Bills & Legislation

Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act; landlord obligations.

Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act; landlord obligations. Requires a landlord to provide a copy of any written rental agreement and the statement of tenant rights and responsibilities within 10 business days of the effective date of the written rental agreement; current law requires a landlord to provide such copies within one month of such effective date. The bill outlines required notice language to be included by the landlord in the rental agreement and provides that failures of the landlord to provide notice shall not affect the validity of the rental agreement.The bill also requires a fee disclosure statement to be provided on the first page of the written rental agreement under the Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act. The bill applies to rental agreements that are entered into, extended, or renewed on or after July 1, 2025.

Michelle Lopes MaldonadoDemocrat

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

Real estate appraisers; educational requirements for licensure; fair housing and appraisal bias course. Requires applicants for licensure as a certified residential real estate appraiser, a certified general real estate appraiser, or a licensed residential real estate appraiser to successfully complete a minimum of two hours of education on fair housing and appraisal bias administered or approved by the Real Estate Appraiser Board prior to licensure. The bill requires any such educational course on fair housing and appraisal bias to be audited annually by the Fair Housing Board. This bill is identical to HB 1693.

Angelia Williams GravesDemocrat

Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; affordable housing, criminal record screening model policy.

Department of Housing and Community Development; Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; affordable housing; criminal record screening model policy. Requires the Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development (the Department), with input from a stakeholder group convened by the Department, to develop a criminal record screening model policy for admitting or denying an applicant for affordable housing covered under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act in accordance with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's guidance on the application of the federal Fair Housing Act to the use of criminal records and maintain such model policy on its website. The bill prohibits a landlord of an affordable housing unit from basing an adverse action, in whole or in part, on an applicant's criminal or arrest record unless the landlord does so in accordance with the criminal record screening model policy developed by the Department and posted on its website and provides the applicant with a written copy of such policy. The provisions of the bill other than the requirement for the Department to convene a work group have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2026.

L. Louise LucasDemocrat

Income Qualified Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Task Force; established, report.

Department of Housing and Community Development; Income-Qualified Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Task Force established; report. Directs the Department of Housing and Community Development to establish, in collaboration with the Department of Energy, and with assistance from the Department of Social Services, the Income-Qualified Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Task Force to determine barriers to access and enrollment in the current energy efficiency programs for income-qualified energy customers and to evaluate and develop a plan to address any necessary improvements regarding coordination among state and federal government agencies for utility services and resources to more effectively deliver energy-efficient housing, weatherization resources, and energy efficiency upgrades for income-qualified individuals and households in the Commonwealth. The bill requires the Task Force to meet at least six times between July 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026, and to submit a report of its findings and recommendations no later than September 30, 2026. The bill specifies that such report shall include policy recommendations and a plan to ensure that weatherization-ready repairs and whole-home energy efficiency retrofits are provided to all eligible income-qualified individuals and households in the Commonwealth residing in multifamily buildings, single-family dwellings, and manufactured homes by December 31, 2033. This bill is identical to SB 777.

Destiny LeVere BollingDemocrat

Prospective employees; prohibiting employer seeking wage or salary history.

Prohibiting employer seeking wage or salary history of prospective employees; wage or salary range transparency; cause of action. Prohibits a prospective employer from (i) seeking the wage or salary history of a prospective employee; (ii) relying on the wage or salary history of a prospective employee in determining the wages or salary the prospective employee is to be paid upon hire; (iii) relying on the wage or salary history of a prospective employee in considering the prospective employee for employment; (iv) refusing to interview, hire, employ, or promote a prospective employee or otherwise retaliating against a prospective employee for not providing wage or salary history; and (v) failing or refusing to disclose in each public and internal posting for each job, promotion, transfer, or other employment opportunity the wage, salary, or wage or salary range. The bill establishes a cause of action for an aggrieved prospective employee or employee and provides that an employer that violates such prohibitions is liable to the aggrieved prospective employee or employee for statutory damages between $1,000 and $10,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater, reasonable attorney fees and costs, and any other legal and equitable relief as may be appropriate.

Jennifer B. BoyskoDemocrat

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

Department of Housing and Community Development; Task Force on Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity. Creates the Task Force on Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity to study the misvaluation and undervaluation of real property owned by minority individuals to combat bias in real property appraisal and valuation. The bill requires the Task Force to meet at least annually and to report to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1 of each year regarding its activities and any recommendations. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2028.

