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Labor and Commerce

Thursday, January 29, 2026·1h 4m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Virginia Labor and Commerce Committee advanced more than 20 bills across health insurance, energy regulation, corporate law, and consumer protection, with the most contested votes centering on the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (HB 483, 13-8) and essential health benefits expansion (HB 328, 14-7), while HB 420 on utility rate case reopening was carried over to the 2027 session.

Key Actions

·HB 483 – Prescription Drug Affordability BoardPassed

+ 12 more actions

Controversies

HB 466 amendment wording discrepancy (extend vs. enlarge)

Counsel [name not stated in transcript] acknowledged that in the posted amendments for HB 466 — which would set a 180-day timeline for the State Corporation Commission to complete small renewable energy project proceedings — the word 'extend' was used instead of 'enlarge' as discussed in subcommittee, stating: 'In my haste I wrote extend such period for up to 120 days in the amendments that got posted. So that is a little bit of a difference.' Chair Sullivan moved to correct the language, and the correction passed on a voice vote.

+ 1 more controversy

Notable Quotes

“I just want to note here that all these things that were itemized were things that HERC really went through at the request of a number of patrons and advocacy groups for us to look at. And I'm really proud and thankful for that work and thankful to the patron for bringing the bill forward.”

Delegate Maldonado — Delegate Maldonado made this remark while reporting HB 328, which would require the Bureau of Insurance to expand the essential health benefits benchmark plan to cover doula care, fertility treatment, hearing aids, and other services.

+ 2 more quotes

Votes

Report HB 483 with amendments and refer to AppropriationsPassed
Report HB 328 with amendments and refer to AppropriationsPassed
Report HB 422 with substitutePassed
Report HB 466 with amendmentsPassed
Report HB 633 with substitutePassed
Carry over HB 420 to the 2027 sessionPassed
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TranscriptPreview
Wait just a second until everyone has a seat. Okay, before we start, I'd like to give you some special notices just in case you enjoy trivia. Few things I'd like you to know. The bills that have been filed in the Finance Committee. There has been 89 bills in privileges and elections. There have been 59 bills in public safety. There have been 96 bills filed in appropriations, 126 bills found, and Health and Human Resources and human sources, 163 bills and courts of justice, 169 bills and general laws. There have been 160 bills filed in labor and Commerce. There you go, drum rolls. Two hundred and seven bills filed. Okay, you can call it number one, but we don't have many weeks to complete our work. As a matter of fact, I want you to know how many subcommittee meetings we have for sub one, there's only two meetings left. Sub sub two, there's only two meetings left. Sub three, because they meet twice a week, but they only have three meetings left. What that means is we've got a lot of work to do in such a short amount of time. So every time someone says,…
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