Bills & Legislation

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 SB 396.

Karrie K. DelaneyDemocrat

Transportation electrification; integrated resource planning, fast-charging stations, etc.

Transportation electrification; integrated resource planning; fast-charging stations; cost recovery by electric utilities. Permits Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power Company to file a proposed tariff with the State Corporation Commission (the Commission) to provide utility owned and operated electrical distribution infrastructure to support electric vehicle charging stations. The bill requires Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power Company to file transportation electrification plans with the Commission by February 1, 2028, and every three years thereafter, and includes requirements for information to include in such plans. Under the bill, Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power Company are required to seek recovery of necessary and appropriate expenditures for transportation electrification only through their rates for generation and distribution services.The bill prohibits Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power Company from petitioning for approval of expenditures to own and operate electric vehicle fast-charging stations unless such stations are located at or beyond a radial distance as determined by the Commission relative to the location of any privately owned fast charging station. The bill also directs the Commission to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to determine the appropriate radial distance for such utility-owned fast-charging stations from privately-owned fast charging stations, to enter its final rule in such proceeding no later than December 31, 2027, and to review such final rule by December 31, 2029. Provisions of the bill restricting the radial distance of utility owned and operated fast-charging stations expire on July 1, 2031. This bill is identical to SB 407.

Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31Republican

Higher ed. financial aid programs; amends provisions, Va. Commonwealth Award established, report.

Public institutions of higher education; financial aid review and consolidation; Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program and Fund; Virginia Commonwealth Award established; work group; report. Amends several provisions relating to higher education financial aid programs for the purpose of establishing the Virginia Commonwealth Award in the Code of Virginia and consolidating the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program and Fund with the Virginia Commonwealth Award. Currently, the Virginia Commonwealth Award is established and administered only in the Virginia Administrative Code. In consolidating and establishing such financial aid programs as the Virginia Commonwealth Award, the bill codifies several definitions and provisions relating to award eligibility and renewal for undergraduate students and graduate students. The bill also repeals a provision of law establishing the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Fund. The bill directs the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to promulgate emergency regulations for the administration of financial aid in accordance with the provisions of the bill by April 1, 2027. The bill also directs the Secretary of Education to (i) establish a work group to conduct a comprehensive review of higher education financial aid systems and processes in the Commonwealth and make recommendations on strategies for maximizing the efficacy and impact of state financial aid appropriations on accessibility and affordability of and student outcomes in higher education in the Commonwealth and (ii) submit to the chairs of the applicable committees of the General Assembly by July 1, 2027, a report on the work group's findings and recommendations. Finally, the bill provides for the gradual phase-out of the award of grants under the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program by (a) prohibiting any first-time students from being offered a grant under the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program beginning with first-time students enrolled in the fall semester of 2027 and (b) permitting any public institution of higher education to provide for the annual renewal of grant awards under such program for no more than three subsequent award years, or up to a total of four award years, to any student who receives a grant during the 2026–2027 school year and continues to meet the requirements for grant renewal set forth in applicable law. This bill is identical to SB 167.

Briana D. SewellDemocrat

Health professionals; mandatory suicide training required.

Health professionals; mandatory suicide training required. Requires health care professionals to complete training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management. The bill requires counselors, licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners, marriage and family therapists, behavioral health technicians, qualified mental health professionals, occupational therapists, psychologists, and social workers to complete such training at least once every six years and requires other health professionals to complete such training once. The bill requires the Commissioner of Health and the Department of Health Professions to develop a model list of training programs in suicide assessment, treatment, and management and update such list at least once every two years.

Karrie K. DelaneyDemocrat

Unmanned aircraft systems; use by law-enforcement officers, search warrants.

Use of unmanned aircraft systems by law-enforcement officers; search warrants; model policy. Expedites the issuance of a search warrant for unmanned aircraft systems by law-enforcement officers upon a finding of reasonable and probable cause by an authorized judicial official, as defined in the bill, and permits the use of unmanned aircraft systems without a search warrant when law enforcement is surveying the scene of a crime or to respond to a public safety call for service when such crime scene or call for service is located on public property, to locate a person when such person has fled the offense location during the initial response to an incident, or to provide real-time aerial observation to increase on-scene safety and security. Such provisions are subject to a reenactment clause. The bill also requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services, in consultation with the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission and the Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys, to establish a model policy for the use of unmanned aircraft systems by December 1, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 647.

