General Assembly 2025 Wrap-up
As of February 22nd, the 2025 General Assembly session has concluded. This year was a short session, so we decided not to be a lot of stock on a lot of bills but focus on a couple big ones and then monitor others. This is Governor Glenn Youngkin’s final years as Governor of Virginia, so we had to make sure the bills we pushed were going to fit what his agenda has been in the past. For example, in 2024 he vetoed several recovery-oriented bills because he felt they were “soft on crime”. So, we had to approach with slight trepidation for SAARA and the entire recovery community to consider this year a success.
The majority of what we supported, and helped author HB1877, passed both chambers and are on the Governor’s desk waiting to be signed, while two of our high priority bills were left in committee for next year. Here is a list of the bills monitoring this year ranked by importance of the mission of SAARA. From highest priority, where we testify during all committees, to those we do a simple endorsement, to those that we just monitor without a need to engage in committee:
High Priority
HB1877: Del. Katrina Callsen- Barrier Crimes Reform; peer recovery specialists; screening requirements.
This changes current law so that it now allows peer recovery specialists to be screened and offered a job even if they had unpaid fines are on payment plans.
Passed
HB1637: Del. Patrick Hope - Opioid antagonists; dispensing and administration by person acting on behalf of an organization.
This bill will allow individuals to have access to naloxone (an opioid antagonist) and be trained to administer at their places of employment. This includes government offices, private businesses and schools. There were three other matching bills that got passed as well to expand resources for naloxone.
Passed
Additionally other “opioid antagonists” bills were passed unanimously:
HB2531: Del. Briana Sewell - Paid family and medical leave insurance program; notice requirements, civil action.
A paid family medical leave insurance program will be established with the amount of a benefit is 80 percent of the employee's average weekly wage while they are out on extended sick leave. This includes someone who would have to leave work to go to rehabilitation for substance use disorder.
Passed
The Senate companion bill SB1122 failed 49-48 in the House.
HB1893: Del. Holly Seibold - State plan for medical assistance services; recovery residences; work group; report.
This would require the state to conduct a study on including a payment provision for those in recovery homes who are suffering from substance use disorder. Under current law, those in recovery home for substance use treatment are not allowed a payment play to handle medical debt.
Failed- left in Appropriations
SB841: Sen. Barbara Favola- Board of Pharmacy; Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; opioid treatment programs; mobile units; report.
Opioid treatment programs will now expand outside of office doors and into mobile treatment vans & buses to be sent across Virginia. This expands treatment to areas with populations that may not have access to cars or public transport.
Failed- left in Appropriations
Supported
SB838: Sen. Schuyler Van Valkenberg - Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; recovery residences; certification required; penalty; work group.
This law would help regulate recovery housing a few steps further than they are presently.
Passed Unanimously
SB1318: Sen. Jeremy McPike- Board of Pharmacy; membership; emergency medical services agencies authorized to obtain controlled substance registration.
This will add an additional member to the Board of Pharmacy to receive controlled substances and put them to storage. This is needed regulation to manage drugs of potential addiction.
Passed
SB842: Sen. Barbara Favola - Department of Housing and Community Development; broadband access services for mobile health clinics; report.
This gives broadband internet access to opioid treatment programs working in mobile treatment vans & buses to be sent across Virginia. This expands treatment to areas with populations that may not have access to cars or public transport and helps them work more efficiently.
Passed Unanimously
HB1582: Del. H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. - Pharmacists; collaborative agreements; drug therapy.
Pharmacists will have a collaborative agreement with healthcare providers to expand the use of drug therapy. This would give those suffering from substance use disorder more options for treatment.
Passed Unanimously
SB770: Sen. Barbara Favola - Correctional facilities, local, regional, and community; reviews of deaths of inmates, report.
This will spread some sunlight into the deaths of incarcerated individuals, as there has been unanswered questions in the past year. This could also show public data of if a death was caused by someone with substance use disorder and open up possible future legislation of housing those who are suffering from SUDs in jail.
Passed
Monitored
HB1725: Del. Karrie Delaney - Medical Debt Protection Act; prohibited practices; penalties.
Creates the Medical Debt Protection Act to prohibit a large health care facilities and doctors from charging runaway fees.
Passed
HB1724: Del. Karrie Delaney - Prescription Drug Affordability Board established; drug cost affordability review.
Prescription drug price transparency- regulation the prices of prescription drugs so that they are more affordable.
Passed
HB2375: Del. Mark Sickles - Prescription drug price transparency; pharmacy services administrative organizations.
Prescription drug price transparency- regulation the prices of prescription drugs so that they are more affordable.
Passed
HB1665: Del. Mike Jones - Fines, restitution, forfeiture, penalties, and other costs; criminal and traffic cases; itemized statement.
Passed
Opposed
SB746: Sen. Ryan McDougle - Felony homicide; certain drug offenses; penalty. This includes death where the use of fentanyl occurred.
This would charge an individual who provides fentanyl that results in and overdose death with felony homicide.
Passed