Destiny LeVere BollingDemocrat

Photo speed monitoring devices; school crossing zones.

Photo speed monitoring devices; school crossing zones. Requires photographs, microphotographs, videotapes, or other recorded images, or documentation, produced by a photo speed monitoring device placed in a school crossing zone to depict or confirm a portable sign or tilt-over sign that is in position or blinking sign that is activated, indicating the school crossing zone, at the time of such vehicle speed violation in order for a sworn certificate to be considered prima facie evidence for purposes of enforcing vehicle speed violations.

James A. "Jay" LeftwichRepublican

Firearms; storage in residence where minor or person prohibited from possessing is present, penalty.

Storage of firearms in a residence where a minor or person prohibited from possessing a firearm is present; penalty. Requires any person who possesses a firearm in a residence where such person knows that a minor or a person who is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm is present to store such firearm and the ammunition for such firearm in a locked container, compartment, or cabinet that is inaccessible to such minor or prohibited person. The bill provides that a violation is a Class 4 misdemeanor. The bill exempts (i) any person in lawful possession of a firearm who carries such firearm on or about his person and (ii) the storage of antique firearms and provides that the lawful authorization of a minor to access a firearm is not a violation of the bill's provisions. The bill also requires firearm dealers to post a notice stating such firearm storage requirements and the penalty for improperly storing such firearms.

Jennifer B. BoyskoDemocrat

Minimum wage.

Minimum wage. Increases the minimum wage incrementally to $15.00 per hour by January 1, 2027. The bill codifies the adjusted state hourly minimum wage of $12.41 per hour that is effective January 1, 2025, and increases the minimum wage to $13.50 per hour effective January 1, 2026, and to $15.00 per hour effective January 1, 2027. The bill requires the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to establish an adjusted state hourly minimum wage by October 1, 2027.

Jeion A. WardDemocrat

Crystalline polymorph psilocybin; regulations for prescribing, etc.

Board of Pharmacy; regulation of crystalline polymorph psilocybin. Directs the Board of Pharmacy to promulgate regulations that allow for prescribing, dispensing, possessing, and using the pharmaceutical composition of crystalline polymorph psilocybin upon approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and following rescheduling by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Jennifer B. BoyskoDemocrat

School boards; prohibition against hiring or contracting for the services of certain individuals.

School boards; prohibition against hiring or contracting for the services of certain individuals; certain criminal convictions. Prohibits each school board from employing or contracting for the services of any individual who has been convicted of any felony crime of violence as defined in the bill or any offense involving a child. Current law prohibits each school board from employing or contracting for the services of any individual who has been convicted of any violent felony set forth in a certain statutory definition of "barrier crime" or any offense involving the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse, or rape of a child, or the solicitation of any such offense.

Jeion A. WardDemocrat

Small SWaM Business Procurement Enhancement Program; established, report.

Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity; Small SWaM Business Procurement Enhancement Program established. Establishes the Small SWaM Business Procurement Enhancement Program with a statewide goal of 42 percent of certified small SWaM business, as such term is defined in the bill, utilization in all discretionary spending by executive branch agencies and covered institutions in procurement orders, prime contracts, and subcontracts, as well as a target goal of 50 percent subcontracting to small SWaM businesses in instances where the prime contractor is not a small SWaM business for all new capital outlay construction solicitations that are issued. The bill provides that executive branch agencies and covered institutions are required to increase their small SWaM business utilization rates by three percent per year until reaching the 42-percent target or, if unable to do so, to implement achievable goals to increase their utilization rates. In addition, the bill provides for a small SWaM business set-aside for executive branch agency and covered institution purchases of goods, services, and construction, requiring that purchases up to $100,000 be set aside for award to certified small SWaM businesses.The bill creates the Division of Procurement Enhancement within the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity for purposes of collaborating with the Department of General Services, the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, the Department of Transportation, and covered institutions to further the Commonwealth's efforts to meet the goals established under the Small SWaM Business Procurement Enhancement Program, as well as implementing initiatives to enhance the development of small businesses, microbusinesses, women-owned businesses, minority-owned businesses, and service disabled veteran-owned businesses in the Commonwealth.Finally, the bill requires the Director of the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity to conduct, or contract with an independent entity to conduct, a disparity study every five years, with the next disparity study due no later than January 1, 2026. The bill specifies that such study shall evaluate the need for enhancement and remedial measures to address the disparity between the availability and the utilization of women-owned and minority-owned businesses. The provisions of the bill other than those requiring such study have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2026, and apply to covered institutions beginning July 1, 2026.

