Advocacy Day 2026 Follow Up
As part of our 2026 Advocacy Day, our attendees participated in 40 meetings with legislators supporting 6 different bills. Here is an update as of April 14th on the progress of these bills:
|
Bill number(s) |
Bill Topic |
Current Status |
|
HB627 & SB128 |
Restrictions on Noncompete for Health Care Professionals |
Both passed in House and Senate, pending Governor's recommendation |
|
HB1097 & SB309 |
Blue Envelope Program Expansion (Autistic Driver Safety) |
Both approved by Governor (effective 7/1/2026) |
|
HB103 |
Early Intervention (Part C) Extension to Age 4 |
Failed |
|
SB722 |
Open Captioning in Movie Theaters |
Approved by Governor (effective 7/1/2026) |
|
HB1014 & SB34 |
Voting Rights Protections for Individuals Under Guardianship |
Both approved by Governor (effective 7/1/2026) |
|
HB468 |
Transition to College Supports (Model IEP Guidelines) |
Approved by Governor (effective 7/1/2026) |
|
HB225 |
Marcus Alert Evaluation Task Force |
Approved by Governor (effective 7/1/2026) |
|
HB1113 |
Culturally Responsive School Mental Health Guidelines |
Approved by Governor (effective 7/1/2026) |
Advocacy Wins: Licensure Compact
The Virginia Occupational Therapy Association (VOTA) is proud to share that the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact has been enacted in Virginia. This interstate agreement streamlines the licensure process, allowing Virginia occupational therapy practitioners to apply for compact privileges and practice in other participating states. Currently, Virginia joins four other states, with additional states expected to participate in the near future.
The OT Compact is a joint initiative of the American Occupational Therapy Association and the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, with the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association (VOTA) playing a pivotal role in advancing its adoption in Virginia. This work culminated in the passage of Senate Bill 1189 in 2021.
Implementation efforts have been led by the Virginia Board of Medicine, the OT Advisory Board and the Compact Commission to ensure regulatory readiness. For information on compact privileges in Virginia, you can visit Virginia Board of Medicine - OT Compact.
Virginia was the first state to pass legislation to join the OT Licensure Compact, an achievement that reflects the strength of advocacy efforts within our profession.