{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/30-343.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/30-343.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/30-343.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/30-343.html"}],"law_id":358733,"edition_id":2,"section_id":358733,"structure_id":51314,"section_number":"30-343","catch_line":"Standing committees to request Commission assessment","history":"2013, c. 709; 2015, c. 698; 2016, c. 570; 2017, c. 485; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 259; 2023, cc. 698, 699; 2024, cc. 36, 219; 2025, c. 268.","full_text":"A\n\nWhenever a legislative measure containing a mandated health insurance benefit or provider is proposed that is not identical or substantially similar to a legislative measure previously reviewed by the Commission within the three-year period immediately preceding the then-current session of the General Assembly, the Chair of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce or Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor having jurisdiction over the proposal shall (i) request that the Commission assess the proposal and (ii) send a copy of such request to the Bureau of Insurance of the State Corporation Commission (the Bureau). The Commission shall be given a period of 24 months to complete and submit its assessment on each such request. A report summarizing the Commission’s assessment shall be forwarded to the chairman of the standing committee that requested the assessment. For the purposes of this section, “mandated health insurance benefit or provider” has the same meaning as “state-mandated health benefit” provided in § 38.2-3406.1.\n\nB\n\nUpon receipt of a copy of such a request, the Bureau shall prepare an analysis of the extent to which the proposed mandate is currently available under qualified health plans in the Commonwealth and advise the Commission as to whether the applicable agency has determined or would likely determine, in accordance with applicable federal rules, that the proposed mandate exceeds the scope of the essential health benefits. The Bureau’s analysis shall be advisory only and not binding upon the Commission, the Bureau, the State Corporation Commission, or any other parties. As used in this section, “applicable agency” means the governmental agency that in accordance with applicable federal rules is responsible for identifying state-mandated benefits that are in addition to the essential health benefits. If the applicable federal rules require an agency of the Commonwealth to identify the state-mandated benefits that are in addition to the essential health benefits but do not identify a specific agency that is responsible for making such identification, the Bureau shall be the applicable agency. Following the Bureau’s analysis, the Commission shall determine if the proposed mandate shall be (i) considered as part of an essential health benefits benchmark plan review in accordance with the provisions of § 30-343.1, (ii) assessed jointly by the Bureau and the Joint Commission on Health Care in accordance with subsection C, or (iii) considered in another manner by the Commission.\n\nC\n\nUpon request of the Commission, the Bureau and the Joint Commission on Health Care shall jointly assess the social and financial impact and the medical efficacy of the proposed mandate, which assessment shall include an estimate of the effects of enactment of the proposed mandate on the costs of health coverage in the Commonwealth, including any estimated additional costs that the Commonwealth may be responsible for pursuant to § 1311(d)(3)(B) of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act should the proposed mandate ultimately be determined by the applicable agency to be a benefit that exceeds the scope of the essential health benefits. Upon completion of the assessment by the Bureau and the Joint Commission on Health Care, the Commission may make a recommendation regarding its support of or opposition to the enactment of the proposed mandate. The Commission’s recommendation may address whether the proposed mandate should be provided under health care plans offered through a health benefit exchange or outside a health benefit exchange.\n\t\t\tThe Commission shall be given a period of 24 months to complete and submit its assessment on each such request. A report summarizing the Commission’s study shall be forwarded to the Governor and the General Assembly.\n\nD\n\nWhenever a legislative measure containing a mandated health insurance benefit or provider is identical or substantially similar to a legislative measure previously reviewed by the Commission within the three-year period immediately preceding the then-current session of the General Assembly, the standing committee may request the Commission to study the measure as provided in subsection A.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1334458,"text":"Whenever a legislative measure containing a mandated health insurance benefit or provider is proposed that is not identical or substantially similar to a legislative measure previously reviewed by the Commission within the three-year period immediately preceding the then-current session of the General Assembly, the Chair of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce or Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor having jurisdiction over the proposal shall (i) request that the Commission assess the proposal and (ii) send a copy of such request to the Bureau of Insurance of the State Corporation Commission (the Bureau). The Commission shall be given a period of 24 months to complete and submit its assessment on each such request. A report summarizing the Commission’s assessment shall be forwarded to the chairman of the standing committee that requested the assessment. For the purposes of this section, “mandated health insurance benefit or provider” has the same meaning as “state-mandated health benefit” provided in § 38.2-3406.1.