HB 560

HOUSE BILL NO. 560
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Appropriations
on February 13, 2026)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Hope)
A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-4025 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Administrative Process Act; exemptions; limitations; appeals of case decisions regarding benefits sought.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 2.2-4025 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 2.2-4025. Exemptions operation of this article; limitations.
A. This article shall not apply to any agency action that (i) is placed beyond the control of the courts by constitutional or statutory provisions expressly precluding court review, (ii) involves solely the internal management or routine of an agency, (iii) is a decision resting entirely upon an inspection, test, or election save as to want of authority therefor or claim of arbitrariness or fraud therein, (iv) is a case in which the agency is acting as an agent for a court, or (v) encompasses matters subject by law to a trial de novo in any court.
B. The provisions of this article, however, shall apply to case decisions regarding the grant or denial, including determinations of eligibility and approved levels of service, of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid,[ food stamps] Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, general relief, auxiliary grants, or state-local hospitalization. However, no appeal may be brought regarding the adequacy of standards of need and payment levels for public assistance and social services programs.[ Notwithstanding the] The provisions of § 2.2-4027[,] shall apply and the review shall be based solely upon the agency record[, and the court shall be limited to ascertaining whether there was evidence in the agency record to support the case decision of the agency acting as the trier of fact]. If the court finds in favor of the party complaining of agency action, the court shall remand the case to the agency for further proceedings. The validity of any statute, regulation, standard, or policy, federal or state, upon which the action of the agency was based shall not be subject to review by the court. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the review of issues of law available under § 2.2-4027. No intermediate relief shall be granted under § 2.2-4028.