Bills & Legislation

School buses; use for public purposes by local governing bodies, insurance reimbursement.

Use of school buses for public purposes by local governing bodies; insurance reimbursement. Permits any local governing body that use school buses for certain public purposes pursuant to an agreement with a school board to reimburse the school board for the proportionate share of any insurance costs, both fixed and variable, of such buses incurred by such school board that are attributable to the use of such buses pursuant to such agreement in lieu of the existing statutory requirement for such a local governing body to supply sufficient insurance for such school buses.

Elizabeth R. GuzmanDemocrat

Water utilities; prohibition of multiple rate increases within 3-year period for water utilities.

Water utilities; prohibition of multiple rate increases within three-year period for water utilities. Prohibits a public utility authorized to furnish water or water and sewer service from filing an application for a rate increase more frequently than once in any three-year period. The bill provides exceptions to such prohibition for the utility to file an application (i) for a decrease in rates; (ii) limited to a rate adjustment clause, rider, or surcharge; (iii) for a temporary emergency increase in rates; or (iv) for an increase upon a finding by the State Corporation Commission that extraordinary circumstances exist. The provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2027 Session of the General Assembly.

Nicole ColeDemocrat

Roanoke Higher Education Authority; board of trustees, reduces membership.

Roanoke Higher Education Authority; board of trustees; membership. Reduces from 19 to 18 the total membership of the board of trustees of the Roanoke Higher Education Authority by removing the presidents of Old Dominion University and the University of Virginia or their designees and adding the president of Appalachian College of Pharmacy or his designee. The bill also permits the President of Total Action for Progress to designate an individual to serve in his place on such board of trustees. This bill is identical to SB 242.

Sam RasoulDemocrat

Health insurance; definitions, prohibited restrictions on in-network referrals.

Health insurance; prohibited restrictions on in-network referrals. Prohibits a health insurance carrier from prohibiting an in-network provider, as defined in the bill, from referring any enrollee or specimen to any in-network clinical laboratory or in-network pathology service provider under the terms of such insurance unless such referral would constitute a violation of certain laws. This bill is identical to SB 745.

Destiny LeVere BollingDemocrat

Pregnant and postpartum patients; reimbursement for remote monitoring services.

Department of Medical Assistance Services; remote monitoring services through pregnancy and postpartum for high-risk pregnant patients; reimbursement. Expands provision for payment of medical assistance for remote patient monitoring services provided via telemedicine to include high-risk pregnant persons through 12 months postpartum. The bill directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to assess expanding similar provision of payment for patients with advanced maternal age and submit a report of its findings to the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2026.

Destiny LeVere BollingDemocrat

Workers' compensation; employer's offset in event of recovery.

Workers' compensation; employer's offset in event of recovery. Amends provisions related to an employer's offset for recovery in certain actions brought under the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act. The bill requires that lifetime medical award benefits and ongoing indemnity award benefits shall remain in full force and effect if the claimant is under such an award at the time that recovery is effected, subject to the employer offset provisions. Under the bill, an employer's credit shall be applied as a continuing, pro rata reduction to benefits otherwise payable under an existing award until the employer's required credit is exhausted. The bill also removes language limiting an employee's entitlement to compensation and expenses for medical, surgical, and hospital attention and funeral expenses.

Destiny LeVere BollingDemocrat

Uniform, comprehensive data information system; info on self-identified students who are parents.

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; uniform, comprehensive data information system; information on self-identified students who are parents. Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to include in its uniform, comprehensive data information system information on self-identified students who are parents, as that term is defined in relevant law.

Destiny LeVere BollingDemocrat

Electric utilities; definitions, integrated resource plans, report.

