Virginia 2023 Regular Session All Bills
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2281
Introduced
1/11/23
Refer
1/11/23
Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council; powers and duties; complaints; penalties. Authorizes the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council to investigate alleged violations of the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act and the General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act. The Council may initiate an investigation upon its own motion or in response to a complaint filed by a resident of the Commonwealth who has firsthand knowledge of an alleged violation. The bill directs the Council to review the disclosure forms filed by members of the General Assembly for compliance with applicable disclosure requirements and limitations on gifts and the accuracy of all information disclosed and authorizes the Council to initiate an investigation based on the findings of this review. The bill increases from a Class 1 misdemeanor to a Class 6 felony the penalty for any knowing violation of the General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act. Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council; powers and duties; complaints; penalties. Authorizes the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council to investigate alleged violations of the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act and the General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act. The Council may initiate an investigation upon its own motion or in response to a complaint filed by a resident of the Commonwealth who has firsthand knowledge of an alleged violation. The bill directs the Council to review the disclosure forms filed by members of the General Assembly for compliance with applicable disclosure requirements and limitations on gifts and the accuracy of all information disclosed and authorizes the Council to initiate an investigation based on the findings of this review. The bill increases from a Class 1 misdemeanor to a Class 6 felony the penalty for any knowing violation of the General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2282
Introduced
1/11/23
Refer
1/11/23
Report Pass
2/1/23
Engrossed
2/6/23
Refer
2/8/23
Report Pass
2/14/23
Engrossed
2/20/23
Virginia Stormwater Management Program; Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program; exemptions for the harvesting of forest crops. Clarifies that the provisions of the Virginia Stormwater Management Program and the Erosion and Sediment Control Program do not apply to the clearing of lands for the harvesting of forest crops when the areas on which harvesting occurs are not intended to be reforested artificially or naturally or converted to bona fide agricultural or improved pasture use, provided that the land-disturbing activity is the minimum land disturbance necessary, including clearing, grading, excavating, or removal of stumps, for the harvesting of timber and the construction of roads and trails for forest management purposes. Virginia Stormwater Management Program; Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program; exemptions for the harvesting of forest crops. Clarifies that the provisions of the Virginia Stormwater Management Program and the Erosion and Sediment Control Program do not apply to the clearing of lands for the harvesting of forest crops when the areas on which harvesting occurs are not intended to be reforested artificially or naturally or converted to bona fide agricultural or improved pasture use, provided that the land-disturbing activity is the minimum land disturbance necessary, including clearing, grading, excavating, or removal of stumps, for the harvesting of timber and the construction of roads and trails for forest management purposes.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2283
Introduced
1/11/23
Refer
1/11/23
Disconnection suspensions for certain utilities; residential customers; report. Suspends electric, gas, water, or wastewater utilities from disconnecting service to a residential customer for nonpayment of bills or fees during a state of emergency declared by the Governor, and provides that such suspension lasts for 30 days after such declaration of the state of emergency. The bill suspends electric and gas utilities from disconnecting service to a residential customer for nonpayment of bills or fees when the forecasted temperature low is at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit and suspends electric utilities from disconnecting any such customer from service when the forecasted temperature high is at or above 95 degrees Fahrenheit within the 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection. The bill further suspends electric, gas, water, and wastewater utilities from disconnecting residential customers from service on Fridays, weekends, state holidays, and the day immediately preceding a state holiday. Under the bill, certain utilities are required to report annually on residential utility disconnections beginning December 1, 2024. The bill requires the Broadband Advisory Council to convene a working group to study the feasibility and appropriateness of requiring broadband service providers to comply with the provisions of the bill. The State Corporation Commission is permitted to extend or modify the limitations created by the bill as necessary or in the public interest. Disconnection suspensions for certain utilities; residential customers; report. Suspends electric, gas, water, or wastewater utilities from disconnecting service to a residential customer for nonpayment of bills or fees during a state of emergency declared by the Governor, and provides that such suspension lasts for 30 days after such declaration of the state of emergency. The bill suspends electric and gas utilities from disconnecting service to a residential customer for nonpayment of bills or fees when the forecasted temperature low is at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit and suspends electric utilities from disconnecting any such customer from service when the forecasted temperature high is at or above 95 degrees Fahrenheit within the 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection. The bill further suspends electric, gas, water, and wastewater utilities from disconnecting residential customers from service on Fridays, weekends, state holidays, and the day immediately preceding a state holiday. Under the bill, certain utilities are required to report annually on residential utility disconnections beginning December 1, 2024. The bill requires the Broadband Advisory Council to convene a working group to study the feasibility and appropriateness of requiring broadband service providers to comply with the provisions of the bill. The State Corporation Commission is permitted to extend or modify the limitations created by the bill as necessary or in the public interest.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2284
