Virginia 2022 Regular Session All Bills
VA
Virginia 2022 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB554
Introduced
1/11/22
Refer
1/11/22
Larceny of a catalytic converter; penalty. Provides that any person who conspires, confederates, or combines with another to commit larceny or counsels, assists, aids, or abets another in the performance of a larceny of a catalytic converter from a motor vehicle where the value of such catalytic converter is less than $1,000 is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
VA
Virginia 2022 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB555
Introduced
1/11/22
Refer
1/11/22
Report Pass
2/1/22
Engrossed
2/4/22
Refer
2/8/22
Report Pass
2/17/22
Enrolled
2/23/22
Chaptered
4/1/22
Passed
4/1/22
Health care providers; transfer of patient records in conjunction with closure, sale, or relocation of practice; electronic notice permitted. Allows health care providers to notify patients either electronically or by mail prior to the transfer of patient records in conjunction with the closure, sale, or relocation of the health care provider's practice. Current law requires health care providers to provide such notice by mail.
VA
Virginia 2022 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB556
Introduced
1/11/22
Refer
1/11/22
Report Pass
2/4/22
Engrossed
2/9/22
Refer
2/11/22
Report Pass
2/28/22
Enrolled
3/7/22
Chaptered
4/7/22
Passed
4/7/22
Charter; City of Bristol; election of councilmembers; city manager; chief financial officer monthly statement for presentation. Changes the date of elections in the City of Bristol from May to November and the start of terms from July to January. The bill clarifies the term inaugural or organizational meeting and changes meeting dates that referred to July to January. The bill changes the expiration dates and references to filling vacancies of other boards from June to December and July to January. The bill provides that the city manager's term commences at the inaugural or organizational meeting and changes the term expiration from June to December of the same calendar year. The bill provides that the chief financial officer's statement for presentation to the council by the city manager is to be submitted either no later than the twenty-fifth day of each month or as soon as practicable thereafter. The bill updates the term "councilman" to "councilmember" in the charter. Charter; City of Bristol; election of councilmembers; city manager; chief financial officer monthly statement for presentation. Changes the date of elections in the City of Bristol from May to November and the start of terms from July to January. The bill clarifies the term inaugural or organizational meeting and changes meeting dates that referred to July to January. The bill changes the expiration dates and references to filling vacancies of other boards from June to December and July to January. The bill provides that the city manager's term commences at the inaugural or organizational meeting and changes the term expiration from June to December of the same calendar year. The bill provides that the chief financial officer's statement for presentation to the council by the city manager is to be submitted either no later than the twenty-fifth day of each month or as soon as practicable thereafter. The bill updates the term "councilman" to "councilmember" in the charter.
VA
Virginia 2022 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB557
Introduced
1/11/22
Refer
1/11/22
Report Pass
2/10/22
Engrossed
2/14/22
Refer
2/16/22
Report Pass
2/23/22
Enrolled
3/3/22
Chaptered
4/11/22
Passed
4/11/22
Disposition of property previously used by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services as the Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute. Authorizes the Governor to convey a portion of property previously used by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services as the Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute to Smyth County. The conveyance shall be made without consideration and in as-is condition.
VA
Virginia 2022 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB558
Introduced
1/11/22
Refer
1/11/22
Report Pass
2/8/22
Engrossed
2/11/22
Refer
2/16/22
Report Pass
2/21/22
Engrossed
2/24/22
Engrossed
2/28/22
Enrolled
3/2/22
Chaptered
4/27/22
Natural gas, biogas, and other gas sources of energy; definitions; energy conservation and efficiency; Steps to Advance Virginia's Energy Plan; biogas supply infrastructure projects; work group. Permits natural gas utilities to include in their fuel portfolios, submitted to the State Corporation Commission to monitor fuel prices and purchases, supplemental or substitute forms of gas sources, defined in the bill, that meet certain standards and that reduce emissions intensity. The bill amends provisions of the Code related to conservation and energy efficiency programs, removes certain cost-effectiveness requirements for conservation and energy efficiency programs, and adds appliance rebates to the types of programs the Commission may consider. The bill expands conservation and ratemaking efficiency provisions of the Code that currently apply to natural gas consumption specifically to instead apply generally to energy consumption. Natural gas, biogas, and other gas sources of energy; definitions; energy conservation and efficiency; Steps to Advance Virginia's Energy Plan; biogas supply infrastructure projects; work group. Permits natural gas utilities to include in their fuel portfolios, submitted to the State Corporation Commission to monitor fuel prices and purchases, supplemental or substitute forms of gas sources, defined in the bill, that meet certain standards and that reduce emissions intensity. The bill amends provisions of the Code related to conservation and energy efficiency programs, removes certain cost-effectiveness requirements for conservation and energy efficiency programs, and adds appliance rebates to the types of programs the Commission may consider. The bill expands conservation and ratemaking efficiency provisions of the Code that currently apply to natural gas consumption specifically to instead apply generally to energy consumption. The bill introduces enhanced leak detection and repair programs, defined in the bill, as a type of eligible infrastructure replacement for a natural gas utility facility. The bill provides that the costs of detecting and repairing leaks may be added to a natural gas utility's plan to identify proposed eligible infrastructure replacement projects and related cost recovery mechanisms, known as the utility's Steps to Advance Virginia's Energy (SAVE) Plan. The bill adds provisions to the Code related to biogas supply infrastructure projects, defined in the bill, and specifies that eligible infrastructure costs for such projects include (i) the investment in such projects, (ii) the return on the investment in such projects, (iii) a revenue conversion factor, (iv) operating and maintenance expenses, (v) depreciation, (vi) property tax and other taxes or government fees, and (vii) carrying costs on the over-recovery or under-recovery of the eligible biogas supply infrastructure costs. Under the bill, natural gas utilities can recover these eligible infrastructure costs on an ongoing basis through the gas component of the utility's rate structure or other recovery mechanism approved by the Commission. The bill provides that the biogas supply investment plan submitted by a natural gas utility may include an option to receive the biogas or sell the biogas at market prices and establishes a timeline for the Commission to approve such plan. The bill requires a natural gas utility with an approved biogas supply investment plan to annually file a report of the investments made, the eligible infrastructure costs incurred and the amount of such costs recovered, the volume of biogas delivered to customers or sold to third parties during the 12-month reporting period, and an analysis of the price of biogas delivered to customers and the market cost of biogas during the reporting period. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality to convene a stakeholder work group to determine the feasibility of setting a statewide methane reduction goal and plan. The recommendations of the work group shall be reported to the General Assembly by July 1, 2023.
VA
Virginia 2022 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB559
Introduced
1/11/22
Refer
1/11/22
Report Pass
2/7/22
Refer
2/7/22
Local school boards; composite index of local ability-to-pay; required local effort; adjustment in certain circumstances. Provides that in any case in which a local school board enters into a comprehensive agreement with a private entity pursuant to the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002 whereby the private entity finances the construction of a new public school building in the local school division through the issuance of bonds; leases the building to the local school board in an arrangement such as a certificate of participation, a double net lease, or a triple net lease; and expects the local school board to make lease payments in an annual amount that approximates or is equal to the annual debt service on such bonds, the Department of Education shall not consider 50 percent of such lease payments as capital outlay and debt service and therefore shall not subtract such payments in the biennial calculation of net local expenditures for operations or required local effort for the purpose of determining such local school division's composite index of local ability-to-pay, if so requested by the local school board.
VA
Virginia 2022 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB56
Introduced
1/3/22
Refer
1/3/22
Pensions; enhanced retirement benefits for juvenile detention specialists. Requires each political subdivision participating in the Virginia Retirement System and each county or city participating in the Virginia Retirement System to provide retirement benefits comparable to the benefits provided to state police officers to juvenile detention specialists.
