Legislative Update for VA Assn of Clinical Nurse Specialists
Friday March 7, 2025


BillPatronTitleSynopsisUpcoming HearingsStatus
HB 1582 H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. Pharmacists; Collaborative Agreements, Drug Therapy. Pharmacists; collaborative agreements; drug therapy. Specifies that collaborative agreements between pharmacists and other health care providers may include prescribing for the modification, continuation, or discontinuation of drug therapy. H Senate substitute agreed to by House (96-Y 0-N) (2/19)
HB 1903 Rodney T. Willett Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority; Virginia Nursing Workforce Center Established; Reporting And Monitoring Of Health Care Workforce Programs; Residency Slots; Work Group; Report. Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority; Virginia Nursing Workforce Center established; reporting and monitoring of health care workforce programs; residency slots; work group; report. Establishes the Virginia Nursing Workforce Center under the auspices of the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority (the Authority) for the purpose of working toward ensuring a quality nursing workforce for all Virginians. The bill also changes the name of the Virginia Health Care Career and Technical Training and Education Fund to the Virginia Health Workforce Innovation Fund and directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to amend its regulations to increase supplemental payments for qualifying residency slots from $100,000 to $160,000. The bill directs the Authority to convene work groups for the purpose of developing a long-term vision for the health workforce and to develop a plan to increase capacity for reporting and monitoring of health care workforce programs. H Left in Appropriations (2/4)
HB 2182 Nicholas J. Freitas Sage's Law; Minor Students Experiencing Gender Incongruence, Etc. Sage's Law; minor students experiencing gender incongruence; parental notification of certain requests and parental permission for certain plans required; parental care. Requires each public elementary or secondary school principal or his designee to (i) as soon as practicable, inform at least one parent of a minor student enrolled in such school if such minor requests that any such employee participate while at school in the social affirmation of such minor student's gender incongruence or the transition of such minor student to a sex or gender different from the minor's biological sex, as such terms are defined in the bill, and (ii) request and receive permission from at least one parent of a minor student enrolled at such school prior to the implementation at such school of any plan concerning any gender incongruence experienced by such minor, including any counseling of such minor at school. Any such plan shall include provision for parental participation to the extent requested by the parent. The bill also clarifies, in the definition of the term 'abused or neglected child,' that in no event shall referring to and raising the child in a manner consistent with the child's biological sex, including related mental health or medical decisions, be considered abuse or neglect. H Left in Education (2/4)
HB 2251 Michelle Lopes Maldonado International Licensure And Certification; Regulations. Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation; international licensure and certification; regulations. Directs the regulatory boards within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation to promulgate regulations allowing the issuance of a license or certification to any applicant who holds a comparable international license or certification issued by another country. This bill was incorporated into HB 1940. H Incorporated by General Laws (HB1940-Willett) (Voice Vote) (1/28)
HB 2269 Kathy K.L. Tran Hospitals; Reports Of Threats Or Acts Of Violence Against Health Care Providers. Hospitals; reports of threats or acts of violence against health care providers. Requires hospitals in the Commonwealth to establish a workplace violence incident reporting system to document, track, and analyze any incident of workplace violence reported. The bill requires each hospital to report the data collected via the reporting system (i) to the chief medical officer and the chief nursing officer of such hospital on, at minimum, a quarterly basis and (ii) to the Department of Health on an annual basis. The bill also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, in collaboration with the Department of Criminal Justice Services, to convene a stakeholder work group for the purpose of making recommendations on the workplace violence system and policies adopted pursuant to the bill. H Senate substitute agreed to by House (97-Y 0-N) (2/19)
HB 2307 M. Keith Hodges Prescription Monitoring Program; Requirements Of Practitioners, Pharmacy Technicians, Training Prog. Prescription Monitoring Program; requirements of practitioners; pharmacy technicians; training programs. Requires any prescriber of controlled substances approved for use in opioid addiction therapy to, prior to or as a part of execution of a treatment agreement with a patient, request information from the Director of the Department of Health Professions for the purpose of determining what, if any, other covered substances such patient is currently being prescribed. Under current law, only prescribers who hold a special identification number from the Drug Enforcement Administration authorizing the prescribing of controlled substances are required to request such information prior to or as a part of execution of a treatment agreement with a patient. The bill also adds training programs recognized by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or the National Healthcareer Association to the list of approved pharmacy technician training programs. S Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (2/18)