Electric utilities; integrated resource plans. Makes various changes related to the content and process for an integrated resource plan (IRP) developed by an electric utility that provides a forecast of its load obligations and a plan to meet those obligations. The bill (i) extends the planning timeframe from 15 to 20 years; (ii) requires Appalachian Power to file an IRP by removing an exception from the definition of "electric utility"; (iii) changes the frequency with which a utility is required to file an IRP from biennially to triennially; (iv) requires utilities to consider the use of grid-enhancing technologies as alternatives to new transmission infrastructure, and when new transmission lines are envisioned, to provide the reasons grid-enhancing technologies are not sufficient to defer or eliminate the need for new transmission infrastructure; and (v) requires utilities to consider the use of surplus interconnection service, as defined in the bill, to add new electric generation projects and energy storage resources to the grid. The bill requires that the current stakeholder review process for integrated resource plans be facilitated by a third-party facilitator selected by the State Corporation Commission and compensated by the utility. The bill requires, as part of the stakeholder review process, the utility to provide stakeholders with reasonable access to the same modeling software, modeling assumptions, modeling inputs, and data used by the utility to evaluate supply and demand resources in its integrated resource plan to enable stakeholders to create modeling scenarios for the utility's consideration during the development of its integrated resource plan. The bill requires the State Corporation Commission to (a) establish guidelines that ensure that utilities develop comprehensive integrated resource plans and provide meaningful public engagement and maximum transparency during the planning process; (b) conduct a proceeding by July 1, 2027, and at least once every five years thereafter, to identify and review each of its existing orders relevant to integrated resource plans to determine if such orders remain necessary and effective and are not overly burdensome; and (c) convene a work group to make recommendations on the required guidelines. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation. This bill is identical to SB 249.

Destiny LeVere BollingDemocrat

New College Institute; reconstitution of Institute as West Piedmont Higher Education Center, etc.

New College Institute; name; membership and composition of board of directors. Renames New College Institute as the West Piedmont Higher Education Center (the Center) and makes several revisions to the membership requirements for the board of directors of the Center, including (i) increasing from 15 to 20 members the total membership of the board of directors; (ii) modifying the composition of the board of directors by adding as required members the Executive Director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia or his designee, the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System or his designee, and the presidents of George Mason University, Longwood University, Radford University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and Virginia State University or their designees; (iii) reducing from 10 to seven the total number of nonlegislative citizen members to be appointed by the Governor and requiring five of such nonlegislative citizen members to be representatives of West Piedmont public education and area business and industry, including one division superintendent, one public school teacher, and three business and industry leaders; and (iv) adding the president of Patrick & Henry Community College or his designee to serve as an ex officio nonvoting member. The bill also requires the board of directors of the Center, in collaboration with representatives of GO Virginia Region 3, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, Patrick & Henry Community College, local school boards, and major regional employers, to develop a sustainability plan, including a comprehensive strategic plan and customer recruitment and expansion strategy, to provide higher education degree and certification programs in accordance with its mission, to review options to achieve the goals stated in such plan, and to report on such options to the Governor, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, and the Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations no later than August 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 299.

Destiny LeVere BollingDemocrat

Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Commission; extension of sunset provision.

Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Commission; extension of expiration date. Extends the expiration date of the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Commission from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2029. This bill is identical to SB 682.

Destiny LeVere BollingDemocrat

Newborn screening; evaluation of disorders for inclusion, process for considering other disorders.

Newborn screening; process for evaluation of disorders for inclusion. Directs the Department of Health to establish a process for considering the addition of disorders to the Commonwealth's newborn screening program that are not included on the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel, which process shall include criteria and a timeline for consideration of disorders and a timeline for initiation of rulemaking.

Destiny LeVere BollingDemocrat

Electric utilities; electric grid utilization metrics; State Corporation Commission.

Phase I and Phase II Utilities; electric grid utilization metrics. Requires Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power to petition the State Corporation Commission for approval of grid utilization metrics by October 15, 2026, which petition may be consolidated with the integrated resource plan filing for Dominion Energy in 2026. Under the bill, the petition shall include certain assessments comparing current electric grid system performance with optimal utilization of existing electric grid assets. The bill also requires the Commission to include in an existing annual report its findings on each applicable utility's assessment of relevant grid utilization metrics, which shall include an analysis of the potential for each applicable utility to increase electric grid utilization through the deployment of non-wires alternatives. This bill is identical to SB 621.

Destiny LeVere BollingDemocrat

Insurance; standards of conduct for public adjusters, unauthorized practice of public adjusting.

Insurance; standards of conduct for public adjusters; unauthorized practice of public adjusting. Prohibits any person who does not hold a valid public adjuster license from soliciting, investigating, negotiating, adjusting, or providing advice to a policyholder, in relation to a first party claim arising under an insurance contract that insures the real or personal property of a policyholder, for the purpose of effecting the settlement of a claim on behalf of the policyholder. The bill prohibits any public adjuster from assisting in a claim where the policyholder has improperly assigned the duties, rights, or benefits under the relevant policy to any contractor or vendor. The bill adds requirements for advertisements by public adjusters, and excludes certain materials from being considered advertisements. The bill also includes specific standards of conduct for public adjusters regarding vulnerable adults, as defined in the bill, and contains technical amendments.

Destiny LeVere BollingDemocrat

Virginia Nonstock Corporation Act; numerous revisions to Act, delayed effective date.

Virginia Nonstock Corporation Act. Provides for numerous revisions to the Virginia Nonstock Corporation Act. Among other revisions, the bill (i) authorizes certain actions to derive from its bylaws in addition to its articles of incorporation, (ii) makes changes to the process of amending articles of incorporation and bylaws, (iii) authorizes inclusion of an exclusive forum provision in the bylaws, (iv) permits transfer of membership interests, (v) authorizes members to bring derivative proceedings, (vi) permits a court to remove a director in certain circumstances, (vii) provides for abandonment of an amendment or restatement of the articles of incorporation, (viii) extends the current provisions related to mergers to include interest exchanges and to provide for parent-subsidiary mergers, (ix) replaces existing provisions on conversion with provisions based on the Virginia Stock Act, and (x) adds provisions governing charitable corporations and charitable assets, including the authority of the Office of the Attorney General with respect to such. The bill includes technical amendments and has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 246.

Patrick A. HopeDemocrat

Uniform Consumer Debt Default Judgments Act; established.

Uniform Consumer Debt Default Judgments Act established. Creates the Uniform Consumer Debt Default Judgments Act for the award of a default judgment in actions for the collection of certain consumer debts, defined in the bill as an obligation or alleged obligation of an individual to pay money that arises out of a transaction in which the money, property, insurance, or service that is the subject of the transaction is primarily for a personal, family, or household purpose. The bill provides that a default judgment in such actions shall only be entered if the warrant in debt or civil action to recover a consumer debt includes certain statements and the required notice to the consumer, as described in the bill. Finally, the bill directs the Office of the Executive Secretary to promulgate a form for the consumer notice provisions created by the bill. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.

Marcus B. SimonDemocrat

Debtor's disposable earnings; exemptions from garnishment, exemptions in bankruptcy proceedings.

Exemptions from garnishment; exemptions in bankruptcy proceedings; disposable earnings. Provides that the exemption provided for a debtor's disposable earnings, defined by current law, that are subject to garnishment also applies to disposable earnings for the purposes of a bankruptcy proceeding.

Marcus B. SimonDemocrat

Virginia Passenger Rail Authority; expands authority to exercise power of eminent domain.

Virginia Passenger Rail Authority; eminent domain. Expands the authority of the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority to exercise the power of eminent domain.

Marcus B. SimonDemocrat

Local authority; authorized by ordinance to establish affordable housing performance grant programs.

Local authority; affordable housing performance grant programs. Allows any locality that has created an industrial development authority or economic development authority (the Authority) to establish, by ordinance, an affordable housing performance grant program. The bill outlines that such ordinance authorizes the Authority to award affordable housing performance grants to qualifying applicants. Such an ordinance must include: (i) a definition of affordable housing; (ii) grant application guidelines and processes, including an identification of the local officer that is designated to receive applications; (iii) criteria for determining whether the construction or improvement of property qualifies for the awarding of the grant; (iv) provisions that require an applicant seeking the award of a grant to acquire appropriate permits and complete the construction or improvement to develop affordable housing before such a grant will be awarded; (v) provisions that require an applicant seeking the award of a grant to present evidence demonstrating that he has filed and recorded a restrictive covenant to provide affordable housing on the property for a set term, as determined by the ordinance, provided that such term shall be no more than 30 years, on the subject qualifying property before such a grant will be awarded; and (vi) a timeline for the Authority to award grants to qualifying applicants, which may be either upon the completion of the construction or improvement of the property, or on January 1 of the year following the completion of the construction or improvement of the property. The bill also limits the total amount of any such grant to being no more than the amount equal to the increase in assessed value resulting from the construction or improvement of a property. Finally, the bill permits a locality that adopts such ordinance to impose a fee, not to exceed $250, to offset the costs of processing an application.