Briana D. SewellDemocrat

Cosmetic products; manufacturing or sale with certain ingredients prohibited.

Manufacturing or sale of cosmetic products with certain ingredients prohibited. Prohibits any person from manufacturing, selling, delivering, offering for sale, or using in connection with a consumer transaction any cosmetic product that contains certain ingredients that are listed in the bill. The bill exempts retailers that do not (i) manufacture cosmetics containing prohibited ingredients or (ii) knowingly sell or offer for sale cosmetics containing prohibited ingredients. The bill provides that a violation of its provisions constitutes a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act and specifies that its provisions do not apply to or restrict the continued sale by a retailer of cosmetics in existing inventory before July 1, 2026. This bill incorporates HB 864.

Karen Keys-GamarraDemocrat

Photo speed monitoring devices; placement and operation.

Photo speed monitoring devices; placement and operation. Directs the Supreme Court of Virginia to develop a summons for vehicle speed violations captured by photo speed monitoring devices and requires summonses issued for such vehicle speed violations to be such summons. The bill makes various changes to the requirements for the use of photo speed monitoring devices, including the use of funds from collected civil penalties, signage, data retention and storage, photo speed monitoring device calibration, making certain information available to the public, requirements for private vendors, and reporting. The bill establishes civil penalties for violations of requirements and provides that for any summons issued, failure to comply with the requirements for the operation of photo speed monitoring devices renders such summons invalid. The bill also limits the use of photo speed monitoring devices in highway work zones to when workers are present, as defined in the bill, and 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 vehicle speed violation.The bill contains delayed effective dates for certain provisions.

Karrie K. DelaneyDemocrat

Summer camps; employment of children.

Employment of children; summer camps. Permits children 14 years of age or older to be employed by a summer camp operated by a religious, service, or scouting organization and provides that such children may participate in all activities related to providing services to campers, provided that the summer camp is accredited and follows safety guidelines published by a recognized youth services organization.

Karrie K. DelaneyDemocrat

Keeper of livery stable; liens, requirements.

Keeper of livery stable; liens; requirements. Creates a process by which any person that boards, pastures, or otherwise keeps any horse, cattle, or other animal pursuant to an agreement with the owner of such horse, cattle, or other animal may impose a possessory lien for the reasonable charges due for such animal's care, feeding, and maintenance, which includes a provision for the lienholder to retain possession of the animal for 30 days until certain conditions are met and a procedure for the owner of the animal to dispute such lien. The bill also provides that if no such action has occurred upon the expiration of the 30 days, the lienholder may proceed with enforcing the lien as provided by current law.

Delores OatesRepublican

Health insurance; cost-sharing payments for insulin and diabetes equipment and supplies, limit.

Health insurance; cost-sharing payments for insulin and diabetes equipment and supplies; limit. Decreases the cap on the cost-sharing payment that a covered person is required to pay for a covered prescription insulin drug from $50 to $35 for a 30-day supply of the prescription insulin drug and provides such cap is an aggregate cap that applies in situations where the covered person is prescribed more than one insulin drug. The bill also establishes such an aggregate cap of $35 for a 30-day supply of diabetes equipment and supplies.

Karrie K. DelaneyDemocrat

Zoning; small lot residential districts required.

Small lot residential zoning districts. Requires any locality with a population of 50,000 or more to adopt, maintain, and apply to land within its boundaries at least one zoning district classification that permits a single-family dwelling on a lot with a minimum lot area not exceeding 3,000 square feet. The bill provides that such zoning district classifications shall not impose minimum lot widths exceeding 30 feet or setback, lot coverage, or density requirements that would preclude construction of eligible dwellings on conforming lots. The bill's provisions do not apply to areas within a historic district.

Briana D. SewellDemocrat

Surveillance pricing; prohibited, civil penalties.

