Bills & Legislation

Victims of crime; compensation, extends time for filing a claim.

Compensating victims of crime. Extends, for the purpose of compensating victims of crime, the time for filing a claim by the claimant to not later than three years after the occurrence of the crime upon which such claim is based, or not later than three years after the death of the victim. Under current law, such time frame is not later than one year after either instance. The bill removes the prohibition on the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission (the Commission) making an award where the police records show that a crime was reported more than 120 hours after the occurrence of the crime unless the Commission, for good cause shown, finds the delay to have been justified. Also, the bill requires the Commission, in determining if a report was promptly reported to the proper authorities, to consider (i) any police records; (ii) the victim's physical, emotional, mental, and family situation; and (iii) the existence of a permanent protective order, issued pursuant to relevant law, for the victim or other persons eligible for awards from the person responsible for the qualifying crime. The bill also removes the ability of the Commission to deny, reduce, or withdraw any award upon finding that any claimant or award recipient has not fully cooperated with all law-enforcement agencies, unless the law-enforcement agency certifies that the claimant or award recipient was willing but unable to cooperate due to a good faith belief that such cooperation would have endangered such claimant or award recipient and such claimant or award recipient was not provided with any victim or witness protection services when such protection services were requested by a law-enforcement agency. This bill is identical to SB 1200.

Karrie K. DelaneyDemocrat

Subpoenas duces tecum; financial records of nonparty, report.

Subpoenas duces tecum; financial records of nonparty; report. Authorizes a nonparty to a civil proceeding to file a motion to quash or modify a subpoena duces tecum issued by a party to such proceeding for the production of (i) financial records of a nonparty account holder or (ii) if such nonparty is an attorney, such attorney's records subject to attorney-client privilege. The bill also prohibits certain financial entities from conditioning the compliance with a subpoena for production of financial records upon the payment of fees for producing such records. The bill directs the Supreme Court of Virginia to amend its rules as necessary to be consistent with the provisions of the bill. Finally, the bill directs the Boyd-Graves Conference to study whether the Code of Virginia should be amended further to grant standing to other nonparties to file a motion to quash or modify a subpoena duces tecum for other types of records requested by a party in a civil proceeding and to submit the findings of such study to the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees for Courts of Justice by November 1, 2025. This bill is identical to SB 1010.

James A. "Jay" LeftwichRepublican

Newborn screening requirements; federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel, evaluation, report.

Newborn screening requirements; federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel; evaluation; rulemaking; report. Directs the Department of Health (the Department) to determine whether testing for disorders included on the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) recommended by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services should be included in the Commonwealth's newborn screening requirements. The bill directs the Department to evaluate disorders included on the RUSP within 12 months of their addition to the RUSP and commence rulemaking procedures for adding such disorders to the Commonwealth's screening program if their inclusion is appropriate. The bill also requires the Department to determine annually whether disorders not included in the Commonwealth's newborn screening program should be reevaluated for inclusion. The bill requires the Department to submit a status report to the General Assembly annually containing information on the disorders included, evaluated, not recommended for inclusion, and not recommended for reevaluation. The bill contains an enactment clause requiring the Department to conduct such evaluation and, if applicable, commence rulemaking procedures for the addition of disorders within 12 months of the effective date of the bill for any disorders that are listed on the RUSP as of January 1, 2025.

Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.Democrat

Commending the Roanoke Higher Education Center.

Commending the Roanoke Higher Education Center.

Terry L. AustinRepublican

Commemorating the life and legacy of William Flora.

Commemorating the life and legacy of William Flora.

James A. "Jay" LeftwichRepublican

Phase I Utilities; financing for certain securitized asset costs, biennial rate reviews.

Phase I Utilities; securitized asset costs. Authorizes Appalachian Power to petition the State Corporation Commission for a financing order for securitized asset costs, as defined in the bill. The bill creates the securitized asset cost charge and provides that the revenues generated by this charge, known as securitized asset cost property, are a property right that can be transferred and pledged as security for the securitized asset cost bonds. The bill establishes the procedures for creating, perfecting, and enforcing the security interest in securitized asset cost property. The bill also prohibits rate increases for Appalachian Power during the months of November through February and prohibits rate adjustment clauses from taking effect on customer bills between the months of November through February. The bill prohibits Appalachian Power from charing a residential customer any interest or late fees between July 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025, and from charging a residential customer any reconnection fees between July 1, 2025, and March 1, 2026. The bill also provides that in any rate proceeding for Appalachian Power, the State Corporation Commission shall include an invitation for public comment. This bill incorporates HB 1588.

