General Assembly Rejects Gov. Spanberger’s Amendments to The Affordable Medicine Act

Prescription drug affordability legislation is now back on Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s desk for final action, after the General Assembly voted this week to reject the governor’s proposed amendments during the one-day reconvened session. Now, it is up to Gov. Spanberger to sign or veto the bill in its original form. AARP Virginia urges Gov. Spanberger to sign the bill, which passed the General Assembly with an overwhelming bipartisan majority.                                                 

The Affordable Medicine Act, as passed by the legislature, will give Virginians access to the same discounts on drug prices now available to people enrolled in Medicare. The version of the bill sent to Gov. Spanberger by the General Assembly initially passed the House of Delegates 95-4 and the state Senate 34-6. The House and Senate voted unanimously to reject the amendments.

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“For the millions of Virginians struggling to pay for their needed medications who have waited years for relief, their fate is now in Gov. Spanberger’s hands,” said AARP Virginia State Director Jim Dau. “Democrats and Republicans in the legislature from across the state came together to address one of the biggest challenges facing their constituents and delivered a strong, impactful piece of legislation. I sincerely hope that Gov. Spanberger will listen to the voices of her constituents, 84% of whom support this policy, and sign the bill.”

The Affordable Medicine Act (Senate Bill 271 and House Bill 483) would also create a Prescription Drug Affordability Advisory Panel, empowered to report to the General Assembly on prescription drug pricing and to make future policy recommendations to lower consumer costs. Delegate Karrie Delaney (D‑Centreville) sponsored the House version and the Senate version was sponsored by Senator Creigh Deeds (D‑Charlottesville).

The General Assembly passed, in 2024 and 2025, an earlier version of this bill that would have established an affordability board with the power to review and set upper payment limits for certain drugs. Those bills were vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. The revised bill this year addressed some concerns by delivering immediate results while building on Gov. Spanberger's efforts when she served in the U.S. House of Representatives to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices.