Bills & Legislation

Commending Dr. Charles W. Sydnor, Jr.

Commending Dr. Charles W. Sydnor, Jr.

Betsy B. CarrDemocrat

Celebrating the life of Carol J. Pretlow.

Celebrating the life of Carol J. Pretlow.

Candi Mundon KingDemocrat

Commending Honeysuckle Cafe.

Commending Honeysuckle Cafe.

Phil M. HernandezDemocrat

Commending McKinley L. Price, D.D.S.

Commending McKinley L. Price, D.D.S.

Marcia S. "Cia" PriceDemocrat

Celebrating the life of James Earl Carter, Jr., M.D.

Celebrating the life of James Earl Carter, Jr., M.D.

Don ScottDemocrat

Commending Liz Noto, Ph.D.

Commending Liz Noto, Ph.D.

Karen Keys-GamarraDemocrat

Commending Emily Burrell.

Commending Emily Burrell.

Karen Keys-GamarraDemocrat

Commending the 4-H clubs and Future Farmers of America chapters in Washington County.

Commending the 4-H clubs and Future Farmers of America chapters in Washington County.

Israel D. O'QuinnRepublican

Commending Theresa V. Jackson.

Commending Theresa V. Jackson.

Jackie H. GlassDemocrat

Commending the Bowling Park Chapter of Moms in Touch International.

Commending the Bowling Park Chapter of Moms in Touch International.

Jackie H. GlassDemocrat

Celebrating the life of Carylon Crouch Buck.

Celebrating the life of Carylon Crouch Buck.

Don ScottDemocrat

Commending Horace S. Savage, Jr.

Commending Horace S. Savage, Jr.

C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.Democrat

Commending Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg.

Commending Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg.

Marcia S. "Cia" PriceDemocrat

Celebrating the life of Henry P. Henson.

Celebrating the life of Henry P. Henson.

Jackie H. GlassDemocrat

Commending Eggleston Services.

Commending Eggleston Services.

Jackie H. GlassDemocrat

Commending the Ideaventions Academy Daedalus robotics team.

Commending the Ideaventions Academy Daedalus robotics team.

Karen Keys-GamarraDemocrat

Commending the Prince William County Community Foundation.

Commending the Prince William County Community Foundation.

Candi Mundon KingDemocrat

Commending Henderson Motorsports.

Commending Henderson Motorsports.

Israel D. O'QuinnRepublican

Commending Amanda Castellucci.

Commending Amanda Castellucci.

Kathy K.L. TranDemocrat

Commending Keyshawn Davis.

Commending Keyshawn Davis.

Phil M. HernandezDemocrat

Commending the Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Commending the Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Candi Mundon KingDemocrat

Commending the Forest Park High School robotics program.

Commending the Forest Park High School robotics program.

Candi Mundon KingDemocrat

Commending John Garrett, M.D., FACS.

Commending John Garrett, M.D., FACS.

Patrick A. HopeDemocrat

Commending James R. Tucker II.

Commending James R. Tucker II.

Michael J. JonesDemocrat

Commending Greg Duncan.

Commending Greg Duncan.

Karen Keys-GamarraDemocrat

Commending Tucker Wright.

Commending Tucker Wright.

Patrick A. HopeDemocrat

Commending TreVeyon Henderson

Commending TreVeyon Henderson

Carrie E. CoynerRepublican

Commending the Woodside High School theatre program.

Commending the Woodside High School theatre program.

Shelly A. SimondsDemocrat

Commending David S. Widzer.

Commending David S. Widzer.

Kathy K.L. TranDemocrat

Commemorating the life and legacy of Carter G. Woodson.

Commemorating the life and legacy of Carter G. Woodson.

Candi Mundon KingDemocrat

Commending the Southside Youth Football League, the Huntersville Wolverines Football and Cheer Organization, and the Park Place Kings Football and Cheer Organization.

Commending the Southside Youth Football League, the Huntersville Wolverines Football and Cheer Organization, and the Park Place Kings Football and Cheer Organization.

Bonita G. AnthonyDemocrat

Commending Stephanie Roble.

Commending Stephanie Roble.

Bonita G. AnthonyDemocrat

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.

Adam P. EbbinDemocrat

Condemnation of conservation or open-space easement; compensation, Uniform Easement Relocation Act.