Jason S. BallardRepublican

Virginia Public Procurement Act; procurement of imported goods, forced and child labor prohibition.

Virginia Public Procurement Act; procurement of imported goods; forced and indentured child labor prohibition. Provides that a public body that enters into a public contract for goods or services that exceeds $10,000 shall include in such a public contract provisions (i) prohibiting the use of forced or indentured child labor in the performance of the contract and (ii) requiring that the contractor include such prohibition in every subcontract or purchase order that exceeds $10,000, so that the prohibition will be binding upon each subcontractor or vendor. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Manufacturing Development Commission.

William M. Stanley, Jr.Republican

School-connected student overdoses; policies relating to parental notification, guidelines.

School-connected student overdoses; policies relating to parental notification. Requires public school principals and heads of private schools in the Commonwealth to report certain information to the parents of enrolled students within 24 hours of a confirmed or suspected school-connected student overdose, as defined in the bill. This bill is identical to HB 2774.

Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.Republican

School-connected student overdoses; policies relating to parental notification, guidelines.

School-connected student overdoses; policies relating to parental notification. Requires public school principals and heads of private schools in the Commonwealth to report certain information to the parents of enrolled students within 24 hours of a confirmed or suspected school-connected student overdose, as defined in the bill. This bill incorporates HB 2287 and HB 2424 and is identical to SB 1240.

JJ SinghDemocrat

Autonomous driving systems; work group to identify & review issues presented by operation of system.

Secretary of Transportation; autonomous driving systems; work group; report. Directs the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, to convene a work group to identify operational, technical, and legal issues presented by the operation of autonomous driving systems in the Commonwealth for the purpose of developing draft legislation addressing governance of such systems in the Commonwealth. The bill directs the work group to report its findings to the General Assembly by November 1, 2026.

Jackie H. GlassDemocrat

Commending The Roanoker

Commending The Roanoker.

Sam RasoulDemocrat

Public elementary & secondary schools; cardiac emergency response or emergency action plans.

Public elementary and secondary schools; cardiac emergency response or emergency action plans required. Requires each public elementary or secondary school to develop a cardiac emergency response plan (CERP) or an athletic emergency action plan (EAP), as those terms are defined in the bill, that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual who is experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while on school grounds and, in the event that such school has an athletic department or organized athletic program, while attending or participating in an athletic practice or event. The bill requires each such CERP or athletic EAP to integrate nationally recognized evidence-based core elements and nationally recognized evidence-based guidelines and to integrate certain additional provisions and guidelines, including those relating to establishing a cardiac emergency response team, activating such team in response to a sudden cardiac event, and integrating the CERP or athletic EAP into the local community's emergency medical services response protocols. This bill is identical to SB 817.

Alex Q. AskewDemocrat

Va. Military Survivors & Dependents Ed. Prog.; number of qualified survivors and dependents, etc.

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; Department of Veterans Services; Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program; enrollment and eligibility data; report. Directs the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, in coordination with the Department of Veterans Services, to submit to the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations and the House Committee on Appropriations by November 1 of each year a report on (i) the number of individuals who are qualified survivors and dependents, as that term is defined in applicable law, and have been certified as eligible to participate in the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program but are not yet admitted to a public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth and (ii) the best available estimate of the total number of qualified survivors and dependents who are participating in the Program and enrolled in the fall semester at each public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth. This bill incorporates HB 1613.

Alex Q. AskewDemocrat

Public utilities certain; SCC shall determine if using reasonable classifications of customers.

State Corporation Commission regulatory proceeding; reasonable classifications of customers by public utilities. Directs the State Corporation Commission, in an existing proceeding filed after January 1, 2025, but no late than July 1, 2027, to determine whether Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power are using rates, tolls, charges, or schedules that contain reasonable classifications of utility customers.

