Bills & Legislation

Unemployment insurance; benefit eligibility conditions, etc.

Unemployment insurance; benefit eligibility conditions; lockout exception to labor dispute disqualification. Amends the Virginia Unemployment Compensation Act's labor dispute disqualification provision to provide that a lockout by an employer shall not constitute a labor dispute and that locked-out employees who are otherwise eligible for benefits shall receive such benefits unless (i) the recognized or certified collective bargaining representative of the locked-out employees refuses to meet under reasonable conditions with the employer to discuss the issues giving rise to the lockout, (ii) there is a final adjudication under the federal National Labor Relations Act that such representative has refused to bargain in good faith with the employer, or (iii) the lockout is the direct result of such representative's violation of an existing collective bargaining agreement.

Lamont BagbyDemocrat

Photo speed monitoring devices; highway work zones, workers present.

Photo speed monitoring devices; highway work zones; workers present. Limits the use of photo speed monitoring devices in highway work zones to when workers are present, as defined in the bill. The bill provides that a certificate sworn to or affirmed by a law-enforcement officer or a retired sworn law-enforcement officer is not prima facie evidence of the facts contained therein for a photo speed monitoring device placed in a highway work zone unless the operator of the photo speed monitoring device provides a sworn certification verifying that workers were present at the time of the violation.

Lamont BagbyDemocrat

Truck-mounted attenuators; certain vehicles equipped with amber and green warning lights.

Green warning lights, snow plows and vehicles equipped with truck-mounted attenuators. Authorizes snow plows used for clearing or removing snow on or along public highways and vehicles equipped with a truck-mounted attenuator that are used in constructing, maintaining, and repairing highways or utilities on or along public highways to be equipped with and use either (i) flashing, blinking, or alternating amber warning lights of types approved by the Superintendent of State Police or (ii) alternating amber and green warning lights of a type approved by the Superintendent of State Police. The bill requires that warning lights be lit only when performing the functions that qualify them to be equipped with such lights and that if a vehicle is equipped with multiple warning lights that are alternating amber and green warning lights, such lights shall be used synchronously with each other.

Lamont BagbyDemocrat

Absentee voting in person; available the second and third Sunday before all elections.

Absentee voting in person; available the second and third Sunday before all elections. Requires absentee voting in person to be made available for a minimum of five hours between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the second and third Sunday immediately preceding all elections.

Lamont BagbyDemocrat

College and Career Ready Virginia Program; advisory committee and work group composition.

Department of Education; College and Career Ready Virginia Program; administration; advisory committee and work group composition. Removes the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond from the membership of the advisory committee and the work group that the Department of Education and the Community College System are required to establish for administration of the College and Career Ready Program pursuant to applicable law. This bill is identical to HB 1039.

Lamont BagbyDemocrat

License plates from another vehicle; use, authorized time period.

Use of license plates from another vehicle; authorized time period. Extends from five to 30 days the time period for which the owner of a motor vehicle is authorized to use license plates from his motor vehicle on another motor vehicle owned by a person operating a garage or owned by a motor vehicle dealer, provided that such use is limited to the time during which his motor vehicle is being repaired or while the motor vehicle owned by the garage operator or motor vehicle dealer is loaned to him for demonstration.

Lamont BagbyDemocrat

License plates; use, special permit, validity period.

Use of license plates; special permit; validity period. Extends from five to 30 days the validity period of a special permit authorizing the use of license plates on a vehicle other than the vehicle for which the license plates were issued, when the vehicle for which the license plates were issued is undergoing repairs in a licensed motor vehicle dealer's repair shop and when the license plates are being used on a vehicle owned by the dealer in whose repair shop the vehicle is being repaired. The bill removes the provisions authorizing the renewal of such permit and limiting such renewals to once per permit.

Lamont BagbyDemocrat

Siting of battery energy storage projects; commercial solar photovoltaic generation facilities, etc.

