Virginia Senate Committee Advances House Bill 37 to Make Permanent Protections for Developmental Disabilities Services

Sep 10, 2026, 4:30 PM ET

Officials in suits around a formal wooden conference table with a gavel

RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Senate’s Education and Health Committee unanimously approved House Bill 37 on February 26, 2026, rereferring it to the Finance and Appropriations Committee as the 2026 legislative session progresses toward crossover. The measure, which seeks to repeal a July 1, 2026, sunset provision on financial eligibility standards for developmental disability waivers, passed the House of Delegates overwhelmingly earlier this month, signaling strong bipartisan consensus on supporting families caring for individuals with disabilities.

HB37 directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to continue disregarding Social Security Disability Insurance income exceeding the maximum monthly Supplemental Security Income amount when assessing financial eligibility for Medicaid developmental disability waivers. This policy, first enacted temporarily in Chapter 211 of the 2024 Acts of Assembly, prevents a ‘benefits cliff’ that could disqualify working individuals or their families from critical waiver services. By making the disregard permanent, the bill ensures stability for thousands of Virginians relying on these waivers for home- and community-based services rather than institutional care.

Introduced by Delegate Irene Shin of Fairfax County, the bill garnered co-patronage from a diverse group including Delegate James Leftwich, a Republican from Chesapeake, alongside Delegates Laura Jane Cohen, Kathy Tran, Michelle Maldonado, Garrett McGuire, Leslie Chambers Mehta, Marcia Price, Virgil Thornton, and Senator Elizabeth Bennett-Parker. This cross-party support underscores the legislation’s appeal in promoting self-reliance among people with developmental disabilities, allowing them to maintain employment and SSDI benefits without risking access to essential supports.

The bill’s path through the General Assembly has been marked by unanimous votes at every stage. In the House Health and Human Services Committee, it was reported out 22-0 on February 3 following an 8-0 subcommittee recommendation. The full House passed it on February 9 via block vote, 98-0, with two members absent. In the Senate, the Education and Health Committee reported it favorably 15-0 on February 26. A fiscal impact statement from the Department of Planning and Budget, released January 19, accompanied the measure, reflecting careful consideration of state resources.

Advocacy groups have rallied behind HB37, highlighting its role in fostering independence. The Autism Society of Central Virginia lists it among supported bills, emphasizing financial eligibility reforms. The Arc of Virginia publicly commended Delegate Shin for championing the cause, stating people with disabilities deserve opportunities for a full life. Public testimony during committee hearings included poignant accounts, such as a parent noting their intellectually disabled son receives SSDI over the waiver’s cost-of-living allowance, underscoring how the policy safeguards family stability.

Proponents argue the bill aligns with principles of personal responsibility by removing disincentives to work, enabling individuals with developmental disabilities to contribute to society while accessing necessary services. Delegate Leftwich’s co-patronage highlights Republican backing for targeted aid that empowers families without broad expansions. The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities featured HB37 as its ‘Bill of the Week’ in early February, urging contact with legislators to advance it.

As it awaits action in Senate Finance and Appropriations, HB37 represents a pragmatic approach to long-term care policy. With the session’s midpoint approaching, its unanimous progression positions it well for final passage, potentially providing lasting certainty for Virginia’s disability community. The bill’s focus on disregarding excess SSDI income preserves waiver slots for those in greatest need, optimizing state Medicaid dollars toward community integration over costlier institutional options.

This legislation builds on prior reforms, ensuring the 2024 temporary measure becomes enduring law. Stakeholders anticipate swift committee review, given the bill’s momentum and the approaching budget deliberations where waiver funding plays a key role. Families across Virginia, from urban Fairfax to coastal Chesapeake, stand to benefit from this stability, reinforcing community-based support systems that keep loved ones at home.

Email Fairfax County Supervisors At:
Jeff McKay → chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Kathy Smith (Sully District) sully@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Rachna Heizer (Braddock District) braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov,
James Bierman (Dranesville District) dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Rodney Lusk (Franconia District) franconia@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Walter Alcorn (Hunter Mill District) huntermill@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Andres Jimenez (Mason District) mason@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Daniel Storck (Mount Vernon District) mtvernon@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Dalia Palchik (Providence District) providence@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Pat Herrity (Springfield District) springfield@fairfaxcounty.gov,

To Contact Fairfax School Board Members:
All Members - FairfaxCountySchoolBoard@fcps.edu,
Tom Dannan - tfdannan@fcps.edu,
Robyn Lady - ralady1@fcps.edu,
Marcia St. John-Cunning - mstjohncunni@fcps.edu,
Melanie Meren - HunterMillStaff@fcps.edu,
Ricardy Anderson - randerson@fcps.edu,
Mateo Dunne - mdunne@fcps.edu,
Karl Frisch - kfrisch@fcps.edu,
Sandy Anderson - sanderson@fcps.edu,
Seema Dixit - sdixit@fcps.edu,
Kyle McDaniel - kmcdaniel@fcps.edu,
Ryan McElveen - rlmcelveen@fcps.edu,
Ilryong Moon - imoon@fcps.edu,