Joshua E. ThomasDemocrat

Benefits consortium; sponsoring association.

Benefits consortium; sponsoring association. Provides that the sponsoring association of a benefits consortium that offers health benefit plans to the members of such sponsoring association may operate as a nonprofit entity under § 501(c)(3), 501(c)(5), or 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code. Under current law, such a sponsoring association may only operate under § 501(c)(5) or 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Katrina CallsenDemocrat

Local housing policy; expands the range of changes that are required.

Department of Housing and Community Development; local housing policy; report to Department. Expands the range of local housing policy changes that are required to be submitted annually in a report to the Department of Housing and Community Development by any locality with a population greater than 3,500. This bill is identical to SB 665.

Joshua E. ThomasDemocrat

Medicare supplement policies; regulations establishing minimum standards, report.

Medicare supplement policies; regulations establishing minimum standards; work group; report. Amends provisions related to the State Corporation Commission's issuance of regulations to establish minimum standards regarding Medicare supplement policies to include minimum standards for the disclosure of methodology used in coverage decisions. The bill directs the Bureau of Insurance to convene a work group to review and make recommendations related to minimum standards regarding Medicare supplement policies, implementation of risk adjustment mechanisms, ways to eliminate waste and abuse from overpayments, methodologies used in coverage decisions, ways to improve care under such policies, and the effectiveness and utilization of existing consumer protections related to Medicare supplement policies and to submit a report of its findings and recommendations by December 1, 2026.

Dan I. HelmerDemocrat

Virginia Consumer Protection Act; prohibited practices, kratom products.

Virginia Consumer Protection Act; prohibited practices; kratom products. Prohibits selling or offering for sale (i) any kratom product to a person younger than 21 years of age; (ii) any kratom product that does not include a label listing all ingredients and the required disclosure; (iii) any kratom product not stored in an area that is not directly accessible to consumers, including behind a retail counter or in a locked display case, except for kratom products required to be refrigerated which may be stored, in accordance with relevant Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority regulations, in the same beverage cooler or refrigerator as wine and beer; (iv) any kratom product containing any synthesized material, semi-synthetic alkaloid, or synthetic kratom-like compound; (v) any kratom product containing 7-hydroxymitragynine in an alkaloid fraction exceeding one percent of total alkaloids in the container or providing more than one milligram of 7-hydroxymitragynine per serving; (vi) any kratom product adulterated with any dangerous, poisonous, or otherwise deleterious non-kratom ingredient, including any substance listed as a controlled substance under state or federal law; (vii) any kratom product that is combustible or intended for vaporization or injection; (viii) any kratom product that is manufactured, packaged, or marketed in a manner attractive to children; or (ix) any kratom extract product containing residual solvent levels exceeding applicable statutory or pharmacopeial limits.

Joshua G. ColeDemocrat

Electric utilities; renewable portfolio standard program, zero-carbon electricity, etc.

Electric utilities; renewable energy portfolio standard; zero-carbon electricity; accelerated clean energy buyers. Revises the conditions under which accelerated clean energy buyers, defined in existing law as accelerated renewable energy buyers, may contract with Appalachian Power or Dominion Energy Virginia to obtain renewable energy certificates (RECs). The bill exempts an accelerated clean energy buyer obtaining capacity, energy, or RECs from qualifying resources or facilities from the assignment of non-bypassable costs associated with compliance with the renewable portfolio standard program based on the amount and type of renewable energy certificates obtained in proportion to such accelerated clean energy buyer's total electric energy consumption. This bill is identical to SB 598.