Siting of battery energy storage projects; commercial solar photovoltaic generation facilities; permitted accessory use. Deems battery energy storage projects as a permitted accessory use in all zoning districts on any parcel of land that is subject to an approved special exception, as defined in the bill, for a commercial solar photovoltaic generation facility, if such battery energy storage project is located within the boundaries of the parcel covered by the existing special exception and complies with any applicable federal, state, and local safety or fire codes and environmental regulations. The bill prohibits a host locality from requiring a special exception or any other local land use approval on such battery energy storage project. The bill clarifies that nothing in the provisions of the bill shall be construed to (i) limit the authority of a host locality to enforce compliance with applicable codes or ensure the safe operation of the battery energy storage project or (ii) preclude the developer of a battery energy storage project from negotiating a siting agreement with the host locality. The bill also clarifies that any battery energy storage project for which an initial interconnection request has been filed with an electric utility or a regional transmission organization prior to July 1, 2030, and is constructed in accordance with the provisions of the bill shall be subject to the applicable local ordinance and regulation in effect on July 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 891.

Jeremy S. McPikeDemocrat

Offenses relating to gift cards; penalties.

Offenses relating to gift cards; penalties. Adds the offenses of gift card theft, gift card forgery, gift card fraud, and criminally receiving goods and services fraudulently obtained to the existing provisions of law related to credit cards. This bill is identical to HB 662.

Lamont BagbyDemocrat

Motor Vehicles, Department of; release of data to certain institutions of higher education, fee.

Department of Motor Vehicles data; certain institutions of higher education; fees. Authorizes the release of certain privileged Department of Motor Vehicles data to those institutions of higher education that have entered into an agreement with the Department to offer special license plates bearing the seal, symbol, emblem, or logotype of that institution of higher education. The bill authorizes the Department to charge a one-time fee of $10,000 from each participating institution to cover the cost of implementing the provisions of this bill. The bill limits the use of such data to surveys, marketing, and solicitations related to such institution of higher education and such purposes as are otherwise authorized in writing by the subject of the information and requires the consent of the subject of the information prior to disclosure of the information. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 1226.

Lamont BagbyDemocrat

Limited-duration licenses, driver privilege cards, and permits; validity periods for documents.

Limited-duration licenses, driver privilege cards and permits, and identification privilege cards; expiration. Extends the validity of limited-duration licenses, driver privilege cards and permits, and identification privilege cards, other than REAL ID credentials and commercial driver's licenses and permits, to a period of time consistent with the validity of driver's licenses, which, under current law, is a period not to exceed eight years or, for a person age 75 or older, a period not to exceed five years, and permits and special identification cards. The bill aligns requirements for eligibility for limited-duration commercial driver's licenses and permits and REAL ID-compliant limited-duration commercial driver's licenses with federal requirements and clarifies the validity periods for such documents. The bill directs the Department of Motor Vehicles to implement the extended validity periods for limited-duration licenses, driver privilege cards, or permits upon renewal or reissuance. This bill is identical to HB 911.

Jeremy S. McPikeDemocrat

Virginia Boys and Men Advisory Commission; established, report, sunset provision.

Virginia Boys and Men Advisory Commission established; report; emergency. Establishes the Virginia Boys and Men Advisory Commission as an advisory commission in the legislative branch of state government for the purpose of advising the General Assembly on issues of concern, including education inequity, economic opportunities, disparity in health outcomes, and the impact of social media use, as such issues relate to boys and men in the Commonwealth. The bill contains an emergency clause. This bill is identical to HB 1188.

Lamont BagbyDemocrat

Electric utilities; energy storage requirements, Department of Energy to develop model ordinance.

Electric utilities; energy storage resources; Department of Energy to develop model ordinances; State Corporation Commission to conduct technology demonstration program. Increases the targets for energy storage capacity that Appalachian Power and Dominion Energy Virginia are required to petition the State Corporation Commission (the Commission) for approval to construct, acquire, or procure and extends the time frame by which such capacity must be met. Under the bill, (i) Appalachian Power shall petition the Commission for approval to construct, acquire, or procure at least 780 megawatts of short-duration energy storage capacity by 2040 and 520 megawatts of long-duration energy storage capacity by 2045 and (ii) Dominion Energy Virginia shall petition the Commission for approval to construct, acquire, or procure at least 16,000 megawatts of short-duration energy storage capacity by 2045 and 4,000 megawatts of long-duration energy storage capacity by 2045. "Long-duration energy storage" and "short-duration energy storage" are defined in the bill. Under the bill, the Commission shall approve an independent auditor to help develop criteria for and to help review requests for proposals for new energy storage resources. The bill requires the Commission to conduct a technology demonstration program for long-duration energy storage resources and initiate a proceeding to determine if such technology is viable and that the targets in the bill are reasonably achievable, for which a final order shall be entered no later than March 1, 2031. Certain provisions of the bill are only effective upon such determination by the Commission. The bill requires the Department of Energy, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Fire Programs, to develop model ordinances suggested for use by localities in their regulation of energy storage projects by December 1, 2026. The bill directs the Commission to initiate a technical conference by September 1, 2026, to evaluate safety standards and practices for energy storage development. The bill also includes a provision authorizing the Commission to evaluate energy storage project proposals during annual petitions filed for the development of new renewable generation capacity. This bill is identical to HB 895.