Jeion A. WardDemocrat

Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties, effective date.

Employment; paid sick leave; civil penalties. Expands provisions of the Code that currently require one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked for home health workers to cover all employees of private employers and state and local governments. The bill requires that employees who are employed and compensated on a fee-for-service basis accrue paid sick leave in accordance with regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry. The bill provides that employees transferred to a separate division or location remain entitled to previously accrued paid sick leave and that employees retain their accrued sick leave under any successor employer. The bill allows employers to provide a more generous paid sick leave policy than prescribed by its provisions. Employees, in addition to using paid sick leave for their physical or mental illness or to care for a family member, may use paid sick leave for their need for services or relocation due to domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. The bill provides that certain health care workers who work no more than 30 hours per month may waive the right to accrue and use paid sick leave. The bill also provides that employers are not required to provide paid sick leave to certain health care workers who are employed on a pro re nata, or as-needed, basis, regardless of the number of hours worked. The bill requires the Commissioner to promulgate regulations regarding employee notification and employer recordkeeping requirements. The bill authorizes the Commissioner, in the case of a knowing violation, to subject an employer to a civil penalty not to exceed $150 for the first violation, $300 for the second violation, and $500 for each successive violation. The Commissioner may institute proceedings on behalf of an employee to enforce compliance with the provisions of this bill. Additionally, an aggrieved employee is authorized to bring a civil action against the employer in which he may recover double the amount of any unpaid sick leave and the amount of any actual damages suffered as the result of the employer's violation. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

Jeion A. WardDemocrat

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

Restorative housing and isolated confinement; restrictions on use. Prohibits the use of isolated confinement, defined in the bill, in state correctional facilities, subject to certain exceptions. The bill requires that before placing an incarcerated person in restorative housing or isolated confinement for his own protection, the facility administrator shall place the incarcerated person in a less restrictive setting, including by transferring such person to another institution or to a special-purpose housing unit for incarcerated persons who face similar threats. The bill requires that if an incarcerated person is placed in restorative housing or isolated confinement, such placement shall be reviewed every 48 hours and the facility administrator shall ensure that the incarcerated person receives a medical and mental health evaluation from certified medical and mental health professionals within one working day of placement in restorative housing or any form of isolated confinement. The bill also requires the facility administrator to notify the regional administrator in writing that an incarcerated person was placed in restorative housing or isolated confinement within 24 hours of such placement. Finally, the bill requires that formal reviews of an incarcerated person's placement in any form of isolated confinement shall be held in such person's presence, to inform him of any reason or reasons administrative officials believe isolated confinement remains necessary and give him an opportunity to respond to those reasons and that a formal ruling shall be provided to the incarcerated person within 24 hours. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026, and is identical to HB 2647.

Lamont BagbyDemocrat

Election of certain governing bodies; conversion to single-member districts.

Election of certain governing bodies; conversion to single-member districts. Allows the governing body of a locality that has been subject to a court order imposing a remedial election system under voting rights laws to adopt an ordinance to convert one or more at-large seats of such body to single-member districts, provided that the governing body also adopts and implements the remedial election system contained in the court order. The bill provides that members of such governing body in office on the effective date of such ordinance shall complete their terms of office.

Aaron R. RouseDemocrat

Voter registration; regular periodic review of registration records.

Voter registration, regular periodic review of registration records; 90-day quiet period before all primary and general elections. Requires the Department of Elections to complete not later than 90 days prior to the date of a primary or general election any program the purpose of which is to systematically remove the names of ineligible voters from the voter registration system. This restriction is not to be construed to preclude (i) the removal of names from the voter registration system at the request of the registrant or as provided by existing law by reason of criminal conviction or mental incapacity or the death of the registrant or (ii) the correction of registration records pursuant to existing law. Under current law, such restriction only applies to federal primaries and federal general elections. The bill also extends (a) the period of time registrars have to cancel registrations from 30 days to 60 days after notification of the need to cancel by the Department of Elections and (b) the period of time a registered voter has to respond to a notice of cancellation related to citizenship status from 14 days to 28 days. This bill is identical to HB 1657.