Surveillance pricing; prohibited; civil penalties. Prohibits the use of surveillance pricing in connection with a consumer transaction. The bill defines "surveillance pricing" as the selling or offering for sale of a good or service at a customized price for a specific consumer or group of consumers that is based, in whole or in part, on personal data that is collected through electronic surveillance technology, regardless of whether the seller collected or purchased the personal data. The bill provides that a violation of its provisions constitutes a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.

Karen Keys-GamarraDemocrat

Public education; early childhood care and education, child care access calculations, report.

Public education; early childhood care and education; child care access calculations; report. Requires the Department of Education to establish and maintain calculations for the provision of early childhood care and education services based on cost of quality rate per child, actual data from the prior year, an estimate of parental demand and choice preferences based on historic growth trends and current eligibility criteria, and an estimate of the number of slots to be added to support local or regional economic development efforts and public-private partnerships focused on increasing the supply of child care services, giving priority to localities or regions identified as child care deserts, as determined by the Department. The bill also contains several provisions relating to the use and appropriation of funds as applicable to such calculations, including (i) providing that the calculations shall not obligate the General Assembly to a specific appropriation, (ii) requiring the calculations to be used to provide information to guide the General Assembly in making decisions about the proportion of parental demand for and supply of early childhood care and education services to be addressed and level of appropriation required to address such demand, and (iii) providing that the annual overall funding available for slots shall be subject to appropriation as determined by the General Assembly. The bill also provides that if waitlists for slots at early childhood care and education sites remain, up to $5 million from prior-year unexpended state general funds appropriated for such purpose in a general appropriation act may be carried forward to the current fiscal year to temporarily provide additional slots during the current fiscal year solely to reduce or eliminate waitlists, unless the general appropriation act authorizes a greater amount to be carried forward and that such prior-year funds shall not be used to increase the base amount of funding required in the subsequent fiscal year and the Department shall monitor program utilization and attrition to ensure that no families will lose access at the end of the current fiscal year. Finally, the bill requires the Department to annually submit to the Commission on Early Childhood Care and Education and post on its website a report on the data used to calculate the minimum funding and number of slots for the calculations in accordance with the provisions of the bill. This bill is identical to SB 134.

Briana D. SewellDemocrat

School bds., etc.; applicants for employment involving direct contact w/children in public schools.

School boards and independent contractors; applicants for employment involving direct contact with children in public schools; employment history review. Requires each school board and each independent contractor that provides services in any public elementary or secondary school in the Commonwealth to (i) require each applicant for employment whose position will involve direct contact with children, as that term is defined in the bill, in a public elementary or secondary school in the Commonwealth to provide (a) the address and telephone number of and other any other relevant contact information for the applicant's current employer and any former employer that employed the applicant in a position that involved direct contact with children and (b) a written, signed statement as to whether the applicant has (1) been the subject of an investigation and finding or adjudication of abuse or sexual misconduct, as that term is defined in the bill, by any employer, state licensing agency, law-enforcement agency, or child protective services agency or (2) been disciplined, discharged, nonrenewed, asked to resign, or otherwise separated from employment or had a professional license or certificate suspended, surrendered, or revoked while such an investigation was pending or due to such a finding or adjudication and (ii) request, from each such employer, confirmation of the dates of the applicant's employment and a written statement as to the veracity of the applicant's abovementioned statement, to the best of such employer's knowledge. The bill requires each such employer to respond no later than 20 days after receipt of such a request. The bill permits any school board or independent contractor to use any information received pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) to evaluate an applicant's fitness to be hired and to consider an applicant's provision of false information or willful failure to disclose information to be grounds for declining to further consider such applicant for employment.

Phillip A. ScottRepublican

Property Owners' Association Act; operation and management of assoc., condemnation of common area.

Property Owners' Association Act; operation and management of association; condemnation of common area; procedure. Requires consideration of the physical characteristics of a property owners' association's common area land when determining such land's highest and best use for purposes of valuing the property for award or payment for such land in a condemnation proceeding after the common area land is taken or damaged under the power of eminent domain.

