Bills & Legislation

Common interest communities; amateur radio antennas permitted.

Common interest communities; amateur radio antennas permitted. Prohibits certain common interest community associations from prohibiting the installation of an amateur radio antenna on the roof of the unit owned by the unit owner or on a roof appurtenant to the unit owned by the unit owner or, in the case of a property owners' association, a lot owner's property, and sets forth provisions governing the installation and removal of such amateur radio antennas.

Holly M. SeiboldDemocrat

GO Virginia grants; matching funds; sunset repeal.

GO Virginia grants; matching funds; sunset repeal. Removes the July 1, 2025, sunset date of the program allowing a locality to use grant funds awarded by the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission as matching funds for GO Virginia grants.

Eric PhillipsRepublican

Public utilities; certificate of convenience and necessity for certain new transmission lines.

Public utilities; certificate of convenience and necessity for certain new transmission lines. Provides that for construction of any overhead transmission line of 230 kilovolts and associated facilities, a public utility shall demonstrate that either the construction of such line remains within an existing right-of-way or that no alternatives are feasible within the existing right-of-way.

Geary HigginsRepublican

Retail electric energy; renewable energy certificates.

Retail electric energy; renewable energy certificates. Requires competitive service providers, as defined in the bill, to serve 100 percent of their customers' energy and capacity needs from electric generating units located within the PJM transmission region. Under the bill, a competitive service provider must ensure that 100 percent of its customers' energy is either zero-carbon electricity or matched with zero-carbon electricity or renewable energy certificates. A certain percentage of a retail customer's annual load must be matched with renewable energy certificates from within the PJM transmission region. The bill allows certain retail customers to be exempt from non-bypassable charges associated with the renewable energy portfolio standard. The bill also requires the State Corporation Commission to promulgate rules as necessary to ensure that the provisions of the bill do not create an unreasonable shifting of costs to nonparticipating customers and to ensure that in all integrated resource plans and cost recovery proceedings no incumbent electric utility is improperly incorporating the loads of retail electric customers into its forecasts or load projections.

Michael J. JonesDemocrat

Voter registration; list of unqualified persons transmitted to general registrars.

Voter registration; jury commissioners; list of unqualified persons transmitted to general registrars; list maintenance. Requires jury commissioners to collect information obtained from those persons not qualified to serve as a result of a condition that would also make them unqualified to register to vote. The sheriff, clerk of court, or other official responsible for maintaining such information provided by the commissioners is required to regularly transmit such information to the general registrar for the locality or localities served by such official. The bill requires general registrars to utilize such information to identify voters who are no longer qualified to vote and to initiate list maintenance procedures. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

Eric R. ZehrRepublican

Health insurance; cost-sharing for epinephrine injectors.

Health insurance; cost-sharing for epinephrine injectors. Prohibits health insurance companies and other carriers from setting an amount exceeding $60 for a two-pack of covered epinephrine injectors that a covered person is required to pay at the point of sale. The bill also prohibits a provider contract between a carrier or its pharmacy benefits manager and a pharmacy from containing a provision (i) authorizing the carrier's pharmacy benefits manager or the pharmacy to charge, (ii) requiring the pharmacy to collect, or (iii) requiring a covered person to make a cost-sharing payment for a covered two-pack of epinephrine injectors in an amount that exceeds such limitation.

Michael J. JonesDemocrat

Sanctuary policies; prohibited.

Sanctuary policies prohibited. Provides that no locality shall adopt any ordinance, procedure, or policy intended to restrict the enforcement of federal immigration laws. The bill also requires an official in charge of a correctional facility to transfer custody of certain persons to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement upon receipt of a detainer. Under current law, the official may make such transfer.

Geary HigginsRepublican

Elections; absentee voting in person, availability & affirmation stmt. in lieu of identification.

Elections; absentee voting in person; availability and affirmation statement in lieu of identification. Limits the availability of absentee voting in person to beginning 14 days prior to any election. Under current law, absentee voting in person is available beginning 45 days prior to any election. The bill also removes the ability of a voter voting by absentee ballot in person to sign a statement that he is the named registered voter he claims to be in lieu of showing one of the permitted forms of identification.