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1334459,"text":"Upon receipt of a copy of such a request, the Bureau shall prepare an analysis of the extent to which the proposed mandate is currently available under qualified health plans in the Commonwealth and advise the Commission as to whether the applicable agency has determined or would likely determine, in accordance with applicable federal rules, that the proposed mandate exceeds the scope of the essential health benefits. The Bureau’s analysis shall be advisory only and not binding upon the Commission, the Bureau, the State Corporation Commission, or any other parties. As used in this section, “applicable agency” means the governmental agency that in accordance with applicable federal rules is responsible for identifying state-mandated benefits that are in addition to the essential health benefits. If the applicable federal rules require an agency of the Commonwealth to identify the state-mandated benefits that are in addition to the essential health benefits but do not identify a specific agency that is responsible for making such identification, the Bureau shall be the applicable agency. Following the Bureau’s analysis, the Commission shall determine if the proposed mandate shall be (i) considered as part of an essential health benefits benchmark plan review in accordance with the provisions of § 30-343.1, (ii) assessed jointly by the Bureau and the Joint Commission on Health Care in accordance with subsection C, or (iii) considered in another manner by the Commission.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1334460,"text":"Upon request of the Commission, the Bureau and the Joint Commission on Health Care shall jointly assess the social and financial impact and the medical efficacy of the proposed mandate, which assessment shall include an estimate of the effects of enactment of the proposed mandate on the costs of health coverage in the Commonwealth, including any estimated additional costs that the Commonwealth may be responsible for pursuant to § 1311(d)(3)(B) of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act should the proposed mandate ultimately be determined by the applicable agency to be a benefit that exceeds the scope of the essential health benefits. Upon completion of the assessment by the Bureau and the Joint Commission on Health Care, the Commission may make a recommendation regarding its support of or opposition to the enactment of the proposed mandate. The Commission’s recommendation may address whether the proposed mandate should be provided under health care plans offered through a health benefit exchange or outside a health benefit exchange.\n\t\t\tThe Commission shall be given a period of 24 months to complete and submit its assessment on each such request. A report summarizing the Commission’s study shall be forwarded to the Governor and the General Assembly.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":1334461,"text":"Whenever a legislative measure containing a mandated health insurance benefit or provider is identical or substantially similar to a legislative measure previously reviewed by the Commission within the three-year period immediately preceding the then-current session of the General Assembly, the standing committee may request the Commission to study the measure as provided in subsection A.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":51314,"edition_id":2,"name":"Health Insurance Reform Commission","identifier":"53","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":29,"parent_id":51255,"metadata":{"child_laws":9,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:40:31","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:32:04","permalink":{"id":1427529,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51314,"identifier":"53","token":"30\/53","url":"\/30\/53\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51255,"edition_id":2,"name":"General Assembly","identifier":"30","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":73,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":476,"child_structures":87},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:39:52","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:55","permalink":{"id":1426021,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51255,"identifier":"30","token":"30","url":"\/30\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":358707,"structure_id":51314,"section_number":"30-339","catch_line":"Health Insurance Reform Commission established; membership; terms","url":"\/30-339\/","token":"30\/53\/30-339","metadata":false},{"id":358729,"structure_id":51314,"section_number":"30-340","catch_line":"Quorum; meetings; voting on recommendations","url":"\/30-340\/","token":"30\/53\/30-340","metadata":false},{"id":358730,"structure_id":51314,"section_number":"30-341","catch_line":"Compensation; expenses","url":"\/30-341\/","token":"30\/53\/30-341","metadata":false},{"id":358731,"structure_id":51314,"section_number":"30-342","catch_line":"Powers and duties","url":"\/30-342\/","token":"30\/53\/30-342","metadata":false},{"id":358733,"structure_id":51314,"section_number":"30-343","catch_line":"Standing committees to request Commission assessment","url":"\/30-343\/","token":"30\/53\/30-343","metadata":false},{"id":358732,"structure_id":51314,"section_number":"30-343.1","catch_line":"Review of essential health benefits benchmark