Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
HB 1276: Health care providers; required estimate for nonemergency health care services.
Passed one chamber Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 1276 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 14, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Health care providers; required estimate for nonemergency health care services. Primary sponsor: Vivian Watts (Democratic). It lists 1 additional sponsor. Most recent recorded action (March 9, 2026): Continued to next session in Commerce and Labor (15-Y 0-N).
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Health care providers; required estimate for nonemergency health care services. Requires health care providers to provide a good faith estimate of the payment amount for which the patient will be responsible for such nonemergency health care service, including any fees or other charges for an item or service the patient may reasonably be expected to receive in connection with the nonemergency health care service. The bill requires the good faith estimate to include (i) description of the scheduled nonemergency health care service, (ii) the provider's standard charge for the service and any related item or service, (iii) the provider's standard charges and any contracted rates known at the time the estimate is prepared, and (iv) a statement that the estimate is not binding and the actual amount billed may differ depending on changes in the scope of services or the health carrier's processing of the claim.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vivian Watts | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 14 |
| Virgil Thornton | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 86 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Continued to next session in Commerce and Labor (15-Y 0-N)
- Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
- Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Engrossed by House - committee substitute
- committee substitute agreed to
- Read second time
- Read first time
- Committee substitute printed 26107734D-H1
- Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (19-Y 0-N)
- Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 1-N)
- Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #1
Showing 12 most recent of 14 actions. Full history