Eric R. ZehrRepublican

Certified registered nurse anesthetists; elimination of supervision requirement.

Certified registered nurse anesthetists; elimination of supervision requirement. Eliminates the requirement that certified registered nurse anesthetists must practice under the supervision of a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, or dentistry and instead requires them to practice in consultation with a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, or dentistry and in accordance with regulations jointly promulgated by the Board of Medicine and the Board of Nursing.

Mark D. SicklesDemocrat

Virginia Gaming Commerce Regulation Act; established, penalties, report.

Virginia Gaming Commerce Regulation Act established; penalties. Establishes the Virginia Gaming Commerce Regulation Act for the purpose of providing a regulatory and registration scheme for electronic gaming devices in the Commonwealth. The bill authorizes and specifies the registration requirements for the distribution, operation, hosting, and play of electronic gaming devices, as defined in the bill. The bill imposes a $1,200 monthly tax on each electronic gaming device from each distributor, as defined in the bill, and provides for the use of such tax proceeds after deposit in the Virginia Gaming Commerce Regulation Fund, established in the bill, with most being distributed to the Elementary and Secondary Education Fund, also established in the bill. The bill directs the Virginia Lottery Board to promulgate regulations no later than June 30, 2026, to implement the provisions of the bill and authorizes the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to grant a provisional registration, until the Virginia Lottery Board regulations are promulgated, to any entity that meets the respective criteria.

Christie New CraigRepublican

Voter registration; exchange of registered voter lists with other states.

Voter registration; exchange of registered voter lists with other states; list of states posted to the Internet. Requires the Department of Elections to post to its official Internet website a list of states with which it has an agreement to exchange data for voter registration list maintenance purposes.

Delores OatesRepublican

State employee leave; attending health care with certain veterans.

State employee leave; attending health care with certain veterans. Allows a state employee to take up to 24 hours of paid leave per month in any calendar year to attend medical appointments or procedures at a Veterans Affairs hospital, center, or other facility or installation with an eligible parent who is a veteran and has a serious health condition, as those terms are defined in the bill. Prior to taking such leave, a state employee must demonstrate that he is eligible to take leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act for such purpose and must provide sufficient documentation of the medical appointment. The bill directs the Department of Human Resource Management to develop personnel policies providing for the use of such leave.

Mark L. Earley, Jr.Republican

Elections; affirmation statement in lieu of identification, additional information required.

Elections; conduct of election; affirmation statement in lieu of identification; additional information required. Requires a person voting absentee in person or at the polls on election day who signs a statement in lieu of providing a valid form of identification to also provide his full name, year of birth, and the last four digits of his social security number, if any. The form containing the statement and voter information is required to be retained as election materials.

Delores OatesRepublican

Elections; voter identification containing photograph required; who may register up to and including the day of the election; absentee ballot application requirements; absentee voting in person availability; return of absentee ballots.

Elections; voter identification containing photograph required; who may register up to and including the day of the election; absentee ballot application requirements; absentee voting in person availability; return of absentee ballots. Requires presentation of a form of identification containing a photograph in order to vote and provides that a voter who does not have one of the required forms of identification is entitled to cast a provisional ballot. The bill repeals a provision that would permit any person who is qualified to register to vote to do so in person up to and including the day of the election and limits the persons who are entitled to register to vote after the close of registration records to members of a uniformed service on active duty, persons who are residing temporarily outside of the United States, and their spouses and dependents. The bill limits the period during which absentee voting in person is available from 45 days preceding the date of the election to the 14 days preceding the date of the election. The bill requires that absentee ballots returned by mail be returned to the office of the general registrar by the close of polls on election day and be postmarked on or before the Saturday preceding the date of the election. The bill eliminates the use of drop-off locations for the return of absentee ballots. The bill requires absentee ballot applications to contain the last four digits of the applicant's social security number.

Scott A. WyattRepublican

Social Services, Department of; applications for public assistance, immigration status inquiry.

