Bills & Legislation

Commending the Oscar Smith High School football team.

Commending the Oscar Smith High School football team.

Christie New CraigRepublican

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, 2027. 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, 2032, 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. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

Dan I. HelmerDemocrat

Emergency Management; Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security et al., to evaluate needs.

Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security; work group; report. Directs the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to establish a work group to study existing emergency management needs and analyze sustainability of current funding, among other things, and to report the work group's findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on General Laws and the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology on or before October 1, 2025.

Alex Q. AskewDemocrat

Highway maintenance; Town of New Market.

Highway maintenance; Town of New Market. Adds the Town of New Market to the list of localities authorized to receive state funds for the performance of certain highway maintenance projects.

C. Todd GilbertRepublican

Employee Child Care Assistance Pilot Program; established, report.

Employee Child Care Assistance Pilot Program. Establishes the Employee Child Care Assistance Pilot Program (the Program) to provide matching funds to employers in order to incentivize employers to contribute to the child care costs of their employees. The Program shall be administered by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation (the Foundation). To participate in the Program, an employer shall agree to make child care contributions to the eligible mixed-delivery provider on behalf of the employee and shall provide any other information deemed necessary by the Foundation. To the extent funds are available, the Foundation shall issue a state match directly to such eligible mixed-delivery provider or to a third-party administrator. Program funds shall be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis; however, the Foundation is encouraged to prioritize awards to proposals involving contributions from small businesses. The bill requires the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation to provide an interim report to the General Assembly by September 1, 2026, and a summative report to the General Assembly by September 1, 2027, on the effectiveness and impact of the Program.

Adele Y. McClureDemocrat

VA School for the Deaf & the Blind, Board of Visitors of the; authority to establish campus police.

Board of Visitors of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind; authority to establish campus police department. Permits the Board of Visitors of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind to establish a campus police department, in compliance with the provisions of law relating to campus police departments established by institutions of higher education, and to employ campus police officers therein.

Chris S. RunionRepublican

Registration decals; discontinued.

Registration decals; discontinued. Discontinues the requirement for and issuance of decals displaying the expiration month and year of motor vehicle registration to be displayed on license plates. The bill also removes the requirement for the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue appropriately designated license plates for motor vehicles held for rental. The bill does not eliminate existing requirements that vehicles are to be registered. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

Terry L. AustinRepublican

Va. Brownfield & Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund; increases kilowatt of nameplate capacity.

Virginia Brownfield and Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund. Increases from $100 per kilowatt of nameplate capacity from renewable energy sources that are located on brownfields to $200 per kilowatt of nameplate capacity from renewable energy sources that are located on brownfields the grant amount a project developer can receive from the Virginia Brownfield and Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund.

Michael J. WebertRepublican

Virginia National Guard; deployment to active duty combat.

Virginia National Guard; deployment to active duty combat. Prohibits the Virginia National Guard from being deployed into active duty combat, defined in the bill, unless Congress has made an official declaration of war, defined in the bill, or has taken an official action as authorized by the Constitution of the United States for the purposes of expressly executing the laws of the United States, repelling invasion, or suppressing an insurrection.

Nicholas J. FreitasRepublican

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; publishing of certain institution-level data on website required.

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; publishing of certain institution-level data on website required. Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to annually publish in an easily accessible format and location on its website data for each public institution of higher education and each nonprofit private institution of higher education eligible to participate in the Tuition Assistance Grant Program on the (i) cost of tuition and fees; (ii) student retention rate; (iii) student graduation rate; (iv) wages of former students three years after graduation; (v) 20 baccalaureate degree programs with the highest average annual wages following graduation; and (vi) 20 associate degree or certificate programs with the highest average annual wages following graduation. The bill requires such data to be presented in a user-friendly format so that the user can compare the data clearly and visually.

Wendell S. WalkerRepublican

Speed safety cameras; placement and operation.

Speed safety cameras; placement and operation. Changes the terms "photo speed monitoring device" to "speed safety camera" and "high-risk intersection segment" to "high-risk speed corridor" in provisions related to vehicle speed violations. The bill authorizes localities to provide by ordinance for the placement and operation of a speed safety camera by the law-enforcement agency of such locality in certain locations. The bill authorizes any locality without its own law-enforcement agency to, by ordinance, authorize officers of the law-enforcement agency with jurisdiction within such locality to issue a summons and swear to or affirm a certificate for a vehicle speed violation. For any new speed safety camera placed, the bill provides for a warning by mail instead of a summons and no civil penalty for alleged vehicle speed violations within the first 30 days of such camera's operation. The bill makes various other changes to the requirements for the use of speed safety cameras, including changes related to signs indicating the use of such cameras; the use of funds collected from civil penalties; requirements for private vendors; the periodic review of the use of such cameras; the provision of information to the public related to the use and placement of such cameras; the creation of advisory groups; and consultation with certain entities prior to placement and operation of such cameras.

Holly M. SeiboldDemocrat

Celebrating the life of Nellie Hayse.

Celebrating the life of Nellie Hayse.

Christie New CraigRepublican

Commending Grove Christian Outreach Center.

Commending Grove Christian Outreach Center.

