Virginia 2024 Regular Session All Bills
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB561
Introduced
1/10/24
Refer
1/10/24
Department of Environmental Quality; nuclear energy electrical generation facilities; permitting. Adds an electrical generation facility with a rated capacity not exceeding 300 megawatts that generates electricity only from nuclear energy located in Planning District 1 (LENOWISCO), 2 (Cumberland Plateau), 3 (Mount Rogers), or 4 (New River Valley Region) to the definition of small renewable energy project for purposes of the regulation of such projects by the Department of Environmental Quality. The bill requires the Department to limit the permitting of such facilities pursuant to the definition and directs the Department to develop the applicable permit by rule regulations for such nuclear energy projects to be effective as soon as practicable.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB562
Introduced
1/10/24
Refer
1/10/24
Pilot program for captured coal mine methane; renewable energy portfolio standard. Directs the State Corporation Commission to establish a pilot program for American Electric Power (Phase I Utility) and Dominion Energy (Phase II Utility) to submit proposals to deploy electricity generation from captured coal mine methane. Under the bill, reasonable and prudent costs incurred under the captured coal mine methane project shall be recovered through utility base rates. Additionally, the bill provides that electricity generated using captured coal mine methane with a non-combustion electric generator under the captured coal mine methane project shall be considered an eligible resource for purposes of the renewable energy portfolio standard program.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB563
Introduced
1/10/24
Refer
1/10/24
Report Pass
2/8/24
Report Pass
2/8/24
Engrossed
2/12/24
Refer
2/15/24
Department of Education; Virginia Community College System; regional career and technical education program. Directs the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Virginia Community College System, the Virginia Board of Workforce Development, the Board of Education, the school board and division superintendent of Tazewell County Public Schools, and representatives of the governing boards of comprehensive community colleges located in Tazewell County and contiguous counties to study the feasibility of and make recommendations on developing a plan for establishing a regional career and technical education program for all students in grade levels six through 12 who reside in Planning District 2. Department of Education; Virginia Community College System; regional career and technical education program. Directs the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Virginia Community College System, the Virginia Board of Workforce Development, the Board of Education, the school board and division superintendent of Tazewell County Public Schools, and representatives of the governing boards of comprehensive community colleges located in Tazewell County and contiguous counties to study the feasibility of and make recommendations on developing a plan for establishing a regional career and technical education program for all students in grade levels six through 12 who reside in Planning District 2.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB564
Introduced
1/10/24
Refer
1/10/24
Report Pass
2/7/24
Engrossed
2/9/24
Refer
2/15/24
Report Pass
2/23/24
Refer
2/23/24
Report Pass
2/28/24
Enrolled
3/7/24
Chaptered
4/5/24
Passed
4/5/24
Individual income tax subtraction; income earned in certain localities. Directs the Department of Taxation and the Commission on Local Government to assess the need for income tax relief in double distressed localities in the Commonwealth that have experienced significant loss of population since 2013. The Department and the Commission must report on their recommendations to the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations and the House Committees on Finance and Appropriations by November 1, 2024. Individual income tax subtraction; income earned in certain localities. Directs the Department of Taxation and the Commission on Local Government to assess the need for income tax relief in double distressed localities in the Commonwealth that have experienced significant loss of population since 2013. The Department and the Commission must report on their recommendations to the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations and the House Committees on Finance and Appropriations by November 1, 2024.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB565
Introduced
1/10/24
Refer
1/10/24
Report Pass
2/9/24
Engrossed
2/12/24
Engrossed
2/13/24
Refer
2/16/24
Report Pass
2/27/24
Engrossed
3/1/24
Engrossed
3/5/24
Enrolled
3/8/24
Chaptered
4/17/24
Energy efficiency programs; incremental annual savings. Provides that for the 2029 program year and all subsequent years, "in the public interest" for the purpose of assessing energy efficiency programs means that the State Corporation Commission determines that the program is cost-effective. The bill directs the Commission to promulgate regulations no later than September 30, 2025, establishing a single, consistent cost-effectiveness test for use in evaluating proposed energy efficiency programs. The bill requires Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Power Company to track, quantify, and report to the Commission the incremental annual savings, as defined in the bill, achieved by such utility's energy efficiency programs.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB566
Introduced
1/10/24
Refer
1/10/24
Report Pass
2/12/24
Engrossed
2/13/24
Refer
2/16/24
Report Pass
2/23/24
Enrolled
3/4/24
Chaptered
4/5/24
Passed
4/5/24