Irene ShinDemocrat

Prescribed pediatric extended care centers; licensure, regulation.

Prescribed pediatric extended care centers; licensure; regulation. Authorizes the State Board of Health to license prescribed pediatric extended care centers, defined as nonresidential health care service centers that provide a link in the continuum of care for medically dependent or technologically dependent children. The bill establishes the scope of services offered by such centers and requirements for operation, management, staffing, facilities, and maintenance and directs the Board to promulgate emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

Delores L. McQuinnDemocrat

Retail tobacco and hemp products; smoking by a person younger than 21 years of age, prohibitions.

Possession, etc., of retail tobacco products and hemp products intended for smoking by a person younger than 21 years of age; liquid nicotine and nicotine vapor products license; prohibitions; enforcement. Prohibits any person younger than 21 years of age from possessing any retail tobacco or hemp product intended for smoking, as those terms are defined in relevant law, with certain exceptions enumerated in the bill. The bill provides that any such product purchased or possessed by a person younger than 21 years of age (i) shall be deemed contraband and (ii) may be seized by a law-enforcement officer. Any such product, the lawful possession of which is not established, seized by such officer shall be forfeited and disposed of according to the process described in relevant law. The bill also provides that seizure shall be the sole penalty for a violation of such prohibition and that the provisions of the bill shall not preclude prosecution under any other statute. Further, if a person does not receive a license from the Department of Taxation to sell, deal, transport, or ship liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products to retailers in the Commonwealth, such person is subject to a penalty of $400, in addition to any other applicable taxes or fees. The bill provides that the Department of Taxation is not required pursuant to relevant law to conduct unannounced investigations of retail tobacco dealers at least once every 24 months to verify that a retail dealer is not selling retail tobacco products to persons younger than 21 years of age. Lastly, the bill requires the Department of Taxation to convene a work group consisting of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, the Office of the Attorney General, the Virginia State Police, and the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services to develop an enforcement program related to the sale of retail tobacco products or hemp products intended for smoking to individuals younger than 21 years of age. The work group's findings and recommendations are to be reported to the Chairs of the House Committees on General Laws and Appropriations and the Senate Committees on Rehabilitation and Social Services and Finance and Appropriations no later than November 1, 2025. This bill is identical to SB 1060.

Patrick A. HopeDemocrat

Commending Dave Perno.

Commending Dave Perno.

Mike A. CherryRepublican

School boards/division superintendent; review of accessibility challenges in local school division.

School boards or division superintendents; review accessibility challenges in the local school division; report. Requires each school board or division superintendent, in consultation with such other stakeholders as it deems appropriate, to review the extent to which (i) public elementary and secondary school buildings and grounds in the local school division present physical accessibility challenges and barriers for individuals with disabilities, including challenges and barriers that may prevent such individuals from fully participating in school activities; (ii) challenges in access to programming and supports exist for individuals with disabilities at public elementary and secondary schools in the local school division; (iii) such schools have begun or plan to address and eliminate all such challenges and barriers; and (iv) state agencies can assist such schools to address and eliminate all such challenges and barriers and fully comply with all applicable state and federal laws. The bill requires each school board or division superintendent to report the findings of such review and any associated recommendations to the Chairs of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Education no later than November 1, 2025.

Marcia S. "Cia" PriceDemocrat

Water & wastewater utilities; eligible infrastructure replacement and enhancement.

Water utilities and wastewater utilities; eligible infrastructure replacement and enhancement; cost recovery. Permits a water or wastewater utility to petition the State Corporation Commission for the approval of an eligible infrastructure replacement and enhancement plan, as defined in the bill. The bill requires that a water or wastewater utility that receives approval for an eligible infrastructure replacement and enhancement rider shall provide a proposed earnings test for informational purposes in each annual informational filing or base rate proceeding filed with the State Corporation Commission before December 1, 2030. The provisions of the bill expire on July 1, 2035. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the State Water Commission. This bill is identical to SB 850.

Alfonso H. LopezDemocrat

Confirming appointments by the Speaker of the House of Delegates.

Appointments by the Speaker of the House of Delegates. Confirms appointments made by the Speaker of the House of Delegates to the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority Board of Directors.