Condemnation of conservation or open-space easement; compensation; Uniform Easement Relocation Act. Provides that if a person takes by condemnation proceedings any land or right-of-way or similar interest therein that is subject to a conservation easement or an open-space easement, the person shall compensate, in amounts proportionate to the land or interest therein being condemned, (i) the Commonwealth for the value of any tax credit received by the landowner under the provisions of the Virginia Land Conservation Incentives Act of 1999 during the pendency of the conservation easement or open-space easement and (ii) the locality in which the land or interest therein is located for any property tax avoided by the landowner during the pendency of the conservation easement or open-space easement. The bill further requires that compensation required to be paid to the Commonwealth pursuant to the provisions of the bill shall be in addition to (a) any compensation required by the provisions of the conservation easement due to the landowner and holder or compensation required by the provisions of the open-space easement due to the landowner and the public body and (b) fulfillment of the requirements pertaining to the conversion or diversion of open-space land.Subject to reenactment by the 2026 Session of the General Assembly, the bill further creates the Uniform Easement Relocation Act, which allows the owner of real estate burdened by an easement to obtain a court order to relocate the easement if the relocation does not materially impair, among other impairments, (1) the utility of the easement holder or (2) the physical condition, use, or value of the benefited property. The Act requires that the burdened property owner file a civil action, give notice to other potentially affected real property interest owners, and bear the costs of relocation. Under current law, the owner of land that is subject to an easement may seek relocation of the easement on the servient estate upon petition to the circuit court and notice to all parties in interest, and the petition will be granted if, after a hearing held, the court finds that (A) the relocation will not result in economic damage to the parties in interest, (B) there will be no undue hardship created by the relocation, and (C) the easement has been in existence for not less than 10 years. The bill directs the Boyd-Graves Conference to conduct a study on the provisions of such Uniform Easement Relocation Act and report any findings of such study to the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees for Courts of Justice by November 1, 2025.

Vivian E. WattsDemocrat

Public schools; definitions, textbooks and other high-quality instructional materials.

Public schools; textbooks and other high-quality instructional materials. Makes several changes relating to the textbooks and other high-quality instructional materials that are utilized as the curriculum basis for public elementary and secondary school student instruction, including (i) requiring each local school board to adopt and implement textbooks and other high-quality instructional materials in English language arts for grades six through 12 and mathematics, science, and history and social studies for grades kindergarten through 12 and requiring the Department of Education to support such local adoption and implementation in several ways and (ii) requiring each education preparation program offered by a public institution of higher education or private institution of higher education or alternative certification program that provides training for any student seeking initial licensure by the Board of Education with certain endorsements to include a program of coursework and clinical experience and require all such students to demonstrate mastery in identifying and implementing textbooks and other high-quality instructional materials. The provisions of the bill, with the exception of a provision that requires a study of and report on the textbook review and approval process by November 1, 2025, have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026. This bill incorporates HB 2291 and HB 2772 and is identical to SB 955.

Sam RasoulDemocrat

State pharmacy benefits manager; DMAS to select & contract with a third-party administrator to serve

Department of Medical Assistance Services; state pharmacy benefits manager; independent evaluation. Requires the Department of Medical Assistance Services, by July 1, 2026, to select and contract with a third-party administrator to serve as the state pharmacy benefits manager to administer all pharmacy benefits for Medicaid recipients, including recipients enrolled in a managed care organization. The bill enumerates requirements for the Department's contract with the state pharmacy benefits manager. In addition, the bill directs the Department to engage an independent consultant to evaluate the implementation of a contract with a third-party pharmacy benefits manager pursuant to the bill. This bill incorporates HB 2209 and is identical to SB 875.

Katrina CallsenDemocrat

Virginia military forces; preliminary protective orders, etc.

Virginia military forces; Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Program established. Establishes the Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Program (the Program) within the Department of Military Affairs. The bill also establishes the Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Officer (the Officer) to perform victim advocacy services, including helping victims of certain criminal sexual assault offenses make either a restricted report or an unrestricted report, as those terms are defined in the bill. Restricted and unrestricted reports may be made (i) by a person who is a member of the Virginia military forces, defined in the bill as the Virginia National Guard and the Virginia Defense Force, or (ii) against a member of the Virginia military forces. The bill directs the Adjutant General, in coordination with the Officer, to submit an annual report to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and the chairmen of both the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice. The annual report shall include relevant information enumerated in the bill, including implementation and effectiveness of the Program's policies and procedures, as well as statistical information about restricted reports and unrestricted reports.