Email the Richmond City Council:
Andrew Breton, andrew.breton@rva.gov,
Katherine Jordan, katherine.jordan@rva.gov,
Kenya Gibson, kenya.gibson@rva.gov,
Sarah Abubaker, sarah.abubaker@rva.gov,
Stephanie Lynch, stephanie.lynch@rva.gov,
Ellen Robertson, ellen.robertson@rva.gov,
Cynthia Newbille, cynthia.newbille@rva.gov,
Reva Trammell, reva.trammell@rva.gov,
Nicole Jones, nicole.jones@rva.gov,

Email the Richmond School Board:
Matthew Percival, mpercival@rvaschools.net,
Kathryn Ricard, kricard@rvaschools.net,
Ali Faruk, afaruk@rvaschools.net,
Wesley Hedgepeth, whedgepeth@rvaschools.net,
Stephanie Rizzi, srizzi@rvaschools.net,
Anne Holton, aholton@rvaschools.net,
Cheryl Burke, cburke2@rvaschools.net,
Emmett Jafari, ejafari@rvaschools.net,
Shavonda Fernandez, sdixon@rvaschools.net,

Fairfax County Richmond Virginia Virginia House of Delegates Virginia Senate Aaron Rouse Abigail Spanberger Adam Ebbin Adele McClure Alex Askew Alfonso Lopez Ali Faruk Amy Laufer Andres Jimenez Andrew Breton Angelia Williams Graves Anne Holton Anne Tata Atoosa Reaser Barbara Favola Barry Knight Betsy Carr Bill DeSteph Bill Wiley Bills Bonita Anthony Briana Sewell Bryce Reeves Buddy Fowler Budget Charlie Schmidt Charniele Herring Cheryl Burke Chris Runion Christie Craig Christopher Head Cia Price Cliff Hayes Creigh Deeds Cynthia Newbille Dalia Palchik Dan Helmer Danica Roem Daniel Storck Danny Diggs David Marsden David Reid David Suetterlein Debra Gardner Delores McQuinn Delores Oates Destiny LeVere Bolling Disabilities Disability Don Scott Education Elizabeth Bennett-Parker Elizabeth Guzmán Ellen McLaughlin Ellen Robertson Emily Jordan Emmett Jafari Eric Phillips Eric Zehr Fairfax Fairfax Board of Supervisors Fairfax County Fairfax County School Board Families Garrett McGuire Glen Sturtevant Gretchen Bulova Health Hillary Kent Holly Seibold House of Delegates Ilryong Moon Insurance Irene Shin Israel O'Quinn Jackie Glass James Bierman James Leftwich Jas Jeet Singh Jason Ballard Jay Leftwich Jeffrey McKay Jeion Ward Jennifer Boysko Jennifer Carroll Foy Jeremy McPike Jessica Anderson John McAuliff Joseph McNamara Josh Thomas Joshua Cole Justin Pence Kacey Carnegie Kannan Srinivasan Karen Hamilton Karen Keys-Gamarra Karl Frisch Karrie Delaney Katherine Jordan Kathryn Ricard Kathy Smith Kathy Tran Katrina Callsen Keith Hodges Kelly Convirs-Fowler Kenya Gibson Kimberly Pope Adams Kyle McDaniel Lamont Bagby Lashrecse Aird Laura Cohen Laura Jane Cohen Lee Ware Legislation Leslie Mehta Lily Franklin Lindsey Dougherty Louise Lucas Luke Torian Luther Cifers Madison Whittle Mamie Locke Marcia Price Marcia St. John-Cunning Marcus Simon Margaret Franklin Mark Downey Mark Obenshain Mark Peake Marty Martinez Mateo Dunne Matthew Percival May Nivar Medicaid Melanie Meren Michael Feggans Michael Jones Michael Webert Michelle Maldonado Mike Cherry Mitchell Cornett Nadarius Clark Nicole Cole Nicole Jones Otto Wachsmann Pat Herrity Patrick Hope Paul Krizek Phil Hernandez Phillip Scott Policy Rachna Heizer Rae Cousins Republican Reva Trammell Ricardy Anderson Richard Stuart Richmond Richmond City Council Richmond School Board Rip Sullivan Robert Bloxom Robyn Lady Rodney Lusk Rodney Willett Rozia Henson Russet Perry Ryan McDougle Ryan McElveen Saddam Salim Sam Rasoul Sandy Anderson Sarah Abubaker Schuyler VanValkenburg Scott Surovell Scott Wyatt Seema Dixit Senate Senator Shavonda Fernandez Shelly Simonds Stacey Carroll Stella Pekarsky Stephanie Lynch Stephanie Rizzi Tammy Mulchi Tara Durant Terry Austin Terry Kilgore Tim Griffin Timmy French Todd Pillion Tom Dannan Tom Garrett Tommy Wright Tony Wilt Travis Hackworth Virgil Thornton Virginia Virginia House of Delegates Virginia Senate Vivian Watts Walter Alcorn Wendell Walker Wesley Hedgepeth Will Davis Will Morefield William Stanley Wren Williams