Phillip A. ScottRepublican

High school students; postsecondary opportunities, concurrent enrollment.

High school students; postsecondary opportunities; concurrent enrollment. Defines "concurrent enrollment" as the enrollment of a high school student in an associate degree-level course, creditable toward high school completion, offered on a campus, center, location, or site operated by an associate-degree-granting public institution of higher education, requires postsecondary degree attainment agreements between school boards and comprehensive community colleges to specify options for high school students to earn college credit through dual enrollment, concurrent enrollment, or a combination thereof, requires the College and Career Ready Virginia Program to include the opportunity for any qualified high school student to earn college credit, including pursuant to the Passport Program or the Uniform Certificate of General Studies Program, or a full associate degree through concurrent enrollment, and provides that any student participating in concurrent enrollment courses through the College and Career Ready Virginia Program shall be counted as a high school student for the purpose of the calculation and receipt of state funding for such student.

Phillip A. ScottRepublican

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 SB 377.

Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31Republican

Virginia-Ireland Advisory Board; established, report.

Virginia-Ireland Advisory Board established; report. Creates the Virginia-Ireland Advisory Board to advise the Governor and General Assembly on ways to improve economic and cultural links between Virginia and Ireland, with a focus on the areas of commerce and trade, art and education, and general government. The bill requires the Board to submit an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly.

Israel D. O'QuinnRepublican

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 SB 447.

Joshua E. ThomasDemocrat

State of preparedness; feasibility & impact of program to prioritize prevention/mitigation, etc.

Department of Emergency Management; state of preparedness; report. Directs the Department of Emergency Management to assess the feasibility and impact of developing a program to prioritize the prevention and mitigation of damage, loss, hardship, or suffering due to the anticipated impacts of an imminent emergency necessitating a gubernatorial declaration of a state of preparedness or an emergency that does not warrant a gubernatorial declaration of a state of emergency. The Department of Emergency Management shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and General Laws and Technology and the House Committee on Appropriations by November 1, 2026.

Israel D. O'QuinnRepublican

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 SB 394.

Sam RasoulDemocrat

Alcoholic beverage control; expands definition of special events, mixed beverage caterer's licenses.

Alcoholic beverage control; special events; mixed beverage caterer's licenses. Expands the definition of "special event" used in the context of alcoholic beverage control to include events where a duly organized nonprofit corporation or association is engaged to be the concession operator entitled to the net proceeds from the sale of alcoholic beverages for such event. The bill also allows mixed beverage caterers' licenses to be granted to a person regularly engaged in the business of providing food and beverages to others for service at cultural or sporting events sponsored by a locality, destination marketing organization, or regional attractions marketing agency.

Paul E. KrizekDemocrat

Comprehensive community colleges; machinery and equipment for courses and programs.

Comprehensive community colleges; procurement; machinery and equipment for courses and programs; certain limitations prohibited. Prohibits the State Board for Community Colleges and any comprehensive community college from establishing or adhering to any procurement policy, practice, procedure, regulation, or rule that prohibits the procurement of used machinery or equipment when such machinery or equipment is necessary to provide proper student instruction in any relevant course or program.

Israel D. O'QuinnRepublican

Discovery materials or evidence; accused may request to copy or photograph any materials.

Discovery; methods of delivery. Requires the Commonwealth, upon request by the accused or his counsel, to copy or photograph any discovery materials or evidence the accused is permitted to inspect and review, including relevant police reports, criminal records, dashboard camera footage, and body-worn camera footage, and requires the Commonwealth to provide copies to the accused or his counsel, subject to the redaction, restricted dissemination, and protective order provisions of the relevant Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia and unless such material is prohibited from being distributed by law.The bill requires the attorney for the Commonwealth in any district court to provide to counsel of record for the accused, if requested, a copy of any relevant police report at least 10 days prior to the date the case is set for trial or preliminary hearing, and such report is subject to limitations on dissemination. The bill further provides that if such materials are provided to counsel of record for the accused in district court for a preliminary hearing, the circuit court shall order such counsel to provide discovery to the attorney for the Commonwealth subject to the relevant Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia prior to trial in circuit court. Lastly, the bill provides that if at any time during the course of the proceedings it is brought to the attention of the court that the attorney for the Commonwealth has failed to comply with such provisions, the court may order the Commonwealth to permit discovery or inspection, grant a continuance, or prohibit the Commonwealth from introducing evidence not disclosed, or the court may enter such other order as it deems just under the circumstances.

