Bills & Legislation

Electric utilities; renewable portfolio standard program, deficiency payments.

Electric utilities; renewable portfolio standard program; deficiency payments. Removes provisions requiring deficiency payments by certain electric utilities if such utilities are unable to meet the compliance obligation of the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) program requirements or if the cost of renewable energy certificates necessary to comply with RPS program requirements exceeds $45 per megawatt hour.

William M. Stanley, Jr.Republican

Aerial pesticide application; Virginia Pollinator Protection Strategy, civil penalty.

Aerial pesticide application; Virginia Pollinator Protection Strategy; civil penalty. Requires any commercial or private pesticide applicator performing an aerial pesticide application, as defined in the bill, to submit certain relevant information to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and to certain beekeepers located within a five-mile radius no less than five days prior to such application. The bill provides that any commercial applicator or private applicator who violates the provisions of the bill is subject to a civil penalty of $500 for a first offense and $2,500 for each additional offense. The bill requires the Department to post and maintain on its website certain information related to aerial pesticide applications and allows any aggrieved person to institute a proceeding for injunction or mandamus against any person or agency that has engaged, is engaged, or is about to engage in any acts or practices in violation of the provisions of the bill. The bill also requires the Virginia Pollinator Protection Strategy plan to support awareness among beekeepers and the general public of proposed aerial pesticide applications submitted to the Department and posted on its website.

William M. Stanley, Jr.Republican

Undesignated sex or gender designation option.

Undesignated sex or gender designation option. Requires all forms, reports, applications, or other documents used by state agencies to offer the option of "male," "female," or "X" when designating sex or gender. The bill contains technical amendments.

Laura Jane CohenDemocrat

Fire Programs Fund; aid to localities, requirement for emergency incidents reporting.

Fire Programs Fund; aid to localities; requirement for emergency incidents reporting. Requires that, in order to remain eligible for funding from the Fire Programs Fund, a locality must report all emergency incidents through the National Fire Response Information System while sharing such emergency incident data with the Department of Fire Programs. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

Christie New CraigRepublican

Firearms-related offenses; mandatory minimum sentences, penalty.

Firearms-related offenses; mandatory minimum sentences; penalty. Increases from five to 10 years for a second or subsequent offense the mandatory minimum sentences for use or display of a firearm during the commission of certain felonies.

J.D. "Danny" DiggsRepublican

Fleeing from a law-enforcement officer; penalty.

Fleeing from a law-enforcement officer; penalty. Removes the requirement that a law-enforcement officer have the immediate physical ability to place a person under arrest in order for a person who flees from a law-enforcement officer to be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill instead requires that the officer be within 30 feet of the person when such person knows or has reason to know that the officer is a law-enforcement officer.

Bill DeStephRepublican

Local sales and use tax; Pulaski County authorized to levy additional taxes for school projects.

Local sales and use tax; capital projects for schools; Pulaski County. Adds Pulaski County to the list of localities that are authorized to levy an additional general retail sales and use tax at a rate not to exceed one percent to provide revenue solely for capital projects for the construction or renovation of schools within such locality. This bill was incorporated into SB 1307.

T. Travis HackworthRepublican

Reckless, aggressive, and improper driving; prohibited altered suspension system, penalties.

Reckless, aggressive, and improper driving; prohibited altered suspension system; penalties. Creates additional penalties for causing serious bodily injury to or the death of another person while recklessly, aggressively, or improperly driving a motor vehicle with certain prohibited alterations made to the vehicle's suspension system. The bill directs the court, in addition to penalties imposed under current law, to suspend the driver's license of such offender for 90 days and order the completion of 150 hours of community service for a first conviction and suspend the driver's license of such offender for one year and impose a penalty of $1,500 for any second or subsequent conviction.

Tammy Brankley MulchiRepublican

Assault and battery; adds officers of Va. Marine Police to definition of law-enforcement officer.

Assault and battery; Virginia Marine Police officers; penalty. Adds Virginia Marine Police officers to the definition of "law-enforcement officer" as such definition relates to the Class 6 felony for any person who commits an assault or assault and battery against another knowing or having reason to know that such other person is a law-enforcement officer.

Bill DeStephRepublican

Certificate of public need program; phased elimination.