VA
Virginia 2022 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB560
Introduced
1/11/22
Refer
1/11/22
Health insurance; retail community pharmacies. Requires a carrier to administer its health benefit plans in a manner consistent with certain requirements and to include such requirements in its provider contracts addressing the provision of pharmacy benefits management. The bill provides that (i) a covered individual is permitted to fill any mail order-covered prescription, at the covered individual's option, at any mail order pharmacy or network participating retail community pharmacy under certain conditions; (ii) the carrier or pharmacy benefits manager is prohibited from imposing a differential copayment, additional fee, rebate, bonus, or other condition on any covered individual who elects to fill his prescription at an in-network retail community pharmacy that is not similarly imposed on covered individuals electing to fill a prescription from a mail order pharmacy; and (iii) the pharmacy benefits manager is required to expressly disclose to the carrier in the contract if the pharmacy benefits manager retains all or a greater portion of a drug manufacturer's rebate amount or any additional direct or indirect remuneration from any third party for drugs dispensed through the pharmacy benefits manager-owned mail order pharmacy than the pharmacy benefits manager does for drugs dispensed through a retail community pharmacy. The bill also removes the exemption for a self-insured or self-funded employee welfare benefit plan under provisions regulating pharmacy benefits managers.
VA
Virginia 2022 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB561
Introduced
1/11/22
Refer
1/11/22
Report Pass
1/25/22
Engrossed
1/28/22
Refer
2/1/22
Report Pass
2/28/22
Enrolled
3/8/22
Chaptered
4/8/22
Passed
4/8/22
Corporations and regulated business entities; not set out and obsolete sections of the Code of Virginia. Sets out sections in Title 13.1 (Corporations) and Title 56 (Public Service Companies) that are currently carried by reference only. The bill also repeals a section not set out in Title 13.1 (Corporations) that states the legislative intent of the chapter relating to professional corporations and is currently carried by reference only. The bill contains technical amendments. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Code Commission.
VA
Virginia 2022 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB562
Introduced
1/11/22
Refer
1/11/22
Report Pass
1/26/22
Engrossed
1/31/22
Refer
2/2/22
Report Pass
2/22/22
Engrossed
2/25/22
Enrolled
3/1/22
Chaptered
4/8/22
Passed
4/8/22
Conservation and natural resources; sections not set out; technical revisions. Sets out in the Code of Virginia with amendments for clarity sections in Title 28.2 (Fisheries and Habitat of the Tidal Waters), Title 29.1 (Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating), and Title 62.1 (Waters of the State, Ports and Harbors) that are currently carried by reference only. The bill also makes technical revisions to the description of the Historic Falls of the James State Scenic River. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Code Commission.
VA
Virginia 2022 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB563
Introduced
1/11/22
Refer
1/11/22
Report Pass
2/7/22
Refer
2/7/22
Report Pass
2/11/22
Engrossed
2/14/22
Refer
2/16/22
Report Pass
3/2/22
Engrossed
3/7/22
School division maintenance reserve tool; School Construction Fund and Program established. Requires the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of General Services, to develop or adopt and maintain a data collection tool to assist each school board to determine the relative age of each public school building in the local school division and the amount of maintenance reserve funds that are necessary to restore each such building. The bill requires each school board to provide to the Department of Education in a timely fashion the local data that is necessary to ensure that such tool remains relevant and useful for the determination of maintenance reserve needs. The bill requires the Department of Education to consider converting or using as a template the Department of General Services' Real Estate and Assets Management system for tracking buildings and infrastructure maintenance status to meet the above requirement to maintain such a tool. The bill also establishes the School Construction Fund and Program for the purpose of awarding grants to local school boards to fund the construction of new public school buildings or the renovation or expansion of existing public school buildings in the local school division. The bill requires any revenues remaining in the Gaming Proceeds Fund after certain enumerated appropriations are made to be appropriated to the School Construction Fund. School division maintenance reserve tool; School Construction Fund and Program established. Requires the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of General Services, to develop or adopt and maintain a data collection tool to assist each school board to determine the relative age of each public school building in the local school division and the amount of maintenance reserve funds that are necessary to restore each such building. The bill requires each school board to provide to the Department of Education in a timely fashion the local data that is necessary to ensure that such tool remains relevant and useful for the determination of maintenance reserve needs. The bill requires the Department of Education to consider converting or using as a template the Department of General Services' Real Estate and Assets Management system for tracking buildings and infrastructure maintenance status to meet the above requirement to maintain such a tool. The bill also establishes the School Construction Fund and Program for the purpose of awarding grants to local school boards to fund the construction of new public school buildings or the renovation or expansion of existing public school buildings in the local school division. The bill requires any revenues remaining in the Gaming Proceeds Fund after certain enumerated appropriations are made to be appropriated to the School Construction Fund.