Introduced
1/11/23
Refer
1/11/23
Report Pass
1/24/23
Engrossed
1/30/23
Refer
2/1/23
Report Pass
2/16/23
Enrolled
2/23/23
Chaptered
3/22/23
Passed
3/22/23
Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals; membership. Removes from the membership of the Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals a faculty member of a public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth whose principal field of teaching is management or operation of waterworks or wastewater works and adds to the Board's membership a local or regional representative of the Department of Health.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2285
Introduced
1/11/23
Refer
1/11/23
Report Pass
1/25/23
Engrossed
1/30/23
Refer
2/1/23
Report Pass
2/14/23
Enrolled
2/22/23
Chaptered
3/21/23
Passed
3/21/23
Conveyance of easement; Shenandoah River State Park. Authorizes the Department of Conservation and Recreation to grant and convey an easement at Shenandoah River State Park (Park) to Front Royal Parcel 1, LLC (Grantee) for the purpose of conveying a right-of-way on the location of the existing State Route 737 (Thunderbird Road) to the Grantee to provide access to the lands of the Grantee bisected by the Park.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2286
Introduced
1/11/23
Refer
1/11/23
Elections; campaign finance; contribution limits; civil penalty. Establishes contribution limits from any individual to any candidate campaign committee, political action committee, and political party committee and from any political action committee or political party committee to any campaign committee. The bill provides that any candidate, candidate campaign committee, political action committee, political party committee, or contributor that knowingly violates the contributions limits established by the bill is subject to a civil penalty of up to two times the amount by which the contribution exceeds the limit. The bill prohibits any person that is not an individual from making any contribution to any candidate for elected office.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2287
Introduced
1/11/23
Refer
1/11/23
Practice of certified registered nurse anesthetists. Allows certified registered nurse anesthetists to practice in consultation with a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, or dentistry. Currently, certified registered nurse anesthetists are required to practice under the supervision of a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, or dentistry.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2288
Introduced
1/11/23
Refer
1/11/23
Assault firearms; purchase; age requirement; penalty. Provides that in order to purchase an assault firearm a person must be 21 years of age or older. The bill also expands the definition of "assault firearm" as the term applies to criminal history record information checks.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2289
Introduced
1/11/23
Refer
1/11/23
Report Pass
2/3/23
Engrossed
2/6/23
Refer
2/8/23
Report Pass
2/14/23
Engrossed
2/17/23
Engrossed
2/21/23
Enrolled
2/24/23
Chaptered
3/26/23
Passed
3/26/23
Procedure for removal of elected and certain appointed officers by courts. Sets out the procedure by which, and clarifies the reasons for which, an elected officer or officer who has been appointed to fill an elective office may be removed from office. The bill requires, among other things, that the general registrar review the petition for removal of an officer and determine its sufficiency in accordance with the uniform standards approved by the State Board of Elections and that the attorney for the Commonwealth review such petition to determine if valid grounds exist to remove the officer. If the attorney for the Commonwealth is the elected official who is subject to the removal petition, the bill specifies that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia is tasked with appointing an alternate attorney for the Commonwealth to receive such petition. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Boyd-Graves Conference.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2290
Introduced
1/11/23
Refer
1/11/23
Report Pass
2/3/23
Engrossed
2/6/23
Refer
2/8/23
Report Pass
2/20/23
Engrossed
2/22/23
Engrossed
2/23/23
Enrolled
3/7/23
Chaptered
3/26/23
Passed
3/26/23
Judgment or order for pregnancy and delivery expenses. Provides that in the event that the initial petition for the establishment of parentage is commenced within six months of the live birth of a child, the judgment or order shall, except for good cause shown or as otherwise agreed to by the parties, apportion between the legal parents, in proportion to the legal parents' gross incomes, as used for calculating the monthly child support obligation, (i) the mother's unreimbursed pregnancy and delivery expenses and (ii) those reasonable expenses incurred by either parent for the benefit of the child prior to the birth of the child.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2291
Introduced
1/11/23
Refer
1/11/23
Infants left in newborn safety devices or left with hospital or emergency medical services agency personnel; placement protocol. Establishes protocols for the placement of infants who are left in newborn safety devices or who are left with any personnel of a hospital or emergency medical services agency. Under the bill, a hospital or emergency medical services agency who receives an infant left in a newborn safety device or left with any personnel of a hospital or emergency medical services agency shall immediately transport the infant to a hospital for a physical examination and contact the local board of social services to inform it that an infant has been left at a hospital or emergency medical services agency and of the location of the hospital to which the infant was transported. The bill directs local boards of social services to contact licensed child-placing agencies from a rotating list maintained by the local board to take custody of the infant. Under the bill, the hospital or emergency medical services agency that receives the infant shall complete the Commonwealth's program of medical assistance services application process on behalf of the infant. The bill also describes the requirements for licensed child-placing agencies to be placed on the rotating list maintained by the local board of social services.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2292