Aaron R. RouseDemocrat

Virginia Residential Landlord & Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement.

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies; noncompliance with rental agreement. Increases from five days to 14 days the mandatory waiting period after a landlord serves written notice on a tenant notifying the tenant of his nonpayment of rent and of the landlord's intention to terminate the rental agreement if rent is not paid before the landlord may pursue remedies for termination of the rental agreement. This bill is identical to HB 1719.

Aaron R. RouseDemocrat

Juveniles; adjudication of delinquency, when and how child may be taken into immediate custody.

Juveniles; adjudication of delinquency; penalty. Specifies that a delinquent child is a child 11 years of age or older who has committed a delinquent act. Currently, there is no minimum age for a child to be adjudicated delinquent. The bill provides that if a juvenile younger than 11 years of age is found to have committed an act that would be delinquent if committed by a child 11 years of age or older, the juvenile shall not be proceeded upon as delinquent; however, the court may make any orders of disposition authorized for a child in need of services or a child in need of supervision. The bill also provides that any funding that is available to provide services to a child 11 years of age or older who is proceeded upon as delinquent shall also be made available to a child younger than 11 years of age who is found to have committed an act that would be delinquent if committed by a child 11 years of age or older in order to provide such child the same services. The bill includes in the definition of "child in need of services" a child younger than 11 years of age who has committed an act that would be delinquent if committed by a child 11 years of age or older. The bill adds that a child may be taken into immediate custody when such child is alleged to be in need of services or supervision and there is a clear and substantial danger to the child's life or health or the safety of the child's family or the public. Finally, the bill includes in the offense of causing or encouraging acts rendering children delinquent, abused, etc., any person 18 years of age or older, including the parent of any child, who willfully contributes to, encourages, or causes any act, omission, or condition that (i) causes a child younger than 11 years of age to commit an act that would be delinquent if committed by a child 11 years of age or older or (ii) causes any child to participate in or become a member of a criminal street gang in violation of existing law. Under the bill, any person who commits such offense is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Mamie E. LockeDemocrat

Income-Qualified Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Task Force; established, definitions, report.

Department of Housing and Community Development; Income-Qualified Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Task Force established; report. Directs the Department of Housing and Community Development to establish, in collaboration with the Department of Energy, and with assistance from the Department of Social Services, the Income-Qualified Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Task Force to determine barriers to access and enrollment in the current energy efficiency programs for income-qualified energy customers and to evaluate and develop a plan to address any necessary improvements regarding coordination among state and federal government agencies for utility services and resources to more effectively deliver energy-efficient housing, weatherization resources, and energy efficiency upgrades for income-qualified individuals and households in the Commonwealth. The bill requires the Task Force to meet at least six times between July 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026, and to submit a report of its findings and recommendations no later than September 30, 2026. The bill specifies that such report shall include policy recommendations and a plan to ensure that weatherization-ready repairs and whole-home energy efficiency retrofits are provided to all eligible income-qualified individuals and households in the Commonwealth residing in multifamily buildings, single-family dwellings, and manufactured homes by December 31, 2033. This bill is identical to HB 1935.

Mamie E. LockeDemocrat

Elections; deadline for receipt of absentee ballots and certain other information, etc.

Elections; deadline for receipt of absentee ballots and certain other information; 5:00 p.m. on the third day after the election. Moves the deadline for receipt of absentee ballots, information required to cure an absentee ballot, or proof of identification to accompany a provisional ballot provided for lack of identification from noon to 5:00 p.m. on the third day after the election.

Barbara A. FavolaDemocrat

Firearm industry members; standards of responsible conduct, civil liability.

Firearm industry members; standards of responsible conduct; civil liability. Creates standards of responsible conduct for firearm industry members and requires such members to establish and implement reasonable controls regarding the manufacture, sale, distribution, use, and marketing of the firearm industry member's firearm-related products, as those terms are defined in the bill. Such reasonable controls include reasonable procedures, safeguards, and business practices that are designed to (i) prevent the sale or distribution of a firearm-related product to a straw purchaser, a firearm trafficker, a person prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law, or a person who the firearm industry member has reasonable cause to believe is at substantial risk of using a firearm-related product to harm themselves or unlawfully harm another or of unlawfully possessing or using a firearm-related product; (ii) prevent the loss of a firearm-related product or theft of a firearm-related product from a firearm industry member; (iii) ensure that the firearm industry member complies with all provisions of state and federal law and does not otherwise promote the unlawful manufacture, sale, possession, marketing, or use of a firearm-related product; and (iv) ensure that the firearm industry member does not engage in an act or practice in violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The bill also provides that a firearm industry member may not knowingly or recklessly create, maintain, or contribute to a public nuisance, as defined in the bill, through the sale, manufacturing, importing, or marketing of a firearm-related product. The bill creates a civil cause of action for the Attorney General or a local county or city attorney to enforce the provisions of the bill or for any person who has been injured as a result of a firearm industry member's violation to seek an injunction and to recover costs and damages.

