HB736Introduced in the House of Delegates
Health insurance; required provisions regarding prior authorization for prescription drugs.
Introduced by Michelle Maldonado, District 20
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.
Official description
Health insurance; carrier contracts; required provisions regarding prior authorization for prescription drugs. Amends existing required provisions for health carrier contracts related to prior authorizations for prescription drugs. Current law requires that if prior authorization is approved for prescription drugs and such prescription drugs have been scheduled, provided, or delivered to the patient consistent with the authorization, health carriers may not revoke, limit, condition, modify, or restrict that authorization except in certain circumstances. The bill requires this limitation on carriers to apply for the duration of the authorization, which the bill requires to be a minimum of six months for initial authorizations and a minimum of 12 months for continued authorizations. The bill adds circumstances under which a prior authorization may be revoked, limited, conditioned, modified, or restricted by a carrier, including (i) a final action by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, other regulatory agencies, or the manufacturer communicating a patient efficacy issue that would affect the authorization and (ii) when additional safety and efficacy monitoring is clinically appropriate or recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, other regulatory agencies, or the manufacturer.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0213)
April 6, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
5 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A) · March 5, 2026
39
Yes
0
No
1
Absent or Not Voting
40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
What do people think?
Citizen Voice
How would you vote on this bill?
An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.
One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | Yes |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | Yes |
| Chris Head | 3 | Yes |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | Yes |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | Yes |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | Yes |
| William Stanley | 7 | Yes |
| Mark Peake | 8 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105188D
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #1
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (9-Y 0-N)
Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
Assigned HAPP sub: Compensation and Retirement
Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)
Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
Read first time
Read second time
committee amendments agreed to
Engrossed by House as amended
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB736)
Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
Reported from Commerce and Labor (13-Y 0-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
Read third time
Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB736ER)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB736)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 213 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0213)
Verify the information
Our commitment to neutrality
We provide factual information only. We never tell you which politicians or bills to support, and we do not rank, score, or endorse anyone.