Bills & Legislation

Experiencing or reporting an overdose or act of sexual violence; arrest and prosecution.

Arrest and prosecution when experiencing or reporting an overdose or act of sexual violence. Provides that no individual shall be subject to arrest or prosecution for the unlawful purchase, possession, or consumption of alcohol or marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, intoxication in public, or possession of controlled paraphernalia if the individual, in good faith, seeks or obtains assistance for himself or another individual from emergency medical services personnel, a health care provider, or a law-enforcement officer, as those terms are defined in relevant law, and seeks to report an act of sexual violence committed against himself or another individual, so long as (i) such individual identifies himself to the law-enforcement officer who responds to the report of the act of sexual violence and (ii) the evidence for the prosecution of such an offense was obtained as a result of the individual seeking or obtaining medical attention, rendering care or assistance, or reporting to law enforcement. However, such immunity shall not apply to an individual who is alleged to have committed the act of sexual violence or if the emergency medical attention was sought or obtained during the execution of a search warrant or during the conduct of a lawful search or a lawful arrest.The bill also provides that no individual immune to arrest or prosecution when experiencing or reporting an overdose or act of sexual violence shall have his bail, probation, furlough, supervised release, suspended sentence, or parole revoked for the behavior immune from arrest or prosecution under the provisions of applicable law.

Karen Keys-GamarraDemocrat

Insurance agents; appointments and terminations.

Insurance agents; appointments and terminations. Amends the process for the appointment of insurance agents and agencies by insurers as administered by the Bureau of Insurance of the State Corporation Commission. The bill also revises certain requirements of an insurer or authorized representative that terminates an appointment of an agent that is found to have engaged in conduct prohibited by existing law.

Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.Democrat

Dental care services for pregnant women; state plan for medical assistance services, report.

Department of Medical Assistance Services; state plan for medical assistance services; dental care services for pregnant women; report. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to amend the state plan for medical assistance services to include a provision for payment for comprehensive dental care services for pregnant women. The bill requires the Department to report to the Governor and General Assembly annually on the implementation and outcomes of the provision, and requires the first such report to be submitted by November 1, 2026.

Candi Mundon KingDemocrat

Driver's licenses and identification cards; indication of non-apparent disability.

Driver's licenses and identification cards; indication of non-apparent disability. Adds non-apparent disabilities, defined in the bill, to the list of conditions that the Department of Motor Vehicles, when requested by an applicant and upon presentation of a signed statement by a licensed physician confirming the applicant's condition, is required to indicate on such applicant's driver's license. Such requirement is also extended to identification cards. Such an indication on a person's driver's license allows for the voluntary indication of a disability that can impair communication on a motor vehicle registration.

Karen Keys-GamarraDemocrat

Summonses of a juvenile; custody, visitation, and support proceedings.

Summonses of a juvenile; custody, visitation, and support proceedings. Provides that the court may direct the issuance of a summons to a juvenile on its own motion or upon request of a party to a custody or visitation petition. The bill further provides that the court may direct the issuance of a summons to a juvenile on its own motion or for good cause shown by a party to a support proceeding requesting the issuance of such a summons. The bill is a recommendation of the Committee on District Courts.

Karen Keys-GamarraDemocrat

Mathematics teachers; BOE shall take certain regulatory actions relating to add-on endorsements.

Board of Education; certain add-on endorsements for mathematics teachers. Requires the Board of Education to (i) develop and approve a geometry add-on endorsement for teachers licensed by the Board of Education to provide instruction in geometry for students in kindergarten through grade eight and (ii) amend its regulations establishing the criteria for earning an Algebra I add-on endorsement to (a) eliminate the requirements that candidates complete coursework in calculus, Euclidian geometry, probability and statistics, and discrete mathematics and (b) permit candidates to receive a passing score on the Praxis Algebra I add-on endorsement exam in lieu of the requirements that candidates complete coursework in elementary functions, introductory college algebra, trigonometry, and linear algebra.