Dan I. HelmerDemocrat

Richard Bland College; governance.

Richard Bland College; governance. Removes the authority of the board of visitors of The College of William and Mary in Virginia to supervise, manage, and control Richard Bland College and establishes the nine-member board of visitors of Richard Bland College to generally direct the affairs of Richard Bland College, including appointing all teachers and fixing their salaries, providing for the employment of other personnel as required, and caring for and preserving all property belonging to Richard Bland College. The bill provides for the transfer of relevant property and rights thereto, contracts, and duties from the board of visitors of The College of William and Mary in Virginia to the board of visitors of Richard Bland College. The bill also requires the board of visitors of Richard Bland College to focus its efforts on preparing students for academic and career success and permits the board of visitors to take several enumerated actions in furtherance of such efforts. The bill also provides that the audit conducted by the Auditor of Public Accounts for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, will be the last audit for which Richard Bland College is treated as a consolidated entity of the board of visitors of The College of William and Mary in Virginia and that beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the Auditor of Public Accounts shall submit its audit report on Richard Bland College to the board of visitors of Richard Bland College. The provisions of the bill, with the exception of the provision requiring Richard Bland College to submit a report to the General Assembly by December 31, 2025, have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 2157.

Mamie E. LockeDemocrat

Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; affordable housing, criminal record screening model policy.

Department of Housing and Community Development; Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; affordable housing; criminal record screening model policy. Requires the Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development, with input from a stakeholder group convened by the Department of Housing and Community Development, to develop a criminal record screening model policy for admitting or denying an applicant for affordable housing covered under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act in accordance with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's guidance on the application of the federal Fair Housing Act and maintain such model policy on its website. The bill prohibits a landlord of an affordable housing unit from basing an adverse action, in whole or in part, on an applicant's criminal or arrest record unless the landlord does so in accordance with the criminal record screening model policy developed by the Department of Housing and Community Development and posted on its website and provides the applicant with a written copy of such policy. The provisions of the bill other than the creation of the stakeholder group have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2026.

C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.Democrat

Health insurance; tobacco surcharge, removes sunset.

Health insurance; tobacco surcharge; sunset. Removes the January 1, 2026, sunset on provisions of current law that eliminate the authority of a health carrier to vary its premium rates based on tobacco use and directs the State Corporation Commission to make its final report regarding the elimination of such tobacco surcharge by January 1, 2026.

Patrick A. HopeDemocrat

Capitol Sq. or building owned/leased by the Commonwealth, carrying firearm/explosive material, etc.

Carrying a firearm or explosive material within Capitol Square or building owned or leased by the Commonwealth; exemptions; public institutions of higher education; penalty. Permits the governing board of a public institution of higher education to adopt a policy prohibiting the carrying of any firearm, ammunition, or components or combination thereof within any building owned or operated by such public institution of higher education. The bill allows such policy to include security measures that are designed to reasonably prevent the unauthorized access of buildings that are open to the public. Finally, the bill exempts certain activities, defined in the bill, operated at public or private institutions of higher education from any policy created by a governing board. This bill is identical to SB 1182.

Katrina CallsenDemocrat

Defendants; payment of costs when proceedings deferred and person placed on probation.

Payment of costs when proceedings deferred and defendant placed on probation. Provides that a circuit or district court that has deferred proceedings pursuant to relevant law and imposed costs shall not enter a judgment of guilty against a defendant solely for his failure to pay such costs or other fees but shall comply with the terms agreed upon for the deferral if all other terms and conditions of such agreement are satisfied, provided that such costs or other fees remain due. Current law requires such costs to be paid prior to dismissal.

Adele Y. McClureDemocrat

Va. Public Procurement Act; additional public works contract requirements.

