<p class=ldtitle>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.</p>
Summary
HB1470 requires each Virginia school board to annually collect and submit detailed health insurance premium and enrollment data for the health plans it offers to employees. The required reporting includes plan type, premium amounts, the employer and employee shares of premiums, and enrollment counts by plan and coverage level. The data would cover the most recent plan year ending within the fiscal year, with projections allowed when necessary, and school boards would follow Board of Education regulations for timing, format, and any additional data elements needed.
The bill also directs the Department of Education to compile the submitted information each year, 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 Board of Education would be required to adopt regulations defining key terms and setting submission requirements, including how to report when multiple health plans are offered. The reporting requirement would begin with the 2026-2027 school year.
Impact
This bill would add a new section to the Code of Virginia, creating a statewide school division health insurance premium reporting system under § 22.1-81.1. It would not directly change employee benefits, but it would impose new administrative duties on school boards and the Department of Education, and it could affect how the state calculates the statewide health care premium assumption used in Standards of Quality funding determinations. The bill would also expand public access to school division health insurance cost data through annual reporting and website publication.
Sentiment
The available vote history suggests the bill received some support in the House Education process, but not enough to advance cleanly through Appropriations. It was reported from Education on an 11-7 vote after a subcommittee recommendation to report and refer it onward, but later a subcommittee recommended laying it on the table unanimously. Overall, the sentiment appears mixed: there was interest in transparency and data collection, but also enough concern to stall the bill in Appropriations.
Contention
The main points of contention likely involve the administrative burden on school divisions, the cost and complexity of collecting standardized insurance data, and whether the reporting requirements justify the added workload. Another likely issue is whether the information is sufficiently useful for state funding calculations and public comparison to warrant mandatory annual reporting. Supporters appear to favor transparency and better data for policy and funding decisions, while opponents or skeptics seem to have concerns about implementation burden, regulatory complexity, and the bill’s necessity.