Bills & Legislation

Firearms, etc.; carrying into bldg. owned or leased by the Commonwealth, exception for rest areas.

Carrying a firearm or explosive material into a building owned or leased by the Commonwealth; exception for rest areas. Provides that the prohibition on carrying a firearm or explosive material in any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth does not apply to any rest area.

J.D. "Danny" DiggsRepublican

Absentee voting in person; available beginning 14 days prior to primary election.

Absentee voting in person; available beginning 14 days prior to primary election. Limits the availability of absentee voting in person for primary elections to beginning 14 days prior to such election. Under current law, absentee voting in person is available beginning 45 days prior to any election.

Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.Republican

Commending Lieutenant Colonel Theresa M. Claiborne, USAF, Ret.

Commending Lieutenant Colonel Theresa M. Claiborne, USAF, Ret.

Emily M. JordanRepublican

General Assembly; intergovernmental affairs.

General Assembly; intergovernmental affairs; delegates to convention for proposing amendments held pursuant to Article V of the Constitution of the United States; penalties. Provides for the selection by the General Assembly of delegates to attend a convention for proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States held pursuant to Article V of the Constitution of the United States. The bill grants the General Assembly the power to recall delegates, appoint new delegates, and convene an advisory committee to oversee the conduct of delegates. The bill provides that delegates must take an oath to adhere to the instructions of the General Assembly and any delegate who votes or otherwise acts beyond the authority granted in such instructions is guilty of a Class 5 felony.

Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.Republican

Firearm purchases; permit to purchase a firearm required, penalties.

Firearm purchases; permit to purchase a firearm required; penalties. Requires any person purchasing a firearm from a firearms dealer to present a valid permit issued by the Department of State Police that allows the holder to purchase a firearm. The bill prohibits a firearms dealer from selling, renting, trading, or transferring from his inventory any firearm to any person until he has received such permit. The bill sets forth the procedures to apply for the permit and prohibits the permitting of any person (i) who is younger than 21 years of age; (ii) who is prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm; (iii) who, within the two years prior to the date of application, has been convicted of any offense against a person that is an act of violence, force, or threat or a firearm-related offense that is punished as a Class 1 misdemeanor; (iv) who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; (v) who, within the two years prior to the date of application, has not completed a firearms safety or training course or class offered to the public by a law-enforcement agency, institution of higher education, or private or public institution or organization or by a firearms training school utilizing instructors certified or approved by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, and with a required curriculum, detailed in the bill; or (vi) for whom it would not be in the interest of the public health, safety, or welfare of the Commonwealth as determined by the Department of State Police to obtain a permit because the person is found to be lacking in essential character or temperament necessary to be entrusted with a firearm. The bill provides that such permit is valid for five years from the date of issuance. The bill details reasons for revocation of a permit and provides that any person who fails to return a revoked permit to the Superintendent of State Police within five days' notice of revocation is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also states that any person who willfully and intentionally makes a materially false statement on the application form for a permit is guilty of a Class 5 felony.

Jennifer D. Carroll FoyDemocrat

Commending Lawrence Douglas Wilder.

Commending Lawrence Douglas Wilder.

Lamont BagbyDemocrat

Celebrating the life of Charles Daniel Spruill.

Celebrating the life of Charles Daniel Spruill.

J.D. "Danny" DiggsRepublican

Commending Manakin Episcopal Church.

Commending Manakin Episcopal Church.

Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.Republican

Commending Rashiem D. Franklin.

Commending Rashiem D. Franklin.

Emily M. JordanRepublican

Commending Greg May.

Commending Greg May.

Christopher T. HeadRepublican

Commending Mill Swamp Baptist Church.

Commending Mill Swamp Baptist Church.

Emily M. JordanRepublican

Commending David W. Poole.

Commending David W. Poole.

Emily M. JordanRepublican

Commending the Smithfield Packers Youth Sports 12U girls' flag football team.

Commending the Smithfield Packers Youth Sports 12U girls' flag football team.

Emily M. JordanRepublican

Commending the Smithfield High School Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps rifle team.

Commending the Smithfield High School Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps rifle team.

Emily M. JordanRepublican

Commending Producers Peanut Company.

Commending Producers Peanut Company.

Emily M. JordanRepublican

Celebrating the life of Charlotte Hall Hutt.

Celebrating the life of Charlotte Hall Hutt.

Richard H. StuartRepublican

Commending the Reverend Dr. Kirkland R. Walton.

Commending the Reverend Dr. Kirkland R. Walton.

Schuyler T. VanValkenburgDemocrat

Unlawful detainer actions; no rental agreement between owner and occupant; immediate execution of writ of possession.

Unlawful detainer actions; no rental agreement between owner and occupant; immediate execution of writ of possession. Provides that, at an emergency hearing on a summons for unlawful detainer filed by an owner of a residential single family dwelling unit where there is no rental agreement between an owner and occupant, if the court enters judgment in favor of such owner, and a writ of possession is issued, the owner may request that the 72-hour waiting period for execution of such writ be waived and that the sheriff immediately execute such writ.

Jason S. BallardRepublican

General Assembly; establishes schedule for conduct of business coming before 2025 Regular Session.

General Assembly; 2025 Session schedule. Establishes a schedule for the conduct of business coming before the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly of Virginia.

Charniele L. HerringDemocrat

Commending Bethany Presbyterian Church.

Commending Bethany Presbyterian Church.

Emily M. JordanRepublican

Commending Grant Holloway.

Commending Grant Holloway.

Christie New CraigRepublican

Celebrating the life of John Wilder McMillan, Jr.

Celebrating the life of John Wilder McMillan, Jr.

J.D. "Danny" DiggsRepublican

Commending Benn's United Methodist Church.

Commending Benn’s United Methodist Church.

Emily M. JordanRepublican

Commending the Brunswick Academy softball team.

Commending the Brunswick Academy softball team.

Emily M. JordanRepublican

Celebrating the life of Malcolm Tecumseh Custalow, Jr.

Celebrating the life of Malcolm Tecumseh Custalow, Jr.

Richard H. StuartRepublican

Firearms-related offenses; mandatory minimum sentence; penalty.

Firearms-related offenses; mandatory minimum sentence; penalty. Increases from five to 10 years for a second or subsequent offense the mandatory minimum sentence for use or display of a firearm during the commission of certain felonies.

J.D. "Danny" DiggsRepublican

Celebrating the life of Robert Douglas Wright.

Celebrating the life of Robert Douglas Wright.

Christopher T. HeadRepublican

Affordable housing; religious organizations and other tax-exempt properties.

Affordable housing; religious organizations and other tax-exempt properties. Provides that no local ordinance shall require a special exception, special use permit, conditional use permit, or additional fee to be obtained for the development and construction of affordable housing on real property owned by a religious organization or certain nonprofit organizations that is connected to a public sewage system. The bill requires that at least 60 percent of the housing development's total units be for affordable housing and that the housing development remain affordable for at least 50 years.

Kannan SrinivasanDemocrat

Commercial entity offering social media accounts; restricted hours for minors, civil liability.

Commercial entity offering social media accounts; restricted hours for minors; civil liability. Provides that no commercial entity that offers social media accounts, as defined in the bill, shall knowingly or intentionally allow a minor to access his social media account during the hours of 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. unless the minor's parent, guardian, or legal custodian has provided permission for the minor to use such social media account during these hours. The bill provides that any commercial entity that violates these provisions shall be subject to civil liability for damages resulting from the interference with a minor's sleep cycle or mental health by allowing such minor to access to his social media account during the hours of 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. and reasonable attorney fees and costs.

Emily M. JordanRepublican

Obscene materials; restrictions on purchase, distribution, exhibition, or loan; exceptions; libraries and schools.

Obscene materials; restrictions on purchase, distribution, exhibition, or loan; exceptions; libraries and schools. Modifies the exception to restrictions on the purchase, distribution, exhibition, or loan of any book, magazine, or other printed or manuscript material that contains obscene materials by providing that schools supported by public appropriation are not subject to the exception and limiting the exception applicable to libraries supported by public appropriation only to obscene material that is available exclusively in a section of the library to which access is restricted by age.