Shelly A. SimondsDemocrat

Counties, cities, and towns; comprehensive plan may include tiny homes or accessory dwelling units.

Local comprehensive plan; tiny homes; accessory dwelling units. Clarifies that the comprehensive plan prepared by a local planning commission and adopted by a local governing body may include the use of tiny homes and accessory dwelling units, defined in the bill, as part of any residential development and use designated within such plan. The bill contains technical amendments. This bill incorporates HB 1832.

Briana D. SewellDemocrat

Motor vehicles; use of safety belt systems.

Use of safety belt systems. Requires all adult passengers in a motor vehicle equipped with a safety belt system to wear such safety belt system when the motor vehicle is in motion on a public highway. Current law requires adult passengers to wear such safety belts when occupying the front seat.

Karen Keys-GamarraDemocrat

Establishment of parent and child relationship; persons who committed sexual assault.

Establishment of parent and child relationship; persons who have committed sexual assault. Provides that no parent and child relationship shall be established when a biological parent has been convicted of rape, carnal knowledge, or incest, or has been found by clear and convincing evidence to have engaged in such prohibited conduct, and the child was conceived of such violation or conduct. The bill further provides that a person with a legitimate interest in the child does not include a person whose interest derives from or through a person who has been convicted of or found to have engaged in such conduct by clear and convincing evidence. The bill provides that consent for adoption is not required of a birth father when such father has been found by clear and convincing evidence to have engaged in rape, carnal knowledge, or incest and the child was conceived of such conduct; under current law, such consent is not required when the birth father has been convicted of rape, carnal knowledge, or incest.

Karrie K. DelaneyDemocrat

Trespass with an unmanned aircraft system; definitions, contracted defense facility, penalty.

Trespass with an unmanned aircraft system; contracted defense facility; penalty. Creates a Class 4 felony for any person who knowingly, intentionally, and without authorization causes an unmanned aircraft system to enter the property of and obtains or attempts to obtain any videographic or still image that contains or reveals any controlled technical information located within a contracted defense facility, as those terms are defined in the bill. The bill also provides that the owner or operator of a contracted defense facility and its employees shall be immune from criminal prosecution and civil liability as a result of preventing, stopping, deterring, interrupting, or repelling, or attempting to prevent, stop, deter, interrupt, or repel, an unmanned aircraft system from entering the property of such contracted defense facility or from stopping, interrupting, or repelling, or attempting to stop, interrupt, or repel, an unmanned aircraft system that has entered such property, provided that such action does not result in injury to any person. This bill is identical to SB 757.

Marcia S. "Cia" PriceDemocrat

Student literacy instruction, etc.; completion of self-audit, higher educational institutions.

Certain education preparation programs; self-audit; student literacy instruction and the identification of students at risk for learning disabilities; report. Requires each education preparation program offered by a public institution of higher education or private institution of higher education that has not yet been audited in accordance with relevant provisions of law to complete a self-audit for compliance with requirements set forth in relevant law relating to coursework, student mastery, and field experience in student literacy instruction and the identification of students at risk for learning disabilities utilizing a rubric developed and provided by the Department of Education, with metrics that analyze the degree to which it has met each such requirement, and to submit the results of such audit and a plan for closing any gaps to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health no later than November 1, 2026.

Atoosa R. ReaserDemocrat

Public officers; death, resignation, or ceasing to hold office, automatic substitution.

Public officers; death, resignation, or ceasing to hold office; automatic substitution. Provides that certain provisions providing for the dismissal of an action where a party fails to make a motion for substitution of parties when such motion is necessary do not apply in actions where a public officer is a party in an official capacity, provided that the only claim in such action was made against such public officer in his official capacity, and such officer dies, resigns, or otherwise ceases to hold office while an action is pending. In any such instance, such public officer's successor shall be automatically substituted as a party. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Boyd-Graves Conference.

Rozia A. Henson, Jr.Democrat

Persons with disabilities; rights to the full and free use of public playgrounds.

Rights of persons with disabilities; public places; playgrounds. Clarifies that persons with disabilities have the same rights as other persons to the full and free use of public playgrounds.

