Bills & Legislation

Virtual or online learning; development of guidelines and information, public health emergencies.

Department of Education; development of guidelines and information relating to virtual or online learning; public health emergencies. Provides for the Department of Education to develop and post on its official website guidelines and information relating to virtual or online learning. Such guidelines and information shall include (i) statewide policies relating to virtual learning, (ii) the availability of online or virtual learning options and pertinent information on such options, and (iii) guidelines for educators and schools relating to online or virtual learning policies and best practices. In addition, the bill requires each K-12 school in the Commonwealth to include as a component of its annual safety audit a review of the school's plan for school closures due to public health emergencies. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee to Study Pandemic Response and Preparedness in the Commonwealth.

Ghazala F. HashmiDemocrat

School boards; method of selection, election required.

School boards; method of selection; election required. Requires election as the method of selecting the members of each school board in the Commonwealth and makes several changes to eliminate provisions relating to appointed school boards. Current law requires such members to be appointed but permits their election under certain circumstances.

Stella G. PekarskyDemocrat

Maternal Health Monitoring Pilot Program; pregnancy mobile application, report.

Department of Health; Maternal Health Monitoring Pilot Program; pregnancy mobile application; report. Directs the Department of Health to contract with a mobile application developer to create a membership-based mobile application to deliver education, resources, and support to prenatal, pregnant, and postpartum individuals who are eligible for Medicaid. The bill also creates the Maternal Health Monitoring Pilot Program to offer remote patient monitoring for maternal hypertension and maternal diabetes. The Department shall select a managed care organization and technology vendor to administer the Pilot Program to no less than 300 eligible participants. The bill requires the Department to submit requests for proposals within 180 days of the bill's effective date.

Jennifer D. Carroll FoyDemocrat

Single license plate; fee to display.

Display of single license plate; fee. Authorizes any owner of a passenger car that is otherwise required to display two license plates to display, upon payment of an additional annual fee of $100 at the time of vehicle registration or renewal of vehicle registration and upon receipt of proof of the payment of such fee from the Department of Motor Vehicles, a single license plate on the rear of such vehicle instead of two. The bill authorizes any law-enforcement officer to require the owner to furnish such proof of the payment of such fee. The bill directs the funds from such fees to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund.

William M. Stanley, Jr.Republican

Public schools; student support services, student personal information and data security, report.

Public schools; student support services; student personal information and data security; registration; requirements; grants; report. Requires any student support agency, as defined by the bill, to register with the Department of Education (the Department) in order to provide any student support programs, as defined by the bill, to students enrolled in any public elementary or secondary school in the Commonwealth. The bill establishes several requirements for the registration of any student support agency relating to the protection of any student personal information collected by the student support agency, including (i) requiring such agencies to adopt certain policies, procedures, and protocols designed to ensure the continued security, integrity, and confidentiality of student personal information; (ii) requiring the Department to ensure any student support agency obtains informed consent from the parent of any student or, if such student is 18 years of age or older, the student prior to collecting or using any student personal information; (iii) requiring the Department to develop a standard memorandum of understanding and each student support agency and school board to execute a memorandum of understanding establishing authorizations and limitations relating to the transmission, collection, and use of student personal information; (iv) requiring the Department to establish and administer a grant program for the purpose of awarding grants to certain student support agencies for data security upgrades, training for staff, and third-party audits; (v) prohibiting any student support agency from using or sharing student personal information for certain purposes set forth in the bill, including sharing any such student personal information for use in targeted advertising; (vi) requiring the Department to establish certain programs and provide certain resources to support certain registered student support agencies and school boards in effectively and efficiently providing student support programs in compliance with the provisions of the bill; and (vii) requiring the Department to conduct an annual audit of a certain percentage of registered student support agencies to ensure compliance with the provisions of the bill and establishing provisions relating to consequences for failure of the audit or otherwise being found in violation of the provisions of the bill.

Angelia Williams GravesDemocrat

Health Care Regulatory Sandbox Program established.