Joshua G. ColeDemocrat

Pregnancy mobile application; promoting awareness of gov't. maternal & infant health programs, etc.

Department of Medical Assistance Services; pregnancy mobile application. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to partner with a mobile pregnancy application to promote awareness of state government maternal and infant health programs and information available to prenatal, pregnant, and postpartum individuals who are eligible for Medicaid. The bill also directs the Department to develop an in lieu of service or setting that expands access to nutritious food for pregnant and postpartum Medicaid managed care members. The bill requires the Department to submit a request for proposal within 180 days of the bill's effective date. This bill incorporates SB 1457.

Angelia Williams GravesDemocrat

Child labor; child engaged in the work of content creation, trust account.

Child labor; child engaged in the work of content creation; trust account. Requires that a child under the age of 16 who meets certain criteria specified in the bill to be considered a child engaged in the work of content creation be compensated by the content creator, defined in the bill, whose video content includes such child's likeness, name, or photograph. The bill requires the content creator to set aside gross earnings on the video content that includes the likeness, name, or photograph of the child in a trust account to be preserved for the benefit of the child upon attaining 18 years of age or having been declared emancipated. The bill also requires the content creator to maintain certain records specified in the bill and provide them to the child and the holder of the trust account on an ongoing basis. The bill also allows the child, or his parent or guardian on behalf of such child, to commence a civil action if the content creator fails to maintain the required records and to enforce the provisions of law related to the trust account. This bill is identical to SB 998.

Jackie H. GlassDemocrat

DOC; functional literacy program for inmates, etc.

Department of Corrections; functional literacy program for inmates; data sharing and tracking; salary schedules for teachers; Virginia Prison Education Task Force established; report. Requires the Superintendent employed by the Director of Corrections to (i) include in the functional literacy program for inmates developed pursuant to applicable law evidence-based literacy instruction, as defined in accordance with applicable law; (ii) share data with (a) the state entity that oversees the management, direction, and governance of the Commonwealth's education and workforce data for the purpose of developing educational, health, social service, and employment outcome data and improving the efficacy of state services and (b) the Virginia Community College System necessary for comprehensive community colleges to apply for and maintain eligibility as Federal Pell Grant-eligible prison education programs; and (iii) track and publicly report at least annually the number of incarcerated individuals eligible for, enrolled in, and waitlisted for the functional literacy program. The bill also establishes the Virginia Prison Education Task Force for the purpose of implementing a consistent education program across all state correctional facilities operated by the Department. The bill requires the Task Force to complete its work by July 1, 2030. Finally, the bill requires the Department of Education to, by November 1, 2025, (a) review and update the salary schedules for teachers licensed by the Board of Education and employed by the Department of Corrections to provide instruction in the schools of the correctional centers to be competitive with those in effect for the school division in which the correctional facility is located and (b) make recommendations for the inclusion of such teacher salary increases in the appropriation act.

Betsy B. CarrDemocrat

Involuntary manslaughter; certain drug offenses.

Involuntary manslaughter; certain drug offenses. Provides that any person who knowingly, intentionally, and feloniously manufactures, sells, or distributes a controlled substance knowing that such controlled substance contains a detectable amount of fentanyl, including its derivatives, isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, and unintentionally causes the death of another person is guilty of involuntary manslaughter if (i) such death results from the use of the controlled substance and (ii) such controlled substance is the proximate cause of the death. The bill provides that venue for a prosecution of this crime shall lie in the locality where the manufacturing, sale, or distribution of such controlled substance occurred, where the use of the controlled substance occurred, or where death occurred.The bill also provides that if a person gave or distributed such controlled substance only as an accommodation to another individual who is not an inmate in a community correctional facility, local correctional facility, or state correctional facility, or in the custody of an employee thereof, and not with intent to profit thereby from any consideration received or expected nor to induce the recipient of the controlled substance to use or become addicted to or dependent upon such controlled substance, he is not guilty of involuntary manslaughter but is guilty of a Class 6 felony. This bill is identical to SB 746.

Joshua E. ThomasDemocrat

Public schools; definitions, textbooks and other high-quality instructional materials.