Laura Jane CohenDemocrat

Local officers; oath of office.

Local officers; oath of office. Provides that, notwithstanding the provisions of any local government charter, or any other provision of law, every elected county, city, town and district officer, on or before the day on which his term of office begins, shall qualify by taking the oath prescribed by general law. Current law allows a local government charter to prescribe a different procedure for taking the oath. This bill is identical to SB 997.

Jackie H. GlassDemocrat

Foster care; State Bd. of Social Services to amend regulations, application for and use of benefits.

State Board of Social Services; regulations; application for and use of foster care benefits. Directs the State Board of Social Services to amend its regulations by January 1, 2026, to (i) require local departments of social services to apply for federal benefits on behalf of children in foster care that they may be eligible for, (ii) prohibit the use of military survivor benefits to pay for the care and support of children in foster care that the Commonwealth is otherwise obligated to pay for, and (iii) require local departments of social services that are representative payees for children in foster care to conserve such military survivor benefits in an appropriate trust instrument or protected account that is exempt from federal asset and resource limits.

Jackie H. GlassDemocrat

Human Resource Management, Department of; hiring on the basis of direct experience.

Department of Human Resource Management; hiring on the basis of direct experience. Prohibits any state agency from requiring as a condition of eligibility for hire to a position in state employment that an applicant have a baccalaureate degree. The bill provides an exception to such prohibition if the knowledge, skills, or abilities required for the position for which an applicant is applying can only reasonably be obtained, as determined by the appointing authority, through a course of study in pursuit of, and culminating in the award of, a baccalaureate degree. This bill is identical to HB 1611.

Schuyler T. VanValkenburgDemocrat

Criminal history record information; dissemination of record information.

Dissemination of criminal history record information. Requires an attorney for the Commonwealth to provide a physical or electronic copy of a person's criminal history record information, including criminal history record information maintained in the National Crime Information Center and the Interstate Identification Index System that is in his possession, pursuant to the rules of court for obtaining discovery or for review by the court. The bill also provides that no criminal history record information provided shall be disseminated further.Current law provides that nothing shall preclude the dissemination of a person's criminal history record information pursuant to such rules of court but does not require the attorney for the Commonwealth to provide the copy nor identify specific types of information. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission. This bill incorporates HB 2314 and is identical to SB 1193.

Joshua E. ThomasDemocrat

Invasive plant species; retail sales, penalty, delayed effective date January 1, 2027.

Invasive plant species; retail sales. Requires, for the retail sale of certain invasive plant species for outdoor use, a retail establishment to post in a conspicuous manner on the property located in proximity to each invasive plant signage identifying such plant as invasive, educating consumers regarding invasive plant species, and encouraging consumers to ask about alternatives. The bill requires the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services to designate the format, size, and content of such signage no later than October 1, 2025, and requires the Commissioner to issue a stop sale order and mark or tag a plant in a conspicuous manner when an invasive plant is for sale at a retail establishment without appropriate signage. In such case, the bill requires the Commissioner to give written notice of a finding made to the owner, tenant, or person in charge of such retail establishment and requires the stop sale order issued to remain in effect until the required signage is posted. Certain provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 1941.

Saddam Azlan SalimDemocrat

Health insurance; pharmacy benefits managers, definition of "covered entity."

Health insurance; pharmacy benefits managers; definition of covered entity. Removes hospitals, as defined in existing law, from the exemption to the definition of covered entity for the purposes of existing law relating to pharmacy benefits managers. This bill is identical to HB 2392.

Jeremy S. McPikeDemocrat

Certificate of public need; task force to develop recommendation for expedited application & review.

Certificate of public need; expedited application and review; medical deserts. Instructs the State Health Commissioner to direct the State Health Services Plan Task Force to develop recommendations for establishing an expedited application and review process for projects requiring a certificate of public need in medical deserts. This bill is identical to SB 1203.

Wendell S. WalkerRepublican

Medicare supplement policies; annual open enrollment period, individual Medicare policies, etc.

