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SB257Introduced in the Senate

Health insurance; requirements for certain opioid antagonists.

Passed

Introduced by Barbara Favola, District 40

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; requirements for certain opioid antagonists. Requires each health insurer, corporation providing health care subscription plans, and health maintenance organization whose policy, contract, or plan includes coverage for prescription drugs to include coverage for at least one opioid antagonist used for overdose reversal dispensed pursuant to an oral, written, or standing order of a prescriber and ensure that cost-sharing for at least one opioid antagonist used for overdose reversal is included on the lowest cost tier of the insurer's, corporation's, or health maintenance organization's prescription drug formulary. The bill provides that such coverage shall be exempt from any prior authorization or step therapy requirement on coverage of benefits. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care. This bill is identical to HB 795.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0424)

April 8, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

4 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

5 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: House substitute agreed to by Senate (39-Y 1-N 0-A) · March 12, 2026

39

Yes

1

No

0

Absent or Not Voting

40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1Yes
Mark Obenshain2Yes
Chris Head3Yes
David Suetterlein4Yes
Travis Hackworth5Yes
Todd Pillion6Yes
William Stanley7Yes
Mark Peake8Yes

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104746D

  2. Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB257)

  4. Senate committee offered

  5. Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 2-N 1-A)

  6. Committee substitute printed 26106753D-S1

  7. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB257)

  8. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

  9. Rules suspended

  10. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  11. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  12. Read second time

  13. Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

  14. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)

  15. Read third time and passed Senate (37-Y 1-N 0-A)

  16. Placed on Calendar

  17. Read first time

  18. Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

  19. House subcommittee offered

  20. Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #1

  21. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (6-Y 0-N)

  22. Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute and referred to Appropriations (21-Y 0-N)

  23. Assigned HAPP sub: Health & Human Resources

  24. Committee substitute printed 26108572D-H1

  25. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB257)

  26. Reported from Appropriations with substitute (22-Y 0-N)

  27. Committee substitute printed 26109143D-H2

  28. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB257)

  29. Read second time

  30. Read third time

  31. committee substitute rejected

  32. committee substitute agreed to

  33. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  34. Passed House with substitute (96-Y 0-N 0-A)

  35. House substitute agreed to by Senate (39-Y 1-N 0-A)

  36. Enrolled

  37. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB257ER)

  38. Signed by President

  39. Signed by Speaker

  40. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  41. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  42. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB257)

  43. Approved by Governor-Chapter 424 (effective 7/1/2026)

  44. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0424)

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