Bills & Legislation

Office-based buprenorphine treatment; Board of Medicine to amend regulations.

Board of Medicine; office-based buprenorphine treatment; counseling. Directs the Board of Medicine to amend its regulations regarding office-based buprenorphine treatment to require providers to offer counseling or referral to counseling to each patient as clinically necessary and mutually agreed-upon. The bill specifies that a patient's refusal of counseling does not preclude the patient from receiving office-based buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care and is identical to SB 641.

Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31Republican

Invasive plant species installation; written notification to property owners, civil penalty.

Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services; invasive plant species installation; written notification to property owners; civil penalty. Provides that the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services may assess a civil penalty in an amount of not more than $250 for a first violation, $500 for a second violation, and $1,000 for each subsequent violation to any tradesperson involved with proposing or installing plants who fails to provide written notification to property owners when such plants are on the Department of Conservation and Recreation's list of invasive plant species. Current law provides that any such tradesperson who fails to provide such written notice is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. This bill is identical to SB 383.

Justin PenceRepublican

Gunston Hall; meetings of the Board of Regents.

Museums and other cultural institutions; Gunston Hall; meetings of the Board of Regents. Requires the Gunston Hall Board of Regents to meet in person at least once annually. The bill clarifies that any additional meeting of the Board held within the same calendar year may be in person or held as an all-virtual public meeting, notwithstanding a certain provision of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to the contrary. The bill requires all such meetings to otherwise comply with FOIA.

Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31Republican

Health Ed. SOL & Curriculum Framework; Board of Education to include water safety instruction.

Board of Education; Health Standards of Learning; water safety. Requires the Board of Education, during its next regularly scheduled revision of the Health Education Standards of Learning and Curriculum Framework, to develop and make available to each school board guidelines for a program of instruction on water safety to be provided as a part of any health education instruction provided to elementary school students. This bill is identical to SB 151.

Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31Republican

Health and insurance; notice of adverse determination.

Health insurance; notice of adverse determination. Requires health carriers to send in writing to a covered person the notice of an adverse determination or final adverse determination and the covered person's right to request an external review, as required by current law, within five business days after the adverse determination or final adverse determination has been made. The bill also requires such notice to include certain information related to the person who made the adverse determination or final adverse determination.

Michelle Lopes MaldonadoDemocrat

Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund; projects in low-income geographic areas, nature-based solutions.

Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund; projects; low-income geographic areas and nature-based solutions. Provides that the Department of Conservation and Recreation shall give additional weight to projects located in low-income geographic areas and projects that incorporate nature-based solutions when distributing loans or grants from the Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund to particular local governments. The bill allows the Virginia Resources Authority to contract with any person to serve as a program administrator to be approved by the Department to assist in the distribution of loans and grants to local governments. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee on Recurrent Flooding.

Michael B. FeggansDemocrat

Workforce development programs; apprenticeship program.

Department of Workforce Development and Advancement; workforce development programs; apprenticeship program. Recognizes the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement as the federally and state designated agency responsible for workforce development in the Commonwealth. The bill additionally makes technical changes to reflect the previous transfer of administration of apprenticeship programs from the Department of Labor and Industry to the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement. The bill also amends the seventh enactments of Chapters 624 and 625 of the Acts of Assembly of 2023 to exempt the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement's initial adoption and any additional regulations from the provisions of the Administrative Process Act provided that, prior to the final adoption of such regulations, the Department publishes in the Virginia Register of Regulations and posts on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall an action that provides (i) a 30-day comment period; (ii) a summary of the proposed regulations, the text of the proposed regulations, and the name, address, email address, and telephone number of the agency contact person responsible for receiving public comments; and (iii) the statutory authority to promulgate the regulations.

John Chilton McAuliffDemocrat

Search warrant; search of place of abode, copy of affidavit to be part of warrant.