Health Care Regulatory Sandbox Program established. Requires the Department of Health to establish the Health Care Regulatory Sandbox Program to enable a person to obtain limited access to the market in the Commonwealth to temporarily test an innovative health care product or service on a limited basis without otherwise being licensed or authorized to act under the laws of the Commonwealth. Under the Program, an applicant requests the waiver of certain laws, regulations, or other requirements for a 24-month testing period, with an option to request an additional six-month testing period. The bill provides application requirements, consumer protections, procedures for exiting the Program or requesting an extension, and recordkeeping and reporting requirements. The bill requires the Department of Health to provide an annual report to the Chairs of the House Committee on Health and Human Services and the Senate Committee on Education and Health that provides information regarding each Program participant and recommendations regarding the effectiveness of the Program. The bill directs the Board of Health to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill and has an expiration date of July 1, 2030.

Wren M. WilliamsRepublican

Electric utilities; customer energy choice, customer return to service, subscription cap and queue.

Electric utilities; customer energy choice; customer return to service; subscription cap and queue. Removes certain restrictions on the ability of individual retail customers of electric energy within the Commonwealth, regardless of customer class, to purchase electric energy matched 100 percent by renewable energy certificates from any supplier of electric energy licensed to sell retail electric energy within the Commonwealth. The bill requires a licensed supplier to match a percentage of each retail electric customer's annual load with renewable energy certificates from within the PJM transmission region. The bill decreases from five years to six months the required written notice period for certain electric energy customers to return to service by an incumbent electric utility after purchasing electric energy from other suppliers. The bill also directs the Commission, by October 1, 2026, to establish a subscription cap allowance for certain utility customers seeking to participate in purchasing electric energy from a licensed supplier. The Commission is required to review the subscription cap allowance every two years starting on January 1, 2028, and electric utilities are required to file their subscription queues with the Commission by January 15, 2027, and annually thereafter. The bill contains an exception to the subscription cap allowance for customers seeking to expand usage at an existing or new facility. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026, unless the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated pursuant to the bill specify a commencement date.

Alfonso H. LopezDemocrat

Higher educational institutions, public; material aid or support to terrorist activities, etc.

Public institutions of higher education; presence of or material aid or support to terrorist activities, organizations, and states prohibited. Prohibits from accessing, occupying, or otherwise having a physical presence on any campus of a public institution of higher education any (i) terrorist organization, state or non-state sponsor of terrorism, or representative of a terrorist organization, as those terms are defined by the bill, or (ii) individual who, knowingly and with the intent set forth in the bill, solicits or attempts to solicit any individual to engage in terrorist activity, become a member of a terrorist organization, or provide funds or other material support or resources, as that term is defined by the bill, to support, facilitate, or aid or abet terrorist activity or a terrorist organization. The bill prohibits any public institution of higher education from (a) granting access to campus, (b) providing or facilitating the provision of funds or other material supports or resources, (c) making or facilitating the donation of material support or resources, or (d) entering into any contract providing for the exchange of services or material support or resources to any of the individuals or organizations described in clauses (i) and (ii). Finally, the bill sets forth certain exceptions for individuals that lack the requisite intent and knowledge, as set forth in the bill, to be subject to the prohibitions.

William M. Stanley, Jr.Republican

Commending Captain Thomas Theodore Scambos, USN, Ret.

Commending Captain Thomas Theodore Scambos, USN, Ret.

Barbara A. FavolaDemocrat

Wildlife corridors or crossings; action plan and programs.

Wildlife corridors or crossings; action plan and programs; Virginia Flood Protection Master Plan; Wildlife Corridor Action Plan; wildlife carcass removal tracking; report. Requires the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan created by the Department of Wildlife Resources to address the financial needs of the Plan and implement certain additional initiatives. The bill directs the Department of Conservation and Recreation to include in the Virginia Flood Protection Master Plan a directive to encourage opportunities to incorporate wildlife-friendly design in flood resilience infrastructure where flood risk priorities align with priorities of the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan. The bill requires the Department of Transportation to (i) establish and administer a program for the implementation of wildlife crossings of highways in the Commonwealth, (ii) incorporate the recommendations of the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan established by the Department of Wildlife Resources pursuant to existing law in the policies and procedures of the Department, and (iii) submit a report to the General Assembly in each even-numbered year regarding such program. The bill requires the Department of Transportation and the Commonwealth Transportation Board to include in all highway maintenance contracts a requirement for such contractor to identify certain data related to wildlife carcass removal and provides that such requirement may be accomplished by using the Department of Transportation's Wildlife Carcass Removal Tracking application.

Debra D. GardnerDemocrat

Drinking water; maximum contaminant levels, water treatment or filtration systems.

Drinking water; maximum contaminant levels; water treatment or filtration systems; Residential Well Water Testing and Treatment Program and Program Fund established. Directs the State Board of Health to adopt regulations to utilize point-of-use or point-of-entry drinking water treatment or filtration systems to remove or significantly reduce concentrations of contaminants of concern that meet or exceed any maximum contaminant level or health advisory for the same contaminant adopted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The bill also establishes the Residential Well Water Testing and Treatment Program and Program Fund to allow the Department of Health's Office of Drinking Water to test and treat contaminated drinking water through grants for the use of eligible treatment or filtration systems in private residential wells.

Ellen H. McLaughlinRepublican

Commending the Xi Alpha Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Commending the Xi Alpha Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Jennifer D. Carroll FoyDemocrat

Corporate income tax; sourcing of sales other than sales of tangible personal property.

Corporate income tax; sourcing of sales other than sales of tangible personal property. Implements market-based corporate income tax sourcing for attributing sales, other than sales of tangible personal property, to Virginia beginning in taxable year 2026.

Joseph P. McNamaraRepublican

Regional emergency medical services councils; funds distributed to VDH from motor vehicle reg. fees.

Regional emergency medical services councils. Provides that 55 percent of certain funds distributed to the Department of Health from motor vehicle registration fees shall be distributed to the designated regional emergency medical services councils for their operational support. The bill also specifies that there shall be 11 designated regional emergency medical services councils. Under current law, there is no specified number.

N. Baxter EnnisRepublican

Commending South Quay Baptist Church.

Commending South Quay Baptist Church.

Emily M. JordanRepublican

Issuing citations; certain traffic offenses and odor of marijuana, exclusion of evidence.

Issuing citations; certain traffic offenses and odor of marijuana; exclusion of evidence. Removes provisions prohibiting a law-enforcement officer from stopping a motor vehicle for operating (i) with an expired registration sticker prior to the first day of the fourth month after the original expiration date; (ii) with defective and unsafe equipment; (iii) without tail lights, brake lights, or a supplemental high mount stop light; (iv) without lighted headlights displayed when so required; (v) with certain tinting films, signs, posters, stickers, or decals; (vi) with objects or other equipment suspended so as to obstruct the driver's view; or (vii) with an expired inspection prior to the first day of the fourth month after the original expiration date, as well as the accompanying exclusionary provisions. The bill also authorizes a law-enforcement officer to lawfully stop, search, or seize a person, place, or thing or a search warrant to be issued based solely on the odor of marijuana if such odor creates a reasonable suspicion of a violation of the law prohibiting driving while intoxicated.

Bill DeStephRepublican

Motor sports facility; advertising alcoholic beverages, liquid nicotine, & nicotine vapor products.

Advertising alcoholic beverages, liquid nicotine, and nicotine vapor products; motor sports facility. Provides an exception to the prohibition on advertising about or concerning alcoholic beverages for advertisements of any alcoholic beverage within the confines of a motor sports facility. Similarly, the bill provides that the requirement that any advertising or marketing of liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products in broadcast, cable, radio, print, and digital communications or any event marketing or sponsorships shall be made only where at least 85 percent of the audience is reasonably expected to be at least 21 years of age, as determined by reliable, up-to-date audience composition data, shall not apply to advertisements or marketing for liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products within the confines of a motor sports facility.

William M. Stanley, Jr.Republican

DVS; powers and duties of Commissioner, identification of incarcerated veterans.

Department of Veterans Services; powers and duties of Commissioner; identification of incarcerated veterans. Provides that the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services shall utilize, in consultation with the Department of Corrections, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Veterans Re-Entry Search Services system to identify veterans incarcerated in state, local, or community correctional facilities to prepare such veterans for release and reentry, reduce recidivism and homelessness, provide behavioral health resources, and refer eligible veterans to behavioral health dockets. This bill was incorporated into HB 2071.

Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.Republican

Commending Hampton Roads Transit.

Commending Hampton Roads Transit.

J.D. "Danny" DiggsRepublican

Commending Emma Randel.

Commending Emma Randel.

Timmy FrenchRepublican

Commending Persian Rugs & More.

Commending Persian Rugs & More.

Mark J. PeakeRepublican

Commending Major General Cedric Terry Wins, USA, Ret.

Commending Major General Cedric Terry Wins, USA, Ret.

Jennifer D. Carroll FoyDemocrat

Commending Cub Scout Pack 2831.

Commending Cub Scout Pack 2831.

Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.Republican

Celebrating the life of Leon Foster Pope.