Lamont BagbyDemocrat

Constitutional amendment; fundamental right to reproductive freedom(submitting to qualified voters).

Constitutional amendment (voter referendum); fundamental right to reproductive freedom. Provides for a referendum at the November 3, 2026, election to approve or reject an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia relating to the right to make one's own decisions related to reproductive health care, including access to abortion. The amendment protects patients and their doctors and nurses from being punished for making such decisions. The amendment allows the state to place restrictions on access to abortion during the third trimester of pregnancy except when the patient's life or physical or mental health is at risk or the pregnancy cannot survive. This bill is identical to HB 781.

Jennifer B. BoyskoDemocrat

Public school teacher licensure requirement; comprehensive review of alt. licensure pathway, report.

Department of Education; public school teacher licensure requirements; comprehensive review of alternative licensure pathways; stakeholder work group; report. Directs the Department of Education (the Department) to convene a stakeholder work group to conduct a comprehensive review of the alternative licensure pathways, as that term is defined in the bill, available to public school teachers in the Commonwealth and make recommendations on improving the quality, efficacy, and outcomes of such alternative licensure pathways. The bill directs the Department to submit to the Governor and the Chairs of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health (i) by October 1, 2026, an interim report on the preliminary findings and initial recommendations of the work group and (ii) by October 1, 2027, a final report on the findings and recommendations of the work group.

Lamont BagbyDemocrat

Commonwealth Savers Plan; ImABLE accounts established, tax treatment.

Commonwealth Savers Plan; ImABLE accounts established; tax treatment. Provides a process whereby eligible individuals, defined in the bill, may establish ImABLE savings accounts, defined in the bill, with the Commonwealth Savers Plan. Payments and contributions, up to limits defined in the bill, to such accounts are made on an after-tax basis, distributions are generally exempt from income taxes, collections, and withdrawal penalties, and such accounts shall not be used as a factor in employment classifications. The bill authorizes the Commonwealth Savers Plan to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill also establishes the Virginia ImABLE Fund and Grant Program to award competitive grants to businesses, nonprofit organizations, and localities for projects that assist eligible individuals with support expenses, as defined in the bill.

Emily M. JordanRepublican

Intentional discharge of untreated sewage onto land or into waters of the Commonwealth; penalty.

Intentional discharge of untreated sewage onto land or into waters of the Commonwealth; civil penalty. Establishes a maximum civil penalty of $50,000 per violation for any person found to have intentionally discharged untreated sewage onto land or into waters of the Commonwealth.

Richard H. StuartRepublican

Tow truck drivers; prohibited acts, employing unregistered tow truck drivers.

Tow truck drivers; registration. Prohibits towing and recovery operators from employing tow truck drivers who are not registered with the Department of Criminal Justice Services, as required under current law. The bill also limits the requirement that a registered tow truck driver have his registration in his possession when driving a tow truck to when such driving is for hire.

Bill DeStephRepublican

Higher ed. institutions; eligibility for in-state tuition for citizens of fed. recognized Va. tribes.

Institutions of higher education; eligibility for in-state tuition for citizens of federally recognized Virginia tribes. Makes any non-Virginia student who is a member or citizen of a federally recognized tribe and who is enrolled in an undergraduate degree program eligible for in-state tuition. The bill also allows the governing board of any public institution of higher education to charge in-state tuition to such students enrolled in a graduate or professional degree program. This is a recommendation of the Commission on Updating Virginia Law to Reflect Federal Recognition of Virginia Tribes.

Richard H. StuartRepublican

Liquefied petroleum gas fitters; service disconnection requirements, civil penalties.

