SB 156 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Emergency medical services personnel; requirements for personnel without commercial driver's license.

Summary

Emergency medical services personnel; requirements for personnel without commercial driver's license. Requires the Board of Health to include in regulations pertaining to emergency medical services personnel the requirement that any emergency medical services personnel who administer patient care or who operate emergency medical services vehicles without a commercial driver's license comply with the provisions of federal law prohibiting the use of controlled substances by commercial driver's license holders. The bill also requires the State Health Commissioner, when issuing a license or permit to an emergency medical services agency, to require that any personnel of such agency who administer patient care or who operate emergency medical services vehicles without a commercial driver's license comply with the provisions of federal law prohibiting the use of controlled substances by commercial driver's license holders.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 7, 2026 Last action Jan 29, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Education and Health Substitute · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill was amended from its original introduction to a substitute version, changing the focus from personnel without commercial driver's licenses to all personnel authorized to operate or whose job duties include operating emergency medical services vehicles. This expands the scope of the regulation to cover a broader range of drivers, ensuring compliance with federal drug and alcohol testing rules for anyone driving an ambulance, not just those without a commercial license.

Scope change

The bill's applicability was broadened to include all personnel who operate or are assigned to operate emergency medical services vehicles, rather than only those who do not hold a commercial driver's license.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement to comply with federal drug and alcohol testing regulations (49 C.F.R. § 382.213) was expanded from applying only to personnel without a commercial driver's license to applying to any personnel authorized to operate or whose job duties include operating emergency medical services vehicles.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate subcommittee offered

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Committee

Assigned Education sub: Health Professions

upper

Jan 15, 2026

Committee

Rereferred from Transportation to Education and Health (14-Y 0-N)

upper

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Transportation

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors