Bills & Legislation

Public school buildings; indoor air quality, inspection and evaluation.

Public school buildings; indoor air quality; inspection and evaluation. Establishes several enumerated requirements for local school divisions to ensure indoor air quality in each public school building in the local school division, including providing for an inspection and evaluation program at least once every two years and an industry-recognized uniform inspection and evaluation at least once every four years. This bill is identical to SB 1413.

Dan I. HelmerDemocrat

Virginia Public Procurement Act; solar photovoltaic equipment and facilities.

Virginia Public Procurement Act; solar photovoltaic equipment and facilities. Prohibits state and local agencies from including a provision in any request for proposal, procurement agreement, contract, ordinance, policy, permit, or accompanying document that directs the exclusion from use of any materials contained in or products associated with solar photovoltaic equipment and facilities that are manufactured in the United States. This bill is identical to SB 1165.

Holly M. SeiboldDemocrat

Artificial intelligence-based tool; definition, use of tool.

Use of artificial intelligence-based tool. Requires that the recommendations or predictions provided by any artificial intelligence-based tool, as such term is defined in the bill, shall not be the sole basis for any decision related to pre-trial detention or release, prosecution, adjudication, sentencing, probation, parole, correctional supervision, or rehabilitation of criminal offenders, provided that any such decision is made by the judicial officer or other person charged with making such decision. The bill provides that the use of any artificial intelligence-based tool shall be subject to any challenge or objection as permitted by law.

C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.Democrat

Occoquan Reservoir PFAS Reduction Program; established.

Drinking water; Occoquan Reservoir PFAS Reduction Program established. Creates the Occoquan Reservoir PFAS Reduction Program to reduce excessive levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in public drinking water derived from the Occoquan Reservoir. The bill requires certain facilities to monitor for PFAS on or before October 1, 2025, using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Method 1633 or an alternative method approved by the EPA. The bill requires any such facility to report all results to the Department of Environmental Quality no later than the tenth day of the next month after the month in which the result is reported by the laboratory and to include in such report all PFAS analytes measured by the test method. The bill requires by July 1, 2027, for any facility that measures exceedances in its discharge of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for PFAS in drinking water promulgated on or before January 1, 2025, the Department, for an individual Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit if the facility discharges directly to surface waters, or a major publicly owned treatment works, for an indirect discharger, to modify the applicable discharge permit to require that the facility's discharge not exceed that MCL. The bill requires the modified permit to provide a compliance schedule that requires compliance with such level as soon as possible but no later than July 1, 2029. The bill exempts from its provisions any industrial discharger not listed in the bill, any publicly owned treatment works or drinking water treatment plant, or a municipal solid waste facility but provides that any public water system may follow the requirements of the bill for the purpose of planning for compliance with the MCL for PFAS in finished water. The bill clarifies that its provisions will not limit the authority of the Department or the owner or operator of any publicly owned treatment works to which any user discharges wastewater to require monitoring or reporting or otherwise regulate the discharge of any PFAS chemicals or other pollutants under other applicable legal authority.

David L. BulovaDemocrat

Voter registration; regular periodic review of registration records.

Voter registration, regular periodic review of registration records; 90-day quiet period before all primary and general elections. Requires the Department of Elections to complete not later than 90 days prior to the date of a primary or general election any program the purpose of which is to systematically remove the names of ineligible voters from the voter registration system. This restriction is not to be construed to preclude (i) the removal of names from the voter registration system at the request of the registrant or as provided by existing law by reason of criminal conviction or mental incapacity or the death of the registrant or (ii) the correction of registration records pursuant to existing law. Under current law, such restriction only applies to federal primaries and federal general elections. The bill also extends (a) the period of time registrars have to cancel registrations from 30 days to 60 days after notification of the need to cancel by the Department of Elections and (b) the period of time a registered voter has to respond to a notice of cancellation related to citizenship status from 14 days to 28 days. This bill is identical to SB 813.

Rozia A. Henson, Jr.Democrat

Real estate appraisers; educational requirement for licensure, fair housing & appraisal bias course.

Real estate appraisers; educational requirements for licensure; fair housing and appraisal bias course. Requires applicants for licensure as a certified residential real estate appraiser, a certified general real estate appraiser, or a licensed residential real estate appraiser to successfully complete a minimum of two hours of education on fair housing and appraisal bias administered or approved by the Real Estate Appraiser Board prior to licensure. The bill requires any such educational course on fair housing and appraisal bias to be audited annually by the Fair Housing Board. This bill is identical to SB 995.

Alex Q. AskewDemocrat

Renewable energy portfolio standard program; geothermal heating and cooling systems, report.

Renewable energy portfolio standard program; geothermal heating and cooling systems; report. For purposes of the renewable energy portfolio standard program, requires Dominion Energy Virginia and American Electric Power to procure and retire certain percentages of renewable energy certificates from geothermal heating and cooling systems, as defined in the bill, beginning with the 2026 or 2027 compliance year and thereafter. The bill amends the method by which renewable energy certificates from geothermal heating and cooling systems are calculated and directs the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation to prepare and deliver a report evaluating the procurement and retirement of renewable energy certificates from geothermal heating and cooling systems in the Commonwealth on or before November 1, 2027. The bill also directs the Real Estate Appraiser Board to promulgate regulations requiring the development of a continuing education curriculum and required training for all licensees that includes how to properly determine the increase in value of real estate created by reductions in building energy costs associated with solar, geothermal, and solar water heating investments.

Scott A. SurovellDemocrat

Trigger activator; definition does not include semi-automatic replacement trigger, etc., penalty.

Trigger activator definition; penalty. Defines "trigger activator" as a conversion kit, tool, accessory, or device designed to alter the rate of fire of a semi-automatic firearm to mimic automatic weapon fire or used to increase the rate of fire to a rate faster than such semi-automatic firearm not equipped with a conversion kit, tool, accessory, or device. The bill clarifies that "trigger activator" includes a bump stock, trigger crank, hellfire trigger, binary trigger system, burst trigger system, or a copy thereof, but does not include a semi-automatic replacement trigger, designed for use in competitive shooting, that improves performance and functionality over the stock trigger. This bill is identical to SB 886.

Michael J. JonesDemocrat

Model memorandum of understanding; counseling from school counselors by way of telehealth.

Department of Education; model memorandum of understanding; counseling from school counselors by way of telehealth. Provides that the model memorandum of understanding developed by the Department of Education for partnerships with community mental health services providers or school-based telehealth providers shall include procedures allowing for students to receive counseling from school counselors by way of telehealth. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee to Study Pandemic Response and Preparedness in the Commonwealth and is identical to HB 2543.

Kannan SrinivasanDemocrat

Sales and use tax, local; additional tax authorized in all counties and cities to support schools.

Additional local sales and use tax to support schools; referendum. Authorizes all counties and cities to impose an additional local sales and use tax at a rate not to exceed one percent with the revenue used only for public school capital projects, defined in the bill, if such levy is approved in a voter referendum. The bill removes the requirement that such a tax must have an expiration date on either (i) the date of the repayment of any bonds or loans used for such capital projects or (ii) a date chosen by the governing body. Under current law, only Charlotte, Gloucester, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Northampton, Patrick, and Pittsylvania Counties and the City of Danville are authorized to impose such a tax. This bill incorporates SB 874.

Jeremy S. McPikeDemocrat

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; rental payment methods.

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; rental payment methods. Prohibits a landlord subject to the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act from charging a tenant any fee for the collection or processing of any payment of rent, security deposit, or any other fees, unless the landlord offers an alternative method of payment that does not include additional fees. This bill is identical to HB 2218.

Kannan SrinivasanDemocrat

Firearm transfers to another person from a prohibited person.

Firearm transfers to another person from a prohibited person. Provides that a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm because such person is subject to a protective order or has been convicted of an assault and battery of a family or household member may transfer a firearm owned by such prohibited person to any person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing such firearm, provided that such person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing such firearm is 21 years of age or older and does not reside with the person who is subject to the protective order. Under current law, there is no requirement that such transferee cannot be younger than 21 years of age and cannot reside with such prohibited person. The bill also provides that such prohibited person who transfers, sells, or surrenders a firearm pursuant to the provisions of the bill shall inform the clerk of the court of the name and address of the transferee, the federally licensed firearms dealer, or the law-enforcement agency in possession of the firearm and shall provide to the transferee a copy of the form certifying that such person does not possess any firearms or that all firearms possessed by such person have been surrendered, sold, or transferred. The bill also provides that a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm because such person is subject to a protective order or has been convicted of an assault and battery of a family or household member shall be advised that a law-enforcement officer may obtain a search warrant to search for any firearms from such person if such law-enforcement officer has reason to believe that such person has not relinquished all firearms in his possession. This bill is identical to SB 744.

Elizabeth B. Bennett-ParkerDemocrat

Transportation network companies; publishing and disclosure requirements, effective date.

Transportation network companies; publishing and disclosure requirements. Requires a transportation network company (TNC) to (i) issue an annual report to the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles containing the aggregate data regarding the average fare collected from passengers, the total time driven by TNC partners while transporting a passenger, and the total amount earned by TNC partners in connection with prearranged rides and (ii) disclose to TNC partners details about the deactivation process and provide a weekly summary that includes the total fare collected from passengers, the total amount earned, and the percentage earned by such TNC partner that week. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 2756.

Kannan SrinivasanDemocrat

Public elementary & secondary schools; bell-to-bell student cell phone & smart device possession.

Public elementary and secondary schools; student cell phone possession and use policies; development and implementation. Directs each school board to develop and each public elementary and secondary school to implement policies relating to the possession and use of cell phones and smart devices by students on school property from bell to bell, as defined in the law, and requires such policies, among other things, to (i) restrict student cell phone and smart device possession and use on school property from bell to bell and (ii) permit any student, pursuant to an Individualized Education Plan, Section 504 Plan, individualized health care plan, or Limited English Proficiency plan, to possess and use a cell phone or smart device on school property, including in the classroom, from bell to bell to monitor or address a health concern or as an accommodation or assistive technology support. This bill is identical to SB 738.

Sam RasoulDemocrat

Affordable housing; local zoning ordinance authority, comprehensive plan.

Affordable housing; local zoning ordinance authority; comprehensive plan. Authorizes any locality in the Commonwealth to provide for an affordable housing dwelling unit program by amending the zoning ordinance of such locality. Current law restricts such authorization to counties with an urban county executive form of government or county manager plan of government and certain other localities. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

Jeremy S. McPikeDemocrat

County manager plan of government; county board, powers.

County manager plan of government; county board; powers. Broadens several powers related to the county board size and manner of election for counties that have adopted the county manager plan of government by giving such counties the option of following general law, after voter approval by referendum, rather than the provisions specified in this optional form of county government. Currently, only Arlington County has adopted the county manager plan of government. The provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2026 Session of the General Assembly.

Patrick A. HopeDemocrat

Restorative housing and isolated confinement; restrictions on use, effective date.

Restorative housing and isolated confinement; restrictions on use. Prohibits the use of isolated confinement, defined in the bill, in state correctional facilities, subject to certain exceptions. The bill requires that before placing an incarcerated person in restorative housing or isolated confinement for his own protection, the facility administrator shall place the incarcerated person in a less restrictive setting, including by transferring such person to another institution or to a special-purpose housing unit for incarcerated persons who face similar threats. The bill requires that if an incarcerated person is placed in restorative housing or isolated confinement, such placement shall be reviewed every 48 hours and the facility administrator shall ensure that the incarcerated person receives a medical and mental health evaluation from certified medical and mental health professionals within one working day of placement in restorative housing or any form of isolated confinement. The bill also requires the facility administrator to notify the regional administrator in writing that an incarcerated person was placed in restorative housing or isolated confinement within 24 hours of such placement. Finally, the bill requires that formal reviews of an incarcerated person's placement in any form of isolated confinement shall be held in such person's presence, to inform him of any reason or reasons administrative officials believe isolated confinement remains necessary and give him an opportunity to respond to those reasons and that a formal ruling shall be provided to the incarcerated person within 24 hours. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026, and is identical to SB 1409.