Virginia Consumer Protection Act; liquefied petroleum gas fitters; service disconnection requirements; civil penalties. Requires a liquefied petroleum gas fitter, within 14 days after receiving a customer's request to discontinue liquefied petroleum gas delivery service, to offer in writing to remove any remaining liquefied petroleum gas from such customer's storage tank and reimburse the customer for the cost of the removed liquefied petroleum gas at the prevailing rate, as defined in the bill. Under the bill, if a customer accepts such offer, the liquefied petroleum gas fitter shall carry out such removal and reimbursement within 30 days after such acceptance. A violation of the bill's provisions constitutes a violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.

Richard H. StuartRepublican

Louisa, Town of; new charter, previous charter repealed.

Charter; Town of Louisa. Establishes a new charter for the Town of Louisa in Louisa County and repeals the current charter, which was created in 1972. The new charter sets out the organization of the town's government and contains powers typically granted to towns. This bill is identical to HB 657.

Luther Cifers, IIIRepublican

Electric utilities; cost recovery, costs substantially related to serving data center customers.

Electric utilities; electric distribution infrastructure serving data centers. Prohibits the costs associated with the construction or extension of any electric distribution infrastructure that primarily serves the load of a data center, including the costs of any associated land acquisition, from being recovered from any other customer.

Richard H. StuartRepublican

High load facilities; impact assessments.

High load facilities; impact assessments. Prohibits a governing body or board of zoning appeals from issuing final approval for any special exception, special use permit, variance, rezoning application, or other land disturbing permit, including building permits and erosion and sediment control permits, for a high load facility, defined in the bill, until the applicant submits a finding of no impact or minimal impact issued by the State Corporation Commission. The bill provides that upon request by the owner or operator of a high load facility, the Commission will assess whether the high load facility will have a material adverse impact upon the incumbent electric utility's ability to (i) to maintain electric grid reliability, (ii) avoid exceeding available generation or transmission capacity constraints, or (iii) meet certain statutory requirements.

R. Creigh DeedsDemocrat

Civil actions; assignment as business litigation action, requirements, delayed effective date.

Civil actions; assignment as business litigation action; requirements. Allows counsel for any party or the judge of the circuit court initially assigned to certain civil actions to request to have such action assigned by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia to have such civil action assigned as a business litigation action. The bill provides that an action to be eligible to be considered a business litigation action, the action shall (i) have a minimum amount in controversy of $1,000,000, (ii) present special complexity, including specialized issues or acute litigation management needs, and (iii) fall into one or more of several enumerated categories of civil actions. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.

Jennifer D. Carroll FoyDemocrat

Electric utilities; electric demand flexibility programs, high energy demand customers, report.

Electric utilities; high energy demand customers; demand flexibility programs; reports. Directs Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power to file a petition with the State Corporation Commission by January 15, 2027, for approval of voluntary demand flexibility programs that apply to high energy demand customers, as defined in the bill. The bill requires the Commission to consider all forms of demand flexibility and other specific factors in approving each such program. The bill directs each cooperative that serves one or more high energy demand customers to establish a voluntary demand flexibility program for such customers by January 1, 2029. Under the bill, Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power are required to file status reports on their demand flexibility programs with the Commission three years after initial program approval and every three years thereafter. Additionally, in 2028 and annually thereafter, the Commission is required to submit information summarizing the status and performance of such programs as part of an existing report. This bill is identical to HB 284.

Jeremy S. McPikeDemocrat

Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; defense to action for possession for nonpayment of rent.

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; noncompliance as defense to action for possession for nonpayment of rent. Removes the provision requiring that a tenant in possession of a dwelling unit, prior to asserting a defense against an action for rent or possession, pay into court the amount of rent found by the court to be due and unpaid and for such amount to be held by the court pending the issuance of an order. The bill also limits the discretion of the court in actions for possession based upon nonpayment of rent and actions for rent by a landlord when the tenant is in possession of a dwelling unit.

Jennifer B. BoyskoDemocrat

Motor vehicle collisions; preservation and collection of certain mobile telephone data.