Medicare supplement policies; annual open enrollment period. Requires an insurer, health services plan, or health maintenance organization issuing individual Medicare supplement policies or certificates in the Commonwealth to offer to an individual currently insured under any such policy an annual open enrollment period commencing on the day of the individual's birthday and remaining open for at least 60 days thereafter, during which time the individual may purchase any Medicare supplement policy made available by any insurer in the Commonwealth that offers the same benefits as those provided by the current coverage. The bill also requires such insurer, health services plan, or health maintenance organization to notify, at least 15 days but not more than 30 days prior to the commencement of such annual open enrollment period, each individual to whom such open enrollment period applies of the dates of that open enrollment period, the rights of the individual during that open enrollment period, and any modification of benefits provided by or adjustment of premiums charged for such Medicare supplement policy. This bill is identical to SB 1199.

Michelle Lopes MaldonadoDemocrat

Architects; alternative to education requirement for licensure.

Professions and occupations; alternative to education requirement for licensure of architects. Requires the Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects to adopt regulations establishing work and education experience equivalencies that shall provide an alternative to the requirement of a professional degree in architecture from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. The bill also requires the Board to adopt regulations establishing a credit system to account for varying degrees of work and education experience and to develop requirements for applicants seeking licensure to certify work and education experience on an annual basis. The bill requires the Board to evaluate any past work or education experience of any applicant under this bill until July 1, 2028. This bill is identical to HB 2154.

Jeremy S. McPikeDemocrat

Real estate brokers and salespersons; duties, licensees engaged by buyers.

Real estate brokers and salespersons; licensees engaged by buyers. Repeals the provision providing that, notwithstanding any other provision of law requiring written brokerage agreements or governing the duties of licensees, nothing shall be construed to require that a written agreement between a licensee and a prospective buyer or tenant be executed prior to the licensee's showing properties to the prospective buyer. The bill also provides that a licensee engaged by a seller or landlord shall not be required to show property to a prospective buyer when such showing is conducted pursuant to and in accordance with a brokerage agreement entered into with a seller or landlord client. This bill is identical to HB 1684.

Jeremy S. McPikeDemocrat

Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System; extends membership to conservation officers.

Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System; conservation officers. Extends membership in the Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System (VaLORS) to conservation officers of the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The bill provides that such membership applies only to service earned on or after July 1, 2025.

R. Creigh DeedsDemocrat

Electric cooperative subsidiaries; customers exceeding 90 megawatts demand.

Electric cooperative subsidiaries; customers exceeding 90 megawatts demand. Permits electric cooperatives, through one or more of their affiliates, to make unregulated sales of electric power to certain customers that contract for electric utility services to serve a demand that is reasonably expected to exceed 90 megawatts. This bill is identical to HB 2644.

R. Creigh DeedsDemocrat

Medicare supplement policies; annual open enrollment period, individual Medicare policies, etc.

Medicare supplement policies; annual open enrollment period. Requires an insurer, health services plan, or health maintenance organization issuing individual Medicare supplement policies or certificates in the Commonwealth to offer to an individual currently insured under any such policy an annual open enrollment period commencing on the day of the individual's birthday and remaining open for at least 60 days thereafter, during which time the individual may purchase any Medicare supplement policy made available by any insurer in the Commonwealth that offers the same benefits as those provided by the current coverage. The bill also requires such insurer, health services plan, or health maintenance organization to notify, at least 15 days but not more than 30 days prior to the commencement of such annual open enrollment period, each individual to whom such open enrollment period applies of the dates of that open enrollment period, the rights of the individual during that open enrollment period, and any modification of benefits provided by or adjustment of premiums charged for such Medicare supplement policy. This bill is identical to HB 2100.

R. Creigh DeedsDemocrat

Real property tax; exemption for elderly and disabled individuals.