Karen Keys-GamarraDemocrat

Blue catfish; Board of Wildlife Resources shall amend 4VAC15-320-25, Creel and length limits.

Board of Wildlife Resources; creel limits; blue catfish. Requires the Board of Wildlife Resources to amend regulations to remove the one-fish daily limit for blue catfish longer than 32 inches in the Commonwealth.

Shelly A. SimondsDemocrat

Firearms; purchase, at least five day waiting period, penalty.

Purchase of firearms; waiting period; penalty. Provides that no person shall sell a firearm unless at least five days have elapsed from the time the prospective purchaser completes the written consent form to have a licensed dealer obtain criminal history record information, with exceptions enumerated in relevant law. The amendments to the Code of Virginia in the bill are identical to the amendments to the Code of Virginia in SB 891.

C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.Democrat

Placing Nazi symbols or emblems on certain property with intent to intimidate; penalty.

Placing Nazi symbol or emblem on certain property with intent to intimidate; penalty. Creates a Class 6 felony for any person who, with the intent of intimidating any person or group of persons, places a Hakenkreuz, hooked cross, or Nazi symbol or emblem, sometimes referred to as the Nazi swastika, on the private property of another without permission. The bill also makes it a Class 6 felony if such Nazi symbol or emblem is placed on a highway or other public place in a manner having a direct tendency to place another person in reasonable fear or apprehension of death or bodily injury. Finally, the bill clarifies that such Nazi symbol or emblem does not include and is distinct from the sacred swastika word and symbol of peace and prosperity used by Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, or Native American religions.

Marcus B. SimonDemocrat

Release of accused on secured or unsecured bond.

Release of accused on secured or unsecured bond. Removes the conditions requiring that any person arrested for a felony (i) who has previously been convicted of a felony, (ii) who is presently on bond for an unrelated arrest in any jurisdiction, or (iii) who is on probation or parole be released only upon a secure bond. Additionally, the bill adds to the factors a judicial officer shall consider in making a bail determination (a) the person's current bond status for an unrelated arrest in any jurisdiction and (b) the person's current status on probation or parole. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia Criminal Justice Conference.

Katrina CallsenDemocrat

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; adverse action by landlord, tenant remedies.

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; adverse action by landlord; tenant remedies. Prohibits a residential landlord who owns more than four rental dwelling units or more than a 10 percent interest in more than four rental dwelling units, whether individually or through a business entity, in the Commonwealth from taking adverse action, as defined in the bill, against a prospective tenant due to the prospective tenant's history of a dismissed, nonsuited, or expunged unlawful detainer case or an unlawful detainer case that is eligible for expungement. The bill allows a prospective tenant to recover, as a result of any such adverse action, (i) actual damages, (ii) statutory damages of $1,000, and (iii) reasonable attorney fees. This bill is identical to SB 815.

Phil M. HernandezDemocrat

Firearms; purchase, etc., assault and battery of family member or intimate partner, penalties.

Purchase, possession, or transportation of firearm; assault and battery of a family or household member or intimate partner; penalties. Adds to the definition of "family or household member," as such definition relates to juvenile and domestic relations district court, a person's intimate partner, defined in the bill as an individual who, within the previous 12 months, was in a romantic, dating, or sexual relationship with the person as determined by the length, nature, frequency, and type of interaction between the individuals involved in the relationship. The bill also adds to the definition of "family or household member," as such definition relates to a person's purchase, possession, or transportation of a firearm following an assault and battery of a family or household member, any individual who cohabits or who, within the previous 12 months, cohabitated with the person. Finally, the bill provides that any person who knowingly and intentionally purchases, possesses, or transports any firearm following a misdemeanor conviction for an offense that occurred on or after July 1, 2025, for the offense of assault and battery against an intimate partner or an offense substantially similar under the laws of any other state or of the United States is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. This bill is identical to SB 883.

Adele Y. McClureDemocrat

Comprehensive plan; social determinants of health.

Comprehensive plan; social determinants of health. Encourages localities to utilize relevant and available data and research related to social determinants of health to consider how a locality's adopted comprehensive plan will impact the locality's overall public health and access to health care services.

Shelly A. SimondsDemocrat

Life or health insurances; unfair discrimination, pre-exposure prophylaxis for prevention of HIV.

Life insurance; health insurance; unfair discrimination; pre-exposure prophylaxis for prevention of human immunodeficiency virus. Prohibits any person from refusing to insure, refusing to continue to insure, or limiting the amount or extent of life insurance or accident and sickness insurance coverage available to an individual or charge an individual a different rate for the same coverage based solely on the status of such individual as having received pre-exposure prophylaxis for the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus.

Jeion A. WardDemocrat

Employee protections; minimum wage and overtime wages, civil actions, misclassification of workers.

Employee protections; minimum wage and overtime wages; civil actions; misclassification of workers. Provides that an employer that violates minimum wage or overtime wages provisions is liable to the employee for the applicable remedies, damages, or other relief available in an action brought pursuant to the civil action provisions currently available for the nonpayment of wages. Such provisions currently available provide that an employee may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover payment of the wages, and the court is required to award the wages owed, an additional equal amount as liquidated damages, plus prejudgment interest thereon, and reasonable attorney fees and costs. Under current law, if the court finds that the employer knowingly failed to pay wages to an employee, the court is required to award the employee an amount equal to triple the amount of wages due and reasonable attorney fees and costs, and such actions are required to be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrued. The bill also increases from 300 days to two years the amount of time a complainant has to file an allegation of discriminatory practice with the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Law alleging a violation of the Virginia Human Rights Act or federal statutes governing discrimination in employment that also falls under the jurisdiction of the Virginia Human Rights Act. Additionally, the bill provides that a civil action brought by an individual against his employer for failing to properly classify the individual as an employee under current law shall be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrued.

Alfonso H. LopezDemocrat

Authority of local governments; definitions, service employess.

Authority of local governments; service employees. Permits any county, city, or town in the Commonwealth to provide for certain requirements concerning incumbent and successor service employers, defined in the bill, by local ordinance or resolution. For example, such local ordinance or resolution may require that successor service employers retain incumbent service employees during a transition period of 90 days. Under the bill, service employees are those who perform work in connection with the care or maintenance of property, services at an airport, or food preparation services at schools. The provisions of the bill do not include any building owned by the Commonwealth or any institution of higher education. The bill provides that an employer that violates the provisions of a local ordinance or resolution enacted pursuant to the bill may be subject to a civil action and monetary damages. This bill is identical to SB 1489.

Alfonso H. LopezDemocrat

Marijuana-related offenses; modification of sentence, sunset.

Modification of sentence for marijuana-related offenses. Creates a process by which persons convicted of certain felony offenses involving the possession, manufacture, selling, giving, distribution, transportation, or delivery of marijuana committed prior to July 1, 2021, who remain incarcerated or on community supervision on July 1, 2025, may receive an automatic hearing to consider modification of such person's sentence. The provisions of this bill sunset on July 1, 2028. This bill incorporates HB 2176.

Rozia A. Henson, Jr.Democrat

Gift certificates; prohibits imposition of a dormancy fee, etc.

Gift certificates; fees. Prohibits the imposition of a dormancy fee, an inactivity charge or fee, or a service fee with respect to a gift certificate, unless certain requirements of the bill are met.

Kannan SrinivasanDemocrat

Taxation, Department of; repealing Virginia Free File Tax program.

Department of Taxation; free tax filing program. Directs the Tax Commissioner to terminate the Virginia Free File program and the related agreement with the Consortium for Virginia. The bill also requires the Tax Commissioner to develop and offer a free individual state income tax filing program, effective beginning in taxable year 2028, that is similar to and compatible with the federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Direct File program. To implement the new program, the bill requires the Tax Commissioner to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the IRS and coordinate with the IRS in program development. The bill contains technical amendments that remove obsolete language regarding fillable forms. This bill is identical to HB 2264.

Jeremy S. McPikeDemocrat

Trees; conservation and replacement during development process.