Motor vehicle collisions; preservation and collection of certain mobile telephone data; collision reports. Allows an attorney who has certified that he represents a party involved in a motor vehicle collision to request in writing that the mobile telephone provider of another party alleged to have caused or contributed to the cause of such collision preserve for a period of 180 days from the date of such preservation request certain information related to such other party's mobile telephone. In addition, the bill requires any collision report filed as a result of such collision to include the mobile telephone number, mobile telephone provider, and International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number for any driver involved in a motor vehicle collision. The bill also creates a rebuttable presumption of spoliation of evidence where a person refuses to provide such information to a law-enforcement officer for such collision report and where such refusal materially prevents another person involved in such collision from showing liability for the collision.

Scott A. SurovellDemocrat

Electric substation construction agreements; "electric cooperatives" or "cooperative," definitions.

Utility consumer services cooperatives; substation construction agreements. Permits an electric cooperative to enter into an agreement to construct a substation with a member receiving regulated electric service, with an electric demand of at least 20 megawatts during the most recent calendar year, that requires a point of interconnection with a transmission line system of 230 kilovolts or more. The bill provides that, upon final completion of a substation constructed under such an agreement, the member shall transfer ownership of such substation to the cooperative for the cooperative to operate and maintain at the member's sole expense. Under the bill, the costs of acquisition, operation, or maintenance of such a substation shall be excluded from the cooperative's general and base rates and shall not be recovered from any other ratepayer. This bill is identical to HB 1191.

Scott A. SurovellDemocrat

Public employees; repeals existing prohibition on collective bargaining, etc.

Collective bargaining by public employees; individual home care providers; Virginia Home Care Council established; Public Employee Relations Board established; exclusive bargaining representatives. Repeals the existing prohibition on collective bargaining by public employees. The bill creates the Public Employee Relations Board, which shall determine appropriate bargaining units and provide for certification and decertification elections for exclusive bargaining representatives of state employees and local government employees. The bill requires public employers and employee organizations that are exclusive bargaining representatives to meet at reasonable times to negotiate in good faith with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. The bill establishes the Virginia Home Care Council within the Department of Medical Assistance Services to promote the stability of the individual provider workforce in the Commonwealth and tasks the Council with serving as the public employer of individual providers, as defined in the bill, for purposes of collective bargaining pursuant to the bill's provisions. The bill repeals a provision that declares that in any procedure providing for the designation, selection, or authorization of a labor organization to represent employees the right of an individual employee to vote by secret ballot is a fundamental right that shall be guaranteed from infringement. The bill directs the Department of Labor and Industry to promulgate any regulations necessary to effectuate the bill's provisions by July 1, 2028, and provides that upon the establishment of the Public Employee Relations Board, such regulations shall be transferred to the Board. The bill provides that until such regulations are adopted, no petitions or elections shall take place pursuant to the bill's provisions except pursuant to an ordinance or resolution adopted under current law. This bill is identical to HB 1263.

Scott A. SurovellDemocrat

Psilocybin; Board of Pharmacy to reschedule upon federal scheduling changes.

Board of Pharmacy; regulation of psilocybin. Directs the Board of Pharmacy to reschedule psilocybin consistent with federal scheduling upon approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of a formulation of psilocybin designed to be administered by a health care professional in a health care setting. This bill is identical to HB 1347.

Jennifer B. BoyskoDemocrat

Income tax, corporate and state; subtraction for broadband grant fund awards.

Income tax subtraction; broadband grant fund awards. Establishes an individual and corporate income tax subtraction for any amount of public grant awards received in the taxable year for the exclusive purpose of planning, constructing, expanding, or improving upon broadband infrastructure and services in the Commonwealth beginning in taxable year 2026.

Jennifer B. BoyskoDemocrat

Smart Solar Permitting Platform; established, residential solar energy systems.

Smart Solar Permitting Platform established; residential solar energy systems; work group; report. Creates the Smart Solar Permitting Platform (the Platform) to serve as a tool for (i) contractors to obtain permits for the construction of streamline-eligible residential solar energy systems and (ii) localities to process applications for such permits. The bill requires the Department of Energy to establish, launch, and administer the Platform by July 1, 2027, as an internet-based platform that automates plan review and instantly releases a permit or a permit revision to construct certain residential solar energy systems that comply with any applicable building codes and state laws. The bill requires localities to allow contractors to submit an application to construct a residential solar energy system through the Platform or through an alternative automated solar permitting platform by July 1, 2028. The bill requires any locality that chooses to use an alternative automated solar permitting platform to submit an annual report to the Department no later than March 1 of each year. The bill directs the Director of the Department to convene a work group to determine the appropriateness of adding a surcharge to local government permitting fees to defray state costs for the Platform and to report its findings to the General Assembly on or before November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 590.

