Migration of individuals age 60 & older; JLARC to study causation and resulting impact.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by J.R. Henson

HJ463 directs JLARC to study 60+ Virginians who leave Virginia: causes, economic and community impacts, and policy options to boost net inmigration; final report planned.

Tabled in Rules (13-Y 0-N)

Overview

Bill type: House Joint Resolution directing a study (non-binding guidance for an audit/review)

Bill number/title: HJ 463 — “Migration of individuals age 60 & older; JLARC to study causation and resulting impact”

Introduced: January 8, 2025 (prefiled); Offered January 13, 2025

Status: Tabled in Rules (14-Y to 0-N) as of January 29, 2025

Author/Patron: Delegate Henson

Referred to: Committee on Rules

Purpose and intent

HJ 463 directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to study the migration of Virginians aged 60 and older who leave the Commonwealth. The resolution explicitly notes concerns about aging-outmigration and asks JLARC to investigate the causes and the resulting impact on Virginia’s economy, communities, and public policy.

Key provisions and study scope

JLARC is directed to evaluate:
1. Trend confirmation (2023–2025): Whether the overall out-migration of adults aged 60+ has continued in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
2. Causes and drivers: Identify issues that influence relocation for this age group, including but not limited to:
- Affordable housing (including retirement communities or assisted living facilities)
- Cost of living
- Transportation access
- Health care access
- Proximity to family or geographic preferences
3. Impacts on Virginia: Assess the economic and community-level effects of out-migration of older Virginians, plus any other projected consequences.
4. Recommendations: Propose policy options to address migration patterns and to encourage net inmigration of adults aged 60+ to Virginia.

Timeline and reporting requirements

Assistance: All state agencies must cooperate with JLARC upon request.

Meetings deadline: JLARC must complete its meetings by November 30, 2025.

Executive summary and final report: The chair must submit an executive summary to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems by the first day of the 2026 Regular Session. The summary must indicate whether JLARC intends to publish a final report as a House or Senate document.

Publication and posting: The executive summary and any final report will follow standard processing procedures and will be posted on the General Assembly’s website.

Who is affected

Primary focus: Virginians aged 60 and older who may relocate out of Virginia.

Broader impact groups: Local communities, housing and healthcare sectors, transportation providers, and employers affected by changes in the older adult population. The study could inform state policy on aging, housing affordability, healthcare access, and regional migration dynamics.

Political and procedural context

The bill previously cited Governor Youngkin’s remark about net outmigration and the concentration of 60+ movers leaving Virginia.

As of the latest action, HJ 463 is tabled in the Rules Committee, meaning it is paused and not advancing to the full House for consideration in its current session.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison to similar studies in other states or discuss potential policy questions JLARC might raise based on typical aging-migration analyses.

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