Virginia: Unified Regulatory Plan for 2024
Virginia's governor has announced the Unified Regulatory Plan through the end of fiscal year 2024, listing all anticipated rulemaking activities, including those items being created, amended, or eliminated. Professional and occupational regulation makes up 22% of the items in the plan. The Office of Regulatory Management is charged with reducing regulations by 25%. Some of the changes for the Department of Health Professions and Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation include a title change of nurse practitioner to advanced practice registered nurse, changes to the certification requirements for surgical technologists, amendments to opioid prescribing regulations, annual registration of optometrists (who will be authorized to perform laser surgery), lowering experience requirements for the Board of Contractor Regulations, and requiring a general review of regulations for several professions.