VirginiaSB6302026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Health insurance; tobacco surcharge.

Sponsored By: Jennifer D. Carroll Foy (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Health insurance; tobacco surcharge. Eliminates the authority of a health carrier to vary its premium rates based on tobacco use. Under current law, a health carrier may charge premium rates up to 1.5 times higher for a tobacco user than for a nonuser. The provisions of the bill apply to health benefit plans providing individual or small group health insurance coverage entered into, amended, extended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 220.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Premium limits for individual and small-group plans

Insurers can set premiums only by four things: individual vs. family, rating area, age, and tobacco use. Adult age rating is capped at 3 to 1. Tobacco surcharges are capped at 1.5 to 1. For family plans, the premium must be split by each covered member’s share. Beginning January 1, 2027, these rules apply to individual and small-group plans.

Public hearings and data on high-area rates

When a proposed area rate is over 15% above the market average, the insurer must post an unredacted filing with comparisons, methods, and claims data. The Commission must hold a public hearing before approving those rates. If the approved filing has any area rate over 25% above average, the insurer must publish quarterly enrollment, premium, and claims reports within 45 days after each quarter. The Commission cannot approve filings with 15%+ gaps between individual and small-group plans using the same network if the methods differ. The law also sets clear definitions for the reported data. These rules apply to plans entered or renewed on or after January 1, 2027.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 196 • No: 13

House vote 2/24/2026

Passed House

Yes: 85 • No: 13

House vote 2/19/2026

Reported from Labor and Commerce

Yes: 20 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/30/2026

Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/29/2026

Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/28/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/28/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/26/2026

Reported from Commerce and Labor

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0035)

    3/31/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 35 (effective 7/1/2026)

    3/31/2026Governor
  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 State Corporation Commission (SB630)

    3/2/2026Senate
  6. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB630ER)

    2/26/2026Senate
  7. Enrolled

    2/26/2026Senate
  8. Signed by President

    2/26/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    2/26/2026House
  10. Passed House (85-Y 13-N 0-A)

    2/24/2026House
  11. Read third time

    2/24/2026House
  12. Read second time

    2/23/2026House
  13. Reported from Labor and Commerce (20-Y 0-N)

    2/19/2026House
  14. Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB630)

    2/17/2026Senate
  15. Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

    2/4/2026House
  16. Read first time

    2/4/2026House
  17. Placed on Calendar

    2/4/2026House
  18. Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (38-Y 0-N 0-A)

    1/30/2026Senate
  19. Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    1/29/2026Senate
  20. Read second time

    1/29/2026Senate
  21. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    1/28/2026Senate
  22. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    1/28/2026Senate
  23. Passed by for the day

    1/28/2026Senate
  24. Rules suspended

    1/28/2026Senate
  25. Reported from Commerce and Labor (13-Y 0-N)

    1/26/2026Senate

Bill Text

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