Certificate of public need program; phased elimination. Creates a three-phase process to eliminate the certificate of public need requirements for many categories of medical care facilities and projects, with elimination of the requirement for a certificate of public need (i) for all medical care facilities other than nursing homes or specialized centers or clinics or that portion of a physician's office developed for the provision of outpatient or ambulatory surgery, cardiac catheterization, computed tomographic (CT) scanning, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomographic (PET) scanning, radiation therapy, certain stereotactic radiotherapy, or proton beam therapy effective July 1, 2025; (ii) for all such services as described in clause (i) at any existing medical care facility other than nursing homes or specialized centers or clinics or that portion of a physician's office developed for the provision of outpatient or ambulatory surgery, cardiac catheterization, computed tomographic (CT) scanning, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomographic (PET) scanning, radiation therapy, certain stereotactic radiotherapy, or proton beam therapy located outside of a metropolitan statistical area or in a rural census tract within a metropolitan statistical area effective July 1, 2026; and (iii) for all medical care facilities effective July 1, 2027.

William M. Stanley, Jr.Republican

Wills, trusts, and fiduciaries; Consumer Price Index adjustments.

Wills, trusts, and fiduciaries; Consumer Price Index adjustments. Increases various dollar amounts relating to wills, estates, trusts, fiduciaries, guardianships of minors, and guardianships of incapacitated persons to reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. This bill was incorporated into HB 1912.

Patrick A. HopeDemocrat

Concealed handgun permits; minimum age requirement.

Concealed handgun permits; minimum age requirement. Reduces from 21 years of age to 18 years of age the minimum age requirement for resident and nonresident concealed handgun permits.

Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.Republican

Nonresident concealed handgun permits; time limit for issuance.

Nonresident concealed handgun permits. Requires the Department of State Police to immediately issue a nonresident concealed handgun permit after 90 days from the receipt of the application for such permit if, within that 90-day period, the Department has not issued such permit or determined that the applicant is disqualified from receiving such permit. The bill further requires the Department to revoke such permit if the applicant is later found by the Department to be disqualified from receiving such permit.

J.D. "Danny" DiggsRepublican

Firearms, etc.; carrying into bldg. owned or leased by the Commonwealth, exception for rest areas.

Carrying a firearm or explosive material into a building owned or leased by the Commonwealth; exception for rest areas. Provides that the prohibition on carrying a firearm or explosive material in any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth does not apply to any rest area.

J.D. "Danny" DiggsRepublican

Absentee voting in person; available beginning 14 days prior to primary election.

Absentee voting in person; available beginning 14 days prior to primary election. Limits the availability of absentee voting in person for primary elections to beginning 14 days prior to such election. Under current law, absentee voting in person is available beginning 45 days prior to any election.

Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.Republican

General Assembly; intergovernmental affairs.

General Assembly; intergovernmental affairs; delegates to convention for proposing amendments held pursuant to Article V of the Constitution of the United States; penalties. Provides for the selection by the General Assembly of delegates to attend a convention for proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States held pursuant to Article V of the Constitution of the United States. The bill grants the General Assembly the power to recall delegates, appoint new delegates, and convene an advisory committee to oversee the conduct of delegates. The bill provides that delegates must take an oath to adhere to the instructions of the General Assembly and any delegate who votes or otherwise acts beyond the authority granted in such instructions is guilty of a Class 5 felony.

Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.Republican

Firearm purchases; permit to purchase a firearm required, penalties.

Firearm purchases; permit to purchase a firearm required; penalties. Requires any person purchasing a firearm from a firearms dealer to present a valid permit issued by the Department of State Police that allows the holder to purchase a firearm. The bill prohibits a firearms dealer from selling, renting, trading, or transferring from his inventory any firearm to any person until he has received such permit. The bill sets forth the procedures to apply for the permit and prohibits the permitting of any person (i) who is younger than 21 years of age; (ii) who is prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm; (iii) who, within the two years prior to the date of application, has been convicted of any offense against a person that is an act of violence, force, or threat or a firearm-related offense that is punished as a Class 1 misdemeanor; (iv) who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; (v) who, within the two years prior to the date of application, has not completed a firearms safety or training course or class offered to the public by a law-enforcement agency, institution of higher education, or private or public institution or organization or by a firearms training school utilizing instructors certified or approved by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, and with a required curriculum, detailed in the bill; or (vi) for whom it would not be in the interest of the public health, safety, or welfare of the Commonwealth as determined by the Department of State Police to obtain a permit because the person is found to be lacking in essential character or temperament necessary to be entrusted with a firearm. The bill provides that such permit is valid for five years from the date of issuance. The bill details reasons for revocation of a permit and provides that any person who fails to return a revoked permit to the Superintendent of State Police within five days' notice of revocation is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also states that any person who willfully and intentionally makes a materially false statement on the application form for a permit is guilty of a Class 5 felony.