Karen Keys-GamarraDemocrat

Income tax, state; free tax filing program for individuals.

Department of Taxation; free tax filing program for individuals. Directs the Tax Commissioner to develop and offer a free individual state income tax filing program, effective beginning in taxable year 2028, that is similar to the federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Direct File Program as it existed during the 2025 tax filing season. The bill contains technical amendments that remove obsolete language regarding fillable forms. This bill is identical to SB 591.

Kimberly Pope AdamsDemocrat

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 SB 401.

Kimberly Pope AdamsDemocrat

Regulatory boards, certain; quorum requirements.

Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation; quorum requirements for certain regulatory boards. Lowers the quorum requirements for the (i) Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects of two engineers, two architects, and two land surveyors to at least one engineer, one architect, and one land surveyor and (ii) Board for Professional Soil Scientists, Wetland Professionals, and Geologists of two professional soil scientists, two professional wetland delineators, and two professional geologists to at least one professional soil scientist, one professional wetland delineator, and one professional geologist.

Nicole ColeDemocrat

Financial institutions; check cashers, expiration of registration, delayed effective date.

Financial institutions; check cashers; expiration of registration. Provides that for check cashers registered with the State Corporation Commission, such registration shall automatically expire if a registrant fails to pay the annual registration fee by July 1 of each year. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.

Stacey Annie CarrollDemocrat

Standard Diploma; Board of Education shall develop alternative graduation pathways to earn.

Board of Education; development of alternative graduation pathways to earn a Standard Diploma; report. Directs the Board of Education to develop alternative graduation pathways to earn a Standard Diploma that are designed to expand opportunities for students to complete the verified credit requirements for the Standard Diploma that do not require achieving a passing score on applicable Standards of Learning assessments. In developing such alternative graduation pathways, the bill directs the Board to (i) consult with and integrate the perspectives of a broad range of relevant stakeholders; (ii) consider alignment with the competencies articulated in the Profile of a Virginia Graduate; (iii) consider certain elements for incorporation into such alternative pathways, including nonassessment demonstrations of competence, alternative assessments that could be used in lieu of or alongside Standards of Learning assessments, and pathway structures or elements designed to encourage hands-on learning and civic engagement; (iv) ensure that any such alternative graduation pathways do not impact or replace the current requirements for earning a Standard Diploma or an Advanced Studies Diploma; (v) ensure at least one alternative pathway is developed that includes a nonassessment demonstration of competence; and (vi) consider next steps for approval and implementation of such alternative graduation pathways. Finally, the bill directs the Board to submit to the Governor and Chairs of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by January 1, 2027, a report detailing the Board's progress in developing alternative graduation pathways to earn a Standard Diploma, in accordance with the provisions of the bill.

Sam RasoulDemocrat

Government. Data Collection & Dissemin. Practices Act; dissemin. of personal info. to federal gov't.

Government Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act; dissemination of personal information to federal government; civil penalties. Provides that any agency or political subdivision of the Commonwealth shall only disseminate personal information (i) to the extent necessary to comply with state or federal law, including the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; (ii) to the extent necessary to carry out the administration of a state or federal program pursuant to state or federal law; (iii) to comply with a subpoena, court order, or administrative proceeding; (iv) to the extent necessary to ensure fulfillment of the obligations of a purchase or contract made in accordance with the Virginia Public Procurement Act or a memorandum of understanding or management agreement made in accordance with the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act; (v) when the data subject has given consent; or (vi) to the extent necessary to accomplish a proper purpose of the agency. The bill also prohibits an agency or political subdivision from selling personal information. The bill authorizes a court, in the case of a willful and knowing violation, to subject a specific public officer, appointee, or employee of any agency to civil penalties.

Kathy K.L. TranDemocrat

School board employee grievance procedure; timing of dispute resolution.

School board employee grievance procedure; timing of dispute resolution. Requires the grievance procedure for certain school board employees to afford a timely and fair method of the resolution of disputes arising between the school board and such employees before dismissal or other disciplinary actions, excluding suspensions. Current law requires such procedure to afford a timely and fair method of the resolution of disputes arising between the school board and such employees regarding dismissal or other disciplinary actions, excluding suspensions, but is silent on the timing of such dispute resolution. This bill is identical to SB 824.

Jeion A. WardDemocrat

State correctional facilities; required education or vocational training.

State correctional facilities; required education or vocational training; earned sentence credits classification levels. Requires a prisoner in a state correctional facility, as a part of his reentry plan developed and implemented by the Department of Corrections, to complete a high school equivalency test or vocational, technical, or other certification prior to such prisoner's release. The bill also provides that the annual review of a prisoner's classification level for earned sentence credits shall include such prisoner's quantifiable or measurable progress, as available, in any programs, job assignments, and educational curricula in which he is participating, such as test scores achieved or completion of a high school equivalency test or other trade or vocational certification.

Wendell S. WalkerRepublican

Community Builders Pilot Program; name change, statewide demonstration model site, repeals sunset.

Community Builders Pilot Program; name change; sunset repeal; statewide demonstration model site. Makes permanent and renames the Community Builders Pilot Program established within Roanoke City Public Schools and Petersburg City Public Schools as the Community Builders Program (the Program). The Community Builders Pilot Program is currently set to expire on July 1, 2027. The bill also requires, with such funds as may be appropriated by the General Assembly for such purpose pursuant to the general appropriation act, Roanoke City Public Schools to serve as the statewide demonstration model site for the Program for the purpose of hosting interested representatives of other school divisions to observe the Program and receive training and materials from Roanoke City Public Schools in order to facilitate the replication of the Program in such other school divisions. This bill is identical to SB 820.

Sam RasoulDemocrat

Charitable gaming; denial, suspension, or revocation of permit.

Charitable gaming; denial, suspension, or revocation of permit. Removes duplicative provisions of charitable gaming law regarding the denial, suspension, or revocation of a charitable gaming permit or authorization to conduct electronic gaming.

Paul E. KrizekDemocrat

Electric utilities; duty to furnish adequate service, high-demand customers.

Electric utilities; delay in provision of service permitted. Provides that a distributor of electric energy may delay the provision of service if such delay is necessary to maintain electric grid reliability, to avoid exceeding available generation or transmission capacity constraints, or to ensure compliance with load interconnection policies or rules issued by the State Corporation Commission or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 423.

Rodney T. WillettDemocrat

Medicine and Nursing, Boards of; continuing education, bias reduction training.

Board of Medicine and Board of Nursing; continuing education; bias reduction training. Directs the Board of Medicine and Board of Nursing to require certain licensees to complete continuing learning activities on bias reduction in health care as part of their continuing education and continuing competency requirements for licensure and authorizes the Board of Nursing to require certain continuing learning activities or courses in a specific subject area. Under current law, the Board of Medicine has such authority. This bill is identical to SB 22.

Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31Republican

Impersonating any local, town, city, or county elected official; penalty.

Impersonating any local, town, city, or county elected official; penalty. Prohibits any person from willfully and intentionally (i) falsely assuming or exercising the functions, powers, duties, and privileges incident to the office of any local, town, city, or county elected official; (ii) falsely assuming or pretending to be any such elected official with intent to defraud or obtain access, information, service, or thing of value; or (iii) impersonating any such elected official with the intent to make another believe he is such elected official with intent to defraud or obtain access, information, service, or thing of value. A violation of such prohibition is a Class 3 misdemeanor.

M. Keith HodgesRepublican

Water distribution systems; lead status inspections for water service lines.