Search warrant; search of place of abode; copy of affidavit to be part of warrant and served therewith; temporary sealing. Provides that if an affidavit that accompanies a search warrant for a place of abode has been sealed pursuant to relevant law, the executing law-enforcement officer does not have to give or leave a copy of such affidavit in a conspicuous place within or affixed to the place to be searched. The bill also adds that the circumstances requiring the issuance of a warrant after 5:00 p.m. shall be documented in the required affidavit that is submitted to a magistrate when seeking such authorization. This bill incorporates HB 1028.

Eric R. ZehrRepublican

Retail franchise agreements; governing law, competition restrictions.

Retail franchise agreements; governing law; competition restrictions. Provides that retail franchise agreements shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth and prohibits any person from offering or entering into a franchise agreement that includes competition restrictions that extend beyond termination or expiration of the franchise agreement, except as a term of sale in the event that a franchisee sells a franchise to a third party or back to the franchisor. This bill is identical to SB 240.

Dan I. HelmerDemocrat

Photo speed monitoring devices; photo-monitoring systems for traffic signals, proof of violation.

Photo speed monitoring devices; photo-monitoring systems for traffic signals; school bus video-monitoring systems; proof of violation; certain persons swearing to or affirming certificates; training. Authorizes retired sworn law-enforcement officers, registered special conservators of the peace, and technicians employed by a locality to swear to or to affirm certificates for the purposes of enforcement of violations recorded by traffic light signal violation monitoring systems, traffic control device violation monitoring systems, photo speed monitoring devices, or school bus video-monitoring systems upon completion of a training course developed and approved by the Department of Criminal Justice Services. The bill also requires law-enforcement officers swearing to or affirming such certificates to complete such training course. These provisions of the bill have an effective date of July 1, 2027. The bill also requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to develop, approve, and make available such training course no later than January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 59.

Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31Republican

Solar Interconnection Grant Program; established, report, sunset.

Solar Interconnection Grant Fund and Program established; report; sunset. Establishes the Solar Interconnection Grant Program for the purpose of awarding grants on a competitive basis to public bodies to offset costs associated with the interconnection of solar facilities to the grid. The Program is administered by the Division of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency of the Department of Energy. The bill requires that priority be given to solar facilities located on previously developed project sites and requires the Division to establish and publish guidelines and criteria for the awarding of grants and general requirements of the Program. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2027, and, as introduced, was a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. This bill is identical to SB 659.

Charniele L. HerringDemocrat

Retired law-enforcement officers; emergency and temporary detention admissions.

Retired law-enforcement officers; emergency and temporary detention admissions. Clarifies that the term "law-enforcement officer" as used in relevant law relating to emergency and involuntary civil admissions includes retired law-enforcement officers, defined in the bill, for the purposes of laws related to emergency custody and involuntary temporary detention.The provisions of this bill are identical to relevant provisions of SB 75.

Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31Republican

Forensic Science Board and Scientific Advisory Committee; members, service after expiration of term.

Forensic Science Board; Scientific Advisory Committee; members; service after expiration of term. Provides that a member of the Forensic Science Board and a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee appointed by the Governor shall serve after expiration of his term until his successor is appointed. The bill also removes the requirement that meetings of the Scientific Advisory Committee take place in the City of Richmond. The bill contains technical amendments. The bill also contains an emergency clause.

Eric R. ZehrRepublican

Residential property owners; insurance policies, roofing services by contractors.

Residential property owners; insurance policies; roofing services by contractors; prohibited practices and consumer protection. Prohibits insurers from refusing coverage or canceling, refusing to renew, or increasing the premiums of a policy written to insure an owner-occupied dwelling solely based on the age or condition of the asphalt shingle roof, except in certain circumstances. The bill also contains provisions related to consumer protection in the context of contractors providing roofing services for residential property owners. The bill prohibits certain advertisements and conduct by contractors in such context. The bill includes contract terms that must be included by contractors in such context, and permits a residential property owner to cancel a contract for roofing services in the case of a declaration of a state of emergency by the Governor applicable to the geographic area where the property is located. Provisions of the bill related to prohibited conduct and requirements for contractors providing roofing services are subject to the enforcement provisions of the Consumer Protection Act. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027, and is identical to SB 402.