Scott A. SurovellDemocrat

Invasive plant species installation; written notification to property owners, civil penalty.

Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services; invasive plant species installation; written notification to property owners; civil penalty. Provides that the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services may assess a civil penalty in an amount of not more than $250 for a first violation, $500 for a second violation, and $1,000 for each subsequent violation to any tradesperson involved with proposing or installing plants who fails to provide written notification to property owners when such plants are on the Department of Conservation and Recreation's list of invasive plant species. Current law provides that any such tradesperson who fails to provide such written notice is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. This bill is identical to HB 710.

Timmy FrenchRepublican

Artificial intelligence; framework for person/entity acting as an independent verification org.

Joint Commission on Technology and Science; artificial intelligence; independent verification organizations. Directs the Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) to evaluate the feasibility and impact of developing a framework for any person or entity seeking to act as an independent verification organization that assesses artificial intelligence models' or applications' adherence to standards reflecting best practices for the prevention of personal injury and property damage. The bill directs JCOTS to submit a report with its recommendations and any findings to the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and General Laws and Technology and the House Committees on Appropriations and Communications, Technology and Innovation by November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 797.

Angelia Williams GravesDemocrat

Front Royal, Town of; amending charter, relating to town manager.

Charter; Town of Front Royal. Amends the charter for the Town of Front Royal in Warren County by eliminating the requirement that the town manager reside in the town.

Timmy FrenchRepublican

Owners of sewage treatment works; land application, marketing, or distributing of sewage sludge.

Owners of sewage treatment works; land application, marketing, or distribution of sewage sludge; perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances; testing requirements. Directs any owner of a sewage treatment works land applying, marketing, or distributing sewage sludge in the Commonwealth, beginning January 1, 2027, to collect representative samples of the sewage sludge intended to be land applied, marketed, or distributed and have such samples analyzed by an accredited laboratory for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The bill mandates certain outcomes for the land application of such sewage sludge depending on the concentration of PFAS in such sewage sludge. The bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality to modify all Virginia Pollution Abatement permits for the land application of sewage sludge and Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits for sewage treatment works that include sewage sludge prepared for land application, marketing, or distribution as soon as practicable. The bill requires the Department to utilize the PFAS Expert Advisory Committee (PEAC) or convene a work group to study and recommend approaches to reduce the occurrence of PFAS in sewage sludge intended for land application within the Commonwealth. The Department is required to report the recommendations of the PEAC or work group to the Governor and the Chairs of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources by November 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 1443.

Richard H. StuartRepublican

Affordable housing; religious organizations and other nonprofit tax-exempt properties.

Affordable housing; religious organizations and other nonprofit tax-exempt properties. Allows for the administrative approval of development and construction of housing on land owned by property tax-exempt religious organizations or certain property tax-exempt nonprofit organizations and provides that zoning ordinances shall allow the by-right development and construction of housing on real property owned by such organizations, subject to various conditions and limitations. The bill provides that the review of such developments be completed pursuant to general law and states that localities shall not require a special exception, special use permit, conditional use permit, rezoning, or any discretionary review or approval process. The bill requires that at least 60 percent of the housing development's total units be for affordable housing and that the housing development remain affordable for at least 30 years. The bill also provides that all such housing is subject to local real property taxation following completion, unless explicitly exempted by the locality. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027, and expires on January 1, 2031. This bill incorporates SB 367 and is identical to HB 1279.

Jeremy S. McPikeDemocrat

Apple Board; repealing Board and Apple Fund effective July 1, 2028, delayed effective date, report.

Apple Board; repeal. Repeals the Apple Board and Apple Fund effective July 1, 2028, and provides that any funds remaining in the Apple Fund as of July 1, 2028, shall be transferred to the Governor's Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund. The bill provides that the excise tax levied on apples grown in the Commonwealth shall not be collected for the 2026 harvest season and requires the chair of the Apple Board to file a report with the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services no later than June 30, 2028, with a statement of total receipts and disbursements of the Apple Board for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028. This bill is identical to HB 65.

Timmy FrenchRepublican

Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP), Commission on; structure and responsibilities.