Inspection of water distribution systems; lead status inspections for water service lines. Permits any locality that operates a water distribution system or any water authority that operates a water distribution system, or their respective duly authorized agents, to, at reasonable times and under reasonable circumstances, enter upon the exterior areas of any property, public or private, for the purpose of accessing and inspecting a water service line necessary to make the required system-side and customer-side service line material classifications for lead status to comply with federal law. The bill requires any such inspector to maintain a record of such inspections, including the date, time, and result of the inspection, and, further, requires the inspector to inform the customer of the result of the inspection. The bill also requires the locality or water authority to deliver notice to the customer at least 14 days prior to the inspection. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2028.

M. Keith HodgesRepublican

Motor vehicle safety inspections; certified safety inspectors.

Motor vehicle safety inspections; safety inspectors. Requires motor vehicle safety inspections to be conducted by persons certified as a safety inspector by the Superintendent of State Police. Existing law requires the person conducting a vehicle safety inspection, or under whose immediate supervision such inspection is made, to have at least one year's practical experience as an automotive mechanic or have satisfactorily completed a training program in automotive mechanics approved by the Superintendent of State Police.

Terry L. AustinRepublican

Registration decals; discontinued.

Registration decals; discontinued. Discontinues the requirement for and issuance of decals displaying the expiration month and year of motor vehicle registration to be displayed on license plates. The bill also removes the requirement for the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue appropriately designated license plates for motor vehicles held for rental. The bill does not eliminate existing requirements that vehicles are to be registered.

Terry L. AustinRepublican

Water and sewer connection fees; first-time homebuyers, affordable housing.

Water and sewer connection fees; first-time homebuyers; affordable housing. Provides that any locality may provide for the full or partial reimbursement to a first-time homebuyer of water and sewer connection fees, capital recovery charges, and availability fees paid in connection with any new residential development conveyed to such homebuyer. The bill also permits any locality that has adopted an affordable dwelling unit ordinance pursuant to general law to provide for a waiver of such fees and charges for any development subject to the requirements of such ordinance.

Marty MartinezDemocrat

Electric utility infrastructure; Dept. of Energy and SCC to conduct an analysis, report.

State Corporation Commission; electric utility infrastructure; report. Directs the Department of Energy (the Department) and the State Corporation Commission (the Commission) to conduct a comprehensive analysis of existing electric utility infrastructure to identify cost-saving opportunities that improve or preserve electric system reliability as an alternative or supplement to greenfield infrastructure projects. The bill requires the Department and the Commission to complete their analysis and submit a report to the General Assembly no later than July 1, 2027.

R. Lee WareRepublican

Deferred or installment payment agreements; outstanding court-assessed fines, fees, taxes, or costs.

Deferred or installment payment agreements; outstanding court-assessed fines, fees, taxes, or costs. Provides that the attorney for the Commonwealth or the clerk of the circuit court shall not require any defendant sentenced to an active term of incarceration and ordered to pay any fine cost, forfeiture, or penalty related to the charge for which such defendant was incarcerated, or any other chare for which such defendant was sentenced on the same day, the court shall enter such defendant into a deferred payment agreement with a due date set no earlier than 180 days after the defendant's scheduled release from incarceration on the charges for which such defendant was sentenced on the same day.

Mike A. CherryRepublican

Drug-related investigations; use of confidential informants.

Use of confidential informants in drug-related investigations. Directs the Department of Criminal Justice Services to establish a model policy for the use of confidential informants in drug-related investigations and to include in such model policy that (i) no individual currently on probation or pretrial may serve as a confidential informant without notice to his probation, pretrial services, or parole officer; (ii) no individual who has, within the last six months, been found to have violated the terms of his probation or parole shall serve as a confidential informant whose testimony may be necessary in the prosecution of a criminal matter in the courts of the Commonwealth; (iii) law-enforcement personnel shall obtain approval from the appropriate local attorney for the Commonwealth prior to working with a confidential informant; and (iv) such confidential informant shall not unlawfully use or possess any controlled substances.

Mike A. CherryRepublican

Medicine, Board of; membership, removal of residence requirements.