Charniele L. HerringDemocrat

Vehicle operation; authorizing operation of motor vehicle by unlicensed minor, penalty.

Vehicle operation; unlicensed minor; penalty. Prohibits any person from knowingly authorizing the operation of a motor vehicle by (i) any person who he knows has no legal right to do so or (ii) a minor who he knows has no operator's license or who has a learner's permit but who he knows would operate such motor vehicle in violation of certain limitations on operating a motor vehicle with a learner's permit. The bill provides that any person who violates such provisions is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor if such violation results in a motor vehicle accident that causes death or injury to any person, provided that such violation does not otherwise constitute a felony. Existing law prohibits any person from knowingly authorizing the operation of a motor vehicle by any person who the authorizing person knows (a) has had his operator's license or permit suspended or revoked or (b) has no operator's license or permit and has been previously convicted of driving without a license.

J.D. "Danny" DiggsRepublican

Commending Nancy Howell Agee.

Commending Nancy Howell Agee.

Terry L. AustinRepublican

Public elementary & secondary school teachers; certain training activities, requirements, etc.

Public elementary and secondary school teachers; certain training activities; requirements and limitations. Prohibits any public elementary or secondary school teacher from being required to participate in any non-academic training activity, as that term is defined in the bill, more frequently than once within six months of employment with the applicable school board and once every five years thereafter, except in the case of certain training relating to secure mandatory test violations upon determination by the school board or division superintendent that additional training is necessary. The bill also provides that the total frequency and duration of non-academic training activities in which each such teacher is required to participate pursuant to state law or regulation or policy or regulation of the applicable school board shall not exceed 25 hours every five years. This bill is identical to SB 822.

Joshua E. ThomasDemocrat

Virginia National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program; changes to eligibility criteria.

Higher education; financial assistance; Virginia National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program; eligibility criteria. Makes several changes to the Virginia National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program, including (i) making the provisions relating to the requirements and conditions for eligibility for and award of grants under the Program subject to regulations as prescribed by the Adjutant General, (ii) eliminating the requirement to satisfy financial obligations with the institution of higher education at the beginning of each semester, (iii) simplifying the requirements relating to academic performance and good standing, and (iv) providing that, upon acceptance of an application for a grant, grant funds are to be disbursed to the applicable institution of higher education for credit against the recipient student's account. This bill is identical to HB 1595.

Ghazala F. HashmiDemocrat

Virginia National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program; changes to eligibility criteria.

Higher education; financial assistance; Virginia National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program; eligibility criteria. Makes several changes to the Virginia National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program, including (i) making the provisions relating to the requirements and conditions for eligibility for and award of grants under the Program subject to regulations as prescribed by the Adjutant General, (ii) eliminating the requirement to satisfy financial obligations with the institution of higher education at the beginning of each semester, (iii) simplifying the requirements relating to academic performance and good standing, and (iv) providing that, upon acceptance of an application for a grant, grant funds are to be disbursed to the applicable institution of higher education for credit against the recipient student's account. This bill is identical to SB 1106.

Michael B. FeggansDemocrat

Public elementary & secondary school teachers; certain training activities, requirements, etc.

Public elementary and secondary school teachers; certain training activities; requirements and limitations. Prohibits any public elementary or secondary school teacher from being required to participate in any non-academic training activity, as that term is defined in the bill, more frequently than once within six months of employment with the applicable school board and once every five years thereafter, except in the case of certain training relating to secure mandatory test violations upon determination by the school board or division superintendent that additional training is necessary. The bill also provides that the total frequency and duration of non-academic training activities in which each such teacher is required to participate pursuant to state law or regulation or policy or regulation of the applicable school board shall not exceed 25 hours every five years. This bill is identical to HB 1626.

Schuyler T. VanValkenburgDemocrat

Celebrating the life of Michael Gregory Brown.

Celebrating the life of Michael Gregory Brown.

Betsy B. CarrDemocrat

Retail tobacco and hemp products; smoking by a person younger than 21 years of age, prohibitions.