Department of Social Services; applications for public assistance; immigration status inquiry. Requires the director of a local department of social services or the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services, whichever is applicable, to inquire as to the immigration status of all persons applying for public assistance benefits administered by the Department of Social Services.

Jason S. BallardRepublican

Protection of employees; restricting use of accrued leave for other employment prohibited.

Labor and employment; protection of employees; restricting use of accrued leave for other employment prohibited; civil penalty. Prohibits an employer from prohibiting any employee from using accrued annual or vacation leave to work on behalf of another employer unless such other employment would create a conflict of interest. The bill permits an employer to prohibit or restrict an employee's use of such employer's property, office space, equipment, materials, trade secrets, confidential information, or other assets for any purpose relating to such employee's employment by another employer. The bill imposes a civil penalty of up to $100 on any employer that knowingly violates the bill's provisions.

Michael J. WebertRepublican

Postrelease supervision; a revocation hearing for violation, etc.

Revocation of postrelease supervision. Provides that a revocation hearing for a violation of postrelease supervision shall be conducted by the circuit court of the original sentencing jurisdiction in accordance with the provisions regarding revocation hearings for a suspended sentence or probation violation. Under current law, revocation hearings for violations of postrelease supervision are conducted by the Virginia Parole Board following the same procedures as a parole violation.

Chris ObenshainRepublican

Va. Emergency Management Preparedness and Capabilities Grant Program and Fund; established, report.

Virginia Emergency Management Preparedness and Capabilities Grant Program and Fund established; work group; report. Establishes the Virginia Emergency Management Preparedness and Capabilities Grant Program and Fund for the purpose of awarding grants to political subdivisions to assist with the cost of emergency management and preparedness. The bill states that the Program will be administered by the Department of Emergency Management, which shall establish guidelines for (i) the administration of the Program and (ii) awarding grants to political subdivisions from the Fund. A political subdivision awarded a grant must use such funds for certain purposes to advance the emergency preparedness of such subdivision, and must provide a 50 percent match of local or federal funds for the award. The bill requires the Department, beginning on or before December 1, 2025, and each year thereafter, to submit a report to the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, the Governor, and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Public Safety and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations summarizing the activities of the Program. The bill directs the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to establish a work group to study existing emergency management needs and analyze sustainability of current funding, among other things, and to report the work group's findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on General Laws and the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology on or before October 1, 2025.

William M. Stanley, Jr.Republican

Board of Medicine; licensure of anesthesiologist assistants.

Board of Medicine; licensure of anesthesiologist assistants. Establishes criteria for the licensure of anesthesiologist assistants and directs the Board of Medicine to adopt regulations governing the practice of anesthesiologist assistants. The bill provides that no person shall use or assume the title "anesthesiologist assistant" or hold himself out as an anesthesiologist assistant unless such person holds a license as an anesthesiologist assistant issued by the Board.

C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.Democrat

Health insurance; prohibits pharmacy override for enrollee with sickle cell disease.

Health insurance; pharmacy override for enrollee with sickle cell disease; prohibited. Prohibits a health insurance carrier from requiring a pharmacy to override a denial code or to request an override in order to dispense a prescription drug for the treatment or management of pain to an enrollee who has been diagnosed with sickle cell disease.

H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.Republican

Regional emergency medical services councils; funds distributed to VDH from motor vehicle reg. fees.

Regional emergency medical services councils. Provides that 55 percent of certain funds distributed to the Department of Health from motor vehicle registration fees shall be distributed to the designated regional emergency medical services councils for their operational support. The bill also specifies that there shall be 11 designated regional emergency medical services councils. Under current law, there is no specified number.

J.D. "Danny" DiggsRepublican

Health insurance; pharmacies, freedom of choice, delivery of prescription drugs, penalties.

Health insurance; pharmacies; freedom of choice; delivery of prescription drugs; penalties. Prohibits an insurer, health maintenance organization, corporation providing preferred provider subscription contracts, or pharmacy benefits manager from imposing upon any person receiving pharmaceutical benefits any policy or practice requiring or incentivizing certain provisions relating to the delivery of prescription drugs. A violation of the bill's provisions constitutes an unfair trade practice under existing law and is subject to injunctive, penalty, and enforcement provisions in existing law.