HB 2391 Mark D. Sickles Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists; Elimination Of Supervision Requirement. Certified registered nurse anesthetists; elimination of supervision requirement. Eliminates the requirement that certified registered nurse anesthetists must practice under the supervision of a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, or dentistry and instead requires them to practice in consultation with a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, or dentistry and in accordance with regulations jointly promulgated by the Board of Medicine and the Board of Nursing. H Left in Health and Human Services (2/5)
HB 2606 R. Lee Ware Education, Board Of; Regulations Relating To Special Education Due Process Hearings. Students with disabilities; due process hearings; certain complaints. Requires the Board of Education to amend its regulations relating to due process hearings for students with disabilities to provide that if a special education due process hearing officer determines that a due process hearing complaint contains substantially the same issues as a previously adjudicated due process complaint evidencing a clear pattern of initiating vexatious and repetitive litigation, the hearing officer may dismiss the complaint and report such abuse of the due process hearing system to the Virginia Department of Education. C Amended by conference committee (2/21)
SB 739 Mamie E. Locke Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists; Supervision, Report. Supervision of certified registered nurse anesthetists; work group; report. Clarifies that supervision of a certified registered nurse anesthetist requires that a licensed doctor of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, or dentistry is present during an operation or procedure or is immediately available to respond and provide patient care as needed. The bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, in collaboration with the Board of Medicine, Board of Nursing, and Department of Health Professions, to convene a work group of relevant stakeholders to evaluate and make recommendations to increase the anesthesia provider workforce in the Commonwealth. The bill requires the work group to report its recommendations to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Health and Human Services by November 1, 2025. S Stricken at request of Patron in Education and Health (15-Y 0-N) (1/30)
SB 743 Barbara A. Favola Reproductive Health Care Services; Prohibitions On Extradition For Certain Crimes. Reproductive health care services; prohibitions on extradition for certain crimes. Provides that no demand for extradition of a person charged with a criminal violation of law of another state shall be recognized by the Governor if such alleged violation involves the receipt or provision of or assistance with reproductive health care services, as defined in the bill, within the Commonwealth unless the alleged criminal violation would also constitute a criminal offense under the laws of the Commonwealth. The bill also provides that such limit on extradition shall not apply when the person who is accused of an alleged offense in the demanding state was physically present in the demanding state at the time of the commission of the alleged offense and thereafter fled from such state. H Left in Courts of Justice (2/18)
SB 780 Ghazala F. Hashmi; Jennifer D. Carroll Foy Health Insurance; Coverage For Contraceptive Drugs And Devices. Health insurance; coverage for contraceptive drugs and devices. Requires health insurance carriers to provide coverage, under any health insurance contract, policy, or plan that includes coverage for prescription drugs on an outpatient basis, for contraceptive drugs and contraceptive devices, as defined in the bill, including those available over-the-counter. The bill prohibits a health insurance carrier from imposing upon any person receiving contraceptive benefits pursuant to the provisions of the bill any copayment, coinsurance payment, or fee, except in certain circumstances. This bill is identical to HB 2371. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/3)
SB 791 Christopher T. Head Practical Nursing Programs; Common Curriculum, Transferability To Registered Nursing Programs. Certain practical nursing programs; common curriculum; transferability to registered nursing programs. Requires the Virginia Community College System (the System), in consultation with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the Board of Nursing, and representatives from both associate-degree-granting public institutions of higher education and baccalaureate public institutions of higher education that offer nursing programs, to develop a common curriculum for practical nursing programs that shall be implemented at each comprehensive community college in the System that offers a practical nursing program. The bill requires such common curriculum, to the extent possible, to (i) align with the degree requirements for registered nursing programs