Celebrating the life of Leon Foster Pope.

Timmy FrenchRepublican

Vacant and blighted or derelict property; locality allowed to sell.

Sale of certain vacant and blighted or derelict property. Allows a locality where certain vacant and blighted or derelict property is located to petition the circuit court to appoint a special commissioner to execute the necessary deed or deeds to convey the real estate, in lieu of a sale at public auction, to the locality, to the locality's land bank entity, or to an existing nonprofit entity designated by the locality to carry out the functions of a land bank. The bill provides that the locality shall require any purchaser by covenants in the deed or other security instrument to (i) begin repair or renovation of the property within six months of purchase and (ii) complete all repairs or renovations necessary to bring the property into compliance with the local building code within a period not to exceed two years of the purchase. The provisions of the bill apply only to property that is owned by a person that is not a United States citizen or United States entity or an entity that is owned or controlled by a person who is not a United States citizen.

Israel D. O'QuinnRepublican

Virginia Cannabis Control Authority; draft regulations governing cannabis, report.

Virginia Cannabis Control Authority; draft regulations governing cannabis; report. Directs the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to draft regulations governing the indoor cultivation, processing, manufacturing, testing, packaging, labeling, distribution, sale, and delivery of marijuana to adults age 21 or older in the Commonwealth, which shall (i) include appropriate application and license fees; (ii) include transaction limits; and (iii) model, to the greatest extent practicable, the regulations promulgated by the Authority governing the Medical Cannabis Program. The bill requires the Authority to report such draft regulations to the General Assembly by November 15, 2025, and indicate the date by which it would be able to implement and enforce such regulations, issue licenses, provide adequate enforcement, and implement a transitional sales program for pharmaceutical processors. The bill specifies that any regulations drafted by the Authority pursuant to the provisions of the bill shall not become effective until such regulations are approved by an act of the General Assembly.

Adam P. EbbinDemocrat

Celebrating the life of Nikki Giovanni.

Celebrating the life of Nikki Giovanni.

Ghazala F. HashmiDemocrat

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; transfer of certain incarcerated persons.

Transfer of certain incarcerated persons to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Requires the Director of the Department of Corrections, sheriff, or other official in charge of the facility in which an alien is incarcerated to, upon receipt of a detainer from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, (i) provide U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with prerelease notification of such alien's release and (ii) upon request of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, transfer custody of the alien to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement upon such alien's release, which shall occur no more than five days prior to the date on which he would otherwise be released from custody. Current law states that the Director, sheriff, or other official in charge of the facility may transfer such incarcerated person upon receipt of a detainer.

Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.Republican

Celebrating the life of the Honorable Henry Levander Marsh III.

Celebrating the life of the Honorable Henry Levander Marsh, III.

Lamont BagbyDemocrat

Juveniles; commitment of serious offenders.

Commitment of serious juvenile offenders. Allows a juvenile and domestic relations district court to qualify a transferred juvenile as a serious offender and commit him to the Department of Juvenile Justice regardless of whether he meets existing criteria regarding criminal background if, upon the court's review of the juvenile's entire criminal history, such qualification is otherwise justified. Under current law, only a circuit court is allowed to make such qualification and commitment. The bill requires the committing juvenile and domestic relations district court or circuit court to document its reasoning for such commitment in writing.

David W. MarsdenDemocrat

Immigration status; inquiry and report.

Department of Juvenile Justice; inquiry and report of immigration status; juvenile or adult adjudicated delinquent or convicted of violent juvenile felony. Requires the Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice or other person in charge of a secure facility where a juvenile or adult has been committed upon an adjudication of delinquency or a finding of guilt for a violent juvenile felony to ascertain whether such juvenile or adult is in the United States illegally and, if such juvenile or adult is found to be in the United States illegally, to communicate such information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Under current law, such immigration inquiries are required of jail officers or correctional officers in charge of state, local, or regional correctional facilities.

Tara A. DurantRepublican

Bribes to officers or candidates for office; gratuities for previous acts.

Bribes to officers or candidates for office; gratuities for previous acts. Clarifies that the term "gratuity" includes any gratuity given for a prior official act of any executive, legislative or judicial officer, sheriff or police officer, or any candidate for such office.

David R. SuetterleinRepublican

Health insurance; reimbursement for services rendered by certain practitioners.