Public schools; textbooks and other high-quality instructional materials. Makes several changes relating to the textbooks and other high-quality instructional materials that are utilized as the curriculum basis for public elementary and secondary school student instruction, including (i) requiring each local school board to adopt and implement textbooks and other high-quality instructional materials in English language arts for grades six through 12 and mathematics, science, and history and social studies for grades kindergarten through 12 and requiring the Department of Education to support such local adoption and implementation in several ways and (ii) requiring each education preparation program offered by a public institution of higher education or private institution of higher education or alternative certification program that provides training for any student seeking initial licensure by the Board of Education with certain endorsements to include a program of coursework and clinical experience and require all such students to demonstrate mastery in identifying and implementing textbooks and other high-quality instructional materials. The provisions of the bill, with the exception of a provision that requires a study of and report on the textbook review and approval process by November 1, 2025, have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 2777.

Schuyler T. VanValkenburgDemocrat

State pharmacy benefits manager; DMAS to select & contract with a third-party administrator to serve

Department of Medical Assistance Services; state pharmacy benefits manager; independent evaluation. Requires the Department of Medical Assistance Services, by July 1, 2026, to select and contract with a third-party administrator to serve as the state pharmacy benefits manager to administer all pharmacy benefits for Medicaid recipients, including recipients enrolled in a managed care organization. The bill enumerates requirements for the Department's contract with the state pharmacy benefits manager. In addition, the bill directs the Department to engage an independent consultant to evaluate the implementation of a contract with a third-party pharmacy benefits manager pursuant to the bill. This bill is identical to HB 2610.

Aaron R. RouseDemocrat

Virginia Parole Board; powers and duties, membership, voting requirements, etc.

Powers and duties of Parole Board; voting requirements; meetings. Removes various references to postrelease supervision and instead includes such references and related procedures in the provisions that govern probation so that such procedures, including revocation hearings, will be overseen and conducted by the sentencing court. The bill provides that except for a public meeting convened for conducting the final deliberation and vote regarding whether the Parole Board will grant parole to a prisoner, a meeting of the Parole Board members, regardless of whether such members invite staff or other guests to participate in such meeting, shall not be deemed a meeting subject to the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.The bill also provides that the final deliberation and vote of whether to grant parole to a person serving life imprisonment for murder in the first degree shall be attended by four or more members of the Parole Board, and a decision to grant such person discretionary parole shall require the concurrence of four or more members present. A final deliberation and vote of whether to grant parole to a person not sentenced to life imprisonment requires the attendance of a panel of no fewer than three members of the Parole Board and a concurrence of the majority of members present for such final deliberation and vote.

Wren M. WilliamsRepublican

Involuntary manslaughter; certain drug offenses.

Involuntary manslaughter; certain drug offenses. Provides that any person who knowingly, intentionally, and feloniously manufactures, sells, or distributes a controlled substance knowing that such controlled substance contains a detectable amount of fentanyl, including its derivatives, isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, and unintentionally causes the death of another person is guilty of involuntary manslaughter if (i) such death results from the use of the controlled substance and (ii) such controlled substance is the proximate cause of the death. The bill provides that venue for a prosecution of this crime shall lie in the locality where the manufacturing, sale, or distribution of such controlled substance occurred, where the use of the controlled substance occurred, or where death occurred.The bill also provides that if a person gave or distributed such controlled substance only as an accommodation to another individual who is not an inmate in a community correctional facility, local correctional facility, or state correctional facility, or in the custody of an employee thereof, and not with intent to profit thereby from any consideration received or expected nor to induce the recipient of the controlled substance to use or become addicted to or dependent upon such controlled substance, he is not guilty of involuntary manslaughter but is guilty of a Class 6 felony. This bill is identical to HB 2657.

Ryan T. McDougleRepublican

Health insurance; reimbursement for services rendered by certain practitioners, etc.

Health insurance; reimbursement for services rendered by certain practitioners other than physicians. Requires health insurers and health service plan providers whose policies or contracts cover services that may be legally performed by a licensed certified midwife or licensed midwife to provide equal coverage for such services. The bill requires the reimbursement for a service provided by a licensed certified midwife or licensed midwife to be in the same amount as the reimbursement paid under the policy to a certified nurse midwife performing such service in the area served, subject to certain conditions.

Jeion A. WardDemocrat

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 SB 1449.

Joshua E. ThomasDemocrat