Michelle Lopes MaldonadoDemocrat

Department of Health; collection and publication of food insecurity information.

Department of Health; collection and annual publication of food insecurity information. Directs the Department of Health, as part of its participation in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, to collect information on food insecurity and publish such information on its website.

Michelle Lopes MaldonadoDemocrat

Health insurance claims; electronic attachments accepted, delayed effective date.

Health insurance; carrier business practices; electronic attachments. Provides that, in the following contexts, information may be submitted by a provider to a health insurance carrier through electronic attachment, as defined in the bill: (i) information related to services rendered as required by the carrier in its provider contract; (ii) information related to any defect or impropriety that prevents the carrier from deeming a health insurance claim a clean claim, as defined in existing law; and (iii) information required to establish medical necessity, benefit coverage, or prior authorization of services, or to conduct reconsideration activities. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 172.

Michelle Lopes MaldonadoDemocrat

Appliance minimum energy and water conservation standards; requirement of manufacturers.

Minimum energy and water conservation standards; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning facilities and home appliances; Department of Energy; prohibited practices; penalty. Provides that if any product or product categories under the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (the EPCA) are removed by the U.S. Secretary of Energy or the federal government, the Department of Energy shall adopt energy or water conservation standards that shall be equivalent to the last applicable federal standards with a product compliance date of on or before December 31, 2025. The bill prohibits any such new products from being sold, offered for sale, leased, or rented in the Commonwealth unless such products meet or exceed such standards. The bill excludes any energy or water conservation standards set aside by a court or any product if federal law preempts the application of the minimum energy and water conservation standards to such a product, including any product or product categories where there is a requirement to develop a standard under the EPCA.

Michelle Lopes MaldonadoDemocrat

Jurors; exemptions from jury service upon request, competency to perform jury duty.

Jurors; exemptions from jury service upon request; competency to perform jury duty. Provides that no person shall be deemed incompetent to serve on any jury on the basis of disability if the person would otherwise be competent to serve if provided with reasonable accommodation. The bill also provides that any person under a disability that substantially impairs the person's ability to perform jury duty shall be exempt from jury duty upon such person's request.

Michelle Lopes MaldonadoDemocrat

Financial institutions and services; virtual currency kiosk operators, license required, penalties.

Financial institutions and services; virtual currency kiosk operators; license required; penalties. Establishes requirements for the operation of virtual currency kiosks, as defined in the bill, including a requirement that a virtual currency kiosk operator obtain licensure with the State Corporation Commission. The bill requires operators to file annual and quarterly reports, provide certain disclosures, and take reasonable steps to detect and prevent fraud and money laundering. The bill prohibits operators from accepting transactions above specified daily and monthly limits and establishes a maximum transaction charge of 18 percent of the value of such transaction. A person who violates the bill's provisions is subject to a fine of up to $1,000 per violation as well as the existing enforcement provisions of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. This bill is identical to SB 489.

Michelle Lopes MaldonadoDemocrat

Juvenile/domestic rel. district cts.; petition, noncitizen aged 18-21 years for leg. custody/relief.

Juvenile and domestic relations district courts; jurisdiction; definitions; petition by noncitizen aged 18 to 21 years for legal custody. Allows an unmarried noncitizen between the ages of 18 and 21 who has been abused, neglected, or abandoned to petition a juvenile and domestic relations district court to be placed in the physical custody of a proposed legal custodian. The bill also includes such unmarried noncitizen in the definitions of "child," "juvenile," and "minor," as such terms are related to juvenile and domestic relations district courts.

Michelle Lopes MaldonadoDemocrat

Offshore Wind Industry Workforce Program and Fund; established, report, sunset.

