Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
HB 486: Medical care facilities; expanded access to medical cannabis for terminally ill patients.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 486 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 12, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Medical care facilities; expanded access to medical cannabis for terminally ill patients. Primary sponsor: Irene Shin (Democratic). It lists 3 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (February 12, 2026): Incorporated by Health and Human Services (HB75-Keys-Gamarra) (Voice Vote).
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.
Medical care facilities; expanded access to medical cannabis for terminally ill patients. Requires medical care facilities to permit terminally ill patients, as defined in the bill, to use medical cannabis. The bill requires medical care facilities to adopt policies facilitating the use of medical cannabis. The provisions of the bill do not apply to the provision of emergency medical services, including in emergency departments of hospitals. The bill requires compliance with applicable drug and medication requirements, specifies that compliance with its provisions shall not be a condition of obtaining, retaining, or renewing a license as a medical care facility, and establishes a protocol for noncompliance in the event of intervention by the federal government. The bill has a delayed effective date contingent on the federal rescheduling of marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. This bill was incorporated into HB 75.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 3
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irene Shin | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 8 |
| Kelly Fowler | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 96 |
| Michelle Lopes Maldonado | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Garrett McGuire | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 17 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Incorporated by Health and Human Services (HB75-Keys-Gamarra) (Voice Vote)
- Subcommittee recommends incorporating (Voice Vote)
- House subcommittee offered
- Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB486)
- Assigned sub: Health
- Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services
- Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104839D