Legislative Update for Virginia Chapter, American Massage Therapy Association
Friday March 7, 2025

Bill	Patron	Title	Synopsis	Status
HB 1646	Joshua G. Cole; C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.	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.	S Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (2/18)
HB 2448	Jackie H. Glass	Interstate Massage Compact; Authorizes Virginia To Become A Signatory To Compact.	Interstate Massage Compact. Authorizes Virginia to become a signatory to the Interstate Massage Compact. The Compact permits eligible licensed massage therapists to practice in Compact member states, provided that they meet certain requirements. The Compact takes effect when enacted by a seventh member state. Currently, two states have enacted the Compact.	S Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (2/18)
HB 2612	Wendell S. Walker	Massage Therapists; Increases Hours Of Minimum Training For Licensure.	Massage therapists; licensure; qualifications; minimum training. Increases from 500 hours to 625 hours the minimum requirement for training in a massage therapy educational program for applicants for licensure as a massage therapist.	H Left in General Laws (2/5)
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 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 1168	Saddam Azlan Salim	Health Insurance; Coverage For Acupuncture Treatments.	Practice of acupuncture; definition; health insurance; coverage for acupuncture treatments. Amends the definition of the 'practice of acupuncture' as it relates to the practice of medicine and other healing arts to specify that it means the stimulation of selected points on the body to prevent or modify the perception of pain or to normalize physiological functions for the treatment of certain ailments or conditions of the body and includes acupuncture needle insertion, dry needling, electroacupuncture, cupping, gua sha, and moxibustion. Under current law, the 'practice of acupuncture' means the stimulation of certain points on or near the surface of the body by the insertion of needles to prevent or modify the perception of pain or to normalize physiological functions for the treatment of certain ailments or conditions of the body and includes the techniques of electroacupuncture, cupping, and moxibustion. The bill requires health insurers, corporations providing health care coverage subscription contracts, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for acupuncture treatments. The bill applies to policies, contracts, and plans delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027.	S Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor with letter (15-Y 0-N) (1/20)
SB 1253	Lamont Bagby	Physical Therapy, Doctor Of; Added To List Of Titles That Are Unlawful To Use Without A License.	Unlawful designation as Doctor of Physical Therapy. Adds to the list of titles that are unlawful to use without a license 'D.P.T.' and 'Doctor of Physical Therapy.' The bill also removes 'P.T.T.' and 'Physical Therapy Technician' from such list.	G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/5)
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)