Introduced
1/11/23
Refer
1/11/23
Virginia Retirement System; school resource officers. Requires localities to provide enhanced retirement benefits to school resource officers. The bill also allows a retired law-enforcement officer to return to work as a school resource officer after a break in service of at least 12 months without impacting his retirement benefits.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2293
Introduced
1/11/23
Refer
1/11/23
Emergency Services and Disaster Law; Commissioner of Health; emergency orders and regulations; limitations; civil penalty. Provides that neither the Board of Health nor the Commissioner of Health shall make any emergency order or regulation unless, on the basis of the evidence available to the Board, (i) such order or regulation is necessary to suppress a nuisance dangerous to the public health or a communicable, contagious, or infectious disease or other danger to the public life and health; (ii) no alternatives to the proposed order or regulation that are reasonable in light of the impact on quality of life and economic well-being exist; and (iii) the provisions of such order or regulation are narrowly tailored to address the nuisance dangerous to the public health or a communicable, contagious, or infectious disease or other danger to the public life and health. The bill also provides that the Governor shall not issue any emergency rule, regulation, or order unless, on the basis of the evidence available to the Governor, (a) such rule, regulation, or order is necessary to address a compelling circumstance; (b) no alternatives to the proposed rule, regulation, or order that are reasonable in light of the impact on quality of life and economic well-being exist; and (c) the provisions of such rule, regulation, or order are narrowly tailored to address the compelling circumstance. Emergency Services and Disaster Law; Commissioner of Health; emergency orders and regulations; limitations; civil penalty. Provides that neither the Board of Health nor the Commissioner of Health shall make any emergency order or regulation unless, on the basis of the evidence available to the Board, (i) such order or regulation is necessary to suppress a nuisance dangerous to the public health or a communicable, contagious, or infectious disease or other danger to the public life and health; (ii) no alternatives to the proposed order or regulation that are reasonable in light of the impact on quality of life and economic well-being exist; and (iii) the provisions of such order or regulation are narrowly tailored to address the nuisance dangerous to the public health or a communicable, contagious, or infectious disease or other danger to the public life and health. The bill also provides that the Governor shall not issue any emergency rule, regulation, or order unless, on the basis of the evidence available to the Governor, (a) such rule, regulation, or order is necessary to address a compelling circumstance; (b) no alternatives to the proposed rule, regulation, or order that are reasonable in light of the impact on quality of life and economic well-being exist; and (c) the provisions of such rule, regulation, or order are narrowly tailored to address the compelling circumstance. The bill provides that any order that limits the number of individuals who may gather together in person, in public or private, or categorizes individuals on the basis of their relationship to or association with such individuals and limits the categories of individuals with whom an individual who is not known or reasonably suspected to have been exposed to or infected with a communicable disease of public health threat may associate is presumed to negatively impact quality of life and economic well-being. The bill also limits the duration of any emergency rule, regulation, or order to 15 days; provides for one 15-day extension of such rule, regulation, or order; and provides that any person who violates such rule, regulation, or order shall be subject to a civil penalty of no more than $100 per violation. Under current law, any person who violates the provisions of an executive order is subject to a Class 1 misdemeanor.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2294
Introduced
1/11/23
Refer
1/11/23
Report Pass
2/3/23
Engrossed
2/6/23
Refer
2/8/23
Report Pass
2/10/23
Report Pass
2/14/23
Engrossed
2/15/23
Engrossed
2/15/23
Engrossed
2/24/23
Engrossed
2/24/23
Enrolled
3/7/23
Chaptered
4/12/23
Tetrahydrocannabinol; hemp products; packaging, labeling, and testing; penalties. Limits the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that can be included in a hemp product or industrial hemp extract to 0.3 percent and two milligrams per package. The bill limits the application of such THC limits to retail sales and allows a hemp product or industrial hemp extract to contain more than two milligrams of THC if the product or extract contains an amount of cannabidiol (CBD) that is at least 25 times greater than the amount of THC; however, the bill prohibits hemp processors from selling industrial hemp or a substance containing an industrial hemp extract to a person if the processor knows or has reason to know that such person will use the industrial hemp or substance in a substance that violates the aforementioned THC limits. Tetrahydrocannabinol; hemp products; packaging, labeling, and testing; penalties. Limits the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that can be included in a hemp product or industrial hemp extract to 0.3 percent and two milligrams per package. The bill limits the application of such THC limits to retail sales and allows a hemp product or industrial hemp extract to contain more than two milligrams of THC if the product or extract contains an amount of cannabidiol (CBD) that is at least 25 times greater than the amount of THC; however, the bill prohibits hemp processors from selling industrial hemp or a substance containing an industrial hemp extract to a person if the processor knows or has reason to know that such person will use