2026 Virginia Legislative Session Summary

Victory in the fight against cancer requires bold new public policies that promote cancer prevention, early detection of cancer, and expand access to quality, affordable health care. Lawmakers make many decisions that impact the lives of Virginians impacted by cancer and their leadership is vital to defeating this disease. In 2026 the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) worked with the General Assembly on legislative efforts that provide affordable, adequate access to health insurance, ensure adequate funding for lifesaving cancer screening and prevention programs, and enact prevention policies to protect Virginians from tobacco products and help support those who are trying to quit. We are proud to have delivered the following wins in 2026:

Ensuring Access to Quality Care

• SB 161 (Sen. Perry) and HB 625 (Del. Henson) – Out-of-Pocket Cost Transparency

  • Virginians deserve real choices and no surprises. SB 161 requires insurers to offer at least some plans with flat-dollar copays for prescription drugs, instead of only coinsurance options, giving patients an option to choose a plan with predictability and control over their budgets. Transparency saves lives, because when patients can plan the cost of care, they’re less likely to abandon treatment. [I did a short video about this bill on our ACSCAN VA Instagram, if that's helpful]

• SB 2 (Sen. Boysko) and HB 1207 (Del. Sewell) – Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)
  
  • Cancer treatment is time-intensive and unpredictable. Without paid leave, patients and caregivers face impossible choices: delay lifesaving treatment or lose their livelihood and health coverage. SB 2 ensures workers can take time to address serious health conditions or care for loved ones while receiving partial wage replacement. Less financial hardship. Stronger health outcomes. Greater job security.
• HB 87 (Del. Laufer)– Patient-to-Provider Coverage
  
  • Ensures patients access to providers they trust, improving continuity of care and treatment. [This bill was incorporated into another bill, HB1284, which was signed into law]
• HB 220 (Del. Hope) – Tobacco Surcharge Sunset Repeal
  
  • Tobacco surcharges on health insurance premiums do not help people quit. Instead, they make coverage unaffordable, reducing enrollment and access to preventive care, and disproportionately harming low-income Virginians and communities of color.  Aligns access to coverage and cessation resources with evidence-based strategies to reduce tobacco use without creating financial barriers.

Funding

• Breast and Cervical Cancer: ACS CAN continues to advocate to maintain funding Every Women’s Life program, the state breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment program for low-income uninsured and underinsured women administered by the Virginia  Department of Health.

• Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding: ACS CAN continues to work to increase funding for fact-based, statewide tobacco prevention and cessation.

• Comprehensive Cancer Control Program Funding: ACS CAN continues to work to protect appropriations for state comprehensive cancer control programs.

Local Control

• ACS CAN supports the authority of local governments to pass local policies that go beyond state laws to help families be healthy, safe and secure. Local policymaking allows innovation and creative problem solving that builds on local strengths and addresses local needs. ACS CAN works at the local, state and federal levels to ensure everyone has a fair and just opportunity to prevent, fight and survive cancer. ACS CAN will oppose legislation that restricts the freedom of local leaders to best serve your shared constituents. 

For more information, contact: Mollie Montague, Virginia Government Relations Director, ACS CAN 

[email protected] | 804-832-9017  

ACS CAN is making cancer a top priority for public officials and candidates at the federal, state, and local levels. ACS CAN empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and influence evidence-based public policy change as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden. As the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN is critical to the fight for a world without cancer. For more information, please visit www.fightcancer.org.