Jennifer D. Carroll FoyDemocrat

Unlawful detainer actions; no rental agreement between owner and occupant; immediate execution of writ of possession.

Unlawful detainer actions; no rental agreement between owner and occupant; immediate execution of writ of possession. Provides that, at an emergency hearing on a summons for unlawful detainer filed by an owner of a residential single family dwelling unit where there is no rental agreement between an owner and occupant, if the court enters judgment in favor of such owner, and a writ of possession is issued, the owner may request that the 72-hour waiting period for execution of such writ be waived and that the sheriff immediately execute such writ.

Jason S. BallardRepublican

Firearms-related offenses; mandatory minimum sentence; penalty.

Firearms-related offenses; mandatory minimum sentence; penalty. Increases from five to 10 years for a second or subsequent offense the mandatory minimum sentence for use or display of a firearm during the commission of certain felonies.

J.D. "Danny" DiggsRepublican

Affordable housing; religious organizations and other tax-exempt properties.

Affordable housing; religious organizations and other tax-exempt properties. Provides that no local ordinance shall require a special exception, special use permit, conditional use permit, or additional fee to be obtained for the development and construction of affordable housing on real property owned by a religious organization or certain nonprofit organizations that is connected to a public sewage system. The bill requires that at least 60 percent of the housing development's total units be for affordable housing and that the housing development remain affordable for at least 50 years.

Kannan SrinivasanDemocrat

Commercial entity offering social media accounts; restricted hours for minors, civil liability.

Commercial entity offering social media accounts; restricted hours for minors; civil liability. Provides that no commercial entity that offers social media accounts, as defined in the bill, shall knowingly or intentionally allow a minor to access his social media account during the hours of 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. unless the minor's parent, guardian, or legal custodian has provided permission for the minor to use such social media account during these hours. The bill provides that any commercial entity that violates these provisions shall be subject to civil liability for damages resulting from the interference with a minor's sleep cycle or mental health by allowing such minor to access to his social media account during the hours of 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. and reasonable attorney fees and costs.

Emily M. JordanRepublican

Obscene materials; restrictions on purchase, distribution, exhibition, or loan; exceptions; libraries and schools.

Obscene materials; restrictions on purchase, distribution, exhibition, or loan; exceptions; libraries and schools. Modifies the exception to restrictions on the purchase, distribution, exhibition, or loan of any book, magazine, or other printed or manuscript material that contains obscene materials by providing that schools supported by public appropriation are not subject to the exception and limiting the exception applicable to libraries supported by public appropriation only to obscene material that is available exclusively in a section of the library to which access is restricted by age.

Christopher T. HeadRepublican

Child labor; child engaged in the work of content creation, trust account.

Child labor; child engaged in the work of content creation; trust account. Specifies certain criteria for a child to be considered engaged in the work of content creation and prohibits a child who is under 14 years of age from engaging in the work of content creation. A child 14 years of age or older who is considered a child engaged in the work of content creation shall be compensated by the content creator, defined in the bill, whose video content includes such child's likeness, name, or photograph. The bill requires the content creator to set aside gross earnings on the video content including the likeness, name, or photograph of the child in a trust account to be preserved for the benefit of the child upon attaining 18 years of age or being declared emancipated. The bill also requires the content creator to maintain certain records specified in the bill and retain them until the child reaches 21 years of age. The bill allows the child, or his parent or guardian on behalf of such child, to commence a civil action to enforce the provisions of law related to the trust account. Finally, the bill gives the Attorney General the authority to enforce the provisions of the bill by issuing a civil investigative demand and causing an action to be brought in the appropriate circuit court to enjoin any violations. This bill was incorporated into SB 998.