Board of Medicine; membership; removal of residence requirements. Removes the requirement that the Board of Medicine have one physician from each congressional district and instead requires that 11 physicians be on the Board. The bill removes references to change of residence provisions for physician Board members.

Mark C. DowneyDemocrat

Virginia Solar Energy and Battery Energy Storage Systems Program; established.

Department of Energy; Virginia Solar Energy and Battery Energy Storage Systems Program and tax credit; solar energy and battery energy storage projects. Establishes the Virginia Solar Energy and Battery Energy Storage Systems Program, to be administered by the Department of Energy for the purpose of (i) coordinating and supporting the development of solar energy and short duration battery energy storage industries and projects by other public or private entities; (ii) evaluating and approving solar energy and short duration battery energy storage projects as qualified projects for the purposes of the tax credit established by the bill; and (iii) determining which items and services are considered eligible project costs for a given qualified project, as defined in the bill. The bill establishes requirements for what can be considered a qualified solar energy and battery energy storage project based on whether the use of such project is for a residential, commercial and industrial, or utility-scale project. The bill establishes a tax credit for the installation of such residential, commercial and industrial, or utility-scale solar energy and energy storage projects for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2027, but before January 1, 2032. Finally, the bill requires the Department to monitor allocation of the tax credit and publish quarterly transparency reports summarizing such information and to establish and maintain a public dashboard displaying certain information on the solar energy and short duration battery energy storage installations by January 1, 2027. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.

David A. ReidDemocrat

Data center tax revenue; creates local residential renewable energy incentive program.

Data center tax revenue; local residential renewable energy incentive program; tangible personal property tax reimbursement; penalty. Authorizes the governing body of any county, city, or town that collects real or personal property taxes for any real or personal property owned by a data center to create a local residential renewable energy incentive program, through which funds shall be used to reduce existing utility bills for residential customers, to reduce reliance upon fossil fuel power generation facilities, to reduce the need for construction and placement of new transmission lines, and to minimize future electricity costs for residential customers. The bill provides that 15 percent of new data center revenue, defined in the bill, shall be spent toward residential solar and battery storage investment and 15 percent of new data center revenue shall be spent toward providing pro rata reimbursements for residents' tangible personal property tax assessments for any qualifying vehicle. Finally, the bill provides that if any locality violates the requirements for such incentive program, the local treasurer shall immediately transfer any remaining funds directly to the State Treasurer. The State Treasurer shall direct such remaining funds to be used for authorized purposes and thereafter such locality's incentive fund shall be dissolved. The bill makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for a local treasurer to violate such requirement.

David A. ReidDemocrat

Elections; soliciting or accepting bribe to influence or procure voter registration, penalty.

Elections; offenses; soliciting or accepting bribe to influence or procure voter registration; penalty. Provides that no person shall solicit or accept directly or indirectly any money or any thing of value in exchange for his or another's decision to register or not register to vote. The bill also provides certain exceptions to the prohibitions on soliciting or accepting bribes to influence a person to vote or to register to vote.

Dan I. HelmerDemocrat

Toll rate; increases State Corporation Commission duration and timeline for review.

State Corporation Commission; duration and timeline for review of toll rate increases. Increases from one year to two years the maximum length of time the State Corporation Commission is authorized to approve toll rate increases under the Virginia Highway Corporation Act of 1988. The bill also requires the Commission to issue a final order regarding any application for approval of one year or two years of such toll rate increases to be entered within nine months or 12 months, respectively, after the date of the filing of such application.

David A. ReidDemocrat

Workforce housing for employees; county bd. of supervisor or school bd., lease of surplus property.

Workforce housing for employees of a county or county school board; lease of surplus property. Allows any county board of supervisors or county school board to lease as lessor surplus or underutilized property. The bill provides that such leases shall be conditioned on the development of workforce housing serving employees of the county or school division with up to 80 percent of area median household income. The bill also prohibits establishment of a minimum lot size exceeding 5,000 square feet for such workforce housing and provides that the placement of manufactured houses that are on a permanent foundation and on individual lots shall be permitted subject to development standards that are equivalent to those applicable to site-built single-family dwellings.

David A. ReidDemocrat