May 2, 2025

TO: HOUSE OF DELEGATES HOUSE BILL NO. 1609

I am signing HB 1609 which represents a balanced approach to expanding access to fertility care in the Commonwealth. Rather than mandating immediate coverage, the legislation takes an interim step by directing the Health Insurance Reform Commission to consider whether to include these services in Virginia" s essential health benefits benchmark plan.

This structured review is designed to ensure the General Assembly has the data, analysis, and necessary input to make an informed decision in the future. In effect, the bill includes a reenactment clause. It calls for further study and deliberation before any action is taken, providing guardrails and oversight through the established HIRC process.

I firmly believe it is essential that HIRC exempt nongovernmental plan sponsors with sincerely held religious or ethical beliefs from any coverage requirements it may recommend. Protecting these deeply held convictions is a fundamental principle, and the conscience clause that my amendment would have added is critical to ensure the expansion of fertility care does not come at the cost of religious liberty.

This effort aligns with a recent Executive Order from President Trump prioritizing access to IVF treatment and calling for a reduction in financial and regulatory barriers to care. That Order underscores the national recognition of infertility as a public health concern and reinforces the importance of policies that support Americans longing to start or grow their families.