Virginia · Senate Bill · 2026 Regular Session
SB586
Virginia Senate Bill No. 586 — Ethics and fairness in health carrier business practices; use of artificial intelligence

Status ● Engrossed Effective N/A Passage Likelihood H

WHAT THIS BILL REGULATES · 3 REQUIREMENT TYPES

How Is This Bill Enforced

Enforcement Authority
The State Corporation Commission (the Bureau of Insurance) has jurisdiction to determine whether a carrier has violated the standards in subsection B and to enforce subdivision B 15. The Commission may promulgate rules and regulations to implement the section. Providers who suffer loss from a carrier's violation may initiate an action to recover actual damages. Providers must first make a reasonable effort to confer with the carrier and wait at least 30 calendar days before filing a complaint with the Commission.
Private Right of Action
The State Corporation Commission (the Bureau of Insurance) has jurisdiction to determine whether a carrier has violated the standards in subsection B and to enforce subdivision B 15. The Commission may promulgate rules and regulations to implement the section. Providers who suffer loss from a carrier's violation may initiate an action to recover actual damages. Providers must first make a reasonable effort to confer with the carrier and wait at least 30 calendar days before filing a complaint with the Commission.
Penalties
Providers may recover actual damages for carrier violations. If the trier of fact finds the violation resulted from gross negligence and willful conduct, damages may be increased to up to three times actual damages. Reasonable attorney fees and court costs may also be awarded. Each claim paid or processed in violation constitutes a separate violation. The Commission is not a trier of fact for purposes of treble damages.

What This Bill Requires

Verbatim statutory text on the left; plain-language analysis and a per-section checklist on the right. Numbered markers cross-link to the matching checklist row.

Statutory Text
Analysis & Obligations
Va. Code § 38.2-3407.15(A)
Definitions

A "Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" or "AI" means a branch of computer science that uses data processing systems that perform functions normally associated with human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning, and self-improvement, or the capability of a device to perform functions that are normally associated with human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning, and self-improvement. "Artificial intelligence" includes machine learning.Va. Code § 38.2-3407.15(A)" or "AI" means a branch of computer science that uses data processing systems that perform functions normally associated with human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning, and self-improvement, or the capability of a device to perform functions that are normally associated with human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning, and self-improvement. "Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" or "AI" means a branch of computer science that uses data processing systems that perform functions normally associated with human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning, and self-improvement, or the capability of a device to perform functions that are normally associated with human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning, and self-improvement. "Artificial intelligence" includes machine learning.Va. Code § 38.2-3407.15(A)" includes machine learning.

Subsection A contains the definitions applicable to § 38.2-3407.15. The bill adds a new definition of "artificial intelligence" (or "AI") to this subsection, defining it broadly as a branch of computer science using data processing systems that perform functions normally associated with human intelligence, including machine learning. Existing definitions for carrier, enrollee, provider, claim, clean claim, health care services, health plan, provider contract, and retroactive denial remain unchanged.

Va. Code § 38.2-3407.15(B)(15)
Carrier obligations for AI use in claims and coverage
Deployer

(15)(i) 1 Each carrierCarrier"Carrier," "enrollee," and "provider" shall have the meanings set forth in § 38.2-3407.10; however, a "carrier" shall also include any person required to be licensed under this title which offers or operates a managed care health insurance plan subject to Chapter 58 (§ 38.2-5800 et seq.) or which provides or arranges for the provision of health care services, health plans, networks or provider panels which are subject to regulation as the business of insurance under this title.Va. Code § 38.2-3407.15(A) shall (i) publicly disclose, if applicable, to the Bureau the carrierCarrier"Carrier," "enrollee," and "provider" shall have the meanings set forth in § 38.2-3407.10; however, a "carrier" shall also include any person required to be licensed under this title which offers or operates a managed care health insurance plan subject to Chapter 58 (§ 38.2-5800 et seq.) or which provides or arranges for the provision of health care services, health plans, networks or provider panels which are subject to regulation as the business of insurance under this title.Va. Code § 38.2-3407.15(A)'s use of AI to manage insurance claims and coverage, including in underlying algorithms, data used, and resulting determinations;

(15)(ii) 2 submit to the Bureau, upon request, all information, including documents and software, necessary for enforcement of this subdivision;

(15)(iii) 3 maintain documentation of AI decisions for at least three years; and

(15)(iv) 4 provide notice to enrollees and health care providers when AI has been used to issue an adverse determination and provide a clear and timely process for appealing the determination.