Christopher T. HeadRepublican

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

Child labor; child engaged in the work of content creation; trust account. Specifies certain criteria for a child to be considered engaged in the work of content creation and prohibits a child who is under 14 years of age from engaging in the work of content creation. A child 14 years of age or older who is considered a child engaged in the work of content creation shall be compensated by the content creator, defined in the bill, whose video content includes such child's likeness, name, or photograph. The bill requires the content creator to set aside gross earnings on the video content including the likeness, name, or photograph of the child in a trust account to be preserved for the benefit of the child upon attaining 18 years of age or being declared emancipated. The bill also requires the content creator to maintain certain records specified in the bill and retain them until the child reaches 21 years of age. The bill allows the child, or his parent or guardian on behalf of such child, to commence a civil action to enforce the provisions of law related to the trust account. Finally, the bill gives the Attorney General the authority to enforce the provisions of the bill by issuing a civil investigative demand and causing an action to be brought in the appropriate circuit court to enjoin any violations. This bill was incorporated into SB 998.

Schuyler T. VanValkenburgDemocrat

Zoning; by-right multifamily development in areas zoned for commercial use.

Zoning; by-right multifamily development in areas zoned for commercial use. Requires a locality to provide in its zoning ordinance provisions allowing for the by-right development and construction of multifamily residential uses on all land contained in commercial or business zoning district classifications. The bill provides that the review and approval of such development shall be done administratively by the locality's staff and that any residential development that dedicates a minimum of 10 percent of the total number of housing units to households with a household income at or below 80 percent of the area median income shall be granted an accelerated plan review and permit approval process by the locality's staff.

Schuyler T. VanValkenburgDemocrat

Supervisors, boards of; increases statutory salary caps for certain counties.

Salaries of boards of supervisors for certain counties. Increases the statutory salary caps for boards of supervisors of counties that have adopted salary limits consistent with provisions in the Code of Virginia relating to alternative procedures for establishing salaries of boards of supervisors.

Tammy Brankley MulchiRepublican

Fertility preservation treatments; state plan for medical assistance services.

State plan for medical assistance services; fertility preservation treatments. Directs the Board of Medical Assistance Services to amend the state plan for medical assistance services to include a provision for payment of medical assistance for coverage of fertility preservation for individuals diagnosed with a form of cancer who need treatment that may cause a substantial risk of sterility or iatrogenic infertility, as defined in the bill, including surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. The bill also requires insurers to provide coverage for standard fertility preservation for individuals who have been diagnosed with a form of cancer who need treatment that may cause a substantial risk of sterility or iatrogenic infertility.

Saddam Azlan SalimDemocrat

Statewide housing targets; requires localities to increase their total housing stock.

Statewide housing targets for localities. Requires localities to increase their total housing stock by at least 7.5 percent over the five-year period beginning January 1, 2026. The bill provides that in order to meet the 7.5 percent growth target, a locality shall develop a housing growth plan that best meets the needs of the locality and may include any of various listed housing growth strategies. The bill further provides that after January 1, 2031, an applicant who seeks local government approval for a residential development that will have the effect of increasing the supply of housing in a locality and has that application rejected may, in addition to other remedies, appeal such decision to the Housing Approval Board, which shall be established by the Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development. The bill authorizes the Housing Approval Board to overturn local decisions and approve applications under certain circumstances. However, if the Housing Approval Board determines that a locality has in good faith implemented at least three of the housing growth strategies listed in the bill and has not rejected more than 25 percent of new housing development proposals over the previous five years, the Housing Approval Board shall allow the local decision to stand. Finally, the bill provides that the Housing Approval Board shall give extra weight for increases in affordable housing and for the rehabilitation of current, underutilized housing stock.

Schuyler T. VanValkenburgDemocrat

Health insurance; cost-sharing, pharmacy benefits managers, compensation and duties, civil penalty.