Conservation and replacement of trees during development process. Expands certain existing local government authority to conserve or replace trees during the development process by expanding such authority statewide. The bill allows localities to establish higher tree canopy replacement percentages based on density per acre. The bill also alters the current process for granting exceptions to a local ordinance by altering a provision that requires the granting of an exception when strict application of the ordinance would result in unnecessary or unreasonable hardship to the developer and requiring that the locality concur with such alteration. The bill permits localities to monitor and assess the condition and coverage of tree canopies at development sites during the time period up to 20 years' maturity of the planted trees. The bill contains technical amendments.

Patrick A. HopeDemocrat

Dumfries, Town of; amending charter, town powers, etc.

Charter; Town of Dumfries. Makes numerous amendments to the charter for the Town of Dumfries in Prince William County. Proposed changes (i) broaden the statement of the town's general grant of powers; (ii) reference general law for procedures for removing members of the town council who are convicted of certain crimes; (iii) clarify the duties of the mayor and vice mayor; (iv) create the position of chair pro tem on the town council; (v) clarify how vacancies on the town council will be filled; (vi) clarify the procedure for introducing and passing town ordinances and emergency ordinances; (vii) specify that members of town committees, boards, and commissions serve at the pleasure of the town council; (viii) clarify the duties of various town officers; (ix) specify that there is a town clerk and describe the town clerk's duties; (x) provide that town departments include departments concerning recreation and civic engagement; (xi) add a reference to town authority to impose civil penalties and cap any such civil penalties at $5,000; and (xii) make numerous technical changes to update the town's charter, first enacted in 1994. This bill is identical to SB 1300.

Candi Mundon KingDemocrat

Firearm locking device; required for sale or transfer of firearm.

Firearm locking device required for sale or transfer of firearm; warning against accessibility to children; penalty. Makes it a Class 3 misdemeanor for any licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, or licensed dealer to sell, deliver, or transfer any firearm to any person other than a licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, or licensed dealer unless the transferee is provided with a locking device for that firearm and the firearm is accompanied by a warning, in conspicuous and legible type in capital letters printed on a separate sheet of paper included within the packaging enclosing the firearm, that firearms should be locked and kept away from children and that there may be civil and criminal liability for failing to do so. The bill provides exceptions for law-enforcement and governmental agencies.

Adele Y. McClureDemocrat

Absentee voting in person; voter satellite offices, days and hours of operation.

Absentee voting in person; voter satellite offices; days and hours of operation. Authorizes the governing body of any county or city establishing voter satellite offices for absentee voting in person to prescribe, by ordinance, the dates and hours of operation for such offices. The bill requires the governing body to provide notice to the general registrar of the county or city at least two weeks prior to the enactment of any such ordinance.

Atoosa R. ReaserDemocrat

Voter registration; cancellation of registration, sources of data.

Voter registration; cancellation of registration; sources of data. Requires that, except for a written request from the voter to have his registration cancelled, the general registrar may not cancel the registration of any voter based on data or reports provided to him by any source other than the Department of Elections or a state agency approved to provide such data or reports by the State Board of Elections. The bill also reinstates a provision prohibiting the general registrar from cancelling the registration of (i) certain members of the uniformed service of the United States who are on active duty; (ii) certain persons who reside temporarily outside of the United States; or (iii) any spouse or dependent residing with such persons.

Amy J. LauferDemocrat

Prevailing wage rate; apprenticeship requirements, RPS-eligible source work, penalties.

Prevailing wage rate; apprenticeship requirements; RPS-eligible source work; penalties. Requires each public service company, including its contractors and subcontractors, or third-party developer to ensure payment at the prevailing wage rate set by the Department of Labor and Industry for any mechanic, laborer, or worker employed, retained, or otherwise hired to perform construction, maintenance, or repair work for certain electricity generating sources. The bill requires each public service company to (i) ensure that 15 percent of the total labor hours of such work is performed by qualified apprentices and (ii) employ at least one qualified apprentice if four or more individuals are employed to perform such work. Under the bill, a public service company that fails to meet the requirements of its provisions is required to make penalty payments to the Commissioner of Labor and Industry. This bill is identical to HB 2356.