New subdivision B 15 imposes four distinct AI-related obligations on health carriers. Clause (i) requires public disclosure to the Bureau of Insurance regarding the carrier's use of AI in managing insurance claims and coverage, including the underlying algorithms, data used, and resulting determinations. Clause (ii) requires carriers to submit all information — including documents and software — necessary for the Bureau's enforcement upon request. Clause (iii) mandates that carriers maintain documentation of AI decisions for at least three years. Clause (iv) requires notice to enrollees and providers when AI has been used to issue an adverse determination, along with a clear and timely appeal process.

These obligations are embedded within the existing fair business standards framework, meaning violations carry the same enforcement mechanisms and remedies as other subsection B violations — including the provider private right of action under subsection G and regulatory oversight by the State Corporation Commission.

Compliance actions 4 items
1
CarriersCarrier"Carrier," "enrollee," and "provider" shall have the meanings set forth in § 38.2-3407.10; however, a "carrier" shall also include any person required to be licensed under this title which offers or operates a managed care health insurance plan subject to Chapter 58 (§ 38.2-5800 et seq.) or which provides or arranges for the provision of health care services, health plans, networks or provider panels which are subject to regulation as the business of insurance under this title.Va. Code § 38.2-3407.15(A) must publicly disclose to the Bureau of Insurance their use of AI to manage insurance claims and coverage, including the underlying algorithms, data used, and resulting determinations.
R-02.1
2
CarriersCarrier"Carrier," "enrollee," and "provider" shall have the meanings set forth in § 38.2-3407.10; however, a "carrier" shall also include any person required to be licensed under this title which offers or operates a managed care health insurance plan subject to Chapter 58 (§ 38.2-5800 et seq.) or which provides or arranges for the provision of health care services, health plans, networks or provider panels which are subject to regulation as the business of insurance under this title.Va. Code § 38.2-3407.15(A) must submit to the Bureau of Insurance, upon request, all information — including documents and software — necessary for enforcement of the AI disclosure requirements.
R-02.2
3
CarriersCarrier"Carrier," "enrollee," and "provider" shall have the meanings set forth in § 38.2-3407.10; however, a "carrier" shall also include any person required to be licensed under this title which offers or operates a managed care health insurance plan subject to Chapter 58 (§ 38.2-5800 et seq.) or which provides or arranges for the provision of health care services, health plans, networks or provider panels which are subject to regulation as the business of insurance under this title.Va. Code § 38.2-3407.15(A) must maintain documentation of AI decisions for at least three years.
G-01.3
4
CarriersCarrier"Carrier," "enrollee," and "provider" shall have the meanings set forth in § 38.2-3407.10; however, a "carrier" shall also include any person required to be licensed under this title which offers or operates a managed care health insurance plan subject to Chapter 58 (§ 38.2-5800 et seq.) or which provides or arranges for the provision of health care services, health plans, networks or provider panels which are subject to regulation as the business of insurance under this title.Va. Code § 38.2-3407.15(A) must provide notice to enrollees and health care providers when AI has been used to issue an adverse determination and must provide a clear and timely process for appealing the determination.
HC-01.6

Passage Likelihood

High
Status Engrossed
Chamber Passed origin
Committee No action
Majority party (No data)
Bipartisan No
Prior session None

Legislative History

2026-01-14 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100849D
2026-01-14 Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
2026-02-02 Senate committee offered
2026-02-02 Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
2026-02-03 Committee substitute printed 26106800D-S1
2026-02-04 Rules suspended
2026-02-04 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-04 Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-05 Read second time
2026-02-05 Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)
2026-02-05 Engrossed by Senate committee substitute (Voice Vote)
2026-02-06 Read third time and passed Senate (22-Y 18-N 0-A)
2026-02-06 Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate
2026-02-06 Read third time and passed Senate (23-Y 16-N 0-A)
2026-02-12 Placed on Calendar
2026-02-12 Read first time
2026-02-12 Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation
2026-02-23 Continued to next session in Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote)

Entry Last Reviewed

2026-05-20
AI generated