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.
HB1470 would require each Virginia school board to annually collect and submit detailed health insurance premium and enrollment data for the plans it offers to employees. The required reporting would cover plan type, premium costs, the division’s and employees’ shares of those costs, and enrollment counts by coverage level, with the data reported for the most recent plan year ending within the fiscal year. The bill also allows projections when a plan year is not complete or does not align with the fiscal year, and it authorizes the Board of Education to define terms and set reporting procedures by regulation.
The Department of Education would be required to compile the submitted information, include it in the Annual School Report, and publish it on its website in a format that allows comparisons across school divisions, plan types, and coverage levels. The reporting begins with the 2026–2027 school year, and the Board of Education must adopt regulations governing submission timelines, data elements, formats, definitions, and how to report when multiple plans are offered. The bill is aimed at improving transparency around school employee health benefits and supporting the statewide health care premium assumption used in Standards of Quality funding calculations.
The bill adds a new section, § 22.1-81.1, to the Code of Virginia and creates a new ongoing reporting obligation for local school boards. It does not directly change employee benefit eligibility or premium-setting rules, but it does require school divisions to gather and transmit detailed insurance cost and enrollment data and requires the Department of Education to publish statewide comparative information. The measure also affects the Board of Education by directing it to promulgate implementing regulations and define key reporting terms.
There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided materials, so no direct debate or recorded floor sentiment is available. Based on the bill’s structure, the apparent policy goal is administrative transparency and improved data collection rather than a controversial substantive change to benefits. Its referral and final status indicate it was left in the House Appropriations Committee, suggesting it did not advance, but the available record does not show whether that was due to fiscal concerns, workload concerns, or other reasons.
The main potential points of contention are likely administrative burden, data availability, and the cost of implementing new reporting systems for school divisions and the Department of Education. School boards may object to the added reporting workload, especially where insurance plan years do not align neatly with fiscal years or where projections would be needed. Another possible issue is whether the required publication of comparative premium data could be misleading without standardized definitions and context, which is why the bill leaves significant rulemaking authority to the Board of Education.