2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26104343D

HOUSE BILL NO. 1470

Offered January 23, 2026

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-81.1, relating to Department of Education; annual school division health insurance premium data collection and reporting; publication; requirements; regulations.

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Patron—Cole, N.T.

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Referred to Committee on Education

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-81.1 as follows:

§ 22.1-81.1. Annual collection of local school division health insurance premium data; inclusion in Annual School Report; publication.

A. Each school board shall annually collect and submit to the Department, on such timeline and in such manner prescribed by the Board pursuant to its regulations, the following information relating to health insurance premium data for the preceding fiscal year:

1. For each health insurance plan offered to employees of the school board and each level of coverage, including employee only, employee plus one, and family coverage:

a. The type of plan, including an health maintenance organization (HMO), preferred provider organization (PPO), point of service (POS), or high-deductible health plan (HDHP), or  such other designation as may be used by the applicable carrier;

b. The total annual and monthly premium cost per employee;

c. The share of the total premium cost paid by the school division;

d. The share of the total premium cost paid by the employee; and

e. The number of employees enrolled in each plan and coverage level; and

2. Any additional information that the Board deems necessary to support the calculation of the statewide health care premium assumption used for Standards of Quality funding determinations.

B. The Department shall annually compile the data submitted by each school board pursuant to subsection A and (i) include such data in the Annual School Report required pursuant to § 22.1-81 and (ii) publish such compilation of data on its website in a format that allows comparison of the data across school divisions, plan types, and coverage levels.

C. For the purposes of the data collection required pursuant to subsection A, each school board shall submit the health insurance premium and enrollment data for the most recent health insurance plan year that ends within the applicable fiscal year. In the event that a school division's health insurance plan year is not complete by the end of the applicable fiscal year or does not align with the applicable fiscal year, (i) projections may be used for reporting annual costs and (ii) the school division shall report data based on the most current health insurance plan year available, in accordance with the requirements of the Board as set forth in its regulations.

2. That each school board shall collect and submit and the Department of Education shall compile and publish the health insurance premium data required for the annual health insurance premium data collection and reporting pursuant to § 22.1-81.1 of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act, beginning with the 2026–2027 school year.

3. That the Board of Education shall promulgate regulations for the implementation and administration of the annual school division health insurance premium data collection and reporting required pursuant to § 22.1-81.1 of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act, including regulations (i) establishing submission timelines and requirements relating to data elements, and formats for the annual submission of health insurance premium data by each school board pursuant to subsection A of § 22.1-81.1 of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act; (ii) defining such terms as necessary, including definitions for the terms "plan type" and "coverage level"; and (iii) setting forth requirements and instructions for submitting the required health insurance premium data when multiple health insurance plans are offered.