Department of Energy; workforce development in offshore wind industry. Directs the Director of the Department of Energy to identify and develop training resources to advance workforce development in the offshore wind industry in the Commonwealth. This bill is identical to SB 25.

Michael B. FeggansDemocrat

Offenses relating to gift cards; penalties.

Offenses relating to gift cards; penalties. Adds the offenses of gift card theft, gift card forgery, gift card fraud, and criminally receiving goods and services fraudulently obtained to the existing provisions of law related to credit cards. This bill is identical to SB 444.

Michelle Lopes MaldonadoDemocrat

Mental health & substance abuse disorders; network adequacy standards, comparative analyses.

Mental health and substance abuse disorders; network adequacy standards; comparative analyses; report; emergency regulations. Directs the Department of Health to issue regulations that include quantitative network adequacy standards for timely access to care, travel time, and geographical distance that are at least as stringent as those imposed for qualified health plans and qualified dental plans. The bill amends the definitions of "mental health services" and "substance abuse services" for the purposes of health insurance coverage. The bill requires health carriers to submit all comparative analyses prepared pursuant to federal law to the Bureau of Insurance on the date and frequency as specified by the Bureau and includes additional information to include in such submission. Under the bill, the Bureau may impose a penalty not to exceed $100,000 for a noncompliant or insufficient comparative analysis or require a carrier to remove, revise, or remedy noncompliant treatment limitations. The bill also amends the contents of the annual report submitted by the Bureau to the General Assembly to cover enforcement efforts with respect to the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.The bill authorizes the Bureau to promulgate regulations as necessary to implement the provisions of the bill and directs the Department of Health to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill directs the Department of Human Resource Management to evaluate the impact of the proposed changes to the provisions of the bill related to health insurance. The provisions of the bill related to health insurance have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 524.

Rodney T. WillettDemocrat

Louisa, Town of; new charter, previous charter repealed.

Charter; Town of Louisa. Establishes a new charter for the Town of Louisa in Louisa County and repeals the current charter, which was created in 1972. The new charter sets out the organization of the town's government and contains powers typically granted to towns. This bill is identical to SB 462.

Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31Republican

Zoning; manufactured housing.

Zoning; manufactured housing. Amends existing provisions that require localities to permit manufactured homes in areas zoned for agriculture by expanding such requirement to all zoning districts where site-built housing is allowed, with certain conditions. The bill provides that localities shall not adopt or enforce any zoning, land-use, or development regulation that treats manufactured homes differently or more restrictively than a single-family site-built dwelling allowed in the same zoning district. The bill also removes the authority of localities without a zoning ordinance to designate the areas within the locality in which manufactured homes may be located. This bill incorporates HB 418 and HB 801 and is identical to SB 346.

Michelle Lopes MaldonadoDemocrat

Excused student absences; visitation of immediate family members on active duty military, etc.

Excused student absences for visitation of immediate family members in connection with deployment. Allots five excused absences to any student whose immediate family member is active duty military and has received orders for, is on leave from, or has recently returned from deployment outside the United States for the purpose of visitation with such family member, provided that the student provides written documentation verifying such leave or deployment if requested by the local school division.

Hillary Pugh KentRepublican

Parental prenatal & postnatal substance use; work group to evaluate Commonwealth's response to use.

Department of Social Services; Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; Department of Health; prenatal and postnatal substance use; work group; report. Directs the Department of Social Services, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, and Department of Health to convene a work group to evaluate the Commonwealth's response to parental prenatal and postnatal substance use, the services available to address such substance use, and the effects of such substance use on newborns and children. The bill requires the work group to submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Education and Health and Rehabilitation and Social Services and the House Committee on Health and Human Services by December 1, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 133.

Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31Republican

Apple Board; repealing Board and Apple Fund effective July 1, 2028, delayed effective date, report.

Apple Board; repeal. Repeals the Apple Board and Apple Fund effective July 1, 2028, and provides that any funds remaining in the Apple Fund as of July 1, 2028, shall be transferred to the Governor's Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund. The bill provides that the excise tax levied on apples grown in the Commonwealth shall not be collected for the 2026 harvest season and requires the chair of the Apple Board to file a report with the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services no later than June 30, 2028, with a statement of total receipts and disbursements of the Apple Board for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028. This bill is identical to SB 390.

Dan I. HelmerDemocrat

Nitrous oxide; sale, distribution, etc., prohibited, penalties.

Distributing nitrous oxide prohibited; penalties. Prohibits the sale or distribution of (i) a device that is designed or intended to deliver a gas containing nitrous oxide through direct inhalation, with exceptions defined in the bill; (ii) nitrous oxide that has, or is marketed as having, the taste or smell of any food or beverage that is distinguishable by an ordinary consumer either prior to or during consumption or use of such nitrous oxide to any person not exempted in the bill; and (iii) a container of nitrous oxide that exceeds eight grams, with exceptions defined in the bill. A violation of such prohibitions is a Class 1 misdemeanor. This bill is identical to SB 360.

Hillary Pugh KentRepublican

Removal of certain signs & advertisements within limits of hways.; agreements with local government.

Removal of certain signs and advertisements within the limits of highways; agreements with local governing bodies in Planning District 23; requirements. Requires any agreement entered into by the Commissioner of Highways with a local governing body of a locality within Planning District 23 with a population between 245,000 and 350,000 and that has a tax increment financing district authorizing the removal of signs and advertisements within the limits of a highway to provide that the locality shall only authorize designated employees of the locality acting in their official capacity and contractors employed by the locality to remove such signs or advertisements and shall not authorize volunteers to act on behalf of such locality for the removal of signs or advertisements.

Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31Republican

Teaching Experience; regulations Governing Allowable Credit.

Board of Education; Regulations Governing Allowable Credit for Teaching Experience; certain credit substitution allowance permitted. Requires the Board of Education to amend its regulations to provide that teachers in the field of career and technical education, where the licensure requirement calls for occupational work experience beyond the apprenticeship level, may be allowed salary placement credit for one year of teaching experience for each one or two years of work experience. The bill satisfies the reenactment requirement of Chapter 677 of the Acts of Assembly of 2025.

Hillary Pugh KentRepublican

Green warning lights; certain farm vehicles may be equipped with and use.

Green warning lights; certain farm vehicles. Authorizes the use of green warning lights on vehicles displaying a permanent farm use placard, farm vehicles, farm tractors, and farm utility vehicles while operating on or along a highway.

Hillary Pugh KentRepublican

Marine Resources Commission; marking of commercial fishing boats, nets, and other devices.

Marine Resources Commission; license tags and identification numbers; marking of commercial fishing boats, nets, and other devices. Provides that license tags or identification numbers for commercial fishing boats, nets, and other devices shall be attached and displayed in a manner prescribed by the Marine Resources Commission and repeals a provision that requires a licensee to apply for a new tag within 24 hours after the discovery of the destruction or loss of the original tag. Currently, the requirements for attaching and displaying license tags or identification numbers are set forth in state law.

Hillary Pugh KentRepublican

FOIA; exemption for records of minors participating in certain programs run by state public bodies.

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; exemption for records of minors participating in certain programs run by state bodies. Exempts from the mandatory disclosure requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act the personal contact information of minors who are participating in a program, such as an apprenticeship or unpaid internship or externship, run by a state public body. The bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council.

Hillary Pugh KentRepublican

School Performance and Support Framework; Board of Education to consider certain changes, report.

Board of Education; School Performance and Support Framework; certain changes. Requires the Board of Education to consider certain enumerated changes to the School Performance and Support Framework that it adopted in order to implement its school accountability standards, including developing and applying new school performance label terminology that more clearly communicates school performance as part of a continuous scale and rebalancing the weight assigned to growth, at least equally with proficiency, to more fully account for each school's contribution to student learning. This bill incorporates HB 1323 and is a recommendation of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission.