Real property tax; exemption for elderly and disabled individuals. Revises various provisions of the local real property tax exemption and deferral program for elderly and disabled individuals. The bill allows a locality to require that an individual (i) pay all delinquent taxes, penalties, and interest assessed by the locality and incurred prior to becoming eligible for an exemption or deferral; (ii) enter into an installment agreement with the locality for the payment of all such delinquent amounts in installments over a period that is reasonable under the circumstances, but that in no event shall exceed 72 months; (iii) submit and obtain the treasurer's agreement to an offer in compromise with respect to all amounts of delinquent taxes, penalties, and interest; or (iv) carry out a combination thereof. Additionally, the bill provides that notice of the terms and conditions of the exemption and deferral program may be included in any notice of change in assessment and that the treasurer shall post such information on the locality's website. Finally, the bill allows a locality to provide a prorated exemption or deferral for the portion of the taxable year during which the taxpayer would have qualified for such exemption or deferral but had not yet filed an application. This bill is identical to SB 816.

Phil M. HernandezDemocrat

Trees; replacement during development process in localities, tree canopy fund.

Replacement of trees during development process in localities; tree canopy fund. Allows localities by ordinance to establish a tree canopy fund to collect, maintain, and distribute fees collected from developers that cannot provide for full tree canopy requirements where the development project is situated. The bill requires the ordinance to establish cost units that are based on average costs of two-inch caliper nursery stock trees. The bill allows a locality to use moneys from the fund to (i) plant and maintain trees on public or private property or (ii) make disbursements to a community-based organization that is exempt from income tax pursuant to § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is operated for tree planting, stewardship, or community-beautification missions that benefit the community at large. The bill requires any funds collected by localities to be spent within five years of the collection date.

Rodney T. WillettDemocrat

Local taxes; nonjudicial sale of tax delinquent real properties, threshold for nonjudicial sale.

Local taxes; nonjudicial sale of tax delinquent real properties; threshold for nonjudicial sale. Raises the assessment threshold at which a local treasurer or other officer responsible for collecting taxes has general authority to sell real property with more than three years of delinquent taxes from $10,000 or less to $15,000 or less. The bill also raises the assessment range at which such local treasurer or officer may sell parcels of real property with more than three years of delinquent taxes and that meet certain criteria from more than $10,000 but no more than than $25,000 to more than $15,000 but no more than $30,000. The bill also increases the assessment threshold for the nonjudicial sale of real property with more than three years of delinquent taxes when such property is (i) unimproved, (ii) one-half acre or less in size, and (iii) located within a designated urban redevelopment or revitalization zone from properties assessed at more than $25,000 but no more than $40,000 to properties assessed at more than $30,000 but no more than $40,000.

Robert D. Orrock, Sr.Republican

Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute a controlled substance or an imitation controlled substance prohibited; penalties.

Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute a controlled substance or an imitation controlled substance prohibited; penalties. Removes the distinction between cocaine, which refers to powder cocaine, its salts, optical and geometric isomers, and salts of isomers and a mixture or substance that contains cocaine base, which refers to crack cocaine, for the offense of manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute a controlled substance or an imitation controlled substance. This bill is identical to HB 1955.

Russet PerryDemocrat

Captain Matthew "Chevy" Chiaverotti Memorial Bridge; designates bridge over I-264 in VA. Beach.

Captain Matthew "Chevy" Chiaverotti Memorial Bridge. Designates the bridge on Interstate 264 over South Rosemont Road in Virginia Beach the "Captain Matthew "Chevy" Chiaverotti Memorial Bridge."

Michael B. FeggansDemocrat

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

Labor and employment; covenants not to compete prohibited; exceptions; civil penalty. Provides that, for the purposes of the prohibition in existing law against an employer entering into, enforcing, or threatening to enforce a covenant not to compete with any low-wage employee, "low-wage employee" includes an employee who, regardless of average weekly earnings, is entitled to overtime compensation under federal law for any hours worked in excess of 40 hours in any one workweek. Any employer that violates the bill's provisions is subject to a civil penalty in existing law of $10,000 for each violation.

Richard H. StuartRepublican

Internet Safety Advisory Council; established, Internet safety education program.