Commission on the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP). Restructures the existing governance structure and responsibilities of the Commission on VASAP and expands its oversight authority over local alcohol safety action programs. The provisions of the bill related to a fiscal agent locality have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2028. The bill also directs the Commission on VASAP to convene a work group with relevant stakeholders to review the sustainability of the structure and funding model for VASAP and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Commission on VASAP and the Chairs of the House Committees on Appropriations and for Courts of Justice and the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and for Courts of Justice by October 1, 2026. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on VASAP and is identical to HB 862.

Richard H. StuartRepublican

Site cleanup guidelines; residential property and other buildings used for illicit drugs.

Board of Health; site cleanup guidelines; other illicit drugs. Directs the Board of Health to establish guidelines for the cleanup of residential property and other sites formerly used to manufacture illicit drugs. Under current law, the Board of Health is only required to establish such guidelines for sites formerly used to manufacture methamphetamine.

Emily M. JordanRepublican

Virginia's Great Outdoors Act; established, creates data center land conservation tax.

Virginia's Great Outdoors Act established; land preservation distributions and appropriations. Creates a data center land preservation tax on and after January 1, 2027, in an amount equal to $3 per square foot of each data center facility footprint, as defined in the bill, and directs no less than $250 million of revenues from the tax to be distributed for various land protection and preservation purposes, including into the Virginia Tribal Commitment Fund, as created in the bill. The bill also repeals provisions requiring the Governor to include in the budget bill or in his amendments to the general appropriation act a recommended appropriation from the general fund, up to $20 million, for land preservation as follows: (i) 80 percent of the unissued credits to the Virginia Land Conservation Fund, of which at least 50 percent must be used for acquisitions with public access; (ii) 10 percent to the Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fund; and (iii) 10 percent to the Virginia Farmland and Forestland Preservation Fund.

Russet PerryDemocrat

Artificial intelligence; use of systems for student instruction.

Department of Education; artificial intelligence system use in instructional settings; development of AIS safety guidance required; AIS Innovation in Education Pilot Program established; report. Requires the Department of Education, in consultation with school divisions and other relevant stakeholders, to compile information on current uses of artificial intelligence systems (AIS) for student instruction in public schools in the Commonwealth and to establish and post in a publicly accessible location on its website guidance for the safe, ethical, and equitable use of AIS in instructional settings in public elementary and secondary schools. The bill requires each school board to establish, implement, and enforce policies consistent with the guidance developed by the Department in accordance with the provisions of the bill. The bill also directs the Department to establish and oversee the AIS Innovation in Education Pilot Program for the purpose of funding, evaluating, and scaling innovative uses of AIS in public elementary and secondary schools by providing support to school divisions in piloting AIS applications for instruction, tutoring, student engagement, operational efficiency, and teacher support and to submit an annual report to the Chairs of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by December 1. The Pilot Program has an expiration date of July 1, 2030. This bill is identical to HB 1186.

Stella G. PekarskyDemocrat

Driver's licenses; requirements for initial licensure, persons age 18 to 21.

Driver's licenses; requirements for initial licensure; persons age 18 to 21. Expands from 60 days to 90 days the length of time an applicant for a first-time noncommercial driver's license who is at least 18 years old and not more than 21 years old is required to hold a learner's permit and requires such an applicant to complete a course of driver instruction prior to being issued a driver's license. The bill provides that learner's permits other than motorcycle learner's permits, accompanied by other documentation verifying that the driver is at least 18 years old and less than 21 years old and has successfully completed an approved driver's education course, constitute a temporary driver's license for the purpose of driving unaccompanied by a licensed driver 18 years old or older, provided that certain other requirements are met. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 1224.

J.D. "Danny" DiggsRepublican

Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program and Fund; filing of claims.

Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program and Fund; board of directors; plan of operation; filing of claims; awards and coverage for expenses or services. Makes various changes to the Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program and Fund. The bill provides that a civil action arising out of or related to a birth-related neurological injury against a participating hospital or physician shall be referred to the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission. Under the bill, the costs of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission maintaining an electronic filing system for the submission of petitions shall be reimbursed from the Fund. Under the bill, the Auditor of Public Accounts shall receive and review any audit conducted on the accounts of the Fund. The bill includes compensation for services provided by an education advocate. The bill requires the Program's board of directors to include a relative of a current or former beneficiary, allows for the electronic submission of claims, and expands discovery of parties to a claim. The bill further requires the Program's board of directors to establish a blanket surety bonding program for all employees with access to the Fund and requires the board to meet at least once monthly. Finally, the bill increases from $100,000 to $500,000 the amount that may be awarded to families whose infant has sustained a birth-related neurological injury. This bill incorporates SB 434 and is identical to HB 1007.

