements are (a) clearly and appropriately named to aid the consumer or plan sponsor in the plan selection process and (b) marketed in the same manner as other plans offered by the carrier. The bill's provisions apply to any individual or group accident and sickness insurance policy, any individual or group accident and sickness subscription contract, and any health care plan for health care services delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in the Commonwealth on or after January 1, 2028. This bill is identical to HB 625.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Insurers must offer capped-cost plans: benefit, medium. Beginning January 1, 2028, insurers that sell individual or small-group coverage must offer at least one plan per metal level with the drug caps in every rating area. These plans are clearly named and marketed like other plans so you can find them. They do not count against any plan-option limits.
- Lower drug costs in individual and small-group plans: benefit, medium. Beginning January 1, 2028, some individual and small-group plans cap what you pay at the pharmacy for a 30-day supply. Caps are: platinum $150, gold $200, silver $250, bronze $300. The cap applies each time you fill a 30-day supply, before and after any deductible. These caps apply only in plans th…
- HSA plans keep status, caps delayed: mixed, low. If applying the drug caps would make a plan lose HSA-qualified high-deductible status, the caps start only after you meet the federal minimum deductible. This preserves your ability to use an HSA. This rule applies starting January 1, 2028.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Russet Perry (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-10 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 63 | 33 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 38 | 2 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Senate acceded to request Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-26 | Senate | House substitute rejected by Senate | fail | 0 | 40 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | House | Passed House with substitute | pass | 64 | 34 |   |
| 2026-02-19 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute | pass | 14 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 34 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Commerce and Labor Amendment agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendment | pass | 9 | 4 |   |

## Actions (42)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0642) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 642 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB161ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Conference report agreed to by House (63-Y 33-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-09: Conference report agreed to by Senate (38-Y 2-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Conference Report released
- 2026-03-05: House Conferees: Henson, Ward, McLaughlin (House)
- 2026-03-05: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2026-03-03: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB161) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Senate Conferees: Perry, Rouse, Stanley (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: House requested conference committee (House)
- 2026-02-27: House insisted on substitute (House)
- 2026-02-26: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Passed House with substitute (64-Y 34-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-24: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-24: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-24: Read third time (House)
- 2026-02-23: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-19: Committee substitute printed 26108163D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-19: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (14-Y 6-N) (House)
- 2026-02-12: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House)
- 2026-02-12: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-12: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-06: Read third time and passed Senate (34-Y 6-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Commerce and Labor Amendment agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendment (9-Y 4-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-01-25: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB161) (Senate)
- 2026-01-07: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor (Senate)
- 2026-01-07: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101280D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221446.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221445.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209905.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209904.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2026-03-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1205276.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-03-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1198607.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1198606.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2026-03-10: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1198610.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-02-19: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1170839.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1170838.PDF)
- Engrossed, 2026-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128602.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128601.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1113409.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-01-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096909.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083589.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083588.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221446.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221445.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209905.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209904.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1205276.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1198607.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1198606.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1198610.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1170839.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1170838.PDF)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128602.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128601.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1113409.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1096909.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083589.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083588.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB161-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).