School boards; Internet safety education program; Internet Safety Advisory Council established. Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish and appoint no more than 12 members to the Internet Safety Advisory Council and requires the Council to (i) develop, annually review, and update as necessary model policies, model instructional practices, and best practices for school boards relating to Internet safety and the safe use of media and technology by students and teachers in public schools; (ii) develop, post, and maintain on the Department of Education's website, and update as necessary, a webpage with links to instructional practices, curricula, and other teacher resources for the safe use of media and technology by students and teachers that school divisions may incorporate into their Internet safety instructional programs; and (iii) submit a report of its findings to the Board of Education and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health no later than October 31, 2025. The provisions of the bill have an expiration date of July 1, 2026.

William M. Stanley, Jr.Republican

Animal testing facility operated by a state agency; nonhuman primates, care and treatment.

Animal testing facility operated by a state agency; nonhuman primates. Requires any animal testing facility operated by a state agency that no longer has need for a nonhuman primate, as defined in the bill, in its possession to consider options for and determine the appropriate care and treatment of such nonhuman primate in consultation with the facility's attending veterinarian, which options shall include offering for release such nonhuman primate to a certified sanctuary, defined in the bill. The bill allows an animal testing facility to enter into an agreement with the certified sanctuary to implement the release of such nonhuman primate.

William M. Stanley, Jr.Republican

Barrier crimes; peer recovery specialists; screening requirements.

Barrier crimes; peer recovery specialists; screening requirements. Modifies the barrier crimes screening assessment requirements for peer recovery specialists applying for employment with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, an employer licensed by the Department, or a community services board to require that such specialists have completed all prison or jail terms, been free of parole or probation for at least five years, have no pending charges in any locality, and not be under probation or parole supervision in order to be eligible for a screening assessment. Under current law, an applicant must also have paid all fines, restitution, and court costs for any prior convictions.

Katrina CallsenDemocrat

Public schools; temporarily employed teachers, rules and requirements, extension of time limitation.

Public schools; temporarily employed teachers; rules and requirements; extension of time limitation. Extends from 90 to 180 teaching days the maximum period of time during one school year for which a school board may employ a temporarily employed teacher, as defined in relevant law, to fill a teacher vacancy, with certain conditions and restrictions. The bill contains technical amendments. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2027, and is identical to HB 2201.

Lashrecse D. AirdDemocrat

Cybersecurity; electric service by investor-owned electric utilities, report.

Cybersecurity; electric service by investor-owned electric utilities and electric cooperatives; work group; report. Directs the State Corporation Commission to convene a work group to evaluate cybersecurity as it relates to the provision of electric service by investor-owned electric utilities and electric cooperatives and requires the Commission to report on its findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor by November 30, 2025.

Ryan T. McDougleRepublican

Ed. opportunities for children of fed. employees; students transferring from foreign countries.

Educational opportunities for children of certain federal employees; expansion of policies to students transferring from foreign countries. Expands the provisions of law relating to educational opportunities for students of certain federal employees to include students of certain federal employees who are transferring from a school in a foreign country to a school division in the Commonwealth by establishing definitions for the terms "foreign education agency" and "sending country" and utilizing such terms throughout such provisions of law.

Tara A. DurantRepublican

Transportation Trust Fund; extends limitation on personal liability for loss in investments.

Transportation Trust Fund; investments; personal liability. Extends the limitation on personal liability for loss in investments from moneys in the Transportation Trust Fund to an individual's actions taken while serving on or employed by certain entities, even if such individual no longer serves on or is employed by any such entity. The bill also applies such limitation on personal liability for loss in investments to members and employees of the Central Virginia Transportation Authority. This bill is identical to HB 2234.

Lamont BagbyDemocrat

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 SB 1016.

Rae CousinsDemocrat

Certified nurse midwives; licensed certified midwives; independent practice; organized medical staff.