VA
Virginia 2022 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB564
Introduced
1/11/22
Refer
1/11/22
Charter; City of Portsmouth; city council; noninterference. Charter; City of Portsmouth; city council; noninterference. Provides that any member of the Portsmouth City Council who violates certain charter provisions related to noninterference in appointments or removals of officers and employees of the city, upon motion of another member of the City Council and a majority vote of all members of the City Council, shall be subject to public censure and a fine not to exceed $100.
VA
Virginia 2022 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB565
Introduced
1/11/22
Refer
1/11/22
Report Pass
2/9/22
Engrossed
2/14/22
Refer
2/16/22
Report Pass
2/24/22
Report Pass
3/2/22
Engrossed
3/4/22
Engrossed
3/12/22
Engrossed
3/12/22
Enrolled
3/21/22
Chaptered
4/11/22
Passed
4/11/22
Advanced Manufacturing Talent Investment Fund. Creates the Advanced Manufacturing Talent Investment Fund to support the General Assembly's long-term goal of supporting efforts to increase the number of new eligible credentials in advanced manufacturing. The bill provides that moneys in the Fund shall also be used to improve the readiness of graduates to be employed in advanced manufacturing fields and fields that align with advanced manufacturing growth opportunities identified by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.
VA
Virginia 2022 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB566
Introduced
1/11/22
Refer
1/11/22
Public hospitals; medical debt collection practices. Public hospitals; medical debt collection practices. Requires the University of Virginia Medical Center (the Medical Center) and the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority (the Authority) to make payment plans available to each person who incurs a debt related to medical treatment. The bill (i) requires that such payment plans be provided in writing and cap monthly payments at no more than five percent of the person's household income, (ii) provides that the first payment under such payment plan shall not be due until a date that is at least 90 days after the date on which treatment was provided or the date on which the person discharged, and (iii) provides that a person who has made at least 10 payments pursuant to the payment plan in a 12-month period shall be deemed to be in compliance with the payment plan. The bill also prohibits the Medical Center and the Authority from charging interest or late fees for medical debt, requires the Medical Center and Authority to make information available in writing in languages other than English spoken in the service area and via oral translation service for other languages, prohibits the Medical Center and the Authority from selling medical debt to any person other than an organization that purchases medical debt for the purpose of paying such debt in full, prohibits the Medical Center and the Authority from initiating any extraordinary debt collection action including garnishment of wages or liens on a debtor's primary residence or vehicle, and requires the Medical Center and the Authority to establish a Financial Assistance Ombudsman Office to assist patients and other persons with issues related to financial assistance, payment plans, and debt collection.
VA
Virginia 2022 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB567
Introduced
1/11/22
Refer
1/11/22
Toll Relief Program; eligibility. Requires the Department of Transportation to expand eligibility for the Toll Relief Program for the tolls on the Downtown and Midtown Tunnels to residents of the Cities of Portsmouth and Norfolk with an income of $45,000 or less per year. The bill requires that all eligible residents receive the same toll relief regardless of income level. The bill provides that funding for the additional toll relief shall be paid by the Commonwealth from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), as possible, and any costs not covered by the ARPA shall be the responsibility of the Commonwealth. The bill expires on January 1, 2025.