Health insurance; cost-sharing; pharmacy benefits managers; compensation and duties: civil penalty. Amends provisions related to rebates provided by carriers and health benefit plans to health plan enrollees by defining "defined cost-sharing," "pharmacy benefits management services," and "price protection rebates." The bill requires that an enrollee's defined cost-sharing for each prescription drug be calculated at the point of sale based on a price that is reduced by an amount equal to at least 80 percent of all rebates received or expected to be received in connection with the dispensing or administration of the prescription drug.The bill prohibits a pharmacy benefits manager from deriving income from pharmacy benefits management services provided to a carrier or health benefit plan except for income derived from a pharmacy benefits management fee. The bill requires the amount of any pharmacy benefits management fees to be set forth in the agreement between the pharmacy benefits manager and the carrier or health benefit plan and that such fee not be based on the acquisition cost or any other price metric of a drug; the amount of savings, rebates, or other fees charged, realized, or collected by or generated based on the activity of the pharmacy benefits manager; or the amount of premiums, deductibles, or other cost-sharing or fees charged, realized, or collected by the pharmacy benefits manager from enrollees or other persons on behalf of an enrollee. The bill requires a pharmacy benefits manager to annually certify to the State Corporation Commission that it has met certain requirements. The Commission is directed to impose a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 per claim for a violation of these provisions.The bill establishes a pharmacy benefits manager duty, which includes the duties of care, good faith, and fair dealing, owed to any enrollee, provider, or health benefit plan that receives pharmacy benefits management services from the pharmacy benefits manager or that furnishes, covers, receives, or is administered a unit of a prescription drug for which the pharmacy benefits manager has provided pharmacy benefits management services. The bill requires the Commission to define by regulation the scope of such duty and provides for a private cause of action for any person aggrieved by the breach of such duty. The bill is identical to HB 2773.

Mark J. PeakeRepublican

Va. Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program; electronic filing, review of claims.

Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program; electronic filing; review of claims. Requires electronic filing of claims under the Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program. The bill requires such claims to include condensed and uncompressed fetal heart rate monitoring strips and prenatal records and increases from 10 to 21 days the timeframe in which the Program is required to file a response to a claim. The bill also increases from $3,000 to $6,000 the amount paid to the medical school that assesses and prepares a report for a claim.

Christopher T. HeadRepublican

Workers' compensation; injuries caused by repetitive and sustained physical stressors.

Workers' compensation; injuries caused by repetitive and sustained physical stressors. Provides that, for the purposes of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act, \"occupational disease\" includes injuries or diseases from conditions resulting from repetitive and sustained physical stressors, including repetitive and sustained motions, exertions, posture stresses, contact stresses, vibrations, or noises. The bill provides that such injuries or diseases are covered under the Act and that such coverage does not require that such repetitive or sustained physical stress occurred over a particular time period, provided that (i) the time period over which such physical stress occurred can be reasonably identified and documented and (ii) exposure to such repetitive and sustained physical stressors in the course of employment is the primary cause, as defined in the bill, of the injury or disease. The bill's provisions apply only to injuries or diseases arising on or after July 1, 2026.

Ryan T. McDougleRepublican

Vegetative growth on certain property; maintenance.

Maintenance of vegetative growth on certain property. Authorizes a locality to require an owner of property that (i) was formerly used as a golf course but where such use has been discontinued and (ii) abuts an area zoned for residential purposes to cut or maintain the vegetative growth in a manner that (a) is consistent with the character of the former golf course property and compatible with the surrounding residential area and (b) prevents such property from becoming a detriment to the health, safety, or welfare of the residents of the abutting residential area. The bill allows the locality to have its agents or employees cut or maintain the vegetative growth on such property, as the locality deems necessary, at the owner's expense after providing reasonable notice to the owner of record of such property. The costs for cutting or maintaining the vegetative growth on such property may be collected by the locality as taxes are collected. The bill states that its provisions are declarative of existing law.

Christie New CraigRepublican

Workers' compensation benefits; disorders induced by law-enforcement officers and firefighters.

Workers' compensation benefits; post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, or depressive disorder incurred by law-enforcement officers and firefighters. Increases from 52 weeks to 500 weeks the maximum duration after the date of diagnosis that workers' compensation benefits are payable for post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, or depressive disorder incurred by law-enforcement officers and firefighters acting in the line of duty. The bill also removes the prohibition on medical treatment, temporary total incapacity benefits, or temporary partial incapacity benefits from being awarded beyond four years from the date of the qualifying event that was the primary cause of the post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, or depressive disorder. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of law-enforcement officer to include any civilian employed by a county, city, or town police department or by a sheriff's office as a crime scene investigator for the purposes of worker's compensation claims related to post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, or depressive disorder.

