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HB 1772

relative to prescribing ibogaine for investigational use only and adopting the physician associate licensure compact.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Keith Ammon and 4 co-sponsors

Turns Virginia's Autism Advisory Council into a permanent Autism Commission with hiring power, including an executive director, to boost autism coordination and oversight.

Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15
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Bill Summary · HB 1772

HB 1772 — Summary (Autism Advisory Council → Autism Commission)

Status: Left in Appropriations (introduced Jan 8, 2025)

Main purpose

HB 1772 would convert Virginia’s temporary Autism Advisory Council into a permanent, independently staffed legislative branch entity renamed the “Autism Commission.” The bill removes the current July 1, 2027 sunset for the Council, modifies membership and appointment authorities to align with other independently staffed legislative agencies, and explicitly authorizes the Commission to hire an executive director and other staff.

Key provisions

  • Name and permanence

    • Renames the Autism Advisory Council to the Autism Commission.
    • Repeals the Council’s scheduled expiration (currently July 1, 2027), making the body permanent unless changed later by law.

  • Membership and appointments

    • Reconstitutes membership to mirror independently staffed legislative agencies: a mix of legislative members, nonlegislative citizen members, and ex officio executive-branch members (the text describes six legislative members, 12 nonlegislative citizen members with specified representative categories, and multiple ex officio commissioners or their designees).
    • Specifies appointment authorities (Speaker of the House, Senate Committee on Rules, Governor) and eligibility/term rules for citizen members (four-year terms, limits on consecutive terms).

  • Staffing, powers, and operations

    • Authorizes the Commission to appoint and employ an executive director and other staff, determine their duties, and set salaries within appropriations.
    • Provides for administrative support and access to legal/research services (Clerk offices, Division of Legislative Services).
    • Requires the Commission to meet regularly (statute language indicates at least five times per year) and to submit an annual report (by December 1) to the Governor and General Assembly.
    • Contains a procedural provision limiting adoption of recommendations over the opposition of a majority of legislative members.

Fiscal impact (from Virginia Dept. of Planning & Budget fiscal note)

  • Budget amendment required. Estimated recurring General Fund cost to state legislative entities: approximately $25,812 per year (FY2026–FY2030).
    • General Assembly compensation: $10,800 (estimated $6,000 for House members + $4,800 for Senate members).
    • Department of Legislative Services (DLS) / Commission travel and related costs: $15,012 (travel estimates: $7,340 House, $5,872 Senate).
    • Compensation/travel for three nonlegislative citizen members estimated at $1,800 (to be paid by the Commission).
  • Staffing costs for an executive director and additional staff are authorized but unspecified; net fiscal impact depends on whether and how many staff the Commission hires and on related appropriations.

Who is affected

  • Legislative branch (member compensation and administrative support).
  • The Commission itself (new hiring authority and ongoing operations).
  • Executive branch agencies represented ex officio on the Commission (participation in coordination and reporting).
  • Virginians with autism and families may be indirectly affected through anticipated improvements in coordination, policy recommendations, and oversight of autism-related services.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Introduced Jan 8, 2025; referred to Rules and to Appropriations.
  • Fiscal note published Jan 29, 2025.
  • Current reported status: Left in Appropriations.
  • Companion/related legislation noted (e.g., SB 2129 as companion).

Notes: The bill text and legislative history include drafting edits to membership and appointment language. Staffing and programmatic impacts depend on future appropriation decisions and the Commission’s hiring choices.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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