Russet PerryDemocrat

Driver training school and driver training instructors; standards, discipline, report.

Driver training school and driver training instructors; standards; discipline; report. Prohibits the licensure of a person as a driver training school instructor for driver education courses for minors if the person has been convicted of certain sex crimes or any offense that requires registration on the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry. The bill removes the five-year limitation on the period the Department of Motor Vehicles is authorized to set for a licensee whose license was revoked to reapply and provides that if the revocation was due to a conviction of (i) driving under the influence, (ii) reckless driving, (iii) refusal to submit to alcohol or drug testing, or (iv) vehicular manslaughter, such period shall be no less than 10 years. The bill requires the Department to establish and maintain a public, searchable database of disciplinary action taken by the Department against an instructor or driver training school. The bill requires driver training schools to notify students, prospective students, and guardians thereof of any such disciplinary actions taken in the preceding 24 months or while such student is enrolled. The bill also requires the Department to annually by November 1 submit a report to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Transportation detailing such disciplinary actions. This bill is identical to HB 559.

J.D. "Danny" DiggsRepublican

Admissions tax in counties; retail sales and use tax dedicated to promotion of tourism.

Admissions tax in counties; retail sales and use tax dedicated to promotion of tourism. Allows a county in which a state sales and use tax of at least one percent that is at least partially dedicated to the promotion of tourism is imposed to levy a tax on admissions for attendance at an event. Under current law, any county may levy a tax on admissions for attendance at an event except such counties in which a state sales and use tax of at least one percent that is at least partially dedicated to the promotion of tourism is imposed. This bill is identical to HB 550.

J.D. "Danny" DiggsRepublican

Authorized septic system inspectors; scope of services and requirements for performance, etc.

Authorized septic system inspectors; scope of services and requirements. Provides that system components are not considered readily accessible if access requires removal of surface material exceeding 30 inches in depth to uncover septic tank access lids, distribution devices, or other inspection ports. The bill specifies that an authorized septic system inspector shall submit a written report to the client within 10 business days from the start of the inspection, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties, which shall also indicate whether the system is operating as intended. The bill removes the requirement that authorized septic system inspectors report the advertised bedroom count or design capacity as listed in the multiple listing service or written statement by the property owner. This bill is identical to HB 1178.

Emily M. JordanRepublican

Residential property owners; insurance policies, roofing services by contractors.

Residential property owners; insurance policies; roofing services by contractors; prohibited practices and consumer protection. Prohibits insurers from refusing coverage or canceling, refusing to renew, or increasing the premiums of a policy written to insure an owner-occupied dwelling solely based on the age or condition of the asphalt shingle roof, except in certain circumstances. The bill also contains provisions related to consumer protection in the context of contractors providing roofing services for residential property owners. The bill prohibits certain advertisements and conduct by contractors in such context. The bill includes contract terms that must be included by contractors in such context, and permits a residential property owner to cancel a contract for roofing services in the case of a declaration of a state of emergency by the Governor applicable to the geographic area where the property is located. Provisions of the bill related to prohibited conduct and requirements for contractors providing roofing services are subject to the enforcement provisions of the Consumer Protection Act. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027, and is identical to HB 677.

Scott A. SurovellDemocrat

Power Transformer Manufacturing Grant Fund; created.

Power Transformer Manufacturing Grant Fund. Establishes the Power Transformer Manufacturing Grant Fund to provide grant installment awards between July 1, 2026, and July 1, 2035, in an amount not to exceed $4.6 million per fiscal year and in an aggregate amount not to exceed $29.4 million, to a qualified company that (i) engages in the manufacture of power transformers, (ii) executes a memorandum of understanding with the Commonwealth, and (iii) is expected to make a capital investment of at least $457,157,000 and create and maintain at least 825 new full-time jobs. This bill is identical to HB 799.

L. Louise LucasDemocrat