L&E; covenants not to compete prohibited, low-wage employees, exceptions, civil penalty.

HR671, Commending JR's Auto Care.

Commending JR's Auto Care.

SB941, Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.

Robbery; air or gas operated weapon, etc.; penalty. Expands the crime of Class 3 felony robbery to include robbery committed by any person by using or displaying any air or gas operated weapon or any object similar in appearance to a firearm, whether capable of being fired or not.

HB1746, Public safety officer; definition.

Public safety officer; definition. Adds dispatchers and animal control officers to the definition of a public safety officer for purposes of possible selection by the Governor for the Commonwealth Public Safety Medal of Valor, presented for performance above and beyond the call of duty involving extraordinary valor in the face of grave danger, at great personal risk. However, the bill specifies that dispatchers and animal control officers are not included in the definition of public safety officer for the purpose of an injury where weather constitutes a particular risk of a public safety officer's employment to be compensable under the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act.

HB1600, Budget Bill.

Budget Bill. Amends items of and adds items to Chapter 2 of the Acts of Assembly of 2024, Special Session I.

SB1449, Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.

Siting of data centers; site assessment; high energy use facility. Provides that prior to any approval of a rezoning application, special exception application, or special use permit for the siting of a new high energy use facility (HEUF), as defined in the bill, a locality shall require that an applicant perform and submit a site assessment to examine the sound profile of the HEUF on residential units and schools located within 500 feet of the HEUF property boundary. The bill also allows a locality to require that a site assessment examine the effect of the proposed facility on (i) ground and surface water resources, (ii) agricultural resources, (iii) parks, (iv) registered historic sites, and (v) forestland on the HEUF site or immediately contiguous land. The provisions of the bill shall not apply to a site with an existing legislative or administrative approval where an applicant is seeking an expansion or modification of an already existing or approved facility and such expansion does not exceed an additional 100 megawatts or more of electrical power. Finally, the bill provides that its provisions shall not be construed to prohibit, limit, or otherwise supersede existing local zoning authority. This bill is identical to HB 1601.

HB1609, Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment.

Health insurance; coverage for fertility services; essential health benefits benchmark plan. Requires the Health Insurance Reform Commission to consider coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility and for standard fertility preservation procedures in its 2025 review of the essential health benefits benchmark plan.