Health insurance; reimbursement for services rendered by certain practitioners other than physicians. Requires health insurers and health service plan providers whose accident and sickness insurance policies or subscription contracts cover services that may be legally performed by a physician assistant to provide equal coverage for such services when rendered by a licensed athletic trainer when such services are performed in an office setting. Additionally, the bill requires the reimbursement or payment for a service provided by certain licensed practitioners listed in the bill to be in the same amount as the reimbursement or payment paid under such policy or subscription contract to a licensed physician performing such service in the area served.

R. Creigh DeedsDemocrat

Electric utilities; regulation, development of renewable energy facilities.

Regulation of electric utilities; development of renewable energy facilities; powers of State Air Pollution Control Board; powers of State Corporation Commission. Repeals provisions (i) requiring the State Air Pollution Control Board to adopt regulations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from any electricity generating unit in the Commonwealth and authorizing the Board to establish an auction program for energy allowances; (ii) prohibiting the State Corporation Commission from approving any new utility-owned generation facilities that emit carbon dioxide as a by-product of energy generation, in certain circumstances; (iii) declaring that statutory allowances for energy derived from sunlight, onshore wind, offshore wind, and storage facilities are in the public interest; and (iv) relating to the development of solar and wind generation and energy storage capacity, development of offshore wind capacity, and generation of electricity from renewable and zero-carbon sources. The bill provides that planning and development activities for new nuclear generation facilities are in the public interest.

Mark J. PeakeRepublican

Retail tobacco and hemp products; possession intended for smoking by person younger than 21 years.

Possession of retail tobacco products and hemp products intended for smoking by a person younger than 21 years of age prohibited; penalty. Prohibits any person younger than 21 years of age from possessing any retail tobacco product or hemp product intended for smoking, as those terms are defined in relevant law. Any person who violates such prohibition is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Tara A. DurantRepublican

Social Services, Department of; applications for public assistance, immigration status inquiry.

Department of Social Services; applications for public assistance; immigration status inquiry. Requires the director of a local department of social services or the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services, whichever is applicable, to inquire as to the immigration status of all persons applying for public assistance benefits administered by the Department of Social Services.

Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.Republican

Income tax, state; establishes organ donation leave tax credit.

Income tax; organ donation leave tax credit. Establishes a nonrefundable income tax credit for taxable years 2025 through 2029 for a taxpayer that is a private employer, as defined by the bill, for certain costs incurred during a period of organ donation leave received by an organ donor employee.

Karrie K. DelaneyDemocrat

Parents who provide home instruction; options for providing evidence of progress.

Parents who provide home instruction; options for providing evidence of progress. Clarifies that any parent who elects to provide home instruction for his child may elect to provide, for the purpose of satisfying the requirement to provide the division superintendent with evidence of the child's progress, any evaluation or assessment that the division superintendent determines to indicate that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress.

Mark L. Earley, Jr.Republican

Unlawful dissemination of intimate images of another; creates a tiered system of penalties.

Unlawful dissemination of intimate images of another; penalties. Creates a tiered system of penalties for the unlawful dissemination of intimate images of another person, an offense formerly known as the unlawful dissemination or sale of videographic or still images of another person.

Carrie E. CoynerRepublican

Income tax, state; eligible conception tax credit.

Income tax; eligible conception tax credit. Allows, in taxable years 2025 through 2029, a refundable income tax credit for an individual or married individuals whose family Virginia adjusted gross income does not exceed 400 percent of the poverty guidelines, defined in the bill, in an amount equal to $250 per eligible conception, also defined in the bill, during such taxable year.

Mark L. Earley, Jr.Republican

Retail Sales and Use Tax; exempts gold, silver, or platinum bullion, extends sunset.

Retail sales and use tax; exemptions; gold, silver, or platinum bullion; sunset. Extends to June 30, 2032, the exemption from the retail sales and use tax for gold, silver, or platinum bullion and legal tender coins. The exemption is currently set to expire on June 30, 2025.

Amanda E. BattenRepublican

History Education Advisory Board; established, report.

History Education Advisory Board established. Establishes the 32-member History Education Advisory Board to advise the Governor, his cabinet members, the Board of Education, and the General Assembly on the current ways in which African American, Asian American, Pacific Islander, Latino, Indigenous, Women's, and LGBTQ+ history are described in the relevant Standards of Learning and associated curriculum frameworks; how that content is taught in classrooms; and strategies to develop African American history and social studies elective courses, Asian American and Pacific Islander history and social studies elective courses, Latino history and social studies elective courses, Indigenous history and social studies elective courses, Women's history and social studies elective courses, and LGBTQ+ history and social studies elective courses.

