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SB271Introduced in the Senate

Prescription Drug Affordability Board; established.

Vetoed

Introduced by Creigh Deeds, District 11

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Prescription Drug Affordability Advisory Panel established; maximum fair price; annual reports; civil penalties. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to establish the Prescription Drug Affordability Advisory Panel to conduct data analyses, develop policy recommendations, and identify implementation barriers related to strategies to improve prescription drug affordability, enhance price transparency, and strengthen data collection practices for prescription drugs across public and private payers. The bill requires the Panel to (i) report annually on prescription drug pricing trends and any policy recommendations on legislation to improve prescription drug affordability and (ii) provide quarterly updates on prescription drug pricing trends. The bill requires each pharmacy benefits manager to provide to the Panel, upon request, certain information relating to the dispensation of a referenced drug, as defined in the bill.The bill prohibits prescription drug manufacturers or wholesale distributors permitted or licensed in the Commonwealth from accepting payment at an amount higher than the maximum fair price established by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to federal law for the sale of a referenced drug intended for use by individuals in the Commonwealth. Under the bill, an entity that violates such prohibition is subject to a civil penalty of $10,000 per violation. The bill also prohibits a manufacturer subject to its provisions from removing a referenced drug from sale distribution in the Commonwealth for the purpose of avoiding the impact of the bill's rate limitations without providing certain prior notice. Under the bill, a manufacturer that violates such prohibition on removing a referenced drug without the required notice is subject to a civil penalty equal to the greater of $100,000 or the total amount of annual savings for the referenced drug, as determined by the Board of Pharmacy. This bill is identical to HB 483.

Where it stands

Vetoed by Governor

May 19, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

2 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

6 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: House substitute agreed to by Senate (32-Y 8-N 0-A) · March 11, 2026

32

Yes

8

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 French1No
Mark Obenshain2No
Chris Head3Yes
David Suetterlein4Yes
Travis Hackworth5Yes
Todd Pillion6Yes
William Stanley7Yes
Mark Peake8Yes

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105318D

  2. Referred to Committee on Education and Health

  3. Rereferred from Education and Health to Commerce and Labor (14-Y 0-N)

  4. Senate committee offered

  5. Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N 1-A)

  6. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB271)

  7. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N 1-A)

  8. Rules suspended

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

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

  11. Read second time

  12. Commerce and Labor Amendments agreed to

  13. Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)

  14. Read third time and passed Senate (31-Y 8-N 0-A)

  15. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB271)

  16. Assigned HAPP sub: Health & Human Resources

  17. Placed on Calendar

  18. Read first time

  19. Referred to Committee on Appropriations

  20. Reported from Appropriations (17-Y 5-N)

  21. Read second time

  22. Floor substitute printed 26109393D-H1 (Delaney)

  23. Floor offered Delegate Delaney Substitute

  24. Floor offered Delegate Delaney Amendments

  25. Read third time

  26. Passed by temporarily

  27. Passed by for the day

  28. Floor substitute printed 26109555D-H2 (Delaney)

  29. Floor offered Delegate Delaney Substitute

  30. Read third time

  31. Delegate Delaney Substitute withdrawn by House

  32. Delegate Delaney Floor amendments withdrawn

  33. Delegate Delaney Floor substitute agreed to

  34. Engrossed by House - floor substitute

  35. Passed House with substitute (95-Y 4-N 0-A)

  36. House substitute agreed to by Senate

  37. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB271)

  38. Enrolled

  39. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB271ER)

  40. Signed by President

  41. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB271)

  42. Signed by Speaker

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

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

  45. Governor's recommendation received by Senate

  46. Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  47. Communicated to Governor

  48. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026

  49. Governor's Veto Received by Senate

  50. Vetoed by Governor

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