Governor signs Queen Candis Sickle Cell Act at Sentara Community Care Center

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger joined healthcare leaders, elected officials, community advocates, and families Thursday, June 11, at the Sentara Community Care Center in Newport News for a ceremonial signing of the Queen Candis Act.

The legislative package is the first of its kind in the nation, aimed at transforming care for Virginians with sickle cell disease and their families. It includes five new laws that expand sickle cell disease awareness and screening, reduce provider bias, improve school nurse training and support, and build a statewide network of coordinated care.

“Sickle cell disease has not received the research funding, the policy attention, or even the public awareness it demands,” said Governor Spanberger. “Disparity is not an accident of history; it's the product of decades of underinvestment is diseases that disproportionately impact Black communities.”

Sickle cell disease is caused by a single genetic variation among more than 3.1 billion DNA base pairs that make up the human genetic code. Though seemingly small, this difference can have life-altering consequences — severe pain episodes, frequent hospitalizations, and an increased risk of serious complications.The disease disproportionately affects the African American community, and approximately 4,000 Virginians live with the condition.

The Sentara Community Care Center was selected as the site of the bill signing because of its mission to improve access to healthcare and essential services for underserved communities in the Hampton Roads region, which has one of the highest rates of sickle cell disease in Virginia.

Sentara Chief Clinical Officer Michael Hooper, M.D, speaks about the importance of comprehensive care for sickle cell disease at the bill-signing ceremony. 

“It is our collective responsibility to remove barriers to care and improve outcomes for people living with sickle cell disease,” said Michael Hooper, M.D., chief clinical officer for Sentara Health. “I applaud the leaders in this room who have championed this cause.   

In 2024, Sentara partnered with Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University to launch the Sentara-EVMS Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program on the Sentara Norfolk General Hospital campus. The multidisciplinary clinic brings primary care, pain management, behavioral health, physical therapy, and social work under one roof, allowing patients to receive coordinated, personalized care with fewer delays and avoid unnecessary emergency department visits.

“We’ve set a new standard for care and are now serving more than 200 of your loved ones and neighbors with sickle cell disease,” Dr. Hooper said. “This is not just about treating a disease; it’s about improving the quality of life for our patients.”  

The legacy of Queen Candis

While the new legislation represents a major milestone for healthcare in Virginia, speakers emphasized that the day was also about honoring the life and legacy of 15-year-old Candis Gabriella King, of Fairfax, Virginia.

Remembered as a gifted singer and dancer, a proud member of her high school color guard, and a beloved daughter, sister, and friend, Candis's journey highlighted both the challenges faced by individuals living with sickle cell disease and the resilience of the families who support them.

Following her daughter's passing in 2025, Secretary of the Commonwealth Candi Mundon King transformed personal loss into advocacy, helping raise awareness and champion policies aimed at improving care and support for others living with the disease.

The signing of the Queen Candis sickle cell legislation serves as both a tribute to Candis's legacy and a promise to future generations of Virginians living with the disease that access to quality, coordinated care will continue to improve across the Commonwealth.

Family members of Candis King sit together during the bill-signing ceremony, reflecting the emotional significance of the event honoring Candis's legacy.

A five-bill commitment to sickle cell care

The bills included in the Queen Candis Act and signed by Gov. Spanberger in the 2026 legislative session address multiple issues for sickle cell patients and how they are treated by the medical community. They include:

SB 22 / HB 1147 mandates bias training for doctors, nurses, and other providers as part of their license renewal process. The initial focus is on maternal health, where disparities are a major concern. The bills are designed to reduce missed or delayed diagnoses, inadequate treatment, and unequal health outcomes, especially for patients with sickle cell disease.

HB 1418 establishes a comprehensive, coordinated effort to improve awareness, education, and professional training around sickle cell traits, while linking the program to existing screening and public health infrastructure. This includes awareness of screening programs across the state, especially for newborns.

HB 1446 creates a mandate for school nurses to receive training to recognize symptoms and intervene with students facing sickle cell issues, to ensure appropriate care and minimize time lost from school.

SB 813 establishes a statewide network of expert consultants that providers can access for advice on symptom management, pain treatment and care coordination. This provider network will be overseen by the state commissioner of public health. A report is due to the General Assembly by Dec. 1, 2026, and the network goes into effect July 1, 2027.

HB 392 creates a voluntary statewide screening program for sickle cell traits and counseling for anyone diagnosed. It also calls for a network of comprehensive sickle cell clinics, so no one is far from care when they need it.

Gov. Spanberger signs the Queen Candis Sickle Cell Act of Virginia during a ceremonial bill signing at the Sentara Community Care Center in Newport News, Thursday, June 11, 2026. Family members of Candis Gabriella King, elected officials, healthcare leaders, and community advocates stand behind her applauding, with a tribute display honoring Candis beside them.