David A. ReidDemocrat

Restaurants; food allergy awareness notice required.

Restaurants; food allergy awareness notice required. Requires the State Health Commissioner to publish in multiple languages a notice on the Department of Health's website containing procedures for restaurant staff to follow when a customer has a food allergy. 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. This bill is identical to SB 248.

Marty MartinezDemocrat

Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act; written rental agreement, lot rent increase prohibition, etc.

Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act. Requires landlords subject to the Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act to include, on the first page of a written lot rental agreement, an itemization of all charges to the tenant, along with a statement that states: "No additional security deposits or rent shall be charged unless such security deposits or rent are listed below or incorporated into this rental agreement by way of a separate addendum after the execution of this rental agreement." The bill also prohibits, with certain exceptions, any owner or operator of a manufactured home community from increasing the annual lot rent of a tenant at the time of renewal if the manufactured housing community has received a notice of violation of zoning, building, or fire code or an inspection report listing violations of habitability from the locality where the community operates and the notice of violation remains unresolved. Lastly, the bill requires any manufactured home community operating in the Commonwealth to register with the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Paul E. KrizekDemocrat

Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act; right of first refusal, resident entities and localities.

Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act; right of first refusal; resident entities and localities. Provides for a right of first refusal, under the Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act, for resident entities, defined in the bill, and localities in which a manufactured home park is located when a manufactured home park owner enters into a contract to sell such manufactured home park.

Paul E. KrizekDemocrat

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; application, notice, deposit, fee.

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; application; notice, deposit, fee, and additional information. Provides that, prior to requesting or collecting any payment or information about a prospective tenant, a landlord shall first notify the applicant in writing or by posting in a manner accessible to a prospective tenant certain information relating to the rental application process. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.

Elizabeth B. Bennett-ParkerDemocrat

Celiac disease; training materials for restaurant personnel.

State Health Commissioner; training materials for restaurant personnel; celiac disease. Directs the State Health Commissioner to add celiac disease awareness and safety to the topics included in written materials provided for the training of restaurant personnel.

Elizabeth B. Bennett-ParkerDemocrat

SCHEV; exemption of certain courses and programs of instruction from certification requirement.

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; exemption of certain courses and programs of instruction from certification requirement. Exempts from the requirement to be certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia any course or program of instruction on Scrum, Kanban, or other Agile-based methods or frameworks, provided that no such exempted course or program of instruction exceeds the number of hours required by the certifying body.

Elizabeth B. Bennett-ParkerDemocrat

Alcoholic beverage control; operation of government stores, tastings.

Alcoholic beverage control; operation of government stores; tastings. Allows an authorized employee of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to conduct an organized tasting event at a government store. The bill also clarifies that any products used in connection with distilled spirits as approved by the Board may be sold at government stores. The bill also removes the option to obtain a permit to purchase certain grain spirits or alcohol with a proof greater than 151 from government stores for commercial or culinary use.

Elizabeth B. Bennett-ParkerDemocrat

Medical cannabis program; product labels, delivery, marijuana delivery operators.

Medical cannabis program; product labels; delivery. Changes the requirements for what is included on medical cannabis product labels affixed by pharmaceutical processors to include (i) the total milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) included in the edible cannabis product or topical cannabis product, both defined in the bill; (ii) the number of milligrams of THC and CBD in each serving of the edible cannabis product or topical cannabis product; and (iii) the total percentage of THC and CBD included in the inhalable cannabis product, defined in the bill. Under current law, the product label of any medical cannabis product is required to include the total percentage and milligrams of THC and CBD included in the product and the number of milligrams of THC and CBD in each serving.The bill also allows a pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility to dispense or deliver cannabis products in person to a patient or such patient's registered agent, parent, or legal guardian at any residence, including a temporary residence or business. However, the bill prohibits dispensing or delivering cannabis products to (a) any military base, child day center, school, or correctional facility; (b) the State Capitol; or (c) any public gathering places, including sporting events, festivals, fairs, races, concerts, and terminals of public transportation companies. The bill also specifies that all transportation or delivery of usable cannabis, botanical cannabis, cannabis oil, or cannabis products, whether by an employee or delivery agent, shall comply with all relevant laws and regulations and provides that the Board of Directors of the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority may suspend or revoke the privileges of any employee or delivery agent to transport or deliver such products for failure to comply. The bill also provides that the 12-month stability testing period for medical cannabis products begins on the date the cannabis product is tested, rather than the date of product registration approval and that any medical cannabis product with an expiration date exceeding 12 months shall be supported by stability testing measured from the testing date, rather than the date of product registration approval. The bill contains technical amendments.