the industrial hemp or substance in a substance that violates the aforementioned THC limits. The bill creates a regulated hemp product retail facility registration, which carries an annual fee of $1,000, and requires persons to obtain such registration from the Commissioner (the Commissioner) of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (the Department) prior to offering for sale or selling regulated hemp products, as defined in the bill, or any substance intended for consumption that is advertised or labeled as containing an industrial hemp-derived cannabinoid. The bill creates certain packaging, labeling, and testing requirements for regulated hemp products and requires that topical hemp products bear a label stating that the product is not intended for human consumption. The bill provides the Commissioner with the authority to access registered regulated hemp product retail facilities and any business that offers for sale or sells at retail a substance intended for human consumption that is advertised or labeled as containing a cannabinoid for the purpose of inspections and securing samples. The bill also imposes a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per day for the following violations: (i) offering for sale or selling at retail without a regulated hemp product retail facility registration a regulated hemp product or a substance intended for human consumption, orally or by inhalation, that is advertised or labeled as containing an industrial hemp-derived cannabinoid, (ii) continuing to offer for sale or selling at retail a regulated hemp product after revocation or suspension of such registration, (iii) offering for sale or selling at retail a substance intended for human consumption, orally or by inhalation, that contains THC in excess of the applicable limits, or (iv) offering for sale or selling at retail a regulated hemp product that does not meet the applicable packaging, labeling, and testing requirements. The bill (i) clarifies that persons who manufacture, store, sell, or offer for sale an industrial hemp extract or food containing an industrial hemp extract are subject to the existing food and drink permit requirement and (ii) requires such persons to indicate their intent to manufacture, store, sell, or offer for sale an industrial hemp extract or food containing an industrial hemp extract on such permit application. The bill also creates labeling, packaging, and testing requirements for industrial hemp extracts and foods containing an industrial hemp extract. The bill creates a civil penalty of $10,000 for the following: (a) manufacturing, selling, or offering for sale an industrial hemp extract or food containing an industrial hemp extract without a permit; (b) continuing to manufacture, sell, or offer for sale an industrial hemp extract or food containing an industrial hemp extract after revocation or suspension of such permit; (c) failing to disclose on a form prescribed by the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that he intends to manufacture, sell, or offer for sale a substance intended to be consumed orally that contains an industrial hemp-derived cannabinoid; (d) manufacturing, selling, or offering for sale a food that contains more than 0.3 percent of THC or more than two milligrams of THC per package; (e) manufacturing, offering for sale, or selling in violation of food and drink laws or regulations a substance intended to be consumed orally that is advertised or labeled as containing an industrial hemp-derived cannabinoid; or (f) otherwise violating any provision of the Commonwealth's food and drink laws or regulations. The bill also makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor to engage in such actions, except for those set forth in clause (d). The bill makes it unlawful under the Consumer Protection Act to (1) sell or offer for sale any substance intended for human consumption that contains a synthetic derivative of THC or (2) sell or offer for sale a topical hemp product that does not include a label stating that the product is not intended for human consumption. The bill also increases existing civil penalties for certain hemp-related violations. The bill provides that certain regulated hemp product provisions related to retail facility registrations, packaging, labeling, and testing and associated civil penalty provisions shall become effective when the Commissioner provides notice to the Virginia Code Commission that the Department has established the registration process. The bill removes tetrahydrocannabinol from the list of Schedule I controlled substances and contains other technical amendments.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB2295
Introduced
1/11/23
Refer
1/11/23
Study; restrictions on legal and illegal electronic gaming activities; joint committee established; civil penalty; report. Increases the maximum amount for the civil penalty for gambling devices in unregulated locations and changes the distribution of moneys received from the monthly tax required for each skill game machine. The bill provides for the operation and regulation of electronic gaming activities under the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, extending the prior regulatory scheme to July 1, 2024. The bill also directs the Authority to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill and provides for the establishment of a joint committee composed of 10 members from the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology and the House Committee on General Laws to study the regulation of all electronic gaming in the Commonwealth. Study; restrictions on legal and illegal electronic gaming activities; joint committee established; civil penalty; report. Increases the maximum amount for the civil penalty for gambling devices in unregulated locations and changes the distribution of moneys received from the monthly tax required for each skill game machine. The bill provides for the operation and regulation of electronic gaming activities under the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, extending the prior regulatory scheme to July 1, 2024. The bill also directs the Authority to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill and provides for the establishment of a joint committee composed of 10 members from the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology and the House Committee on General Laws to study the regulation of all electronic gaming in the Commonwealth.