Virginia House Democrats Pass Paid Sick Leave, Prescription Drug Affordability Bills

New legislation aims to cap prescription drug costs and require employers to provide paid sick time off.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The Virginia House of Delegates has passed bills to create a prescription drug affordability board with the power to set price limits on certain medications, as well as a measure requiring employers to provide paid sick time off to workers. The bills now move to the state Senate for consideration.

Why it matters

These bills address two key health care issues facing Virginians - the high cost of prescription drugs and the lack of paid sick leave for many workers. The prescription drug affordability board could help lower costs for consumers, while the paid sick leave policy aims to improve public health outcomes and support workers.

The details

The prescription drug affordability board bill would allow the state to set price limits on certain medications, mirroring federal price reductions for Medicare patients. However, some Republican lawmakers have expressed concerns about the costs associated with the board. The paid sick leave bill would require employers to provide a minimum of one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, though critics argue this will create significant financial burdens for businesses.

  • The Virginia House of Delegates passed both bills on February 16, 2026.
  • The Senate has already passed its own prescription drug affordability board bill, which now needs to be considered by the House.
  • The Senate's paid sick leave bill is still working its way through the legislative process.

The players

Karrie Delaney

A Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates who wrote the prescription drug affordability board bill.

Keith Hodges

A Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates who expressed concerns about the costs associated with the prescription drug affordability board.

Wren Williams

A Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates who cited the fiscal impact of the paid sick leave bill.

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What they’re saying

“We're gonna be able to mirror those exact same price limits and make sure that Virginians can have the same relief that we're already seeing at the federal level.”

— Karrie Delaney, Democratic Delegate (WRIC)

“Taxpayers deserve to have something back on their investment and deserve to have lower drug prices with that investment, Mr. Speaker, and this bill does not do that.”

— Keith Hodges, Republican Delegate (House Floor)

“Year one, $26.6 million, year two, $29.8 million, year three, $32.1 million, year four, $34.3 million.”

— Wren Williams, Republican Delegate (House Floor)

What’s next

The Senate's prescription drug affordability board bill still needs to be considered by the House of Delegates, while the Senate's paid sick leave bill is still working its way through the legislative process.

The takeaway

These bills represent a significant effort by Virginia Democrats to address rising prescription drug costs and the lack of paid sick leave for many workers in the state. While the proposals face some Republican opposition due to concerns over costs, their passage could have a meaningful impact on the health and financial security of Virginians.