Certified nurse midwives; licensed certified midwives; independent practice; organized medical staff. Permits licensed certified midwives who have completed 1,000 hours of practice under a practice agreement to practice without a practice agreement upon receipt of an attestation from the licensed physician or midwife with whom they entered into a practice agreement. The bill also permits certified nurse midwives and licensed certified midwives to enter into practice agreements with certified nurse midwives or licensed certified midwives who are authorized to practice independently. The bill directs the Department of Health to amend its regulations to clarify that an organized medical staff may include other practitioners, including independent practice midwives, in addition to physicians and dentists. This bill is identical to SB 1352.

Joshua G. ColeDemocrat

School boards; driver education behind-the-wheel training to be offered before or after school.

School boards; driver education; behind-the-wheel driver training. Strongly encourages each school board, in recognition of the fact that behind-the-wheel training is an essential school-to-work skill and a vital step in the pathway to obtaining a driver's license and cultivating well-educated teen drivers, to offer as part of its program of driver education behind-the-wheel training either during school hours or before or after school hours, including on weekends.

Delores L. McQuinnDemocrat

Optometry; TPA-Formulary; TPA-Formulary Committee; dissolution.

Optometry; TPA-Formulary; TPA-Formulary Committee; dissolution. Dissolves the TPA-Formulary and the TPA-Formulary Committee. The TPA-Formulary is the list of the therapeutic pharmaceutical agents that a TPA-certified optometrist may prescribe. The TPA-Formulary Committee provides recommendations to the Board of Pharmacy regarding the therapeutic pharmaceutical agents to include on the TPA-Formulary for the treatment of diseases and abnormal conditions of the eye and its adnexa by TPA-certified optometrists. This bill is identical to SB 1081.

Rodney T. WillettDemocrat

Public schools; temporarily employed teachers, rules and requirements, extension of time limitation.

Public schools; temporarily employed teachers; rules and requirements; extension of time limitation. Extends from 90 to 180 teaching days the maximum period of time during one school year for which a school board may employ a temporarily employed teacher, as defined in relevant law, to fill a teacher vacancy, with certain conditions and restrictions. The bill contains technical amendments. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2027, and is identical to SB 1230.

Delores L. McQuinnDemocrat

Declinable preneed funeral guarantee fee; amends definition.

Declinable preneed funeral guarantee fee; definition. Amends the definition of "declinable preneed funeral guarantee fee" to specify that a declinable preneed funeral guarantee fee, when offered by a seller, shall not exceed 25 percent of the guaranteed preneed supplies and services included in the funeral contract price. Under current law, a declinable preneed funeral guarantee fee, when offered by a seller, shall not exceed 25 percent of the preneed funeral contract price. The bill also directs the Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers to amend its regulations to ensure that declinable preneed funeral guarantee fees are used solely to guarantee the cost of preneed supplies and services as described in preneed funeral contracts.

Angelia Williams GravesDemocrat

Voter registration; time period for closing registration records before certain elections.

Voter registration; time period for closing registration records before certain elections. Reduces from 21 to 10 days the number of days during which registration records are closed before primary and general elections and from 13 to 10 days the number of days during which registration records are closed before special elections that are not called by the Governor, Speaker of the House of Delegates, or President pro tempore of the Senate. This bill is identical to HB 1735.

Angelia Williams GravesDemocrat

Electric utilities; construction of certain electrical transmission lines, advanced conductors.

Electric utilities; construction of electrical transmission lines; advanced conductors. Requires the State Corporation Commission to consider the prudency of using advanced conductors in making any determination regarding need, corridor, route, or method of installation as it relates to certain applications for the construction of transmission lines of 138 kilovolts or more. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2026.

David A. ReidDemocrat

Motor vehicle dealers; recall and warranty costs, right of first refusal.

Motor vehicle dealers; recall and warranty costs; right of first refusal. Clarifies various requirements for the reimbursement of motor vehicle dealers for costs related to vehicle recalls and warranties. The bill also clarifies the timeline for a manufacturer or distributor to notify a dealer that it is exercising its right of first refusal related to the sale or transfer of a dealership. This bill is identical to HB 1683.

Jeremy S. McPikeDemocrat