VirginiaSB2912026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Health, State Board of, regulations; standards for levels of neonatal care.

Sponsored By: Lashrecse D. Aird (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

State Board of Health regulations; standards for levels of neonatal care. Directs the State Board of Health to establish standards for designation of care in neonatal services consistent with, but not necessarily identical to, standards published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The bill directs the Board of Health to promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of the bill by July 1, 2027, and prohibits enforcement of such regulations until July 1, 2029. This bill is identical to HB 456.

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

15 provisions identified: 14 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Clearer notices before transport or discharge

Before a non‑emergency air medical transfer, the hospital must give you written or electronic notice that you may choose the transporter and that you may owe charges if it is out‑of‑network or not covered. If you have elective surgery and will likely need outpatient physical therapy, the hospital must tell you and have you pick a therapy provider before you go home. These rules start July 1, 2029.

More protections for nursing home residents

Nursing homes must carry at least $1,000,000 in general liability per occurrence and professional liability at least equal to the legal recovery cap per patient occurrence, with proof at license renewal. Homes must refund any unspent patient funds within 30 days of a written request after discharge or death (some entrance fees are excluded). Homes must disclose admissions policies, train mandated reporters on elder abuse, and offer flu and pneumococcal vaccines unless declined or medically unsafe. Homes must register for nearby sex‑offender alerts and check the registry before admission when a stay is expected to be over three days (or becomes so). If a family council asks, the home must send council notices up to six times a year. During a COVID‑19 emergency, homes must follow visitation plans and ensure at least one visit every 10 days unless the resident or representative limits it. Staff may store and give cannabis oil for residents with a valid certification. All rules start July 1, 2029.

Safer ERs and better overdose care

Hospitals with emergency rooms must keep a Virginia‑licensed doctor on site at all times. They must run a risk‑based security plan, with trained security or an off‑duty officer if the assessment shows it is needed. Urine drug screens done in the ER to help diagnose must include fentanyl. ERs must have a plan to treat and discharge people with substance‑use emergencies, including screening, referrals, and giving or prescribing naloxone. Hospitals may allow emergency verbal orders, but the prescriber must sign within 72 hours. If a psychiatric unit refuses an admission, doctors must speak directly, and consult poison control when requested. All rules start July 1, 2029.

Second opinions on life-sustaining treatment

Hospitals that provide life‑sustaining treatment must have a policy to review whether proposed care is medically and ethically appropriate. The policy must allow a second opinion, committee review, and a written explanation in the medical record. Patients or decision‑makers must be told how to get records, seek an independent opinion, and pursue legal options. To seek reconsideration, a written notice to the hospital CEO is due within 14 days. Starts July 1, 2029.

Standards for labor, birth, and newborns

Hospitals that offer obstetric care must have a written plan for admitting or transferring women in labor. They must also have stillbirth policies that cover counseling and care, following state guidelines. The Board sets standards to label hospitals by neonatal care levels, aligned with national guidance, including staffing, equipment, and protocols. Hospitals must make written discharge plans for identified substance‑using postpartum women and their infants, record referrals, involve family when possible, and notify the community services board as required. All changes start July 1, 2029.

Stronger patient visitation and information rights

Hospitals must give you a written list of your rights and responsibilities at admission. Adult patients may receive visits from any person they choose, subject to medical and capacity limits. During a declared communicable‑disease emergency, hospitals and similar facilities must allow clergy visits under safety rules and may use virtual visits. Facilities must allow patients to use smart assistants, while protecting privacy under HIPAA. If a hospital lets minors see records online, it must also give a parent or guardian access unless the law blocks sharing or consent is missing. All start July 1, 2029.

Hospital workplace violence reporting and data

Every hospital must set up a system for staff to report workplace violence and must forbid retaliation. Hospitals must keep reports at least two years and include required details like date, time, location, incident type, and response. They must share data each quarter with the chief medical and nursing officers and send a de‑identified annual report to the Department of Health. Starts July 1, 2029.

More temporary beds during disasters

During certain disasters or emergency orders, hospitals and nursing homes may add temporary beds without a new license if they can safely staff. The exemption lasts for the disaster or emergency order period plus 30 days. This helps expand capacity during evacuations or bed shortages. Starts July 1, 2029.

Cleaner surgeries and safer clotting factors

Hospitals that do surgeries must require smoke‑evacuation systems for planned procedures likely to create surgical smoke. Facilities that treat people with hemophilia and stock clotting factors must record product lot numbers and, if a lot is found contaminated, notify the patient’s doctor and ask the doctor to notify the patient. Starts July 1, 2029.

Hospitals and nursing homes can run day centers

Licensed hospitals, nursing homes, and certified nursing facilities can operate adult day centers if they get the proper license. This gives caregivers and older adults more options for daytime care. The change takes effect July 1, 2029.

Naloxone access for uninsured patients

Hospitals may make agreements with the Department of Health to provide naloxone or other overdose‑reversal drugs to uninsured patients. The law allows access but does not itself pay for the medicine. Starts July 1, 2029.

Stronger hospital organ and tissue donation

Hospitals must follow federal rules on organ donation and have an agreement with a CMS‑designated organ procurement organization. They must also have access to at least one tissue bank and one eye bank and train staff who speak with families. Hospitals must work with the OPO to identify and maintain potential donors unless documented family opposition exists. Starts July 1, 2029.

Hospital and nursing home rules timeline to 2029

The Board of Health must issue rules by July 1, 2027. The law becomes enforceable on July 1, 2029. No penalties or enforcement apply before July 1, 2029 for not meeting regulations issued under this act. This schedule gives facilities time to prepare.

State sets hospital and nursing home standards

The State Board of Health sets rules for hospitals and nursing homes that match medical and public health standards and follow Medicare and Medicaid rules. The rules cover buildings, staffing, equipment, training, infection control, disaster plans, security, and some care given at home. The Board may classify and license facilities by specialty and by bed capacity. These rules take effect July 1, 2029.

License fees fund hospital inspections

The State Board of Health sets license fees for hospitals and nursing homes to pay for licensure and inspection. Fees can change no more than once a year and only when program costs and appropriations differ by more than 10% from operating needs. The Board analyzes hospitals and nursing homes separately. Starts July 1, 2029.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Lashrecse D. Aird

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 251 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2026

House substitute agreed to by Senate

Yes: 40 • No: 0

House vote 2/24/2026

Passed House with substitute Block Vote

Yes: 98 • No: 0

House vote 2/19/2026

Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute

Yes: 21 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/27/2026

Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/26/2026

Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/23/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/23/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/22/2026

Reported from Education and Health with amendment

Yes: 14 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0146)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 146 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/6/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/10/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    3/10/2026Senate
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB291)

    3/2/2026Senate
  6. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB291ER)

    3/2/2026Senate
  7. Enrolled

    3/2/2026Senate
  8. Signed by President

    3/2/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/2/2026House
  10. House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/26/2026Senate
  11. Passed House with substitute Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/24/2026House
  12. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    2/24/2026House
  13. committee substitute agreed to

    2/24/2026House
  14. Read third time

    2/24/2026House
  15. Read second time

    2/23/2026House
  16. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB291)

    2/20/2026Senate
  17. Committee substitute printed 26108254D-H1

    2/19/2026House
  18. Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute (21-Y 0-N)

    2/19/2026House
  19. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB291)

    2/13/2026Senate
  20. Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

    2/3/2026House
  21. Read first time

    2/3/2026House
  22. Placed on Calendar

    2/3/2026House
  23. Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    1/27/2026Senate
  24. Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    1/26/2026Senate
  25. Education and Health Amendment agreed to

    1/26/2026Senate

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation