HB 481 VA

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Became Law

Prior authorization; requiring physician review for denial. Prohibits a health insurance carrier from making an adverse determination of a prior authorization request (i) for prescription drugs unless such denial has been reviewed and approved by a licensed physician or, if a licensed physician is not available, by a licensed pharmacist or (ii) for health care services unless such adverse determination has been reviewed and approved by (a) a licensed physician; (b) in the case of mental health services, a licensed mental health provider if a licensed physician is unavailable; or (c) in the case of dental services, a licensed dentist if a licensed physician is unavailable.

• Patrick A. Hope Democratic · primary

1. Jan 12, 2026 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105194D · lower
2. Jan 12, 2026 Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce · lower
3. Jan 19, 2026 Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #1 · lower
4. Jan 27, 2026 House subcommittee offered · lower
5. Jan 27, 2026 Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 0-N) · lower
6. Jan 29, 2026 Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (22-Y 0-N) · lower
7. Jan 29, 2026 Committee substitute printed 26106401D-H1 · lower
8. Feb 2, 2026 Read first time · lower
9. Feb 3, 2026 Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar · lower
10. Feb 3, 2026 Read second time · lower
11. Feb 3, 2026 committee substitute agreed to · lower
12. Feb 3, 2026 Engrossed by House - committee substitute · lower
13. Feb 4, 2026 Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A) · lower
14. Feb 5, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) · upper
15. Feb 5, 2026 Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor · upper
16. Mar 2, 2026 Senate committee offered · upper
17. Mar 2, 2026 Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (13-Y 0-N) · upper
18. Mar 3, 2026 Committee substitute printed 26108765D-S1 · upper
19. Mar 4, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
20. Mar 4, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
21. Mar 4, 2026 Passed by for the day (Voice Vote) · upper
22. Mar 5, 2026 Read third time · upper
23. Mar 5, 2026 Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to · upper
24. Mar 5, 2026 Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute · upper
25. Mar 5, 2026 Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
26. Mar 5, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB481) · lower
27. Mar 9, 2026 Passed by for the day · lower
28. Mar 10, 2026 Senate substitute agreed to by House (98-Y 1-N 0-A) · lower
29. Mar 30, 2026 Enrolled · lower
30. Mar 30, 2026 Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB481ER) · lower
31. Mar 30, 2026 Signed by President · upper
32. Mar 31, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
33. Mar 31, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 · lower
34. Mar 31, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 · executive
35. Apr 13, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB481) · lower
36. Apr 13, 2026 Approved by Governor-Chapter 925 (effective 7/1/2026) · executive

The published texts of this bill as it moves through the legislature. Each links to the official document on the state legislature site. Data from OpenStates.

• Enrolled · PDF
• Enrolled · HTML
• Commerce and Labor Substitute · PDF
• Commerce and Labor Substitute · HTML
• Commerce and Labor Substitute · PDF
• Commerce and Labor Substitute · HTML
• Labor and Commerce Substitute · PDF
• Labor and Commerce Substitute · HTML
• Labor and Commerce Substitute · PDF
• Labor and Commerce Substitute · HTML
• Subcommittee #1 Subcommittee Substitute · PDF
• Subcommittee #1 Subcommittee Substitute · HTML
• Introduced · PDF
• Introduced · HTML