Possession, etc., of retail tobacco products and hemp products intended for smoking by a person younger than 21 years of age; liquid nicotine and nicotine vapor products license; prohibitions; enforcement. Prohibits any person younger than 21 years of age from possessing any retail tobacco or hemp product intended for smoking, as those terms are defined in relevant law, with certain exceptions enumerated in the bill. The bill provides that any such product purchased or possessed by a person younger than 21 years of age (i) shall be deemed contraband and (ii) may be seized by a law-enforcement officer. Any such product, the lawful possession of which is not established, seized by such officer shall be forfeited and disposed of according to the process described in relevant law. The bill also provides that seizure shall be the sole penalty for a violation of such prohibition and that the provisions of the bill shall not preclude prosecution under any other statute. Further, if a person does not receive a license from the Department of Taxation to sell, deal, transport, or ship liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products to retailers in the Commonwealth, such person is subject to a penalty of $400, in addition to any other applicable taxes or fees. The bill provides that the Department of Taxation is not required pursuant to relevant law to conduct unannounced investigations of retail tobacco dealers at least once every 24 months to verify that a retail dealer is not selling retail tobacco products to persons younger than 21 years of age. Lastly, the bill requires the Department of Taxation to convene a work group consisting of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, the Office of the Attorney General, the Virginia State Police, and the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services to develop an enforcement program related to the sale of retail tobacco products or hemp products intended for smoking to individuals younger than 21 years of age. The work group's findings and recommendations are to be reported to the Chairs of the House Committees on General Laws and Appropriations and the Senate Committees on Rehabilitation and Social Services and Finance and Appropriations no later than November 1, 2025. This bill is identical to HB 1946.

Adam P. EbbinDemocrat

Phase I Utilities; securitized asset costs, rate increases in certain months prohibited, etc.

Phase I Utilities; securitized asset costs. Authorizes Appalachian Power to petition the State Corporation Commission for a financing order for securitized asset costs, as defined in the bill. The bill creates the securitized asset cost charge and provides that the revenues generated by this charge, known as securitized asset cost property, are a property right that can be transferred and pledged as security for the securitized asset cost bonds. The bill establishes the procedures for creating, perfecting, and enforcing the security interest in securitized asset cost property. The bill also prohibits rate increases for Appalachian Power during the months of November through February and prohibits rate adjustment clauses from taking effect on customer bills between the months of November through February. The bill prohibits Appalachian Power from charing a residential customer any interest or late fees between July 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025, and from charging a residential customer any reconnection fees between July 1, 2025, and March 1, 2026. The bill also provides that in any rate proceeding for Appalachian Power, the State Corporation Commission shall include an invitation for public comment.

Mark J. PeakeRepublican

Threats of death or bodily injury to a person or member of his family, etc.; penalty.

Threats of death or bodily injury or discharge of a firearm on school property; penalties. Clarifies that for crimes involving communicating in writing a threat to kill or do bodily injury, regardless of whether the person who is the object of such threat actually receives such threat, an electronically transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic message includes an email, a text message, or a message or post on any social media platform. The bill also clarifies that any person who communicates an oral threat of discharging a firearm within or on school property, at any school-sponsored event, or on a school bus and the threat would place the person who is the object of the threat, or is included in the threat, in reasonable apprehension of death or bodily harm is guilty of a Class 6 felony.

Russet PerryDemocrat

Virginia State Crime Commission; designating review panel, cases involving Mary Jane Burton, report.

Virginia State Crime Commission; review panel; cases involving Mary Jane Burton; report. Directs the Virginia State Crime Commission (the Crime Commission) to designate a panel, consisting of members outlined in the bill, to review the following types of cases at the Virginia Department of Forensic Science where testing or analysis was performed by Mary Jane Burton: (i) cases resulting in convictions of persons who are currently incarcerated, or who were executed or exonerated, and (ii) cases where Burton testified, regardless of the final disposition of the case. However, the panel shall prioritize the review of such cases resulting in convictions of persons who are currently incarcerated. The bill provides that the Crime Commission shall provide staff support to the panel, and may request and shall receive support from other state or local government agencies. The bill provides that the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act do not apply to this panel or its review, or to any information received by or disseminated to any state or local government agency, private organization, or other entity for purposes of this review. The bill directs the panel to report on its work to the Crime Commission by the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly until completion of this review. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia State Crime Commission. This bill is identical to HB 2730.