Aaron R. RouseDemocrat

Weapons; possession prohibited in a hospital that provides mental health or developmental services.

Weapons; possession prohibited in a hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to knowingly and intentionally possess in the building of any hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services in the Commonwealth, including an emergency department or other facility rendering emergency medical care, a (i) firearm, (ii) knife with a blade over three and one-half inches, or (iii) other dangerous weapon, including explosives and stun weapons. The bill also provides that notice of such prohibitions shall be posted conspicuously at each public entrance of any hospital and no person shall be convicted of the offense if such notice is not posted, unless such person had actual notice of the prohibitions. The bill provides that any such firearm, knife, explosive, or weapon shall be subject to seizure by a law-enforcement officer and forfeited to the Commonwealth and specifies exceptions to the prohibition. This bill is identical to SB 1110.

Phil M. HernandezDemocrat

Public school buildings; indoor air quality, inspection and evaluation.

Public school buildings; indoor air quality; inspection and evaluation. Establishes several enumerated requirements for local school divisions to ensure indoor air quality in each public school building in the local school division, including providing for an inspection and evaluation program at least once every two years and an industry-recognized uniform inspection and evaluation at least once every four years. This bill is identical to HB 2618.

Scott A. SurovellDemocrat

Waterworks; mandatory reporting of anomalies, negligence.

Department of Health; waterworks; mandatory reporting. Requires owners of waterworks to report any critical equipment failure or malfunction or contaminant release to the Department of Health's Office of Drinking Water as soon as practicable but no more than two hours after discovery. The bill also requires owners of waterworks that are required to submit a monthly operating report to the Office to include any noncritical equipment failure or malfunction that could adversely affect water quality, public health, or service continuity in such report. This bill is identical to HB 2749.

Bryce E. ReevesRepublican

Research and Clinical Trial Cancer Consortium Initiative; established, report.

Health; Research and Clinical Trial Cancer Consortium Initiative established; report. Establishes the Research and Clinical Trial Cancer Consortium Initiative for the purpose of coordinating, maximizing the efficiency of, and facilitating cancer clinical research and treatment efforts across the Commonwealth. The bill establishes the membership of the Initiative to include three nonlegislative citizen members and representatives of the following institutions relating to cancer clinical research and treatment: (i) the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University, (ii) the University of Virginia Medical Center, (iii) the Leroy T. Canoles Jr. Cancer Research Center at the Eastern Virginia Health Sciences Center at Old Dominion University, (iv) the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, (v) Hampton University, and (vi) three nonacademic health systems.

Lashrecse D. AirdDemocrat

Virginia Growth and Opportunity Act; expands eligibility for grants.

Virginia Growth and Opportunity Act; eligibility for grants. Expands eligibility for regional councils to receive grants from the Virginia Growth and Opportunity Fund. The bill allows regional councils to apply for and utilize grant funds for regional activities that substantially promote the objectives of the regional council's economic growth and diversification plan where there exists a demonstrable gap in services that negatively impacts a region's ability to grow one or more trade sector industry clusters.

Jackie H. GlassDemocrat

Affordable housing; preservation, definitions, civil penalty.

Preservation of affordable housing; definitions; civil penalty. Creates a framework for localities to preserve affordable housing by exercising a right of first refusal on publicly supported housing, defined in the bill. The bill authorizes localities to implement an ordinance that requires an owner to accept a right of first refusal offer by the locality or qualified designee, defined in the bill, in order to preserve affordable housing for at least 15 years. The bill requires that any locality adopting such an ordinance to preserve affordable housing submit an annual report to the Department of Housing and Community Development pursuant to existing law.

Elizabeth B. Bennett-ParkerDemocrat

Restaurants; food allergy awareness notice required.

Restaurants; food allergy awareness notice required. Requires the State Health Commissioner to publish in multiple languages a notice containing procedures for restaurant staff to follow when a customer has a food allergy on the Department of Health's website. The bill requires restaurants to post such notice in a conspicuous location. The bill also requires restaurants to include the phrase, "If you have a food allergy, please notify us," and its translation, if applicable, on their menus or on a sign posted conspicuously in the restaurant.

