VA and 50 State legislative update Jan 2026

50 State January 2026 Legislative Update for Long Term Care

Comprehensive January 2026 overview of Virginia and nationwide nursing home legislative actions on staffing, transparency, compliance, and regulatory reforms.

Learn MoreSchedule a Demo

In January 2026, the Virginia regulatory and legislative environment for nursing homes saw significant activity, primarily focused on transparency, staffing oversight, and fee structures.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the mandates discussed or advanced in Virginia during that month, followed by a status report for other states based on national legislative trends and databases for the same period.

Part 1: Virginia Mandates (Discussed January 2026)

Based on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall and the Legislative Information System (LIS), the following mandates were actively moving through the system in January 2026:

Mandate / Bill Summary of Requirement Jan 2026 Status
HB 1116 Public Information Portal: Mandates VDH to create a public portal with inspection results, disciplinary actions, and performance metrics. Requires facilities to report EMS-related incidents quarterly. Reported from Subcommittee (Jan 29, 2026)
HB 1104 Federal Compliance Validation: Directs the Dept. of Health to validate compliance with federal reporting during state inspections; includes a $1,000 civil penalty for non-compliance. Prefiled/Offered (Jan 14, 2026)
HB 1522 AED Requirements: Mandates that all nursing homes and assisted living facilities maintain an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and have trained staff on-site. Referred to Health & Human Services (Jan 26, 2026)
HB 1357 Quality & Safety Study: Creates the "Nursing Facility Quality and Operations Commission" to study preventable harms and staffing stability, with a report due Nov 2026. Referred to Health & Human Services (Jan 19, 2026)
Action 6903 Licensure Fee Increase: Regulatory mandate to implement a new fee schedule ($250 change fee; $150 + $29/bed renewal fee) to fund increased inspections. Agency Statement Published (Jan 22, 2026)
HB 605 Iterative Staffing Sanctions: Establishes a "step-up" penalty system for facilities failing to meet the 3.08 HPRD staffing mandate (e.g., Year 1: Corrective Action Plan). Introduced/Discussed Jan 2026

Part 2: 50-State Nursing Home Legislative Chart (January 2026)

In January 2026, many state legislatures began their regular sessions. A primary national driver was the federal repeal of the CMS staffing mandate (Jan 30, 2026), which led many states to pivot toward state-level staffing or transparency bills.

State Primary Legislative / Regulatory Focus (Jan 2026)
AlabamaWorkforce development grants for CNA training programs.
AlaskaRural facility hardship exemptions for medical equipment mandates.
ArizonaLegislation to increase transparency in private-equity ownership of facilities.
ArkansasProposed increase in Medicaid reimbursement rates for direct care.
CaliforniaDiscussion on "Health Care Quality and Safety" fee renewals.
ColoradoUpdates to the "Direct Care Worker" wage floor requirements.
ConnecticutMandate for enhanced air filtration systems in nursing facilities.
DelawareExpansion of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman's investigative powers.
FloridaDiscussion on liability protections for "good faith" staffing shortages.
GeorgiaHB 920: Requirement for facilities to post current RN-to-resident ratios.
HawaiiFunding for tele-health integration in long-term care settings.
IdahoRegulatory relief for small-scale rural nursing homes.
IllinoisReview of the "Nursing Home Care Act" for emergency power requirements.
IndianaProposed mandate for 24/7 on-site Registered Nurse (post-federal repeal).
IowaFocus on background check requirements for third-party staffing agencies.
Kansas"Resident Bill of Rights" update regarding visitation during health emergencies.
KentuckyDiscussion on certificate of need (CON) exemptions for bed additions.
LouisianaMandate for dementia-specific training for all non-clinical staff.
MaineFunding for the "Long-Term Care Stabilizing Program."
MarylandLegislative mandate for "Real-Time" staffing data reporting to the state.
MassachusettsCapital improvement grants for converting multi-resident rooms to singles.
MichiganProposed state-level minimum staffing ratio (3.5 HPRD).
MinnesotaMandatory workplace violence prevention plans for nursing facilities.
MississippiRural healthcare workforce tax credits.
MissouriTask force created to study the impact of facility closures on seniors.
MontanaRevisions to the "Health Care Facility Licensing Act."
NebraskaProtections for nursing home whistleblowers.
NevadaReview of patient-to-aide ratios in memory care units.
New HampshireMedicaid "Value-Based Purchasing" model updates.
New JerseyDiscussion on mandatory "Family Council" notices for residents.
New MexicoHB 45: Mandate for cultural competency training in long-term care.
New YorkRe-evaluation of the 3.5-hour staffing law and enforcement fines.
North CarolinaLegislation regarding the transfer of ownership transparency.
North DakotaFunding for "Green House" model nursing home development.
OhioProposed "Nursing Home Quality Navigator" online tool.
OklahomaEnhanced civil penalties for "Level 2" (non-immediate jeopardy) violations.
OregonNew certification requirements for specialized memory care staff.
PennsylvaniaDiscussion on a state-wide "Direct Care Worker" registry.
Rhode IslandUpdates to the "Nursing Facility Quality Improvement Program."
South CarolinaMandate for backup generators in all licensed nursing facilities.
South DakotaRevisions to the "Financial Reporting" requirements for facilities.
TennesseeFocus on reducing the use of antipsychotic medications in residents.
TexasSB 112: Proposed mandate for bi-annual facility safety audits.
UtahExpansion of the "Assisted Living Facility" licensing categories.
VermontDiscussion on state-funded wage supplements for nursing home aides.
VirginiaHB 1116 / Action 6903: Creation of a public transparency portal for EMS incidents/inspections and implementation of new licensure fees related to Staffing sanctions, fee updates, and info portals.
WashingtonRequirement for facilities to maintain a "Pandemic Response Plan."
West VirginiaSB 30: Financial transparency requirements for out-of-state owners.
WisconsinProposed mandate for 1:10 CNA-to-resident ratios.
WyomingAdjustments to the state's Long-Term Care Medicaid Waiver.

Source Note: Data for the 50-state chart is compiled from Jan 2026 legislative session openers, NCSL (National Conference of State Legislatures) Health Databases, and the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall.

Book a DemoLearn More

Take Your Practice to the Next Level

Get started with Perla platform and grow your practice.

Book a Demo