Alex Q. AskewDemocrat

Sickle cell disease education and screening program; cancer risk.

Sickle cell disease education and screening program; cancer risk. Requires the sickle cell screening and treatment program to include the offering of educational resources to health care providers on the increased risks for certain cancers among individuals with sickle cell disease or the sickle cell trait.

Alex Q. AskewDemocrat

Electric utilities; small portable solar generation devices, local regulation.

Electric utilities; small portable solar generation devices; local regulation; installation by tenants; consumer protection. Prevents a locality from prohibiting the use of a small portable solar generation device, as defined in the bill, on a residential structure, provided that certain requirements are met. The bill includes provisions related to the installation of small portable solar generation devices by tenants and prevents landlords from prohibiting such installation in certain circumstances. Under the bill, small portable solar generation devices are excluded from the provisions of net metering programs applicable to eligible agricultural customer-generators, eligible customer-generators, or small agricultural generating facilities. The bill also permits any electric utility customer to own and operate a small portable solar generation device, provided that certain requirements are met. The bill prohibits an investor-owned utility, municipal utility, or electric cooperative from imposing interconnection requirements, charging any fee related to the device, or requiring that the customer obtain the utility's approval before installing or using the device. Under the bill, no electric utility, municipal utility, electric cooperative shall be liable for damage or injury caused by a small portable solar generation device. The bill directs the State Corporation Commission to develop and publish a notification form for a customer of an electric utility or cooperative to install a small portable solar generation device and directs the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to convene a work group to evaluate and develop recommendations regarding the safety standards and requirements applicable to small portable solar generation devices. Certain provisions of the bill become effective on January 1, 2027. This bill incorporates HB 289 and HB 928 and is identical to SB 250.

Paul E. KrizekDemocrat

Clean energy and community flood preparedness; market-based trading program.

Clean energy and community flood preparedness; market-based trading program. Directs the Department of Environmental Quality and the State Air Pollution Control Board to establish and maintain a market-based trading program consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative program, as defined in existing law, to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generating units in the Commonwealth. This bill is identical to SB 802.

Charniele L. HerringDemocrat

Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act; created, prohibited practices, penalties.

Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act; prohibited practices; penalties. Creates the Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act to regulate the practices of persons seeking to receive compensation for preparing, presenting, prosecuting, advising, consulting, or assisting any individual regarding any veterans' benefits matter, as defined in the bill. The bill provides that a violation of its provisions constitutes a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. This bill is identical to SB 315.

Charniele L. HerringDemocrat

Charitable gaming; regulations, predetermined percentage of receipts.

Charitable gaming; regulations; predetermined percentage of receipts. Amends charitable gaming law to allow, as a condition of receiving a charitable gaming permit or authorization to conduct electronic gaming, an organization established on or before December 31, 1977, that is qualified under § 501(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code and is incorporated, in part, to raise funds for donation to organizations whose missions include promoting early detection of and public education about and supporting research and treatment options for heart disease and various cancers, to use a predetermined percentage of its receipts for expenses related to the rental of real property where such real property is involved in the operation of the organization and used for lawful religious, charitable, community, or educational purposes.

Alex Q. AskewDemocrat

Motion picture production; increases aggregate cap on tax credit, extends sunset.

Motion picture production tax credit; sunset extended. Extends the motion picture production tax credit sunset date from taxable year 2026 to taxable year 2030. This bill is identical to SB 612.