Sam RasoulDemocrat

Kinship foster care; barrier crime waiver, report.

Kinship foster care; barrier crime waiver; report. Establishes a process by which a local department of social services may apply for a barrier crime waiver on behalf of an individual who has been convicted of a Virginia barrier crime that (i) is not (a) included on the list of federal barrier crimes; (b) a violent felony offense; or (c) an offense requiring registration under the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Act and (ii) does not otherwise fall under a barrier crime exception for foster or adoptive homes for the purpose of approval of the individual's home as a kinship foster home. The bill creates a process by which such a local department of social services may apply to the Department of Social Services for a waiver and for the Department to conduct an assessment of such application. The bill also requires the Department of Social Services to file an annual report by December 1 of each year detailing the specifics of the waiver process to the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services and the House Committee on Health and Human Services. This bill is identical to SB 305.

Katrina CallsenDemocrat

Sex offenses, certain; sexual extortion, unlawful creation of image of another, penalties.

Certain sex offenses; sexual extortion; unlawful creation of image of another; penalties. Provides that any person who, with the intent to cause the complaining witness to engage in certain sexual acts, maliciously (i) threatens in writing, including electronically, (a) to disseminate, sell, or publish a videographic or still image, created by any means whatsoever, or (b) to not delete, remove, or take back a previously disseminated, sold, or published videographic or still image, created by any means whatsoever, that depicts the complaining witness or such complaining witness's family or household member, as defined in relevant law, as totally nude or in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast or (ii) threatens eviction, loss of housing, property damage, or any financial loss, but such complaining witness does not thereby engage in such sexual acts is guilty of attempted sexual extortion and shall be punished as prescribed by relevant law.The bill also adds to the existing offense of unlawfully creating an image of another a prohibition on any person knowingly and intentionally creating any videographic or still image by any means whatsoever of any nonconsenting person if that person is not exposed to show the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast but such videographic or still image is obscene, as defined in relevant law, when such nonconsenting person is in a restroom, dressing room, locker room, hotel room, motel room, tanning bed, tanning booth, bedroom, or other location. A violation of such prohibition is a Class 1 misdemeanor unless such nonconsenting person is younger than the age of 18, in which case it is elevated to a Class 6 felony.

Katrina CallsenDemocrat

Southwest Reg. Recreation Authority; certification of Southwest Regional Recreation Area rangers.

Southwest Regional Recreation Authority; certification of Southwest Regional Recreation Area rangers. Provides that Southwest Regional Recreation Area rangers appointed by the board of the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority may be certified through the successful completion of training at an approved criminal justice academy as necessary and proper to protect and enforce the safe use and enjoyment of the Authority's properties.

James W. MorefieldRepublican

Renewable energy portfolio standard program; requirements, power purchase agreements.

Electric utilities; renewable energy portfolio standard program requirements; power purchase agreements. Amends certain renewable energy portfolio standard program requirements for Dominion Energy Virginia, including the annual percentage of program requirements to be met with solar, wind, or anaerobic digestion resources of one megawatt or less located in the Commonwealth. The bill changes from 2025 to 2027 the compliance year beginning in which at least 75 percent of renewable energy certificates used by Dominion Energy Virginia shall come from eligible resources located in the Commonwealth. The bill also removes the requirement for a solar-powered or wind-powered generation facility to have a capacity of no less than 50 kilowatts to qualify for a third party power purchase agreement under a pilot program. The bill directs the State Corporation Commission, by July 1, 2033, to initiate a proceeding to evaluate the future availability of renewable energy certificates from certain resources and permits the Commission to increase or decrease by up to one percentage point the percentage of program requirements to be met by such resources in future compliance years. The bill provides that it is the policy of the Commonwealth to encourage development on previously developed project sites, as defined in existing law, to reduce the land use impacts of solar development. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. This bill is identical to SB 175.

