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Mental health and substance abuse disorders; network adequacy standards; comparative analyses; report; emergency regulations. Directs the Department of Health to issue regulations that include quantitative network adequacy standards for timely access to care, travel time, and geographical distance that are at least as stringent as those imposed for qualified health plans and qualified dental plans. The bill amends the definitions of "mental health services" and "substance abuse services" for the purposes of health insurance coverage. The bill requires health carriers to submit all comparative analyses prepared pursuant to federal law to the Bureau of Insurance on the date and frequency as specified by the Bureau and includes additional information to include in such submission. Under the bill, the Bureau may impose a penalty not to exceed $100,000 for a noncompliant or insufficient comparative analysis or require a carrier to remove, revise, or remedy noncompliant treatment limitations. The bill also amends the contents of the annual report submitted by the Bureau to the General Assembly to cover enforcement efforts with respect to the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.The bill authorizes the Bureau to promulgate regulations as necessary to implement the provisions of the bill and directs the Department of Health to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill.
Introduced
Jan 13, 2026
Last Action
Mar 11, 2026
Session
VA 2026
Sponsors
1 primary · 8 co
Senate substitute agreed to by House (92-Y 6-N 0-A)
Read third time
Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Education and Health Substitute agreed to
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Rules suspended
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB656)
Committee substitute printed 26108828D-S1
Reported from Education and Health with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
Read third time and passed House (95-Y 3-N 0-A)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB656)
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
committee substitute agreed to
Read second time
Read first time
Committee substitute printed 26106935D-H1
Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute (21-Y 1-N)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB656)
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 1-N)
House subcommittee offered
Assigned sub: Behavioral Health
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104547D
Get a plain-English explanation of what this bill does, who it affects, and why it matters.
Senate substitute agreed to by House (92-Y 6-N 0-A)
Rodney T. Willett
Bonita G. Anthony
Nadarius E. Clark
Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.
Rozia A. Henson, Jr.
Michelle Lopes Maldonado