J.D. "Danny" DiggsRepublican

Commending the United States Army.

Commending the United States Army.

Scott A. SurovellDemocrat

Commending Surry United Methodist Church.

Commending Surry United Methodist Church.

Lashrecse D. AirdDemocrat

Celebrating the life of Peggy Lynn Davis.

Celebrating the life of Peggy Lynn Davis.

Lashrecse D. AirdDemocrat

Commending the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry.

Commending the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry.

Lashrecse D. AirdDemocrat

SOL; Bd. of Education shall prioritize incorporation of assessments in languages other than English.

Board of Education; Standards of Learning assessments; availability in commonly spoken languages other than English. Requires the Board of Education to prioritize the incorporation of Standards of Learning assessments in commonly spoken languages in the Commonwealth other than English into its statewide student assessment system, and in any contract that it enters into with a third party for the development, establishment, and maintenance of such system.

Laura Jane CohenDemocrat

Professional and Occupational Regulation, Department of; board appointment requirements.

Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation; boards; appointment requirements; years of experience. Lowers from at least five years to at least three years the years of experience required for the appointment of (i) home inspectors to the Virginia Board for Asbestos, Lead, and Home Inspectors; (ii) hearing aid specialists, otolaryngologists, opticians, and ophthalmologists to the Board for Hearing Aid Specialists and Opticians; (iii) real estate appraisers to the Real Estate Appraiser Board; (iv) alternative onsite sewage system operators, alternative onsite sewage system installers, and onsite soil evaluators to the Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals; and (v) cemetery operators to the Cemetery Board.

Todd E. PillionRepublican

Charter; City of Virginia Beach.

Charter; City of Virginia Beach. Amends the charter for the City of Virginia Beach to reflect the City's transition to a city council consisting solely of single-member districts and the mayor.

Kelly K. Convirs-FowlerDemocrat

Commending Bon Air Elementary School.

Commending Bon Air Elementary School.

Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.Republican

Commending the Lorton Community Action Center.

Commending the Lorton Community Action Center.

Scott A. SurovellDemocrat

Industrial development authorities; Town of Front Royal.

Industrial development authorities; Town of Front Royal. Extends from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2030, the period of time during which the industrial development authority created by the Town of Front Royal may include Warren County in any of its economic development projects.

Delores OatesRepublican

Commending the Pi Lambda Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Commending the Pi Lambda Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Jennifer D. Carroll FoyDemocrat

Commending the Rotary Club of Woodbridge.

Commending the Rotary Club of Woodbridge.

Jennifer D. Carroll FoyDemocrat

Celebrating the life of William Gerald Massengill.

Celebrating the life of William Gerald Massengill.

Lashrecse D. AirdDemocrat

Commending Arthur Ellsworth Dick Howard.

Commending Arthur Ellsworth Dick Howard.

R. Creigh DeedsDemocrat

Commending Eggleston Services.

Commending Eggleston Services.

Angelia Williams GravesDemocrat

Commending Jon Phillip Lugbill.

Commending Jon Phillip Lugbill.

Lashrecse D. AirdDemocrat

Celebrating the life of Jane Baber White.

Celebrating the life of Jane Baber White.

Mark J. PeakeRepublican

Celebrating the life of Dr. Lucious Edwards, Jr.

Celebrating the life of Dr. Lucious Edwards, Jr.

Lashrecse D. AirdDemocrat

Celebrating the life of William Francis Sibert.

Celebrating the life of William Francis Sibert.

Christopher T. HeadRepublican

Commissioner of Hwys.; prequalification program for self-bonding program, removes certain reports.

Commissioner of Highways; prequalification program for self-bonding program; certain reports; repealed. Removes (i) the biennial report requirement for the Commissioner of Highways regarding the use of funds in the Innovation and Technology Transportation Fund; (ii) the requirement for a prequalification program agreed upon by the Commissioner of Highways and the Department of the Treasury for the self-bonding program for transportation-related construction projects; and (iii) reporting requirements for the Department of Transportation regarding certain information related to performance or payment bonds, waivers, and self-bonding program enrollment.

Eric R. ZehrRepublican

Commending Pat Woodbury.

Commending Pat Woodbury.

J.D. "Danny" DiggsRepublican

Commending Molly and Robert Hardie.

Commending Molly and Robert Hardie.

Amy J. LauferDemocrat

Law-enforcement officers, state and local; enforcement of federal traffic violations in Northern Va.

Enforcement of federal traffic violations by state and local law-enforcement officers; photo speed monitoring devices; Planning District 8 (Northern Virginia). Provides that state and local law-enforcement officers may enforce federal traffic violations on any highway within Planning District 8. The bill also provides that a state or local law-enforcement agency may place and operate a photo speed monitoring device on a National Park highway, as defined in the bill, for the purposes of recording vehicle speed violations, provided that such law-enforcement agency has been authorized by the federal government or the National Park Service to place such photo speed monitoring device on such National Park highway.

Scott A. SurovellDemocrat

Criminal Sentencing Commission; confirms appt. by the Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Chairman.

Appointment; Chairman of the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission. Confirms the appointment by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia of the Honorable Dennis Lee Hupp as Chairman of the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission.