Schuyler T. VanValkenburgDemocrat

Zoning; by-right multifamily development in areas zoned for commercial use.

Zoning; by-right multifamily development in areas zoned for commercial use. Requires a locality to provide in its zoning ordinance provisions allowing for the by-right development and construction of multifamily residential uses on all land contained in commercial or business zoning district classifications. The bill provides that the review and approval of such development shall be done administratively by the locality's staff and that any residential development that dedicates a minimum of 10 percent of the total number of housing units to households with a household income at or below 80 percent of the area median income shall be granted an accelerated plan review and permit approval process by the locality's staff.

Schuyler T. VanValkenburgDemocrat

Supervisors, boards of; increases statutory salary caps for certain counties.

Salaries of boards of supervisors for certain counties. Increases the statutory salary caps for boards of supervisors of counties that have adopted salary limits consistent with provisions in the Code of Virginia relating to alternative procedures for establishing salaries of boards of supervisors.

Tammy Brankley MulchiRepublican

Fertility preservation treatments; state plan for medical assistance services.

State plan for medical assistance services; fertility preservation treatments. Directs the Board of Medical Assistance Services to amend the state plan for medical assistance services to include a provision for payment of medical assistance for coverage of fertility preservation for individuals diagnosed with a form of cancer who need treatment that may cause a substantial risk of sterility or iatrogenic infertility, as defined in the bill, including surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. The bill also requires insurers to provide coverage for standard fertility preservation for individuals who have been diagnosed with a form of cancer who need treatment that may cause a substantial risk of sterility or iatrogenic infertility.

Saddam Azlan SalimDemocrat

Statewide housing targets; requires localities to increase their total housing stock.

Statewide housing targets for localities. Requires localities to increase their total housing stock by at least 7.5 percent over the five-year period beginning January 1, 2026. The bill provides that in order to meet the 7.5 percent growth target, a locality shall develop a housing growth plan that best meets the needs of the locality and may include any of various listed housing growth strategies. The bill further provides that after January 1, 2031, an applicant who seeks local government approval for a residential development that will have the effect of increasing the supply of housing in a locality and has that application rejected may, in addition to other remedies, appeal such decision to the Housing Approval Board, which shall be established by the Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development. The bill authorizes the Housing Approval Board to overturn local decisions and approve applications under certain circumstances. However, if the Housing Approval Board determines that a locality has in good faith implemented at least three of the housing growth strategies listed in the bill and has not rejected more than 25 percent of new housing development proposals over the previous five years, the Housing Approval Board shall allow the local decision to stand. Finally, the bill provides that the Housing Approval Board shall give extra weight for increases in affordable housing and for the rehabilitation of current, underutilized housing stock.

Schuyler T. VanValkenburgDemocrat

Health insurance; cost-sharing, pharmacy benefits managers, compensation and duties, civil penalty.

Health insurance; cost-sharing; pharmacy benefits managers; compensation and duties: civil penalty. Amends provisions related to rebates provided by carriers and health benefit plans to health plan enrollees by defining "defined cost-sharing," "pharmacy benefits management services," and "price protection rebates." The bill requires that an enrollee's defined cost-sharing for each prescription drug be calculated at the point of sale based on a price that is reduced by an amount equal to at least 80 percent of all rebates received or expected to be received in connection with the dispensing or administration of the prescription drug.The bill prohibits a pharmacy benefits manager from deriving income from pharmacy benefits management services provided to a carrier or health benefit plan except for income derived from a pharmacy benefits management fee. The bill requires the amount of any pharmacy benefits management fees to be set forth in the agreement between the pharmacy benefits manager and the carrier or health benefit plan and that such fee not be based on the acquisition cost or any other price metric of a drug; the amount of savings, rebates, or other fees charged, realized, or collected by or generated based on the activity of the pharmacy benefits manager; or the amount of premiums, deductibles, or other cost-sharing or fees charged, realized, or collected by the pharmacy benefits manager from enrollees or other persons on behalf of an enrollee. The bill requires a pharmacy benefits manager to annually certify to the State Corporation Commission that it has met certain requirements. The Commission is directed to impose a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 per claim for a violation of these provisions.The bill establishes a pharmacy benefits manager duty, which includes the duties of care, good faith, and fair dealing, owed to any enrollee, provider, or health benefit plan that receives pharmacy benefits management services from the pharmacy benefits manager or that furnishes, covers, receives, or is administered a unit of a prescription drug for which the pharmacy benefits manager has provided pharmacy benefits management services. The bill requires the Commission to define by regulation the scope of such duty and provides for a private cause of action for any person aggrieved by the breach of such duty. The bill is identical to HB 2773.