H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.Republican

Postpartum Depression Education Act; Department of Health to establish a public awareness campaign.

Postpartum Depression Education Act; report.

Kannan SrinivasanDemocrat

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.

Charniele L. HerringDemocrat

Campaign fundraising; legislative sessions; enforcement of civil penalty.

Campaign fundraising; legislative sessions; enforcement of civil penalty. Provides that violations of the prohibition on campaign fundraising during legislative sessions are to be reported to the Attorney General, who shall initiate civil proceedings to enforce the civil penalty currently assessed for such violations. The bill provides that in the case of an alleged violation by the Attorney General, the State Board of Elections shall request the Supreme Court of Virginia to appoint outside counsel to receive such violation report and such outside counsel shall be responsible for initiating civil proceedings to enforce the civil penalty.

Mike A. CherryRepublican

Weight loss and muscle building products, certain; selling or distributing to minors prohibited.

Sale of certain weight loss and muscle building products to minors prohibited. Prohibits any person from selling or distributing an over-the-counter diet pill or dietary supplement for weight loss or muscle building to a person who is younger than 18 years of age and requires that the purchaser demonstrate, by producing a driver's license or similar photo identification issued by a government agency, that he is at least 18 years of age. For mail or Internet sales, the bill requires that the person offering an over-the-counter diet pill or dietary supplement for weight loss or muscle building (i) prior to the sale verifies that the purchaser is at least 18 years of age through a commercially available database that is regularly used by businesses or governmental entities for the purpose of age and identity verification and (ii) uses a method of mailing, shipping, or delivery that requires the signature of a person at least 18 years of age before the products will be released to the purchaser. The bill also requires that over-the-counter diet pills or dietary supplements for weight loss or muscle building will only be displayed for sale behind a store counter that is not accessible to consumers or in a locked case that requires assistance from a store employee for customer access. A violation of the bill's provisions is punishable by a civil penalty in the amount of $500 for a first violation and $2,500 for a second or subsequent violation within a three-year period.

N. Baxter EnnisRepublican

Va. Energy Facility Review Board & Virginia Clean Energy Technical Assistance Center; established.