offered at associate-degree-granting public institutions of higher education and baccalaureate public institutions of higher education and (ii) be transferable to each registered nursing program offered at an associate-degree-granting public institution of higher education or a baccalaureate public institution of higher education. The bill (a) requires each associate-degree-granting public institution of higher education and each baccalaureate public institution of higher education that offers a registered nursing degree program to participate in a practical nursing program to registered nursing program transfer agreement with the System that aligns with the practical nursing program common curriculum established pursuant to the bill and (b) permits any private institution of higher education that offers a registered nursing degree program to be consulted regarding and participate on a voluntary basis in such a transfer agreement. S Incorporated by Education and Health (SB953-Favola) (15-Y 0-N) (1/23)
SB 799 Barbara A. Favola School Health Services Committee; Extends Sunset Date. School Health Services Committee; sunset. Extends from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2028, the sunset date for the School Health Services Committee. H Passed House (98-Y 0-N) (2/20)
SB 826 Mamie E. Locke Predetermination For Licensing Eligibility; Prior Convictions. Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation; Department of Health Professions; predetermination for licensing eligibility; prior convictions. Prohibits the use of vague or arbitrary terms by a regulatory board within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation or Department of Health when refusing a person a license, certificate, or registration to practice, pursue, or engage in any regulated occupation or profession. The bill requires such regulatory board denying a registration, license, or certificate based on information in the applicant's criminal history record to notify the applicant in writing of (i) the specific offense or offenses that contributed to such denial; (ii) how the criminal history directly relates to the occupation for which the registration, license, or certificate applies; and (iii) how the regulatory board weighed rehabilitation factors when making its decision. The bill further allows an applicant to request a written predetermination from a regulatory board within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation concerning whether his criminal record would disqualify him from obtaining a license, certificate, registration, or other authority to engage in a particular occupation, trade, or profession in the Commonwealth. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/5)
SB 843 Barbara A. Favola Remote Patient Monitoring Patients With Chronic Conditions, Report. Department of Medical Assistance Services; remote patient monitoring for patients with chronic conditions; report. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to develop a plan and estimate costs for expanding eligibility criteria under Medicaid for remote patient monitoring for individuals with chronic conditions and to report such plan and cost estimate to the Joint Commission on Health Care by October 1, 2025. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/5)
SB 953 Christopher T. Head; Barbara A. Favola Practical Nursing Programs, Certain; Transferability To Registered Nursing Programs, Etc. Certain practical nursing programs; common curriculum; transferability to registered nursing programs; pathway of stackable credentials. Requires the Virginia Community College System, in consultation with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the Board of Nursing, and representatives from associate-degree-granting public institutions of higher education that offer nursing programs, to develop a common curriculum for practical nursing programs that shall be implemented at each comprehensive community college in the System that offers a practical nursing program. The bill requires such common curriculum, to the extent possible, to (i) align with the degree requirements for registered nursing programs offered at associate-degree-granting public institutions of higher education and (ii) be transferable to each registered nursing program offered at an associate-degree-granting public institution of higher education. The bill requires each associate-degree-granting public institution of higher education that offers a registered nursing degree program to participate in a practical nursing program to registered nursing program transfer agreement with the System that aligns with the practical nursing program common curriculum established pursuant to the bill and permits any private institution of higher education that offers a registered nursing degree program to be consulted regarding and participate on a voluntary basis in such a transfer agreement. The bill also (a) requires the System to establish a pathway of stackable nursing credentials that consists of a practical nursing to associate registered nursing to bachelor of science in nursing program pathway; (b) directs the System to develop and implement the common curriculum for practical nursing programs by July 1, 2026; and (c) directs the System to submit a progress report to the chairs of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Education by December 1, 2025. The provisions of the bill relating to the development of the common curriculum for practical nursing programs have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026. The bill incorporates SB 791 and is identical to HB 2548. S House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N) (2/19)
