Public Pool Regulations - Board of Health Directive
Summary
Virginia HB222 was signed into law directing the State Board of Health to adopt comprehensive regulations for public swimming pools and water recreational facilities. The law covers pools operated for public use, including those at tourist facilities and health spas. The bill passed the House 87-10 and Senate 21-19, with an effective date of July 1, 2026.
What changed
Virginia HB222 enacts legislation requiring the Board of Health to develop and adopt regulations governing swimming pools and water recreational facilities operated for public use. The scope includes pools at tourist facilities and health spas. The bill passed with bipartisan support in both chambers after committee amendments and was signed as Chapter 53.
Pool operators and facility managers should prepare for upcoming Board of Health rulemaking proceedings and public comment periods to shape the specific regulatory requirements. Existing facilities should assess current compliance with potential new standards. The Board of Health will determine specific operational requirements, inspection protocols, and enforcement mechanisms through the administrative rulemaking process.
What to do next
- Monitor Board of Health regulatory proceedings for proposed pool regulations
- Review current facility operations and identify areas requiring compliance updates
- Submit public comments during Board of Health rulemaking to provide industry input
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Virginia / HB222 Signed by Governor HB222 House Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-02
Public pools; regulations.
Public pools; regulations. Directs the Board of Health to adopt regulations governing swimming pools and other water recreational facilities operated for public use, including swimming pools and other water recreational facilities operated in conjunction with a tourist facility or health spa.
Bill Details
State Virginia
Session 2026 Regular Regular Session
Chamber House
Official Source lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB222
LegiScan View on LegiScan
Sponsors
Patrick Hope (Rep - D) Betsy Carr (Rep - D)
Action History
2026-04-02 Approved by Governor-Chapter 53 (effective 7/1/2026) 2026-03-10 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 2026-03-10 H Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 2026-03-06 S Signed by President 2026-03-06 H Signed by Speaker 2026-03-06 H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB222) 2026-03-06 H Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB222ER) 2026-03-06 H Enrolled 2026-03-02 S Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) 2026-03-02 S Read third time 2026-02-27 S Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) 2026-02-27 S Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-02-27 S Rules suspended 2026-02-26 S Reported from Education and Health (9-Y 6-N) 2026-02-24 S Assigned Education sub: Health 2026-01-29 S Referred to Committee on Education and Health 2026-01-29 S Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) 2026-01-28 H Read third time and passed House (87-Y 10-N 0-A) 2026-01-28 H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB222) 2026-01-27 H Engrossed by House as amended 2026-01-27 H committee amendments agreed to 2026-01-27 H Read second time 2026-01-26 H Read first time 2026-01-22 H Reported from Health and Human Services with amendment(s) (20-Y 2-N) 2026-01-20 H Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (9-Y 0-N) 2026-01-20 H House subcommittee offered 2026-01-16 H Assigned sub: Health 2026-01-13 H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB222) 2026-01-08 H Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services 2026-01-08 H Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101296D
Votes
2026-01-20 Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (9-Y 0-N) Yea: 9 Nay: 0 2026-01-22 Reported from Health and Human Services with amendment(s) (20-Y 2-N) Yea: 20 Nay: 2 2026-01-28 Read third time and passed House (87-Y 10-N 0-A) Yea: 87 Nay: 10 2026-02-26 Reported from Education and Health (9-Y 6-N) Yea: 9 Nay: 6 2026-02-27 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 37 Nay: 0 2026-03-02 Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) Yea: 21 Nay: 19
Committee Referrals
2026-01-08 H Health and Human Services 2026-01-16 H Health and Human Services: Health 2026-01-29 S Education and Health 2026-02-24 S Education: Health
Amendments
0000-00-00 Health Subcommittee Amendment 0000-00-00 Health Subcommittee Amendment 0000-00-00 Health and Human Services Amendment
Bill Text Versions
2026-01-08 Introduced 2026-01-27 Engrossed 2026-03-06 Enrolled Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
Named provisions
Related changes
Source
Classification
Who this affects
Taxonomy
Browse Categories
Get Government General alerts
Weekly digest. AI-summarized, no noise.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Get alerts for this source
We'll email you when Virginia Legislative Events publishes new changes.