2026 SESSION

ENROLLED

VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER

An Act to direct the State Health Services Plan Task Force to develop recommendations for designating areas of the state with identifiable need for certain projects and expedited review criteria for those projects and to direct the Board of Health to update regulations implementing expedited application and review.

[S 239]

Approved

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. That the State Health Commissioner (the Commissioner) shall direct the State Health Services Plan Task Force (the Task Force) to develop recommendations on options for designating areas of the state with an identifiable need for additional projects, taking into account the unique geographic, socioeconomic, cultural, transportation, and other barriers to access to health care. The Task Force shall also develop recommendations on specific criteria for determining when expedited review should apply to projects located in such areas. The Commissioner shall report such recommendations to the Chair and members of the Senate Committee on Education and Health by October 1, 2026.

§ 2. That the Board of Health shall promulgate updated regulations to implement the expedited application and review process for any certificate for projects reviewable pursuant to subdivision A 5 of § 32.1-102.2, including criteria and considerations that the State Health Commissioner shall apply when making a determination to approve or disapprove such expedited application, by January 1, 2027.