Virginia Energy Facility Review Board established; localities; comprehensive plan and local ordinances related to siting of critical interconnection projects; planning district commissions; regional energy plans; Virginia Clean Energy Technical Assistance Center established. Establishes the Virginia Energy Facility Review Board as a political subdivision of the Commonwealth for the purposes of conducting critical interconnection reviews; conducting analysis and study policy options; reviewing regional energy plans, local comprehensive plans, and local solar and storage ordinances; and facilitating the responsible siting of critical interconnection projects in the Commonwealth.The bill also establishes the Virginia Clean Energy Technical Assistance Center, consisting of public institutions of higher education, to serve as an interdisciplinary study, research, and information resource and to provide technical assistance to state agencies, planning district commissions, localities, the Review Board, other public bodies, and private entities in matters related to critical interconnection projects. The bill requires the Center to collaborate with the Review Board to issue the regional energy report and to establish the model local ordinance.The bill requires the Review Board to issue a regional energy report that models each planning district's meaningful annual contribution to clean energy generation, energy efficiency measures, and energy storage. Each planning district commission is required to adopt a regional energy plan to address energy generation, storage, and use that demonstrates a meaningful contribution to Commonwealth's energy goals as determined by the regional energy report issued by the Review Board and to submit the plan to the Review Board. The Review Board is required to determine if a regional energy plan is in compliance with certain provisions within 60 days of receipt of such plan. If the Review Board determines that the regional energy plan is not in compliance, the relevant planning district commission has 60 days to adopt a compliant regional energy plan. If the relevant planning district commission fails to adopt a compliant energy plan within the 60 days, the Review Board, within 90 days of such failure, is required to issue an alternative regional energy plan that is in effect for such region.The bill requires the Review Board to establish a model local ordinance for siting, permitting, and zoning of critical interconnection projects and all other ground-mounted front-of-meter solar energy and energy storage projects. The bill requires each locality to adopt an ordinance for the permitting of solar energy facilities and energy storage facilities, that is consistent with the Commonwealth Clean Energy Policy and the model ordinance and submit it to the Review Board. Under the bill, the Review Board is required to determine if the local ordinance is compliant with certain requirements. If the Review Board determines that the local ordinance is not in compliance, the locality has 60 days to adopt a compliant local ordinance. If the locality fails to adopt a compliant local ordinance within the 60 days, the bill provides that the model local ordinance established is in effect for such locality. The bill provides a procedure for a planning district commission or a locality to appeal a Review Board determination regarding a regional energy plan or a local ordinance.Under the bill, any developer planning to construct a critical interconnection project is required to submit an application to the Review Board. The Review Board is required to determine if the critical interconnection project (i) qualifies as a project of statewide significance, defined in the bill, and (ii) complies with the ordinance in each locality in which the proposed critical interconnection project would be located. In making its determination, the Review Board is required to consider the Commonwealth Clean Energy Policy, certain regulations adopted by the State Air Pollution Control Board, the certain renewable portfolio requirements, and any other information it deems relevant. The bill provides that the Review Board has the discretion to disregard any unreasonable restriction, defined in the bill, in the local ordinance on the installation of the critical interconnection projects or the building of structures that facilitate the installation of critical interconnection projects. In addition, the Review Board may consider any regional energy plan developed by the relevant planning district commission. The Review Board is required to issue its opinion on the critical interconnection project within 90 days of receiving an application.The bill requires a locality to issue its final decision regarding any zoning change, variance, or the issuance of a special exemption, special use permit, or conditional use permit related to a critical interconnection project no later than 180 days after receiving a critical interconnection opinion issued by the Review Board. If the locality's final decision diverges from the Review Board's opinion, the locality is required to include a written determination setting forth all facts and conclusions reached by the locality that support its final decision. Under the bill, a locality's failure to make a final decision within the 180-day period, constitutes a granting of the zoning change, variance, special exemption, special use permit, or conditional use permit related to a critical interconnection project.The bill requires that any appeal of a locality's decision related to a critical interconnection project will be filed in the circuit court of such locality. The bill provides that such appeal can be brought only by the aggrieved applicant or the owner of the property subject to a special and no other person has standing to file such appeal or seek judicial review. Under the bill, in any such appeal, there is a rebuttable presumption that the opinion of the Review Board is correct. Such presumption may be overcome by a preponderance of the evidence that the locality's decision to grant or deny a project or to include the challenged conditions was consistent with provisions in the locality's ordinance that are not unreasonable restrictions. This bill is a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation.

Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.Democrat

Animal-drawn vehicles; equipment requirements.

Animal-drawn vehicles; equipment requirements. Establishes certain equipment requirements for animal-drawn vehicles operating on the highways of the Commonwealth, including requirements for brake systems, tires and wheels, headlamps, reflectors, hazard lights, rearview mirrors, and horns. The bill replaces existing light and reflector requirements for animal-drawn vehicles under current law with such equipment requirements for headlamps, reflectors, and hazard lights.

Mark J. PeakeRepublican

Workers' compensation; duty to furnish medical attention; timeframe for decision.

Workers' compensation; duty to furnish medical attention; timeframe for decision. Requires an employer, as defined in existing law, to issue a decision regarding the provision of medical attention to an employee within 45 calendar days after such employee's request for care pursuant to existing law, with certain exceptions described in the bill.

N. Baxter EnnisRepublican

Animal testing; facilities operated by public institutions of higher education, report.

Animal testing facilities operated by public institutions of higher education; report. Requires each public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth that operates an animal testing facility to publish an annual report that includes specific information about such institution's animal testing operations. The bill requires each such institution to submit the annual report to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, which shall make it publicly available on its website.

William M. Stanley, Jr.Republican

Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund; allocations, Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission.

Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund; Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission. Creates a new allocation from the Commonwealth Mass Transit Fund for the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission, adjusts the amounts of certain other allocations from such Fund, and removes the light rail system operated by the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads from eligibility for funds from such other allocations from such Fund. The bill requires the Commonwealth Transportation Board to withhold 20 percent of the funds from such new allocation unless the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads submits to it certain information annually. The bill directs the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, for fiscal year 2027, to reserve and utilize certain funds in amounts necessary to provide certain supplemental operating assistance to certain transit providers that would experience a reduction in allocable funds due to the reallocations in this bill. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

Aaron R. RouseDemocrat

Solar Workforce Development Incentive Grant Program; established.

Virginia Community College System; Solar Workforce Development Incentive Grant Program; established. Requires the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System to establish and implement the Solar Workforce Development Incentive Grant Program. Under the program, any comprehensive community college that enters into a power purchase agreement, either alone or in partnership with any local school division in the region that it serves, and that provides workforce development opportunities such as internships, apprenticeships, or project-based learning tied to such renewable energy projects on their campuses are eligible to apply for (i) a grant in an amount of $100,000 per megawatt purchased and (ii) an additional grant in an amount of up to $100,000 for projects that implement solar and battery microgrid systems in furtherance of developing community resiliency hubs in coordination with the Department of Energy's Renewables Advancing Community Energy Resilience (RACER) program.

Ghazala F. HashmiDemocrat

Local departments of social services and health districts; screening for unmet social needs.

Department of Social Services; Department of Health; local departments of social services; local health districts; screening for unmet social needs; service referrals. Directs the Department of Social Services and Virginia Department of Health to require local departments of social services and local health districts to screen clients seeking services for unmet social needs and refer clients to services for such unmet needs.

Rodney T. WillettDemocrat

Electric utilities; retail competition, aggregation of load.

Electric utilities; retail competition; aggregation of load. Provides, for retail competition for the purchase and sale of electric energy, that when two or more individual nonresidential retail customers of electric energy within the Commonwealth petition the State Corporation Commission for permission to aggregate or combine their demands to become qualified to purchase electric energy from a retail supplier, such retail customers shall be able to modify existing site accounts outlined in the petition without penalty or risk of revocation of petition approval, provided the petition continues to adhere to program requirements. Additionally, for a pilot program under which two or more nonresidential customers have filed applications seeking to aggregate their load and purchase electric energy from a supplier, such retail customers shall be able to modify existing site accounts outlined in the petition without penalty or risk of removal from the program, provided the petition continues to adhere to program requirements.

Sam RasoulDemocrat

Workers' compensation; injuries caused by repetitive and sustained physical stressors.

Workers' compensation; injuries caused by repetitive and sustained physical stressors. Provides that, for the purposes of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act, \"occupational disease\" includes injuries or diseases from conditions resulting from repetitive and sustained physical stressors, including repetitive and sustained motions, exertions, posture stresses, contact stresses, vibrations, or noises. The bill provides that such injuries or diseases are covered under the Act and that such coverage does not require that such repetitive or sustained physical stress occurred over a particular time period, provided that the time period over which such physical stress occurred can be reasonably identified.

Angelia Williams GravesDemocrat

Income tax, state; tax credit for adaptive repurposing of underutilized structures.

Income tax credit; adaptive repurposing of underutilized structures; Affordable Dwelling Units. Creates a nonrefundable income tax credit in taxable years 2025 through 2029 for eligible expenses, defined in the bill, incurred in converting office buildings to residential uses. The credit may be claimed only in the year during which a qualified converted building, defined in the bill, is placed into service and is equal to (i) 20 percent or (ii) 30 percent in an at-risk locality, defined in the bill, of the amount of eligible expenses incurred. No single taxpayer may claim more than $2.5 million in credits in any single taxable year and the credit is subject to an aggregate annual cap of $30 million. The bill also allows localities to restrict certain partial exemptions from real estate taxation to real property on which the improvement is a residential structure that has set aside at least 30 percent of such structure for Affordable Dwelling Units.

Angelia Williams GravesDemocrat

Emergency custody and involuntary admissions; transfer of custody to facility.