Katrina CallsenDemocrat

Firearm or explosive material; exemptions, carrying in public institutions of higher education.

Carrying a firearm or explosive material within Capitol Square or building owned or leased by the Commonwealth; exemptions; public institutions of higher education; penalty. Limits the exemption from the prohibition on the carrying of any firearm or explosive material within any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or agency thereof or any office where employees of the Commonwealth or any agency thereof are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties that currently applies to any property owned or operated by a public institution of higher education to instead apply to any individual within a building owned or operated by a public institution of higher education who possesses a weapon as part of such public institution of higher education's curriculum or activities or as part of any organization authorized by such public institution of higher education to conduct its programs or activities within such building, as such uses are approved through the law-enforcement or public safety unit of such institution. This bill is identical to SB 272.

Katrina CallsenDemocrat

Health insurance; limit on cost-sharing payments for prescription drugs under certain plans.

Health insurance; limit on cost-sharing payments for prescription drugs under certain plans. Requires each carrier that offers a health plan in either the individual or small group market to ensure that at least one health plan in each of the bronze, silver, gold, and platinum levels of coverage in each rating area in the individual and small group market conform with the following: (i) a plan that offers a platinum level of coverage shall limit a person's cost-sharing payment for prescription drugs covered under the plan to an amount that does not exceed $150 per 30-day supply of the prescription drug; (ii) a plan that offers a gold level of coverage shall limit a person's cost-sharing payment for prescription drugs covered under the plan to an amount that does not exceed $200 per 30-day supply of the prescription drug; (iii) a plan that offers a silver level of coverage shall limit a person's cost-sharing payment for prescription drugs covered under the plan to an amount that does not exceed $250 per 30-day supply of the prescription drug; and (iv) a plan that offers a bronze level of coverage shall limit a person's cost-sharing payment for prescription drugs covered under the plan to an amount that does not exceed $300 per 30-day supply of the prescription drug. The bill requires that any plans offered to meet its requirements are (a) clearly and appropriately named to aid the consumer or plan sponsor in the plan selection process and (b) marketed in the same manner as other plans offered by the carrier. The bill's provisions apply to any individual or group accident and sickness insurance policy, any individual or group accident and sickness subscription contract, and any health care plan for health care services delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in the Commonwealth on or after January 1, 2028. This bill is identical to SB 161.

Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31Republican

Health insurance; reporting requirements.

Health insurance; reporting requirements. Amends various reporting requirements related to health insurance, including by requiring the State Corporation Commission to maintain and publicly post an inventory of mandated benefits and providers, requiring health carriers to report annually on provider terminations and reinstatements, and consolidating reports related to balance billing and arbitration. The bill repeals reporting requirements related to the Comparable Health Care Service Incentive Program and Virginia Health Savings Account Plan. This bill is identical to SB 626.

Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31Republican

Tazewell, Town of; amending charter, residency requirement for town manager.

Charter; Town of Tazewell. Amends the charter for the Town of Tazewell in Tazewell County to remove the strict residency requirement for the town manager. The bill provides that the town manager is encouraged to reside within the town limits and may reside within a reasonable distance outside the town limits upon majority approval of town council. This bill is identical to SB 153.

James W. MorefieldRepublican

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; tenant records.

Department of Housing and Community Development; Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; tenant records. Requires a landlord, upon written request by a tenant, to within 10 business days provide such tenant a statement containing all charges and payments incurred by the tenant over the duration of the tenancy or the past 12 months, whichever is shorter. The bill specifies that such statement shall itemize separately rent and the cost of each utility and that the landlord is not obligated to provide such written statement if the landlord owns fewer than four rental dwelling units or less than a 10 percent interest in more than four rental dwelling units, whether individually or through a business entity, in the Commonwealth unless the landlord receives any state or local rental or utility assistance funds on behalf of the tenant. The bill additionally directs the Department of Housing and Community Development to, based on input from relevant stakeholders, develop a standardized printable template for the landlord to use to provide the tenant such written statement. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.