Virginia Public Procurement Act; additional public works contract requirements. Provides that public bodies shall require the contractor and its subcontractors for any capital outlay project, as defined in the bill, to complete certain safety training programs, maintain records of compliance with applicable laws, and participate in approved apprenticeship training programs. The bill provides exemptions from such requirements for reasons related to lack of availability of apprentices and high costs. The provisions of the bill do not apply to transportation-related construction projects. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 2482.

Jennifer D. Carroll FoyDemocrat

Private companies providing public transportation services; employee protections.

Private companies providing public transportation services; employee protections. Requires the governing body or transportation district commission of any county or city that contracts with a private company to provide transportation services to (i) require such company to provide any employee of such company providing such services compensation and benefits that are, at a minimum, equivalent to the compensation and benefits provided to a public employee, as defined in the bill, with a position requiring equivalent qualifications and years of service; (ii) provide transportation services through such company's own employees; and (iii) if such transportation district commission, county, or city subsequently elects to provide its own system of public transportation, adopt an ordinance or resolution providing for collective bargaining, ensure all employees of such private company are offered employment with such subsequent public transportation system without loss of compensation or benefits, and ensure the recognition of any lawful collective bargaining representative of such private company's employees. This bill is identical to HB 2619.

Saddam Azlan SalimDemocrat

Dogs; sale and procurement by pet shops, pet shop regulations.

Sale and procurement of dogs by pet shops; pet shop regulations. Requires a pet shop, upon taking custody of a dog, or any representative of a pet shop upon taking custody of a dog on behalf of the pet shop, to make a record of the matter containing certain information relating to the custody of the dog. The bill requires the pet shop to maintain such records for at least two years and make them available to the State Veterinarian at the time of inspection or upon request. The bill requires the pet shop make a summary of such records available to the State Veterinarian during inspection or upon request. The bill also directs the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services to include in its regulations governing the keeping of dogs and cats by a pet shop a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 per violation for each finding in a given inspection of a pet shop upon communication to the pet shop, provided that the cumulative civil penalty does not exceed $5,000. The bill requires the civil penalty to be recovered in a civil action brought by the Attorney General in the name of the Commonwealth and paid into a special fund in the state treasury to the credit of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

William M. Stanley, Jr.Republican

Electric utilities; energy efficiency upgrades, report.

Phase I and Phase II Utilities; energy efficiency upgrades; low-income residents; report. States that it is the policy of the Commonwealth to reduce, wherever feasible and cost-effective, heating-related costs of living for low-income residents. The bill requires Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Power to make best, reasonable efforts to provide by December 31, 2030, prescriptive efficiency measures, as defined in the bill, and related efficiency improvements to at least 30 percent of the qualifying households, as defined in the bill, identified by such utilities, provided that the State Corporation Commission determines that such upgrades are in the public interest. The bill requires such utilities to report to the Commission its activities, plans, and filings regarding the bill's provisions no later than January 1, 2027, annually thereafter, and in any recurring filing that the Commission deems appropriate. This bill is identical to HB 2744.

Lamont BagbyDemocrat

Firearms; five day waiting period, penalty.

Purchase of firearms; waiting period; penalty. Provides that no person shall sell a firearm unless at least five days have elapsed from the time the prospective purchaser completes the written consent form to have a licensed dealer obtain criminal history record information, with exceptions enumerated in relevant law. The amendments to the Code of Virginia in the bill are identical to the amendments to the Code of Virginia in HB 2631.

Saddam Azlan SalimDemocrat

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

Trigger activator definition; penalty. Defines "trigger activator" as a conversion kit, tool, accessory, or device designed to alter the rate of fire of a semi-automatic firearm to mimic automatic weapon fire or used to increase the rate of fire to a rate faster than such semi-automatic firearm can achieve when not equipped with a conversion kit, tool, accessory, or device. The bill clarifies that "trigger activator" includes a bump stock, trigger crank, hellfire trigger, binary trigger system, burst trigger system, or a copy thereof, but does not include a semi-automatic replacement trigger, designed for use in competitive shooting, that improves performance and functionality over the stock trigger. This bill is identical to HB 1660.

Russet PerryDemocrat

Assault firearms; carrying in public areas prohibited, penalty.