Trustees; settlement of accounts; notice and statements to beneficiaries; requirements. Provides that the beneficiary of a trust shall be deemed to have released a trustee and ratified all actions of a trustee for the administration of a trust if, when the trust terminates or the trustee ceases to serve, the trustee sends the beneficiary notice and the beneficiary does not object within 60 days after the trustee sent such notice. The bill also requires the trustee to provide to the beneficiary certain financial information related to the trust.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB567
Introduced
1/10/24
Refer
1/10/24
Siting of energy facilities; approval by the State Corporation Commission. Establishes a procedure under which an electric utility or independent power provider (applicant) is able to obtain approval for a certificate from the State Corporation Commission for the siting of an energy facility rather than from the governing body of a locality. Under the bill, applicants are authorized to submit an application to the Commission if (i) the locality fails to timely approve or deny an application; (ii) the application complies with certain requirements for Commission approval, but a host locality denies the application; or (iii) the locality amends its zoning ordinance after it has notified the applicant that its requirements are compatible with the requirements for Commission approval, and the amendment imposes additional requirements that are more restrictive. The bill provides that an applicant who is issued a certificate by the Commission for an energy facility is exempt from obtaining approvals or permits, including any land use approvals or permits under the regulations and ordinances of the locality. The bill applies to any solar energy facility with a capacity of 50 megawatts or more, any wind energy facility with a capacity of 100 megawatts or more, and any energy storage facility with a nameplate capacity of 50 megawatts or more and an energy discharge capability of 200 megawatt hours or more.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB568
Introduced
1/10/24
Refer
1/10/24
Report Pass
2/8/24
Engrossed
2/9/24
Refer
2/15/24
Report Pass
2/20/24
Engrossed
2/23/24
Engrossed
2/27/24
Enrolled
3/4/24
Chaptered
4/4/24
Passed
4/4/24
Crisis stabilization services; facilities licensed by Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; nursing homes; dispensing and administration of drugs; emergency. Permits facilities licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services that provide crisis stabilization services to maintain a stock of Schedules II through VI controlled substances necessary for immediate treatment of patients admitted to such facility. Under current law, maintenance of a stock of Schedule VI controlled substances is allowed under certain conditions, but a stock of Schedules II through V controlled substances may be maintained only if authorized by federal law and Board of Pharmacy regulations. The bill also allows automated drug dispensing systems and remote dispensing systems to be used by state facilities established pursuant to Title 37.2 (Behavioral Health and Developmental Services), facilities that provide crisis stabilization services, nursing homes, and other facilities authorized by the Board of Pharmacy that meet certain conditions. The bill contains an emergency clause, directs the Board of Pharmacy to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill, and is identical to
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB569
Introduced
1/10/24
Refer
1/10/24
Report Pass
2/2/24
Engrossed
2/6/24
Refer
2/13/24
Report Pass
2/23/24
Refer
2/23/24
Report Pass
2/28/24
Enrolled
3/7/24
Chaptered
4/17/24
State Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; regulations; crisis receiving centers; appropriate and safe use of seclusion; work group; report. Directs the State Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to amend its regulations to ensure that its licensing and human rights regulations support high-quality crisis services, including by authorizing the appropriate and safe use of seclusion in crisis receiving centers and crisis stabilization units. The bill exempts the Board's initial adoption of such regulations from the provisions of the Administrative Process Act. The bill also directs the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to convene a work group to propose additional regulations to allow for the use of (i) evidence-based and recovery-oriented seclusion and restraint practices and (ii) alternative behavior management practices that may limit or replace the use of seclusion and restraint in hospitals, residential programs, and licensed facilities. The bill requires the Department to submit a report of its findings, recommendations, and proposed regulations to the General Assembly by November 1, 2025. State Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; regulations; crisis receiving centers; appropriate and safe use of seclusion; work group; report. Directs the State Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to amend its regulations to ensure that its licensing and human rights regulations support high-quality crisis services, including by authorizing the appropriate and safe use of seclusion in crisis receiving centers and crisis stabilization units. The bill exempts the Board's initial adoption of such regulations from the provisions of the Administrative Process Act. The bill also directs the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to convene a work group to propose additional regulations to allow for the use of (i) evidence-based and recovery-oriented seclusion and restraint practices and (ii) alternative behavior management practices that may limit or replace the use of seclusion and restraint in hospitals, residential programs, and licensed facilities. The bill requires the Department to submit a report of its findings, recommendations, and proposed regulations to the General Assembly by November 1, 2025.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB57
Introduced
12/26/23
Refer
12/26/23
Report Pass
1/31/24
Engrossed
2/5/24
Refer
2/13/24