Scott A. SurovellDemocrat

Celebrating the life of Hunter Dakota Reedy.

Celebrating the life of Hunter Dakota Reedy.

T. Travis HackworthRepublican

Employment health and safety standards; heat illness prevention.

Employment health and safety standards; heat illness prevention. Requires the Safety and Health Codes Board to adopt regulations establishing reasonable standards designed to protect employees from heat illness and establish a list of high-hazard industries, as defined in the bill. The bill authorizes a person aggrieved by a violation of its provisions or the regulations promulgated thereunder to seek to obtain injunctive relief, to recover statutory damages of $1000, or both, in an action commenced within one year of the cause of action. The bill requires the Safety and Health Codes Board, in consultation with the Department of Labor and Industry, to develop a list of high-hazard industries by January 1, 2026, and to develop and adopt regulations requiring employers in high-hazard industries to implement standards for heat illness prevention by May 1, 2026.

Phil M. HernandezDemocrat

Eminent domain powers of public service corporations; compensation to the Commonwealth & localities.

Certain eminent domain powers; conservation easements; compensation to the Commonwealth and localities. Requires any person, defined in the bill, if it takes by condemnation proceedings any land or right-of-way or similar interest therein that is subject to a conservation easement, to compensate (i) the Commonwealth in an amount equal to the value of any tax credit received by the landowner under the provisions of the Virginia Land Conservation Incentives Act of 1999 during the pendency of the conservation easement and (ii) the locality in which the right-of-way is located (a) in an amount of any property tax avoided by the landowner during the pendency of the conservation easement and (b) if the right-of-way is located on property that is registered with the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places, in an amount equal to the additional value conferred upon the property during the period that property was registered.

Russet PerryDemocrat

Celebrating the life of Robert Clark Dively.

Celebrating the life of Robert Clark Dively.

J.D. "Danny" DiggsRepublican

Virginia Natural Resources Commitment Fund; distribution of certain funds, reports.

Virginia Natural Resources Commitment Fund; reallocation of certain funds for conservation practices. Allows until July 1, 2027, in any fiscal year, any funds previously distributed to the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program for the purpose of grants for agricultural best management practices that cannot be obligated by a soil and water conservation district by June 15 during the fiscal year to be reallocated by the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board to any soil and water conservation district for conservation practices. The bill also allows the Board to reallocate the remaining previously distributed funds that cannot be obligated by June 15 to the soil and water conservation districts within the same watershed. Finally, the bill directs the Department of Conservation and Recreation to include in its annual reports to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations relating to the clean-up plan for the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia waters the amounts of funds reappropriated between watersheds as provided in the bill.

Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.Republican

Celebrating the life of Peggy Lynn Davis.

Celebrating the life of Peggy Lynn Davis.

Mike A. CherryRepublican

Commending Hollin Hall Cleaners.

Commending Hollin Hall Cleaners.

Scott A. SurovellDemocrat

Commending the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

Commending the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

Scott A. SurovellDemocrat

Department of Veterans Services; powers and duties of Commissioner; online portal.

Department of Veterans Services; powers and duties of Commissioner; online portal. Provides that the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services shall develop and maintain an online portal to connect veterans, members of the Virginia National Guard, Virginia residents in the Armed Forces Reserves who qualify for veteran status, and their immediate family members to available resources, programs, and services in the Commonwealth and provide a means to submit electronic applications for such resources, programs, and services.

David A. ReidDemocrat

Local school boards; powers and duties, binding arbitration agreements.

Local school boards; powers and duties; binding arbitration agreements. Permits any school board to enter into a written agreement to submit any existing controversy to binding arbitration and to execute a contract, including a collective bargaining agreement, that contains a provision to submit to binding arbitration any controversy arising thereunder.

Alex Q. AskewDemocrat

Restorative Schools in Virginia Pilot Program; established, report, effective date.

Public schools; student discipline; Restorative Schools in Virginia Pilot Program; established. Establishes the Restorative Schools in Virginia Pilot Program (the Program), to be administered by the Department of Education (the Department), for the purpose of addressing school discipline issues and promoting evidence-based restorative practices, as that term is defined in the bill, in public schools in the Commonwealth by awarding grants to a school division in each superintendent's region in the Commonwealth to be used in developing and implementing a comprehensive plan to integrate evidence-based restorative practices in such school divisions in accordance with the provisions of the bill. The bill directs the Department to (i) develop the application process by which a school board may apply to receive funds pursuant to the Program; (ii) establish criteria for the selection and award of grants pursuant to the Program; and (iii) develop a process for evaluating the progress and performance of each school division selected to receive a grant pursuant to the Program in implementing such evidence-based restorative practices and satisfying the Program requirements set forth in the bill. The bill requires any such school division to (a) establish a learning collaborative for the purpose of developing a comprehensive plan for implementing evidence-based restorative practices in accordance with the provisions of the bill and (b) submit to the Department by July 1 of each year immediately following any year for which it receives a grant a report on its progress in implementing such evidence-based restorative practices for the preceding school year. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

Delores L. McQuinnDemocrat