2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26103102D

HOUSE BILL NO. 789

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 13, 2026

A BILL to direct the Department of Health to convene a work group to evaluate the Virginia State Anatomical Program and its current finances and to provide recommendations to strengthen practices and procedures concerning donor procurement, distribution, and disposition.

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Patron—Austin

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Referred to Committee on Rules

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. The Department of Health shall convene a work group consisting of a representative from the Virginia State Anatomical Program (the Program); representatives from medical schools, universities, colleges, institutions of higher education, established allied health programs, including physician associate and physical therapy programs, and any other health programs in the Commonwealth that utilize donor materials for instructional purposes; a representative of a research facility that utilizes donor materials for the study of disease or innovation of medical procedures or surgical techniques; a representative of the Virginia Association of Human Anatomical Sciences; a representative of the Virginia Intercollegiate Anatomy Laboratory; and any other relevant stakeholders to evaluate current Program policies and procedures and any other regulations surrounding the implementation of the Program. The work group shall evaluate current donor needs due to the expanding number of medical and educational programs offered in the Commonwealth, examine current finances to determine if funding is needed to strengthen the Program, and provide recommendations to revise Program procedures or policies, or propose statutory language to effectively bolster donor procurement and ensure efficient, fair, and adequate donor distribution and disposition to medical schools, colleges, universities, community colleges, and research facilities across the Commonwealth. The work group shall report its findings and recommendations to the House Committee on Health and Human Services and the Senate Committee on Education and Health no later than November 1, 2026.