Mark J. PeakeRepublican

Va. Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program; electronic filing, review of claims.

Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program; electronic filing; review of claims. Requires electronic filing of claims under the Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program. The bill requires such claims to include condensed and uncompressed fetal heart rate monitoring strips and prenatal records and increases from 10 to 21 days the timeframe in which the Program is required to file a response to a claim. The bill also increases from $3,000 to $6,000 the amount paid to the medical school that assesses and prepares a report for a claim.

Christopher T. HeadRepublican

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 (i) the time period over which such physical stress occurred can be reasonably identified and documented and (ii) exposure to such repetitive and sustained physical stressors in the course of employment is the primary cause, as defined in the bill, of the injury or disease. The bill's provisions apply only to injuries or diseases arising on or after July 1, 2026.

Ryan T. McDougleRepublican

Vegetative growth on certain property; maintenance.

Maintenance of vegetative growth on certain property. Authorizes a locality to require an owner of property that (i) was formerly used as a golf course but where such use has been discontinued and (ii) abuts an area zoned for residential purposes to cut or maintain the vegetative growth in a manner that (a) is consistent with the character of the former golf course property and compatible with the surrounding residential area and (b) prevents such property from becoming a detriment to the health, safety, or welfare of the residents of the abutting residential area. The bill allows the locality to have its agents or employees cut or maintain the vegetative growth on such property, as the locality deems necessary, at the owner's expense after providing reasonable notice to the owner of record of such property. The costs for cutting or maintaining the vegetative growth on such property may be collected by the locality as taxes are collected. The bill states that its provisions are declarative of existing law.

Christie New CraigRepublican

Workers' compensation benefits; disorders induced by law-enforcement officers and firefighters.

Workers' compensation benefits; post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, or depressive disorder incurred by law-enforcement officers and firefighters. Increases from 52 weeks to 500 weeks the maximum duration after the date of diagnosis that workers' compensation benefits are payable for post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, or depressive disorder incurred by law-enforcement officers and firefighters acting in the line of duty. The bill also removes the prohibition on medical treatment, temporary total incapacity benefits, or temporary partial incapacity benefits from being awarded beyond four years from the date of the qualifying event that was the primary cause of the post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, or depressive disorder. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of law-enforcement officer to include any civilian employed by a county, city, or town police department or by a sheriff's office as a crime scene investigator for the purposes of worker's compensation claims related to post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, or depressive disorder.

Bryce E. ReevesRepublican

Gas-powered leaf blowers; local prohibition or regulation, civil penalty.

Local prohibition or regulation of gas-powered leaf blowers; civil penalty. Provides that any locality may by ordinance prohibit or regulate the use of gas-powered leaf blowers. The bill provides that the ordinance may include provisions for a civil penalty and that the funds from such civil penalties may be used by the locality to assist with the purchase of nonprohibited leaf blowers by residents and local businesses.

Saddam Azlan SalimDemocrat

Health insurance; coverage for acupuncture treatments.

Practice of acupuncture; definition; health insurance; coverage for acupuncture treatments. Amends the definition of the "practice of acupuncture" as it relates to the practice of medicine and other healing arts to specify that it means the stimulation of selected points on the body to prevent or modify the perception of pain or to normalize physiological functions for the treatment of certain ailments or conditions of the body and includes acupuncture needle insertion, dry needling, electroacupuncture, cupping, gua sha, and moxibustion. Under current law, the "practice of acupuncture" means the stimulation of certain points on or near the surface of the body by the insertion of needles to prevent or modify the perception of pain or to normalize physiological functions for the treatment of certain ailments or conditions of the body and includes the techniques of electroacupuncture, cupping, and moxibustion. The bill requires health insurers, corporations providing health care coverage subscription contracts, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for acupuncture treatments. The bill applies to policies, contracts, and plans delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027.