Charniele L. HerringDemocrat

Conventional home mortgage loans; assumption provisions.

Conventional home mortgage loans; assumption provisions. Requires any lender for any conventional home mortgage loan secured on or after July 1, 2026, by a mortgage or deed of trust on owner-occupied residential real estate located in the Commonwealth to include provisions in such loan to allow for any of the existing borrowers to purchase the property interest of another borrower on the loan by assuming the seller's portion of the mortgage in connection with a decree of annulment or divorce if the assuming borrower qualifies for the underlying loan, as determined by the lender.

Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.Democrat

Va. ABC Authority; permitting of retail tobacco product retailers, etc.

Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority; permitting of retail tobacco product retailers; purchase, possession, and sale of retail tobacco products; penalties; report. Transitions and provides a more comprehensive structure for the current licensing and enforcement responsibilities related to liquid nicotine and retail tobacco products from the Department of Taxation to a permitting system administered by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority. The bill requires the Board of Directors of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage and Control Authority to conduct an unannounced buyer operation at least once every 24 months to verify a permittee, defined in the bill, is not selling retail tobacco products to persons under 21 years of age. Portions of the bill have a delayed effective date of October 1, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 620.

Patrick A. HopeDemocrat

Temporary detention in hospital; issuance of order for testing, observation, or treatment.

Temporary detention in hospital for testing, observation, or treatment. Provides that while seeking the issuance of an order for temporary detention in a hospital for testing, observation, or treatment, or an extension of such order, the person who would be subject to such order and is currently subject to an order issued pursuant to current law shall remain in the custody of the facility where he is located for up to two hours, and any security personnel shall ensure that such person does not leave the facility while such person is unable to provide informed consent. The bill states that the person shall be permitted to leave the facility if (i) such order is not issued; (ii) the physician determines the person does not meet the requirements for temporary detention; or (iii) the person's guardian or person legally authorized to make an informed decision on his behalf refuses to consent to continued detention, testing, observation, or treatment. The bill also provides that any licensed health professional, licensed hospital, including a hospital licensed by the Department of Health pursuant to relevant law, or security personnel assisting a licensed health professional shall have no liability arising out of a claim to the extent the claim is based on a lack of consent to the detention of a person when such professional or hospital is seeking the court's or magistrate's authorization for such detention.

Patrick A. HopeDemocrat

Motor vehicles; glass repair and replacement, emissions inspections, penalties, repeals.

Motor vehicle glass repair and replacement; emissions inspection; penalties. Establishes various notice requirements for motor vehicle glass repair shops, defined in the bill, and provides that a violation of such requirements is a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The bill permits a motor vehicle to qualify for an emissions inspection waiver if such vehicle has failed an inspection and the vehicle's onboard diagnostic system is in a not-ready condition to be tested when presented for reinspection. This bill is identical to SB 767.

Karen R. "Kacey" CarnegieDemocrat

Misbranded food; manufactured-protein food products, civil penalty.

Misbranded food; manufactured-protein food products; civil penalty. Provides that a food is misbranded if it purports to be or is represented as a meat food product or poultry product and such food product (i) bears or contains a manufactured-protein food product, as defined in the bill; (ii) is offered for sale; and (iii) has a label that is part of or placed on the food product package or other container storing such product that identifies the food as a meat food product or poultry product, unless such label bears a conspicuous and prominent qualifying term and is in close proximity to an identifying meat term, as such terms are defined in the bill. The bill exempts a meat food product that the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services determines contains a trace amount of a manufactured-protein food product, prohibits the sale or offering for sale of a food product that is misbranded pursuant to the provisions of the bill, and makes doing so a violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The bill provides that a person who violates the provisions of the bill is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $500 and allows the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services to adopt increased civil penalties not to exceed $500 for first, second, and subsequent violations of the bill. This bill is identical to SB 186.

Jackie H. GlassDemocrat

Fire Programs, Department of; development of mental health awareness training.

