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SB524Introduced in the Senate

Mental health & substance abuse disorders; network adequacy standards, comparative analyses, report.

Passed

Introduced by Creigh Deeds, District 11

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

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. The bill directs the Department of Human Resource Management to evaluate the impact of the proposed changes to the provisions of the bill related to health insurance. The provisions of the bill related to health insurance have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 656.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0653)

April 13, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

8 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Conference report agreed to by Senate (38-Y 0-N 0-A) · March 13, 2026

38

Yes

0

No

2

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 26102638D

  2. Referred to Committee on Education and Health

  3. Assigned Education sub: Health

  4. Senate subcommittee offered

  5. Reported from Education and Health with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

  6. Senate committee offered

  7. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB524)

  8. Committee substitute printed 26107207D-S1

  9. Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (13-Y 0-N)

  10. Rules suspended

  11. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A)

  12. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB524)

  13. Passed by for the day

  14. Committee substitute printed 26107859D-S2

  15. Read second time

  16. Education and Health Substitute rejected

  17. Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

  18. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  19. Rules suspended

  20. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  21. Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  22. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB524)

  23. Placed on Calendar

  24. Read first time

  25. Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

  26. Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute (21-Y 0-N 1-A)

  27. Committee substitute printed 26108521D-H1

  28. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB524)

  29. Read second time

  30. Read third time

  31. committee substitute agreed to

  32. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  33. Passed House with substitute (92-Y 4-N 0-A)

  34. House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)

  35. House insisted on substitute

  36. House requested conference committee

  37. Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  38. Conferees appointed by Senate

  39. Senate Conferees: Deeds, Favola, Pillion

  40. Conferees appointed by House

  41. House Conferees: Willett, Gardner, Cherry

  42. Conference Report released

  43. Conference report agreed to by Senate (38-Y 0-N 0-A)

  44. Conference report agreed to by House (93-Y 1-N 0-A)

  45. Enrolled

  46. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB524ER)

  47. Signed by President

  48. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB524)

  49. Signed by Speaker

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

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

  52. Approved by Governor-Chapter 653 (Effective - see bill)

  53. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0653)

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