Scott A. SurovellDemocrat

Commending the Lionsbridge Football Club.

Commending the Lionsbridge Football Club.

Marcia S. "Cia" PriceDemocrat

Threats to discharge a firearm within or at buildings or means of transportation; penalties.

Threats to discharge a firearm within or at buildings or means of transportation; penalties. Provides that any person (i) who makes and communicates to another by any means any threat to bomb, burn, destroy, discharge a firearm within or at, or in any manner damage any place of assembly, building or other structure, or means of transportation or (ii) who communicates to another, by any means, information, knowing the same to be false, as to the existence of any peril of bombing, burning, destruction, discharging of a firearm within or at, or damage to any such place of assembly, building or other structure, or means of transportation is guilty of a Class 5 felony, provided, however, that if such person is under 18 years of age, he is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Under current law, any person 15 years of age or older (a) who makes and communicates to another by any means any threat to bomb, burn, destroy, or in any manner damage any place of assembly, building or other structure, or means of transportation or (b) who communicates to another, by any means, information, knowing the same to be false, as to the existence of any peril of bombing, burning, destruction, or damage to any such place of assembly, building or other structure, or means of transportation is guilty of a Class 5 felony. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Criminal Justice Conference.

Jason S. BallardRepublican

Hunger-Free Campus Food Pantry Grant Program; established, report.

Institutions of higher education; Hunger-Free Campus Food Pantry Grant Program established; report. Establishes the Hunger-Free Campus Food Pantry Grant Program to address student food insecurity at public institutions of higher education and eligible private institutions of higher education, as defined by the bill. The bill provides that the Program shall be managed by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and available for participation by public institutions of higher education and eligible private institutions of higher education; however, participation in the Program is optional for such institutions. Under the bill, if a public institution of higher education or eligible private institution of higher education satisfies certain criteria set out in the bill, including creating initiatives on campus to address student food insecurity, it will receive a "Hunger-Free Campus Food Pantry" designation and the Council will award a grant to such institution. Any such institution that receives a grant under the bill is required to utilize the funds to support on-campus efforts and initiatives to eliminate student food insecurity at such institution through the maintenance and operation of the on-campus food pantry established pursuant to the Program. The bill requires the Council to submit a report to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Education no later than two years after the establishment of the Program. This bill is identical to HB 2240.

Danica A. RoemDemocrat

Students who need or use augmentative and alternative communication; documentation of needs.

Students who need or use augmentative and alternative communication; documentation of needs on individualized education program; staff training. Requires each school division to document on the individualized education program of a student with a disability who needs or uses augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) such student's AAC and communication access and support needs prior to the provision of instruction or support to such student, including any extended school year period. The bill defines AAC as any method or tool other than oral speech that an individual uses to communicate, including gestures, facial expressions, writing, and speech-generating devices. The bill also requires each school division to provide to each employee or contractor who provides instruction or direct support to a student with a disability who needs or uses an AAC individualized training as an assistive technology to support the student's use of AAC and to ensure that access to curricula and instruction is designed or adapted as necessary to accommodate the student's unique communication access needs. The bill also establishes a timeline for such training based on certain circumstances. This bill is identical to HB 2219.

Stella G. PekarskyDemocrat

Virginia State Crime Commission; designating review panel, cases involving Mary Jane Burton, report.

Virginia State Crime Commission; review panel; cases involving Mary Jane Burton; report. Directs the Virginia State Crime Commission (the Crime Commission) to designate a panel, consisting of members outlined in the bill, to review the following types of cases at the Virginia Department of Forensic Science where testing or analysis was performed by Mary Jane Burton: (i) cases resulting in convictions of persons who are currently incarcerated, or who were executed or exonerated, and (ii) cases where Burton testified, regardless of the final disposition of the case. However, the panel shall prioritize the review of such cases resulting in convictions of persons who are currently incarcerated. The bill provides that the Crime Commission shall provide staff support to the panel, and may request and shall receive support from other state or local government agencies. The bill provides that the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act do not apply to this panel or its review, or to any information received by or disseminated to any state or local government agency, private organization, or other entity for purposes of this review. The bill directs the panel to report on its work to the Crime Commission by the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly until completion of this review. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia State Crime Commission. This bill is identical to SB 1465.