Carrying a concealed handgun onto the premises of any restaurant; penalty. Makes it a Class 2 misdemeanor for any person, except for active and qualified retired law-enforcement officers, to carry a concealed handgun onto the premises of any restaurant or club for which a license to sell and serve alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption has been granted by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority. Under current law, a concealed handgun permit holder may carry a concealed handgun onto the premises of any restaurant or club that sells alcoholic beverages, but he is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor if he consumes an alcoholic beverage while on the premises.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB570
Introduced
1/10/24
Refer
1/10/24
Report Pass
2/7/24
Report Pass
2/12/24
Engrossed
2/13/24
Refer
2/16/24
Report Pass
2/27/24
Enrolled
3/6/24
Vetoed
4/8/24
Virginia Human Rights Act; definition of "employer." Waives the Commonwealth's sovereign immunity to a civil action under the definition of "person" in relevant law. The bill also expands the definition of "employer" as it relates to the requirement to provide reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities under the Virginia Human Rights Act to include any government or political subdivision, or agent of such government or political subdivision, employing more than five employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year. The bill also reduces the number of employees from 15 to five for the definition of employer of domestic workers. Virginia Human Rights Act; definition of "employer." Waives the Commonwealth's sovereign immunity to a civil action under the definition of "person" in relevant law. The bill also expands the definition of "employer" as it relates to the requirement to provide reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities under the Virginia Human Rights Act to include any government or political subdivision, or agent of such government or political subdivision, employing more than five employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year. The bill also reduces the number of employees from 15 to five for the definition of employer of domestic workers.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB571
Introduced
1/10/24
Refer
1/10/24
Synthetic media; penalty. Expands the applicability of provisions related to defamation, slander, and libel to include synthetic media, defined in the bill. The bill makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to generate, create, or use or cause to be generated, created, or used any deceptive audio or visual media, defined in the bill, for the purpose of committing a criminal offense involving fraud. The bill creates a rebuttable presumption that such deceptive audio or visual media was generated or created for the purpose of committing such criminal offense if such deceptive audio or visual media is subsequently used as part of a plan or course of conduct to commit such criminal offense. The bill also authorizes the individual depicted in the deceptive audio or visual media to bring a civil action against the person who violates such prohibition to recover actual damages, reasonable attorney fees, and such other relief as the court determines to be appropriate. The bill directs the Attorney General to convene a work group to study and make recommendations on the current enforcement of laws related to the use of deceptive audio or visual media, including deepfakes, and any further action needed to address the issue of such use in fraudulent acts.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB572
Introduced
1/10/24
Refer
1/10/24
Report Pass
1/18/24
Engrossed
1/23/24
Refer
2/13/24
Report Pass
2/22/24
Enrolled
3/4/24
Chaptered
4/2/24
Passed
4/2/24
Maximum width of vehicles; school buses. Increases from 100 inches to 102 inches the maximum total outside width permitted for school buses.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB573
Introduced
1/10/24
Refer
1/10/24
Report Pass
1/29/24
Report Pass
2/7/24
Engrossed
2/9/24
Refer
2/15/24
Virginia Public Safety Communications Infrastructure Fund and Program established. Establishes the Virginia Public Safety Communications Infrastructure Fund and Program, to be administered by the Department of Emergency Management and financially managed by the Virginia Resources Authority, for the purpose of making loans and awarding grants to local governments for the purpose of assisting with improvement projects relating to public safety radio and communications infrastructure.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB574
Introduced
1/10/24
Refer
1/10/24
Report Pass
1/26/24
Engrossed
1/30/24
Refer
2/13/24
Report Pass
2/23/24
Refer
2/23/24
Report Pass
2/28/24
Enrolled
3/7/24
Chaptered
4/5/24
Passed
4/5/24
Behavioral Health Commission; behavioral health and crisis response services; civil admissions laws and processes; work group; report. Directs the Behavioral Health Commission to convene a work group to study how to effectively align current civil admissions laws and processes with new behavioral health and crisis response services and resources in the Commonwealth. The bill directs the Behavioral Health Commission to make recommendations for any statutory, regulatory, licensing, training, and reimbursement changes related to Virginia's current civil admissions process and to report such recommendations by July 1, 2025. Behavioral Health Commission; behavioral health and crisis response services; civil admissions laws and processes; work group; report. Directs the Behavioral Health Commission to convene a work group to study how to effectively align current civil admissions laws and processes with new behavioral health and crisis response services and resources in the Commonwealth. The bill directs the Behavioral Health Commission to make recommendations for any statutory, regulatory, licensing, training, and reimbursement changes related to Virginia's current civil admissions process and to report such recommendations by July 1, 2025.