Emergency custody and involuntary admissions; transfer of custody to facility. Permits the law-enforcement agency or alternative transportation provider providing a person subject to an emergency custody order transportation to a facility or location for the required evaluation to transfer custody of such person to such facility or location if it (i) agrees to accept custody of the person; (ii) is actually capable of providing the level of security necessary to protect the person and others from harm, including having appropriate security personnel; and (iii) in cases in which transportation is provided by a law-enforcement agency, has entered into an agreement or memorandum of understanding with the law-enforcement agency setting forth the terms and conditions under which it will (a) accept a transfer of custody and (b) request that the law-enforcement agency will return to the facility or location upon request to protect the person and others should the security needs of such facility or location be exceeded, provided, however, that the facility or location may not require the law-enforcement agency to pay any fees or costs for the transfer of custody. Current law permits such transfer of custody if the facility or location (1) is licensed to provide the level of security necessary to protect both the person and others from harm, (2) is actually capable of providing the level of security necessary to protect the person and others from harm, and (3) in cases in which transportation is provided by a law-enforcement agency, has entered into an agreement or memorandum of understanding with the law-enforcement agency setting forth the terms and conditions under which it will accept a transfer of custody, provided, however, that the facility or location may not require the law-enforcement agency to pay any fees or costs for the transfer of custody.

Mike A. CherryRepublican

Virginia Fair Housing Law; unlawful discriminatory housing practices.

Virginia Fair Housing Law; unlawful discriminatory housing practices; income requirements and up-front charges. Expands the list of unlawful discriminatory housing practices to include (i) refusing to rent or negotiate for the rental of a dwelling because the income of an applicant renter does not meet a threshold determined by the landlord and (ii) requiring any charges or deposits from a renter prior to the commencement date of a rental agreement for any purpose other than monthly rent, a security deposit, and any other deposit meant to pay for access to a specific service or facility related to the rental of the dwelling.

Joshua G. ColeDemocrat

Voter registration; cancellation of registration by voter.

Voter registration; cancellation of registration by voter; effective for the immediately proceeding election. Provides that any valid authorization for cancellation submitted by a registered voter prior to the day of the immediately proceeding election shall be effective in such election. Under current law, when submitted by any means other than when notarized or in person, such cancellation must be made at least 22 days prior to an election in order to be valid in that election.

Wendell S. WalkerRepublican

Extreme Weather Relief Act; established.

Extreme Weather Relief Act established. Establishes the Extreme Weather Relief Program, administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, for the purpose of holding parties responsible for covered greenhouse gas emissions between the covered period of January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2024, for the parties' share of the Commonwealth's costs due to climate change. The bill defines responsible parties as fossil fuel extractors or crude oil refiners causing emissions of one billion metric tons or more of covered greenhouse gases during the covered period. Under the bill, responsible parties are strictly liable for cost recovery payments to the Commonwealth. The bill requires the State Treasurer to conduct an assessment of the costs to the Commonwealth and its residents of the emissions of covered greenhouse gases during the covered period. The bill establishes the Extreme Weather Relief Fund into which the cost recovery payments from responsible entities are deposited and used to pay for extreme weather relief projects, as defined in the bill.

Rae CousinsDemocrat

Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry; registration intervals for Tier I and Tier II offenses.

Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry; registration intervals for Tier I and Tier II offenses. Requires any person who is required to register with the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry and who is convicted of a Tier I or Tier II offense to register yearly. The bill also requires any person convicted of providing false information or failing to provide registration information where such person was included on the Registry for a Tier II offense to register twice a year.

Chris ObenshainRepublican

Crime victim rights; notification.

Crime victim rights; notification. Requires notification through the Virginia Statewide VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) System or other similar electronic or automated system to a victim regarding the commitment or release of a defendant who was acquitted by reason of insanity. The bill contains technical amendments.

Mark D. ObenshainRepublican

Voter registration; automatic registration upon application for hunting and fishing license.

Voter registration; automatic registration; hunting and fishing license applicants; resident concealed handgun permit applicants. Provides for automatic voter registration by the clerk of any circuit court of the Commonwealth and the Department of Wildlife Resources upon the application for any hunting or fishing license or Virginia resident concealed handgun permit. The bill also requires any such applicant be offered a separate application to be placed on the permanent absentee voter list.