SB 1015 Schuyler T. VanValkenburg Practice Of Chiropractic; Amends Definition. Vitamins, minerals, and food supplements; practice of chiropractic; definition. Amends the definition of 'practice of chiropractic' to include recommending or directing patients on the use of vitamins, minerals, or food supplements. The bill also allows a chiropractor to recommend or direct patients on the use of vitamins, minerals, or food supplements, provided that the rationale for such recommendation is (i) documented in a patient's record and (ii) based on a reasonable expectation that the use of such vitamins, minerals, or food supplements will result in a favorable patient outcome, including preventive practices, and that a greater benefit will be achieved than that which can be expected without such use. Under the bill, such chiropractor is not permitted to sell, dispense, or recommend vitamins, minerals, or food supplements for use if such use will negatively impact any of the patient's existing medical conditions. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (2/20)
SB 1041 Russet Perry Va. Forensic Nursing Advisory Council; Established. Virginia Forensic Nursing Advisory Council established; sexual assault forensic examiners; physical evidence recovery kits. Establishes the Virginia Forensic Nursing Advisory Council (the Council), which consists of five members appointed by the Governor, each of whom shall have expertise in forensic examination of sexual assault victims and shall currently reside and practice in the Commonwealth. The Council shall review and make recommendations as necessary to the Board of Health (the Board) with support from the Coordinator of the Virginia Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Coordination Program (the Coordinator) concerning (i) criteria to become a sexual assault forensic examiner, (ii) the process for certification as a sexual assault forensic examiner, (iii) the curriculum and training program of an entity seeking approval to train sexual assault forensic examiners, (iv) qualifications of prospective sexual assault forensic examiners, and (v) strategies for expanding access to sexual assault forensic examiners. The bill requires the Council to report, at least annually, to the General Assembly regarding the status of sexual assault forensics in the Commonwealth, including any recommendations to improve the quality of such services. The bill also amends provisions of law related to physical evidence recovery kits. This bill is identical to HB 2088. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/3)
SB 1290 R. Creigh Deeds Health Insurance; Reimbursement For Services Rendered By Certain Practitioners. Health insurance; reimbursement for services rendered by certain practitioners other than physicians. Requires health insurers and health service plan providers whose accident and sickness insurance policies or subscription contracts cover services that may be legally performed by a physician assistant to provide equal coverage for such services when rendered by a licensed athletic trainer when such services are performed in an office setting. Additionally, the bill requires the reimbursement or payment for a service provided by certain licensed practitioners listed in the bill to be in the same amount as the reimbursement or payment paid under such policy or subscription contract to a licensed physician performing such service in the area served. S Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor with letter (15-Y 0-N) (2/3)
SB 1320 Lamont Bagby Preparticipation Physical Evaluation; Children's Cardiac Safety. Middle and high school student-athletes; preparticipation physical evaluation; timeline; form. Prohibits middle or high school students from participating in or trying out for any interscholastic athletic team unless such student has submitted a signed Preparticipation Physical Evaluation form from certain licensed providers attesting the student received a physical examination and was found fit for athletic competition no more than 14 calendar months prior to the date on which such form was signed. S House substitute agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N) (2/20)
SB 1363 Todd E. Pillion Health Professions, Board Of; Transfer Of Powers And Duties. Elimination of Board of Health Professions; transfer of powers and duties. Eliminates the Board of Health Professions and transfers certain powers and duties from the Board to the Department of Health Professions. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/5)
SB 1438 Tara A. Durant Health Regulatory Boards; Regulations, Licensure By Endorsement. Department of Health Professions; health regulatory boards; regulations; licensure by endorsement. Directs each health regulatory board regulated by the Department of Health Professions to enact regulations to provide a licensure by endorsement pathway for qualified applicants as practitioners of the particular profession or professions regulated by such board. The bill specifies that the Board of Medicine shall be the first health regulatory board to enact regulations to provide a licensure by endorsement pathway. This bill is identical to HB 1861. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/3)