Bryce E. ReevesRepublican

Gas-powered leaf blowers; local prohibition or regulation, civil penalty.

Local prohibition or regulation of gas-powered leaf blowers; civil penalty. Provides that any locality may by ordinance prohibit or regulate the use of gas-powered leaf blowers. The bill provides that the ordinance may include provisions for a civil penalty and that the funds from such civil penalties may be used by the locality to assist with the purchase of nonprohibited leaf blowers by residents and local businesses.

Saddam Azlan SalimDemocrat

Health insurance; coverage for acupuncture treatments.

Practice of acupuncture; definition; health insurance; coverage for acupuncture treatments. Amends the definition of the "practice of acupuncture" as it relates to the practice of medicine and other healing arts to specify that it means the stimulation of selected points on the body to prevent or modify the perception of pain or to normalize physiological functions for the treatment of certain ailments or conditions of the body and includes acupuncture needle insertion, dry needling, electroacupuncture, cupping, gua sha, and moxibustion. Under current law, the "practice of acupuncture" means the stimulation of certain points on or near the surface of the body by the insertion of needles to prevent or modify the perception of pain or to normalize physiological functions for the treatment of certain ailments or conditions of the body and includes the techniques of electroacupuncture, cupping, and moxibustion. The bill requires health insurers, corporations providing health care coverage subscription contracts, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for acupuncture treatments. The bill applies to policies, contracts, and plans delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027.

Saddam Azlan SalimDemocrat

Electric utilities; State Corporation Commission to establish an emissions intensity target program.

Electric utilities; emissions intensity target program. Requires the State Corporation Commission to develop an emissions intensity target program for Dominion Energy Virginia and American Electric Power to achieve net-zero emissions. The bill requires the Commission to promulgate regulations to implement its provisions by January 1, 2026. Upon the promulgation of such regulations, the bill repeals certain provisions that require Dominion Energy Virginia and American Electric Power to participate in a renewable energy portfolio standard program, authorize the State Air Pollution Control Board to promulgate certain regulations, and provide that the construction or purchase by a public utility of certain generation facilities is in the public interest.

Mark D. ObenshainRepublican

Workers' compensation; injuries caused by repetitive and sustained physical stressors.

Workers' compensation; injuries caused by repetitive and sustained physical stressors. Provides that, for the purposes of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act, "occupational disease" includes injuries or diseases from conditions resulting from repetitive and sustained physical stressors, including repetitive and sustained motions, exertions, posture stresses, contact stresses, vibrations, or noises. The bill provides that such injuries or diseases are covered under the Act and that such coverage does not require that such repetitive or sustained physical stress occurred over a particular time period, provided that (i) the time period over which such physical stress occurred can be reasonably identified and documented and (ii) exposure to such repetitive and sustained physical stressors in the course of employment is the primary cause, as defined in the bill, of the injury or disease.

Christopher T. HeadRepublican

Commending Anne Cochrane Pace.

Commending Anne Cochrane Pace.

Schuyler T. VanValkenburgDemocrat

Constitutional amendment (first reference); right to work.

Constitutional amendment (first reference); right to work. Provides that it is unlawful for any person, corporation, association, or the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions to deny or attempt to deny employment to any person because of such person's membership in, affiliation with, resignation from, or refusal to join or affiliate with any labor union or employee organization.

Mark D. ObenshainRepublican

Constitutional amendment; term limits for Lieutenant Governor & Attorney General (first reference).

Constitutional amendments (first reference); executive branch of government; Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General; term limits. Prohibits any person from being eligible to be elected to more than two terms as Lieutenant Governor or Attorney General. The amendments provide that service for a partial term does not preclude serving the allowed number of full terms and applies the limits to terms of service to persons elected to serve as Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General in 2029 and thereafter.

Mark J. PeakeRepublican

Celebrating the life of Captain Jerome A. Sheppard, USAF, Ret.

Celebrating the life of Captain Jerome A. Sheppard, USAF, Ret.

Mamie E. LockeDemocrat