Saddam Azlan SalimDemocrat

Electric utilities; State Corporation Commission to establish an emissions intensity target program.

Electric utilities; emissions intensity target program. Requires the State Corporation Commission to develop an emissions intensity target program for Dominion Energy Virginia and American Electric Power to achieve net-zero emissions. The bill requires the Commission to promulgate regulations to implement its provisions by January 1, 2026. Upon the promulgation of such regulations, the bill repeals certain provisions that require Dominion Energy Virginia and American Electric Power to participate in a renewable energy portfolio standard program, authorize the State Air Pollution Control Board to promulgate certain regulations, and provide that the construction or purchase by a public utility of certain generation facilities is in the public interest.

Mark D. ObenshainRepublican

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 (i) the time period over which such physical stress occurred can be reasonably identified and documented and (ii) exposure to such repetitive and sustained physical stressors in the course of employment is the primary cause, as defined in the bill, of the injury or disease.

Christopher T. HeadRepublican

Constitutional amendment (first reference); right to work.

Constitutional amendment (first reference); right to work. Provides that it is unlawful for any person, corporation, association, or the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions to deny or attempt to deny employment to any person because of such person's membership in, affiliation with, resignation from, or refusal to join or affiliate with any labor union or employee organization.

Mark D. ObenshainRepublican

Constitutional amendment; term limits for Lieutenant Governor & Attorney General (first reference).

Constitutional amendments (first reference); executive branch of government; Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General; term limits. Prohibits any person from being eligible to be elected to more than two terms as Lieutenant Governor or Attorney General. The amendments provide that service for a partial term does not preclude serving the allowed number of full terms and applies the limits to terms of service to persons elected to serve as Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General in 2029 and thereafter.

Mark J. PeakeRepublican

Electrical facilities that generate electricity from wind; requirements for permitting, etc.

Electrical facilities that generate electricity from wind; requirements for permitting; impact on U.S. military and national security. Requires, for the issuance of a permit by rule by the Department of Environmental Quality for a small renewable energy project that generates electricity solely from wind, that either (i) the U.S. Secretary of Defense has determined that the project does not have an adverse impact on military operations and readiness or pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or (ii) the applicant has agreed to take measures acceptable to the U.S. Department of Defense to sufficiently mitigate any adverse impact on military operations and readiness or unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States. The bill also provides that, for the purposes of the State Corporation Commission permitting the construction and operation of electrical generating facilities, an electrical facility that generates electricity from wind is considered contrary to the public interest unless (a) the U.S. Secretary of Defense has determined that the facility does not have an adverse impact on military operations and readiness or pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or (b) the utility has agreed to take measures acceptable to the U.S. Department of Defense to sufficiently mitigate any adverse impact on military operations and readiness or unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States.

Marty MartinezDemocrat

Income tax, state; subtraction for retirement income of certain federal employees.

Income tax; subtraction; retirement income of certain federal employees. Establishes, beginning in taxable year 2025, an individual income tax subtraction for 20 percent of the retirement income of retirees covered under the federal Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS).

Bill DeStephRepublican

Electric utilities; State Corporation Commission to establish an emissions intensity target program.

Electric utilities; emissions intensity target program. Requires the State Corporation Commission to develop an emissions intensity target program for Dominion Energy Virginia and American Electric Power to achieve net-zero emissions. The bill requires the Commission to promulgate regulations to implement its provisions by January 1, 2026. Upon the promulgation of such regulations, the bill repeals certain provisions that require Dominion Energy Virginia and American Electric Power to participate in a renewable energy portfolio standard program, authorize the State Air Pollution Control Board to promulgate certain regulations, and provide that the construction or purchase by a public utility of certain generation facilities is in the public interest.

Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.Republican

Virginia Retirement System; enhanced retirement benefits for animal control officers.

Virginia retirement system; enhanced retirement benefits; animal control officers. Adds full-time animal control officers to the list of local employees eligible to receive enhanced retirement benefits for hazardous duty service for service earned in such positions on or after July 1, 2026. Under current law, localities may provide such benefits to first responders, including firefighters and emergency medical technicians, and certain other hazardous duty positions. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

Christopher T. HeadRepublican

Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund; established and created.

Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund created. Creates the Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund to assist private developers with non-utility costs associated with the installation of electric vehicle charging stations (i) in certain localities, (ii) on eligible public land, as defined in the bill, or (iii) within one mile of the boundary of eligible public land. The bill provides that a private developer may apply for a grant in an amount equal to 70 percent of the private developer's non-utility costs for the installation of such public electric vehicle charging stations. The Department of Energy shall establish guidelines for the administration of the Program, including guidelines related to the application for and award of grants. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2030.

Lashrecse D. AirdDemocrat

Elections; absentee voting in person, uniform availability.

Elections; absentee voting in person; uniform availability. Requires absentee voting in person to be available from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday during early voting and between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the first Saturday and second Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding all elections. Under current law, local electoral boards have some discretion to decide certain hours and days when absentee voting in person is available.

David R. SuetterleinRepublican

Income tax, state; creates alternative schooling and public school tax credits.

Income tax; alternative schooling and public school tax credits. Creates an alternative schooling tax credit as a refundable income tax credit for taxable years 2025 through 2029, for up to $5,000 in qualifying expenses, defined in the bill, incurred by the parent or legal guardian of an eligible student in home education or attending a private school. If the taxpayer's family Virginia adjusted gross income does not exceed 300 percent of federal poverty guidelines, the taxpayer may claim an additional $2,500 refundable tax credit. The bill also creates a public school tax credit as a refundable individual tax credit for taxable years 2025 through 2029, for up to $1,500 in qualifying expenses, defined in the bill, incurred by the parent or legal guardian of a student in public school. If the taxpayer's family Virginia adjusted gross income does not exceed 300 percent of federal poverty guidelines, the taxpayer may claim an additional $2,500 refundable tax credit. The bill allows the taxpayer one credit per eligible student per year and requires the taxpayer to submit purchase receipts to verify qualifying expenses for each credit. The aggregate amount of credits allowable for each credit is limited to $25 million per taxable year and will be allocated by the Department of Taxation on a first-come, first-served basis. In the event that the aggregate amount of credits claimed in a single taxable year is greater than 90 percent of such amount, then such aggregate credit cap amount shall be increased in the immediately succeeding taxable year by 10 percent.

Christie New CraigRepublican

Voter identification; identification containing a photograph required.

Elections; voter identification; identification containing a photograph required. Requires presentation of a form of identification containing a photograph in order to vote. The bill repeals the provisions of law permitting a voter who does not have one of the required forms of identification to vote after signing a statement, subject to felony penalties for false statements, that he is the named registered voter he claims to be. Instead, the bill provides that such voter is entitled to cast a provisional ballot.

Mark J. PeakeRepublican

Voter registration; verification of social security numbers, provisional registration status.

Voter registration; verification of social security numbers; provisional registration status. Requires the general registrar to verify that the name, date of birth, and social security number provided by an applicant on the voter registration application match the information on file in the Social Security Administration database or any other database approved by the State Board of Elections before registering such applicant. The bill specifies that if the information provided by the applicant does not match the information on file in such database, the applicant (i) is provisionally registered to vote and notified as to what steps are needed to be fully registered to vote and (ii) is permitted to vote by provisional ballot but such ballot shall not be counted until the voter presents certain information. The bill also requires the general registrar to verify annually no later than August 1 that the name, date of birth, and social security number in the registration record of each registered voter in the registrar's jurisdiction match the information on file with the Social Security Administration or any other database approved by the State Board and, in accordance with current law, to initiate the cancellation of the registration of any voter whose registration record information does not match such database information. The State Board is authorized by the bill to approve the use of any government database to the extent required to enable each general registrar to carry out the provisions of the bill and to promulgate rules for the use of such database. The bill requires the Department of Elections to provide each general registrar access to the Social Security Administration database and any other database approved by the State Board and to enter into any agreement with any federal or state agency to facilitate such access. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.

Mark J. PeakeRepublican

Absentee voting in person; available beginning 14 days prior to election.

Absentee voting in person; available beginning 14 days prior to election. 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.

Mark J. PeakeRepublican