plan","url":"\/30-343.1\/","token":"30\/53\/30-343.1","metadata":false},{"id":358734,"structure_id":51314,"section_number":"30-344","catch_line":"Staffing","url":"\/30-344\/","token":"30\/53\/30-344","metadata":false},{"id":358735,"structure_id":51314,"section_number":"30-345","catch_line":"Chairman's executive summary of activity and work of the Commission","url":"\/30-345\/","token":"30\/53\/30-345","metadata":false},{"id":358736,"structure_id":51314,"section_number":"30-346","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/30-346\/","token":"30\/53\/30-346","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":358731,"structure_id":51314,"section_number":"30-342","catch_line":"Powers and duties","url":"\/30-342\/","token":"30\/53\/30-342","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":358732,"structure_id":51314,"section_number":"30-343.1","catch_line":"Review of essential health benefits benchmark plan","url":"\/30-343.1\/","token":"30\/53\/30-343.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/30-343\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2013. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 709<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 6 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2015, chapter 698<\/a>; in 2016, chapter 570<\/a>; in 2017, chapter 485<\/a>; in 2023, chapters 698<\/a> and 699<\/a>; in 2024, chapters 36<\/a> and 219<\/a>; in 2025, chapter 268<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":358731,"section_number":"30-342","catch_line":"Powers and duties","order_by":null,"url":"\/30-342\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":358732,"section_number":"30-343.1","catch_line":"Review of essential health benefits benchmark plan","order_by":null,"url":"\/30-343.1\/"},{"id":362137,"section_number":"38.2-3406.1","catch_line":"Application of requirements that policies offered by small employers include state-mandated health benefits","order_by":null,"url":"\/38.2-3406.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1427547,"object_type":"law","relational_id":358733,"identifier":"30-343","token":"30\/53\/30-343","url":"\/30-343\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/30-343\/","token":"30\/53\/30-343","dublin_core":{"Title":"Standing committees to request Commission assessment","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 30-343","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Whenever a legislative measure containing a mandated health insurance benefit or provider<\/span> is proposed that is not identical or substantially similar to a legislative measure previously reviewed by the Commission within the three-year period immediately preceding the then-current session of the General Assembly, the Chair of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce or Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor having jurisdiction<\/span> over the proposal shall (i) request that the Commission assess the proposal and (ii) send a copy of such request to the Bureau of Insurance of the State Corporation Commission (the Bureau). The Commission shall be given a period of 24 months to complete and submit its assessment on each such request. A report summarizing the Commission’s assessment shall be forwarded to the chairman of the standing committee that requested the assessment. For the purposes of this section, “mandated health insurance benefit or provider<\/span>” has the same meaning as “state-mandated health benefit<\/span>” provided in § 38.2-3406.1<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Upon receipt of a copy of such a request, the Bureau shall prepare an analysis of the extent to which the proposed mandate<\/span> is currently available under qualified health plans in the Commonwealth and advise the Commission as to whether the applicable agency<\/span> has determined or would likely determine, in accordance with applicable federal rules, that the proposed mandate<\/span> exceeds the scope of the essential health benefits. The Bureau’s analysis shall be advisory only and not binding upon the Commission, the Bureau, the State Corporation Commission, or any other parties. As used in this section, “applicable agency<\/span>” means the governmental agency that in accordance with applicable federal rules is responsible for identifying state-mandated benefits that are in addition to the essential health benefits. If the applicable federal rules require an agency of the Commonwealth to identify the state-mandated benefits that are in addition to the essential health benefits but do not identify a specific agency that is responsible for making such identification, the Bureau shall be the applicable agency<\/span>. Following the Bureau’s analysis, the Commission shall determine if the proposed mandate<\/span> shall be (i) considered as part of an essential health benefits benchmark plan review in accordance with the provisions of § 30-343.1<\/a>, (ii) assessed jointly by the Bureau and the Joint Commission on Health Care in accordance with subsection C, or (iii) considered in another manner by the Commission. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Upon request of the Commission, the Bureau and the Joint Commission on Health Care shall jointly assess the social and financial impact and the medical efficacy of the proposed mandate<\/span>, which assessment shall include an estimate of the effects of enactment of the proposed mandate<\/span> on the costs of health coverage in the Commonwealth, including any estimated additional costs that the Commonwealth may be responsible for pursuant to § 1311(d)(3)(B) of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act should the proposed mandate<\/span> ultimately be determined by the applicable agency<\/span> to be a benefit that exceeds the scope of the essential health benefits. Upon completion of the assessment by the Bureau and the Joint Commission on Health Care, the Commission may make a recommendation regarding its support of or opposition to the enactment of the proposed mandate<\/span>. The Commission’s recommendation may address whether the proposed mandate<\/span> should be provided under health care plans offered through a health benefit exchange or outside a health benefit exchange.