Department of Fire Programs; mental health awareness training. Provides that the Department of Fire Programs shall develop a standardized, two-hour virtual asynchronous training program on mental health awareness tailored to firefighters that includes training on each subject matter set forth in current law. The bill provides the option for each fire department to use such standardized training program as guidance in developing its own mental health awareness training for its personnel. This bill is identical to SB 140.

Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.Democrat

Commonwealth Health Reinsurance Program; extension of program, percentage goal to decrease premium.

Commonwealth Health Reinsurance Program; extension of program; percentage goal to decrease premium. Directs the State Corporation Commission to apply to the appropriate federal agencies under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for an extension of the existing State Innovation Waiver authorizing the Commonwealth to implement a reinsurance program. The existing State Innovation Waiver is set to expire on January 1, 2028. Additionally, the bill removes the 20 percent upper limit of the premium reduction goal under the Commonwealth Health Reinsurance Program. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Health Insurance Reform Commission.

Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.Democrat

Health insurance; essential health benefits benchmark plan selection.

Health insurance; essential health benefits benchmark plan. Requires the Bureau of Insurance to select a new essential health benefits benchmark plan for the 2028 plan year, or the soonest plan year thereafter as permitted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, that includes, in addition to the essential health benefits package included in the existing benchmark plan, coverage for (i) doula care services; (ii) the treatment of iatrogenic infertility; (iii) fertility treatment and diagnosis, including a maximum of three cycles per lifetime of assisted reproductive technology; (iv) hearing aids for individuals of all ages; (v) pasteurized donor human breast milk; (vi) the prophylaxis, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome; and (vii) the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome. Such mandate for coverage does not apply to the individual or small group markets. The bill has a delayed effective date pursuant to approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of certain coverage as outlined in the bill. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Health Insurance Reform Commission.

Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.Democrat

Teacher licensure; career and technical education or dual enrollment, three-year licenses.

Teacher licensure; three-year renewable license to teach career and technical education or dual enrollment courses at public high schools. Requires the Board of Education to provide for the issuance of a three-year renewable license to teach solely career and technical education courses or dual enrollment courses that are creditable toward the compleition of an undergraduate course, degree, or credential offered in and accepted at a public institution of higher education at public high schools in the Commonwealth to any individual who (i) is employed as an instructor by an institution of higher education that is accredited by a nationally recognized regional accreditation body, (ii) is teaching in the specific career and technical education or dual enrollment subject area at such institution in which the individual seeks to teach at a public high school, and (iii) complies with certain requirements set forth in relevant law enumerated by the bill. The bill requires the Board to require any such instructor to maintain continuous employment in such position at the institution of higher education as a condition of continued licensure. The bill also requires each school board that employs an individual issued such a three-year license to provide such instructor training on instruction and assessment during his first year of employment. Finally, the bill directs the Board to amend its regulations in accordance with the provisions of the bill. This bill incorporates HB 785 and is identical to SB 203.

Sam RasoulDemocrat

History/soc. science SOL & Curriculum Framework; revision of framework.

Public schools; programs and courses of instruction; instruction on January 6 insurrection; requirements and limitations. Permits a school board to provide a program of instruction on or relating to the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the United States Capitol to public school students only in accordance with the requirements of the bill. The bill prohibits any such program of instruction, any accompanying curriculum or instructional materials, or any instruction provided by a teacher as a part of such program of instruction from (i) describing, portraying, or presenting as credible a description or portrayal of the actions precipitating or involved in the January 6, 2021, insurrection as peaceful protest or (ii) stating, suggesting, or presenting as credible a statement or suggestion that there was extensive election fraud that could have changed or actually changed the results of the 2020 presidential election. The bill requires any such program of instruction, any accompanying curriculum or instructional materials, or any instruction provided by a teacher as a part of such program of instruction to describe the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the United States Capitol as an unprecedented, violent attack on U.S. democratic institutions, infrastructure, and representatives for the purpose of overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Dan I. HelmerDemocrat

Service employees; authority of local governments, definition.

Authority of local governments; service employees. Permits a locality to provide for certain requirements concerning 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 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 430.

Alfonso H. LopezDemocrat