Kannan SrinivasanDemocrat

Virginia Telephone Privacy Protection Act; telephone solicitations by text message, effective date.

Virginia Telephone Privacy Protection Act; telephone solicitations by text message. Permits an individual receiving a telephone solicitation via text message to request not to receive telephone solicitations from a telephone solicitor by replying to such text message with the word "UNSUBSCRIBE" or "STOP." The bill requires a telephone solicitor in receipt of such request to honor such request for at least 10 years from the time such request is made. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2026.

David W. MarsdenDemocrat

Industrial wastewater; publicly owned treatment works.

Self-reporting of PFAS manufacture and use for PFAS assessment; Department of Environmental Quality; industrial wastewater; publicly owned treatment works. Requires every publicly owned treatment works to require certain new or existing industrial users to self-report use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as part of a pretreatment program. The bill requires every publicly owned treatment works receiving such self-report of PFAS from an industrial user to convey the information to the Department of Environmental Quality within 90 days of receipt. The bill amends the defined meaning of "use of PFAS" to exclude use of surface water or groundwater supply from the definition. Currently, "use of PFAS" does not include manufacturing equipment that contains PFAS. The bill also directs any industrial user required to self-report use of PFAS to submit such report within 90 days of notification from the publicly owned treatment works of this reporting requirement and requires the publicly owned treatment works to notify relevant industrial users of the requirement to self-report use of PFAS within 90 days of notification from the Department to make such notification. The bill requires the Department to notify publicly owned treatment works of the industrial user self-reporting requirements within 30 days of the bill's effective date. Finally, the bill directs the PFAS Expert Advisory Committee to include in its 2025 annual report recommendations on the development of an inventory of PFAS testing methodologies and control technologies for industrial sources.

Jeremy S. McPikeDemocrat

EMS agencies; Bd. of Pharmacy shall report on progress in response to changes in federal law.

Board of Pharmacy; emergency medical services providers; work group. Directs the Board of Pharmacy to convene a work group to advise the Board on issues related to emergency medical services providers. The bill requires the Board to staff the work group and directs the work group to meet at least quarterly. The bill has an expiration date of June 30, 2027.

Jeremy S. McPikeDemocrat

Model memorandum of understanding; counseling from school counselors by way of telehealth.

Department of Education; model memorandum of understanding; counseling from school counselors by way of telehealth. Provides that the model memorandum of understanding developed by the Department of Education for partnerships with community mental health services providers or school-based telehealth providers shall include procedures allowing for students to receive counseling from school counselors by way of telehealth. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee to Study Pandemic Response and Preparedness in the Commonwealth and is identical to SB 1370.

Amy J. LauferDemocrat

Intelligent Speed Assistance Program; established, penalty.

Intelligent Speed Assistance Program established; penalty. Establishes the Intelligent Speed Assistance Program to be administered by the Commission on the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program. The bill authorizes enrollment in such Program as an alternative to suspending a person's driver's license upon such person's conviction of certain speed-related offenses. The bill requires a court to order enrollment in such Program for a person convicted of reckless driving and who was found to have been driving in excess of 100 miles per hour, unless the court has otherwise ordered the suspension of such person's driver's license. The bill requires the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles to provide the option in a written notice for enrollment in such Program instead of license suspension for a person who has accumulated certain amounts of demerit points, and if such person does not respond to such notice within 30 days, the bill requires such suspension of his license. The bill requires any person enrolled in the Program to enter into and successfully complete the Program and install an intelligent speed assistance system, defined in the bill, in any motor vehicle owned by or registered to the participant and prohibits such person from driving any motor vehicle that does not have such a system installed. The bill creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for tampering with or attempting to bypass or circumvent such a system. The bill provides that any person who enters into the Program prior to trial may pre-qualify with the Program to have an intelligent speed assistance system installed on any motor vehicle owned or operated by him and that the court may consider such pre-qualification and installation. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

Patrick A. HopeDemocrat