A.C. CordozaRepublican

Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Premium Assistance Program and Fund; established, sunset.

Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Premium Assistance Program and Fund established. Directs the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services to establish and administer the Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Premium Assistance Program. The bill allows any person to participate in the Program if such person (i) owns livestock that graze in the Commonwealth, (ii) is enrolled in the federal Rainfall Index Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage insurance program (PRF insurance) and provided proof of payment of his annual premium, and (iii) certifies to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that, within the past three years and in accordance with the general sampling recommendations from Virginia Cooperative Extension for the land enrolled in PRF insurance, soil samples have been taken from the land enrolled in PRF insurance and analyzed. The bill allows the Commissioner to request documentation of such soil sampling from a Program participant who receives reimbursement through the Program and requires the person to repay such reimbursement to the Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Premium Assistance Program Fund if the person fails to provide the requested documentation. The bill allows the Department to reimburse 50 percent, up to a maximum of $500, of the Program participant's annual premium payment. The bill specifies that such reimbursement shall be provided on a first-come, first-served basis and shall be subject to availability of funds. Finally, the bill creates the Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Premium Assistance Program Fund to be used for carrying out the provisions of the bill. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2030.

Timmy FrenchRepublican

Virginia Public Procurement Act; discrimination prohibited, military spouse-owned businesses.

Virginia Public Procurement Act; discrimination prohibited; military spouse-owned businesses. Prohibits a public body from discriminating against military spouse-owned businesses, as defined in the bill, in the solicitation or awarding of contracts. The bill further requires public bodies to facilitate the participation of military spouse-owned businesses in procurement transactions.

A.C. CordozaRepublican

Human trafficking; nonprofit organizations supplying informational materials to state entities.

Nonprofit organizations supplying human trafficking informational materials to state entities for distribution. Allows a nonprofit organization that has been granted tax-exempt status under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to supply to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (the Authority) and the Department of Transportation (the Department) copies of informational materials about human trafficking at no cost, which may take the form of adhesive stickers. If any such nonprofit organization supplies such materials to the Authority, the bill requires the Authority to include a copy of the materials with the issuance and renewal of every on-premises retail license. If any such nonprofit organization supplies the Department with such materials, the bill requires the Department to make such materials available at all rest areas along Interstate System highways in the Commonwealth in a place readily visible and accessible to the public.

A.C. CordozaRepublican

Campaign finance; coordination and required independent expenditure committee disclosure.

Campaign finance; coordination and required independent expenditure committee disclosure; civil penalties. Provides a more detailed definition of the term "coordinated" or "coordination" in the context of campaign finance than is provided in current law. The bill also requires all persons making independent expenditures to file statements of organization and to file campaign finance reports thus making such persons subject to existing civil penalties for violations of filing laws.

Jennifer D. Carroll FoyDemocrat

State Corporation Commission; certificate of operation for high load facilities.

State Corporation Commission; certificate of operation for high load facilities. Prohibits any person from operating a high load facility, defined in the bill as a facility whose electricity demand exceeds 25 megawatts that was not operating before July 1, 2026, without first having obtained a certificate of operation from the State Corporation Commission. The bill requires the Commission to permit the operation of a high load facility upon a finding that such facility and associated facilities (i) will have no material adverse effect upon the rates paid by customers of any regulated public utility in the Commonwealth, taking into account any likely generation, transmission, or distribution needs attributable to the operation of the high load facility; (ii) will have no material adverse effect upon reliability of electric service provided by any regulated public utility; (iii) would be consistent with the Commonwealth Clean Energy Policy; and (iv) are not otherwise contrary to the public interest. The bill requires the Commission to consider certain factors in a review of a petition for a certificate to operate a high load facility, including whether there is sufficient energy, capacity, and grid infrastructure to support the operation of the high load facility and whether the operation of the high load facility would create an unreasonable cross-subsidy across customers served by the incumbent electric utility. Finally, the bill requires the Commission to conduct a proceeding to establish minimum criteria for the issuance of a certificate of operation for a high load facility and requirements for public notice and an opportunity for hearing.

Joshua E. ThomasDemocrat