Carrying assault firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty. Prohibits the carrying of certain semi-automatic center-fire rifles and shotguns on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, or public right-of-way or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public, with certain exceptions. Under current law, the current prohibition on carrying certain shotguns and semi-automatic center-fire rifles and pistols applies to a narrower range of firearms, only in certain localities, and only when such firearms are loaded.

Adam P. EbbinDemocrat

Charter; City of Portsmouth.

Charter; City of Portsmouth. Amends the charter for the City of Portsmouth by authorizing the City Manager to require city departments to implement appropriate enhancement or remedial measures consistent with prevailing law wherever there exists (i) a compelling government interest, (ii) an analysis that documents a statistically significant disparity between the availability and utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses, or (iii) direct evidence by minority-owned businesses or women-owned businesses of the impact of race by discrimination. This bill is identical to HB 1634.

L. Louise LucasDemocrat

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

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; adverse action by landlord; tenant remedies. Prohibits a residential landlord who owns more than four rental dwelling units or more than a 10 percent interest in more than four rental dwelling units, whether individually or through a business entity, in the Commonwealth from taking adverse action, as defined in the bill, against a prospective tenant due to the prospective tenant's history of a dismissed, nonsuited, or expunged unlawful detainer case or an unlawful detainer case that is eligible for expungement. The bill allows a prospective tenant to recover, as a result of any such adverse action, (i) actual damages, (ii) statutory damages of $1,000, and (iii) reasonable attorney fees. This bill is identical to HB 1872.

Aaron R. RouseDemocrat

Tort actions; immunity of persons based on statements made at a Title IX hearing.

Immunity of persons for tort actions based on statements made at certain hearings. Adds to the tort actions for which an individual shall be immune pursuant to applicable law any tort action based solely on a statement made at a Title IX hearing before the applicable tribunal of an institution of higher education. Current law provides that an individual shall be immune for any tort action based solely on statements made at a public hearing before, or otherwise communicated to, the governing body of any locality or other political subdivision, or the boards, commissions, agencies, and authorities thereof, and other governing bodies of any local governmental entity concerning matters properly before such body.

Marcus B. SimonDemocrat

State correctional facilities; cell and facility conditions, temperature monitoring.

State correctional facilities; cell conditions; temperature monitoring; report. Requires the Department of Corrections to require that heat and air conditioning be provided in all state correctional facilities that are capable of controlling the interior temperature of such facilities so that a temperature of not less than 65 degrees Fahrenheit or more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit is maintained in each such facility. The bill also directs the Department of Corrections to evaluate the implementation of remote temperature monitoring and to report its findings to the General Assembly by October 1, 2025.

Holly M. SeiboldDemocrat

Public school teachers; written notice of noncontinuation of continuing contract.

Public school teachers; written notice of noncontinuation of continuing contract. Provides that written notice of noncontinuation of a continuing teacher contract by the teacher must be given by June 15 of each year; otherwise, the contract continues in effect for the ensuing year in conformity with local salary stipulations, including increments. Current law provides that written notice of noncontinuation of a continuing teacher contract by either the teacher or the school board must be given by June 15 of each year; otherwise, the contract continues in effect for the ensuing year in conformity with local salary stipulations, including increments. This bill is identical to SB 1032.

Atoosa R. ReaserDemocrat

Workplace violence policy; required for certain employers, civil penalty.

Workplace violence policy required for certain employers; civil penalty. Requires any employer of 100 or more employees to develop, implement, and maintain a workplace violence policy no later than January 1, 2027. The bill includes requirements for such a policy, such as procedures and methods for employee reporting of incidents and post-incident investigations. Employers subject to the bill are required to maintain documentation of workplace violence incidents for not less than five years. An employer that violates the provisions of the bill shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 per violation. The bill prohibits retaliation from an employer on the basis of reporting a workplace violence incident and provides that any employee who makes a report of workplace violence shall be immune from civil liability. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

Jeion A. WardDemocrat

Public institutions of higher education; governing boards; nonvoting, advisory representatives.

Public institutions of higher education; governing boards; nonvoting, advisory representatives. Requires the State Board for Community Colleges, the board of visitors of each baccalaureate public institution of higher education, and each local community college board to appoint a nonvoting, advisory faculty representative to its respective board. Under current law, such an appointment is permissive. The bill also requires the board of visitors of each baccalaureate public institution of higher education and each local community college board to appoint a nonvoting, advisory staff representative to its respective board. The bill requires such advisory faculty and staff representatives to be elected by the faculty and staff of the institution, respectively, in the manner that such faculty and staff members deem appropriate. Current law requires the advisory faculty representative to be chosen from individuals elected by the faculty or the institution's faculty senate or its equivalent. The bill also clarifies that any vacancy of such an advisory representative shall be filled in the same manner as the original selection, whether the vacancy occurs by expiration of a term or otherwise.

