Certified community health workers; Department of Health shall evaluate status of workers, report.
Summary
SB 981 directs the Virginia Department of Health to evaluate the status of certified community health workers in the Commonwealth and deliver a report to legislative budget leaders and the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget by November 1, 2025. The report must cover how many certified community health workers are employed by the Department and local health departments, what services they provide, how those services are performing, whether additional workers are needed, what nonstate funding sources support the positions, and what contracts localities have entered into to provide community health services.
The bill is primarily a study-and-reporting measure rather than a direct regulatory or spending change. It does not create a new certification system or mandate staffing levels, but it does require the Department of Health to collect and organize statewide information that could inform future policy, appropriations, and workforce planning related to public health and community-based care.
Impact
SB 981 affects Virginia public health administration by requiring the Department of Health to assess the workforce of certified community health workers and report findings to the General Assembly and budget officials. It may influence future appropriations, staffing decisions, and local health department contracting practices by identifying workforce gaps, service outcomes, and funding sources. The bill does not itself amend licensing or certification statutes, but it creates a formal reporting obligation tied to state and local health operations.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support and moved through both chambers with strong favorable votes. It passed the Senate unanimously and the House by a wide margin, with committee votes also largely supportive. The voting history suggests the measure was viewed as a low-conflict, informational bill focused on workforce assessment rather than a controversial policy change.
Contention
There is little evidence of major contention in the available record. The only notable divergence is a small number of House committee and floor no votes, which may reflect general caution about adding reporting duties or future fiscal implications rather than opposition to community health workers themselves. The bill’s referral to appropriations committees indicates that lawmakers were attentive to possible budget and staffing implications, but no specific disputes are documented in the provided materials.