2026 Virginia General Assembly Crossover Report
Some Great Progress to Share
While we were disappointed that our 2026 State Breast Cancer Advocacy Day at the General Assembly had to be cancelled due to the snow and ice storm in Richmond, VBCF advocates have still been hard at work! Staff and advocates have been testifying in committees, contacting their state legislators, and holding meetings at the Capitol to urge support for VBCF’s key legislative priorities.
On February 17, the 2026 General Assembly session reached the midway, or “crossover,” deadline. This was the final day for bills to be approved by their chamber of origin—either the House of Delegates or the Senate—so they could advance to the other chamber for consideration.
Here is a quick update on where VBCF’s legislative priorities stand:
Paid Family and Medical Leave – 🎉 MOVING FORWARD!
Legislation to establish a Paid Family and Medical Leave program passed on the floor of both the House of Delegates and the Senate. Each bill—HB1207 (Del. Sewell) and SB2 (Sen. Boysko)—will now be considered by the opposite chamber.
This is a major milestone after many years of work and means that paid leave legislation is only a few steps away from being sent to the Governor to be signed into law.
Treatment for breast cancer is often a months-long process requiring surgery, hospitalization, and multiple medical appointments—all requiring time away from work. Paid medical leave would help ensure that breast cancer patients can focus on treatment and recovery without the added risk of financial hardship.
We are grateful to all of our advocates who took action to support this important legislation. If you would like to thank your legislator for their “yes” vote, you can check their vote here:
HB1207 Floor Vote
SB2 Floor Vote
Legislation to Help Patients Manage Out-of-Pocket Costs for Prescription Drugs – 🎉 MOVING FORWARD!
Legislation allowing Virginians to choose a health insurance plan with predictable copays for life-saving drugs has also passed both the House and Senate.
The legislation would require health insurance carriers to offer patients the option to select a capped, flat-dollar, copay-only health insurance plan. Under that plan, any covered medication would not exceed $100 per prescription per month in Silver, Gold, or Platinum plans, or $150 per prescription per month in Bronze plans.
HB625 (Del. Henson) passed the House by a vote of 63–35, and the Senate companion bill, SB161 (Sen. Perry), passed the Senate floor with a strong bipartisan vote of 34–6. Both bills will now be considered by the opposite chamber. We remain optimistic that this legislation will also advance to the Governor’s desk.
Thank you to the many advocates who took action in support of these bills. If you would like to thank your legislator for their “yes” vote, you can check their vote here:
HB625 Floor Vote
SB161 Floor Vote
Legislation Not Moving Forward
Unfortunately, a few of VBCF’s priorities did not make it through crossover:
HB435 (Del. LeVere Bolling): Creation of a Palliative Care Information and Education Program and Palliative Care and Quality of Life Advisory Council
This bill would have expanded access to palliative care through education and support. Palliative care for breast cancer patients can improve quality of life by managing symptoms, side effects, and stress from diagnosis and treatment, while also offering support for physical, emotional, and spiritual needs for patients and families.
This bill was not passed out of committee.
HB90 (Del. Seibold): Insurance Coverage for Hair Preservation
This bill would have required health insurance carriers to provide coverage for scalp cooling systems to preserve hair during chemotherapy treatment. Without insurance coverage, patients must pay out of pocket—typically between $1,500 and $3,000 per course of chemotherapy—a cost that is out of reach for many.
This bill was tabled and referred to the Health Insurance Reform Commission for review, ending its consideration for 2026.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who took action this session. Your emails, calls, and advocacy efforts are making a real difference for Virginians impacted by breast cancer.
As these bills move forward and new opportunities arise, your voice will continue to matter.
Stay Informed and Ready to Take Action
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Together, we can continue building meaningful progress at the General Assembly.