Patrick A. HopeDemocrat

Celebrating the life of Ivan Elbert Horton, Jr.

Celebrating the life of Ivan Elbert Horton, Jr.

Terry G. KilgoreRepublican

Carrying concealed weapons; secured storage of firearms in unattended vehicles, penalty.

Carrying concealed weapons; secured storage of firearms; penalty. Removes the exception to the prohibition on carrying a concealed weapon for any person who may lawfully possess a firearm and is carrying a handgun while in a personal, private motor vehicle or vessel and such handgun is secured in a container or compartment in the vehicle or vessel. The bill provides that a civil penalty of no more than $500 shall be imposed for any person who leaves a firearm in an unattended motor vehicle where such firearm is visible. The bill also creates a Class 4 misdemeanor for any person who fails to report to law enforcement the theft or loss of a firearm from an unattended motor vehicle and a Class 1 misdemeanor if another person obtains such firearm.

David W. MarsdenDemocrat

Tax exempt property; nonprofit institutions of learning, provisions are declaratory of existing law.

Tax exempt property; nonprofit institutions of learning; emergency. Clarifies existing law in that institutions licensed by the Department of Education that provide services pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or any school that is licensed by the Board of Education as a school for students with disabilities are institutions of learning not conducted for profit whose property is exempt from taxation pursuant to the Constitution of Virginia. The bill contains an emergency clause. This bill is identical to HB 1970.

R. Creigh DeedsDemocrat

Collective bargaining by public employees; exclusive bargaining representatives.

Collective bargaining by public employees; 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 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 has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026. This bill incorporates SB 964, SB 1033, and SB 1401 and is identical to HB 2764.

Scott A. SurovellDemocrat

Commending Waller and Company Jewelers.

Commending Waller and Company Jewelers.

Rae CousinsDemocrat

Voter registration; list maintenance activities, cancellation procedures, required record matches.

Voter registration; list maintenance activities; cancellation procedures; record matches; required identification information; data standards. Requires certain, specified identification information to be included on the lists or records received by the Department of Elections for list maintenance purposes and requires the Department, upon receiving any such list or record, to do an initial comparison of the information included on such list or record with the list of registered voters and determine the confidence score for any match. The bill specifies that only records with matches with a confidence score of at least 80 are transmitted to the appropriate general registrars. The bill prohibits the use of voter data received from another state or jurisdiction or through a list comparison for list maintenance purposes when the data file does not include a unique identifier for each individual whose information is contained in the data file. The bill requires the Department to annually review all sources of data utilized for list maintenance activities for the purpose of determining the validity, completeness, accuracy, and reliability of the data received from each source, and to include the results of such review in its annual report to the House and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections regarding its list maintenance activities. The bill prohibits the cancellation within 90 days of any election of any registration identified as belonging to a person no longer residing in the Commonwealth or otherwise no longer entitled to vote by a data match program conducted using lists of registered voters exchanged with other states. The bill requires the general registrars to send notice prior to cancelling a voter's record regardless of the reason for cancellation. Lastly, the bill clarifies that when a voter's registration is canceled, a cancellation record must be created and that such records are public in accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and the National Voter Registration Act. The bill includes numerous technical amendments for organizational purposes. Certain provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

Marcia S. "Cia" PriceDemocrat

Commending Carlos Castro.

Commending Carlos Castro.

Candi Mundon KingDemocrat

Commending Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.

Commending Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.

Joshua E. ThomasDemocrat

Commending the Chesterfield County Jail Helping Addicts Recover Progressively program.

Commending the Chesterfield County Jail Helping Addicts Recover Progressively program.

Carrie E. CoynerRepublican

Commending the Washington Commanders.

Commending the Washington Commanders.

Luke E. TorianDemocrat

Commending Jordan Rayner.

Commending Jordan Rayner.

C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.Democrat

Commending Josh Sweat.

Commending Josh Sweat.

C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.Democrat