\n\t\t\tThe Commission shall be given a period of 24 months to complete and submit its assessment on each such request. A report summarizing the Commission’s study shall be forwarded to the Governor and the General Assembly. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Whenever a legislative measure containing a mandated health insurance benefit or provider<\/span> is identical or substantially similar to a legislative measure previously reviewed by the Commission within the three-year period immediately preceding the then-current session of the General Assembly, the standing committee may request the Commission to study the measure as provided in subsection A. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSTANDING COMMITTEES TO REQUEST COMMISSION ASSESSMENT (\u00a7 30-343)\n\nA. Whenever a legislative measure containing a mandated health insurance benefit\nor provider is proposed that is not identical or substantially similar to a\nlegislative measure previously reviewed by the Commission within the three-year\nperiod immediately preceding the then-current session of the General Assembly,\nthe Chair of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce or Senate Committee on\nCommerce and Labor having jurisdiction over the proposal shall (i) request that\nthe Commission assess the proposal and (ii) send a copy of such request to the\nBureau of Insurance of the State Corporation Commission (the Bureau). The\nCommission shall be given a period of 24 months to complete and submit its\nassessment on each such request. A report summarizing the Commission’s\nassessment shall be forwarded to the chairman of the standing committee that\nrequested the assessment. For the purposes of this section, “mandated\nhealth insurance benefit or provider” has the same meaning as\n“state-mandated health benefit” provided in § 38.2-3406.1.\n\nB. Upon receipt of a copy of such a request, the Bureau shall prepare an\nanalysis of the extent to which the proposed mandate is currently available\nunder qualified health plans in the Commonwealth and advise the Commission as to\nwhether the applicable agency has determined or would likely determine, in\naccordance with applicable federal rules, that the proposed mandate exceeds the\nscope of the essential health benefits. The Bureau’s analysis shall be\nadvisory only and not binding upon the Commission, the Bureau, the State\nCorporation Commission, or any other parties. As used in this section,\n“applicable agency” means the governmental agency that in accordance\nwith applicable federal rules is responsible for identifying state-mandated\nbenefits that are in addition to the essential health benefits. If the\napplicable federal rules require an agency of the Commonwealth to identify the\nstate-mandated benefits that are in addition to the essential health benefits\nbut do not identify a specific agency that is responsible for making such\nidentification, the Bureau shall be the applicable agency. Following the\nBureau’s analysis, the Commission shall determine if the proposed mandate\nshall be (i) considered as part of an essential health benefits benchmark plan\nreview in accordance with the provisions of § 30-343.1, (ii) assessed\njointly by the Bureau and the Joint Commission on Health Care in accordance with\nsubsection C, or (iii) considered in another manner by the Commission.\n\nC. Upon request of the Commission, the Bureau and the Joint Commission on Health\nCare shall jointly assess the social and financial impact and the medical\nefficacy of the proposed mandate, which assessment shall include an estimate of\nthe effects of enactment of the proposed mandate on the costs of health coverage\nin the Commonwealth, including any estimated additional costs that the\nCommonwealth may be responsible for pursuant to § 1311(d)(3)(B) of the\nfederal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act should the proposed mandate\nultimately be determined by the applicable agency to be a benefit that exceeds\nthe scope of the essential health benefits. Upon completion of the assessment by\nthe Bureau and the Joint Commission on Health Care, the Commission may make a\nrecommendation regarding its support of or opposition to the enactment of the\nproposed mandate. The Commission’s recommendation may address whether the\nproposed mandate should be provided under health care plans offered through a\nhealth benefit exchange or outside a health benefit exchange.\n\t\t\tThe Commission shall be given a period of 24 months to complete and submit\nits assessment on each such request. A report summarizing the Commission’s\nstudy shall be forwarded to the Governor and the General Assembly.\n\nD. Whenever a legislative measure containing a mandated health insurance benefit\nor provider is identical or substantially similar to a legislative measure\npreviously reviewed by the Commission within the three-year period immediately\npreceding the then-current session of the General Assembly, the standing\ncommittee may request the Commission to study the measure as provided in\nsubsection A.\n\nHISTORY: 2013, c. 709; 2015, c. 698; 2016, c. 570; 2017, c. 485; 2021, Sp. Sess.\nI, c. 259; 2023, cc. 698, 699; 2024, cc. 36, 219; 2025, c. 268.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}