Kelly K. Convirs-FowlerDemocrat

Restraints on juveniles; use in court prohibited, exceptions.

Use of restraints on juveniles in court prohibited; exceptions. Prohibits the use of instruments of restraint, as defined in the bill, on a juvenile appearing before the juvenile and domestic relations district court unless the court makes a finding that (i) the use of such restraints is necessary (a) to prevent physical harm to such juvenile or another person, (b) because such juvenile has a history of disruptive courtroom behavior that has placed others in potentially harmful situations or presents a substantial threat of serious harm to himself or others as evidenced by recent behavior, or (c) because such juvenile presents a substantial risk of flight from the courtroom and (ii) there are no less restrictive alternatives to such restraints that will prevent flight of or harm to such juvenile or another person, including court personnel or law-enforcement officers. The bill requires the court to provide the juvenile's attorney an opportunity to be heard before the court orders the use of instruments of restraint, and if such restraints are ordered, requires the court to make written findings of fact in support of the order.

Briana D. SewellDemocrat

Higher educational institutions, public; endowments; certain divestment practices prohibited.

Public institutions of higher education; endowments; investment management; certain divestment practices prohibited. Prohibits any public institution of higher education or any affiliated foundation, investment management company, or other entity that is responsible for managing or investing endowment funds of the institution from establishing or implementing any policy or practice of divesting from all investments in any country or territory that is not the subject of an active sanctions program administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Michael J. JonesDemocrat

School board employees, certain; paid parental and family leave program.

Department of Education; paid parental and family leave program for certain school board employees. Requires the Department of Education (the Department) to establish and administer a paid parental and family leave program in which school boards may opt to participate and by which any individual employed full time for at least the immediately preceding three months by such a participating school board shall, after submitting to the school board an application form approved by the Department and with such supporting documentation as may be required by the Department, receive six weeks of paid leave at 50 percent of the employee's regular salary to care for a family member facing a serious health condition or emergency or six weeks of paid leave at 100 percent of the employee's regular salary following the birth, adoption, or foster placement of such employee's child, with certain terms and conditions set forth in the bill. The bill provides that the program shall be funded with such funds as may be provided pursuant to the general appropriation act and that the Department shall reimburse participating school boards for paid parental leave and paid family leave provided pursuant to the program.

Carrie E. CoynerRepublican

Autism Advisory Council; establishment of an autism data dashboard, report.

Study; Autism Advisory Council; establishment of an autism data dashboard in the Commonwealth; report. Directs the Autism Advisory Council to study and advise the General Assembly on the establishment of an autism data dashboard for the purpose of promoting greater public transparency and access to information and resources on autism spectrum disorders. The Council is directed to submit a report with recommendations for such dashboard's development, including the types of data and resources that should be included, to the Chairs of the House Committee on Appropriations, the House Committee on Health and Human Services, the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, and the Senate Committee on Education and Health no later than November 1, 2025.

Carrie E. CoynerRepublican

Preliminary child protective order; violations, penalties.

Violations of protective orders; preliminary child protective order; penalties. Changes the punishment and sentencing requirements for a violation of a preliminary child protective order to the same penalties as violations of preliminary, emergency, and permanent family abuse protective orders, including enhanced penalties for certain violations. Under current law, (i) the maximum penalty for violations of child protective orders constitutes contempt of court; however, if the violation involves an act or acts of commission or omission that endanger the child's life or health, or results in bodily injury to the child, it is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor and (ii) the court is not required to enter a permanent family abuse protective order (i.e., a protective order with a maximum duration of two years) upon a conviction of a violation of a preliminary child protective order.

Hillary Pugh KentRepublican

Atlantic menhaden; Marine Resources Commission, et al., to study ecology, fishery impacts, etc.

Marine Resources Commission; Virginia Institute of Marine Science; study of ecology, fishery impacts, and economic importance of Atlantic menhaden; report. Directs the Marine Resources Commission in collaboration with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and certain stakeholders, as provided in the bill, to conduct a three-year study of the ecology, fishery impacts, and economic importance of the Atlantic menhaden population in the waters of the Commonwealth. The bill requires the Commission to provide a report on its findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources no later than October 1, 2028.

Paul V. MildeRepublican