If you don't know what a bill does, don't vote for it. This bill fails to deliver upon the goals it promises. Health care is already undergoing innovation and it is innovating everyday. This bill was originally introduced in 2022 and since then, questions asked originally have not been answered and the list of unanswered questions continues to grow. Federal laws ultimately dictate health innovation and this bill does not address those laws. The reality is, that this bill is far more likely to deter genuine health innovation than promote it in the long run. The ambiguity of the bill's goals and vague consumer protections makes it ripe for abuse for vulnerable populations. Will "health consumers" know they are dealing with a "product" that is not necessarily subject to normative VA health regulations? How will "health consumers" that have been adversely affected, know that it is the State Commissioner who they will need to reach out to in order to "provide data"? The bill leaves it up to the company themselves to describe the risks, will the Commonwealth have its own subject matter experts who can review these risks? If you don't know what a bill does, don't vote for it. THERE IS NO NEED FOR A LEGAL PATHWAY FOR HUMAN EXPERIMENTATION IN VIRGINIA. The only thing more ambiguous than the consumer protections in this bill, the beneficiaries. If this bill is heard again next year, it will 5 years since it was originally heard. 5 years is the same time window allotted in this bill, yet not a single VA company has spoken in favor of this bill. In that 5 years, has it been brought to the committee's attention at least 5 Virginia companies that would benefit or 5 Virginia specific health regulations that are overly burdensome to "health innovation" occurring in the Commonwealth? If you don't know what a bill does, don't vote for it.

Comments Document

I have attached my written testimony in opposition to HB 2189.

I fully support this bill, which recognizes and protects the fundamental right of individuals—and parents or guardians on behalf of their children—to make medical decisions based on their religious convictions, even during an epidemic. Medical mandates, especially those concerning vaccines, must always respect individual beliefs and freedoms. The current policy, which only permits exemptions for medical reasons certified by a physician, neglects the deeply held religious values of many individuals and families. This bill corrects that oversight by ensuring that religious liberty—a cornerstone of our nation's founding principles—is upheld in times of public health concern. It is vital to strike a balance between public health efforts and individual rights. This legislation does not diminish the state’s ability to promote health measures during an epidemic; rather, it acknowledges that a one-size-fits-all approach to medical interventions is neither ethical nor appropriate in a society that values diversity of thought, belief, and practice. I urge lawmakers to support this bill, ensuring that religious freedom and parental rights are respected and upheld in the face of state mandates.

Please give serious consideration to passing this bill. I deeply wish that pediatric extended care centers existed when my son George was still alive. George was born 10 weeks premature with a congenital heart defect; he has his first open heart surgery at UVA when he was barely five pounds! Due to complications from his surgery he required a trach and g tube. We were overjoyed to bring him home and he thrived but acquiring reliable home nursing was always a challenge. I remember hearing about these centers when I was crying about having lost another nurse to turnover and wondering how I would meet productivity quotas at my job and thinking "Why cant Virginia have something like this?" We were blessed to be able to work from home during this time so we got by but other parents are not so lucky and they shouldn't be precluded form taking their children home because of the severe home nursing shortage. Also, these centers would allow children to have access to a whole staff or nurses and therapists to aid in their development and in case of emergencies. We were not so lucky. Our son had an emergency at home while I was in the hospital delivering his baby brother. His home nurse did not realize his trach was actually out the whole time and he passed away because he was without oxygen for too long. He was two weeks shy of his second birthday. If he was in another setting (like one of these care centers) with a staff of nurses and respiratory therapists, the outcome likely would have been different. These centers could bring peace of mind to families during the day and allow these incredible children to be in a safe setting with their peers.

How is this - My name is Thomas LoBianco, and I’ve seen firsthand the impact that Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care centers (PPECs) have on medically fragile children and their families—not just as someone who operates these centers, but also as a parent of a special needs child. My family opened Florida’s first independently owned PPEC center in 1988. Since then, we’ve expanded to six centers in Florida and are now opening one in Texas because we have seen both the need for and the impact of our services. PPEC centers provide an essential alternative to private duty nursing, offering high-quality, skilled nursing care at a significantly lower cost. With ongoing nursing shortages, many families struggle to secure reliable in-home care, leaving them without options. PPECs bridge that gap, providing consistent, specialized care in a structured setting that not only supports a child’s medical and developmental needs but also improves long-term health outcomes. Beyond that, PPECs help reduce the burden on hospitals and emergency services. When children receive proper daily care, they are far less likely to experience medical emergencies that require ambulance transport, ER visits, or hospital stays—events that drive up healthcare costs for the state. PPECs are a proactive solution that improve health outcomes while significantly reducing Medicaid expenditures. Other states, including Michigan and Ohio, have recently moved to implement PPEC regulations, recognizing the benefits for both families and state healthcare budgets. Virginia now has the opportunity to do the same by passing this bill and ensuring access to a proven, effective model of care. I appreciate your time and consideration. This is a solution that works—not just for families, but for the state as a whole. Thank you, Thomas LoBianco Vice President Tender Care PPEC

Dear Delegates, My name is Jacqueline Goodrum, and I write today to urge you to support HB2300. As an environmental attorney and Albemarle County resident, I am concerned about the potential presence of toxic PFAS chemicals in my drinking water. My family owns a 20 acre parcel in rural, southern Albemarle County and we rely on well water for our drinking water. Presently, there is no requirement (from EPA or DEQ or VDH) that private wells be tested for PFAS; PFAS testing is not included in our annual water testing unless we pay extra for it. We are not alone in wondering what toxic chemicals could be in our drinking water that we don't know about. According to a study by the Center for Progressive Reform, 1.7 million Virginians rely on private well systems as their drinking water source. 1.7 million Virginians, my family included, are excluded from current water quality testing regimes that aim to protect public health. HB2300 seeks to remedy this problem. First, HB2300 aims to make PFAS testing and treatment for private wells accessible by creating a fund to help rural landowners cover the cost of testing and treatment if contamination is found. (Delegate Campbell has offered Amendment 280#1h to provide $2.0 million in the 2026 budget for this fund.) Moreover, by providing for PFAS testing for private wells, HB2300 helps collect important data on the extent of PFAS contamination across all drinking water sources, public and private, in Virginia. For these reasons, I urge you to support HB2300. Thank you.

Public Comment in Support of HB 2446 Mr. Chairman and Members of the House Committee, Good afternoon. My name is Edwuan Whitehead, Vice President of the Injustice Reform Network, and I strongly support HB 2446, the Postpartum Depression Education Act. Postpartum depression affects one in seven women, yet awareness and treatment remain dangerously inadequate. Even Queen Victoria struggled with severe postpartum depression, describing motherhood as overwhelming and isolating. If one of history’s most powerful women suffered in silence, imagine the reality for countless mothers today—especially those without access to proper care. The DSM-5 fails to fully recognize postpartum depression, leading to misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, and unnecessary suffering. HB 2446 would establish a public awareness campaign through the Virginia Department of Health, ensuring early detection and intervention. This is particularly critical for Black, Indigenous, and other mothers of color, who experience higher rates of postpartum depression but face greater barriers to care due to systemic inequities and lack of culturally competent healthcare. Untreated postpartum depression endangers both parent and child, increasing risks of neglect and, in extreme cases, maternal suicide. If we are serious about maternal and infant health, we must treat postpartum mental health as a public health priority. I urge you to support and advance HB 2446. Thank you.