Amy J. LauferDemocrat

Cannabis control; establishes framework for creating retail market, penalties.

Cannabis control; retail market; penalties. Establishes a framework for the creation of a retail marijuana market in the Commonwealth, to be administered by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. The bill allows the Authority to begin issuing all marijuana licenses on September 1, 2025, but provides that no retail sales may occur prior to May 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 2485.

Aaron R. RouseDemocrat

Firearm transfers to another person from a prohibited person.

Firearm transfers to another person from a prohibited person. Provides that a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm because such person is subject to a protective order or has been convicted of an assault and battery of a family or household member may transfer a firearm owned by such prohibited person to any person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing such firearm, provided that such person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing such firearm is 21 years of age or older and does not reside with the person who is subject to the protective order. Under current law, there is no requirement that such transferee cannot be younger than 21 years of age and cannot reside with such prohibited person. The bill also provides that such prohibited person who transfers, sells, or surrenders a firearm pursuant to the provisions of the bill shall inform the clerk of the court of the name and address of the transferee, the federally licensed firearms dealer, or the law-enforcement agency in possession of the firearm and shall provide to the transferee a copy of the form certifying that such person does not possess any firearms or that all firearms possessed by such person have been surrendered, sold, or transferred. The bill also provides that a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm because such person is subject to a protective order or has been convicted of an assault and battery of a family or household member shall be advised that a law-enforcement officer may obtain a search warrant to search for any firearms from such person if such law-enforcement officer has reason to believe that such person has not relinquished all firearms in his possession. This bill is identical to HB 1960.

Barbara A. FavolaDemocrat

Gaming; fantasy contests, age restrictions.

Gaming; fantasy contests; age restrictions. Increases from 18 years of age to 21 years of age the minimum age an individual must be to participate in fantasy contests.

Paul E. KrizekDemocrat

Cannabis control; establishes framework for creating retail market, penalties.

Cannabis control; retail market; penalties. Establishes a framework for the creation of a retail marijuana market in the Commonwealth, to be administered by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. The bill allows the Authority to begin issuing all marijuana licenses on September 1, 2025, but provides that no retail sales may occur prior to May 1, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 970.

Paul E. KrizekDemocrat

Va. Public Procurement Act; additional public works contract requirements.

Virginia Public Procurement Act; additional public works contract requirements. Provides that public bodies shall require the contractor and its subcontractors for any capital outlay project, as defined in the bill, to complete certain safety training programs, maintain records of compliance with applicable laws, and participate in approved apprenticeship training programs. The bill provides exemptions from such requirements for reasons related to lack of availability of apprentices and high costs. The provisions of the bill do not apply to transportation-related construction projects. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 962.

Paul E. KrizekDemocrat

Property under common ownership; creation of easements.

Property under common ownership; creation of easements. Provides that a private appurtenant easement may be created for any purposes by the owner of the dominant and servient estate by the recordation of an instrument that grants or reserves such easement. The bill further provides that the rule of property law known as the doctrine of merger shall not prevent such grant or reservation.

Rozia A. Henson, Jr.Democrat

Incapacitated persons; finding of lack of capacity to understand act of voting.

Incapacitated persons; finding of lack of capacity to understand act of voting. Provides that a finding that a person is incapacitated in a proceeding for guardianship or conservatorship shall not be synonymous with a finding that such person is "mentally incompetent," as such term is used in relevant law, and therefore not qualified to vote in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of Virginia. The bill provides that no person shall be deemed disqualified to vote due to a lack of capacity for the purposes of the Constitution of Virginia unless a court makes a specific finding by clear and convincing evidence that such person lacks the capacity to understand the act of voting.

Kathy K.L. TranDemocrat

Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment.

Health insurance; coverage for fertility services; essential health benefits benchmark plan. Requires the Health Insurance Reform Commission to consider coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility and for standard fertility preservation procedures in its 2025 review of the essential health benefits benchmark plan.

Dan I. HelmerDemocrat