Bonita G. AnthonyDemocrat

Constitutional amendment; marriage between two adult persons, repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition.

Constitutional amendment (voter referendum); marriage between two adult persons; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition. Provides for a referendum at the November 3, 2026, general election to approve or reject an amendment that requires the equal treatment under the law of a lawful marriage between two adult persons regardless of the sex, gender, or race of such persons. The amendment also repeals the current provision that defines marriage as only a union between one man and one woman. This bill is identical to SB 311.

Laura Jane CohenDemocrat

Medical care facility data reporting; value of charity care, gross patient charges, report.

Medical care facility data reporting; value of charity care. Removes certain limitations on the meaning of "reviewable service" as it relates to data reporting requirements for medical care facilities and specifies that the value of charity care for such reporting shall be based on gross patient charges. The bill directs the State Health Commissioner to submit an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly regarding charity care at medical facilities that are required to satisfy a condition of a certificate of public need.

Rodney T. WillettDemocrat

Dealer's license plates; permitted uses.

Dealer's license plates; permitted uses. Authorizes the use of dealer's license plates on vehicles delivering or transporting vehicle parts and accessories and fuel, so long as such delivery or transport of fuel consists of no more than five gallons of such fuel and such fuel is in a container of a type approved by the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles. The bill also authorizes a dealer to permit his license plates to be used in the operation of a motor vehicle by a person authorized by the dealer on a vehicle that is being driven to or from an automotive retail or supply store or retail facility selling automotive supplies or parts.

Scott A. WyattRepublican

Nursing facilities; Joint Commission on Health Care shall evaluate workforce, report.

Joint Commission on Health Care; evaluation of workforce in Virginia nursing facilities. Directs the Joint Commission on Health Care to evaluate the workforce in Virginia's nursing facilities and to develop recommendations on several topics outlined in the bill. The bill requires the Joint Commission to report its findings to the Governor and the Chairs of the House Committees on Health and Human Services and Appropriations and the Senate Committees on Education and Health and Finance and Appropriations by December 1, 2026.

Rodney T. WillettDemocrat

Virginia All-Payer Claims Database; disclosure of information, limitation.

Virginia All-Payer Claims Database; disclosure of information; limitation. Specifies that the nonprofit organization facilitating the administration of the Virginia All-Payer Claims Database shall not disclose information relating to reimbursement beyond what is otherwise publicly available. Under current law, provisions against disclosure are not limited to information that is not otherwise publicly available.

Rodney T. WillettDemocrat

Exemptions from garnishment; minimum protected account balance, certain benefit payments.

Exemptions from garnishment; minimum protected account balance; certain benefit payments; procedure for financial institutions. Requires certain financial institutions to automatically exempt from garnishment (i) a minimum protected account balance, defined in the bill as the combined total of not more than $1,000 in a judgment debtor's account or across multiple accounts in the same financial institution, and (ii) a protected amount of certain benefit payments, defined in the bill, that have been deposited into the account via direct deposit or electronic deposit within the two months immediately preceding the day before a financial institution commences an account review. The bill describes an account review as a process of examining an account of a judgment conducted by a financial institution upon such financial institution's receipt of a garnishment summons to determine if any eligible benefit payments have been deposited within the applicable time period and, if so, to calculate the total sum of such benefit payments and establish the total as a protected amount that shall be automatically exempt from garnishment. The bill provides that such procedure to automatically exempt such funds shall not apply if the debt arises from a child support or spousal support obligation or if an exemption is otherwise prohibited by law.The bill further provides that a judgment debtor is not required to claim nor request a hearing for such automatic exemptions. Finally, the bill makes updates to the relevant provisions governing garnishment proceedings, notices to the garnishee and judgment debtor, and the form of a garnishment summons consistent with the provisions of the bill. This bill is identical to SB 301.

Jen Kiggans - to resign 12/31Republican