Virginia 2024 Regular Session All Bills
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB632
Introduced
1/9/24
Refer
1/9/24
Report Pass
2/7/24
Engrossed
2/12/24
Refer
2/14/24
Report Pass
2/29/24
Engrossed
3/4/24
Engrossed
3/9/24
Engrossed
3/9/24
Enrolled
3/25/24
Chaptered
4/8/24
Passed
4/8/24
Teacher licensure; universal licensure by reciprocity. Establishes universal licensure by reciprocity as a category of teacher licensure in the Commonwealth for teachers who hold a valid out-of-state teaching license with full credentials and without deficiencies that has been in force and in use by the individual as an employed teacher in a non-virtual classroom setting at a public or private elementary or secondary school for at least three years prior to and is in force at the time of application and meet other provisions set forth in the bill. The bill also permits the division superintendent rather than the Board of Education, as in current law, to issue a career and technical education teacher a provisional license to allow time for the teacher to attain the industry certification credential required by law. Finally, the bill directs the Department of Education to compile, publicly post on its website, and update as necessary, data on teacher licensure standards and requirements for each state for the purposes of facilitating the determination of the compatibility of out-of-state teacher licenses with requirements for teacher licensure and licensure by reciprocity in the Commonwealth and increasing transparency of such licensure requirements.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB633
Introduced
1/9/24
Refer
1/9/24
Report Pass
2/7/24
Engrossed
2/12/24
Refer
2/14/24
Report Pass
2/26/24
Report Pass
2/28/24
Engrossed
3/1/24
Engrossed
3/4/24
Enrolled
3/7/24
Chaptered
4/3/24
Passed
4/3/24
Forced labor or service; penalties. Expands the offense of abduction to penalize any person who, by force, intimidation or deception, and without legal justification or excuse, obtains the labor or services of another, or seizes, takes, transports, detains or secretes another person or threatens to do so. The bill also expands the offense of receiving money for procuring a person to penalize any person who causes another to engage in forced labor or services or provides or obtains labor or services by any act as described in the offense of abduction. Lastly, the bill allows any person injured as a result of an abduction for the purposes of forced labor or services to commence a civil action for recovery of compensatory damages, punitive damages, and reasonable attorney fees and costs. Forced labor or service; penalties. Expands the offense of abduction to penalize any person who, by force, intimidation or deception, and without legal justification or excuse, obtains the labor or services of another, or seizes, takes, transports, detains or secretes another person or threatens to do so. The bill also expands the offense of receiving money for procuring a person to penalize any person who causes another to engage in forced labor or services or provides or obtains labor or services by any act as described in the offense of abduction. Lastly, the bill allows any person injured as a result of an abduction for the purposes of forced labor or services to commence a civil action for recovery of compensatory damages, punitive damages, and reasonable attorney fees and costs.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB634
Introduced
1/9/24
Refer
1/9/24
Report Pass
1/26/24
Refer
1/26/24
Report Pass
2/6/24
Engrossed
2/9/24
Refer
2/13/24
Report Pass
2/21/24
Enrolled
2/29/24
Chaptered
4/2/24
Passed
4/2/24
Residential dwelling units; rentals for 30 consecutive days or longer. Prohibits a locality from enacting or enforcing an ordinance that bans the rental of residential dwelling units for 30 consecutive days or longer. The bill allows a locality by ordinance to regulate such rental if such regulations (i) are reasonable and (ii) do not exceed the requirements for an owner-occupied residential property or a residential property rented for a lease term of 12 months or more in the same zoning district.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB635
Introduced
1/9/24
Refer
1/9/24
Juveniles; confidentiality of Department records; law-enforcement access; victim notification. Provides access to confidential Department of Juvenile Justice records to (i) any full-time or part-time employee of the Department of State Police or of a police department or sheriff's office that is a part of or administered by the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof and who is responsible for the enforcement of the penal, traffic, or motor vehicle laws of the Commonwealth having a need for juvenile offense history or identifying information of a juvenile and his family members, including juvenile names, parent or guardian names, addresses, dates of birth, photographs, and phone numbers, and (ii) with the exception of medical, psychiatric, and psychological records and reports, any victim, as defined in existing law, when release of the confidential information is only to notify such victim of a juvenile's release from the custody of a local or regional juvenile detention center, community group home, residential care facility, mental health facility, secure alternative placement, or commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice for any offense such juvenile committed against such victim. This bill contains technical amendments.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB636
Introduced
1/9/24
Refer
1/9/24
Refer
1/26/24
Siting of energy facilities; approval by 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. Siting of energy facilities; approval by 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 House Bill HB637
Introduced
1/9/24
Refer
1/9/24
Report Pass
1/26/24
Refer
1/26/24
Report Pass
2/2/24
Engrossed
2/7/24
Refer
2/9/24
Report Pass
2/26/24
Report Pass
2/28/24
Enrolled
3/7/24
Vetoed
3/26/24
Substantial risk orders; training program. Directs the Department of Criminal Justice Services to establish a Substantial Risk Order Training Program for the purposes of training law-enforcement agencies and other public institutions throughout the Commonwealth to use and implement the substantial risk order law. The bill states that the programming shall provide training regarding proper procedures to follow, the circumstances under which the law can be used, the benefits to public safety from proper use of the law, and the harm that may ensue from the law not being used when lawfully available. The Program shall also include efforts to educate the public on and increase awareness of the substantial risk order law. Substantial risk orders; training program. Directs the Department of Criminal Justice Services to establish a Substantial Risk Order Training Program for the purposes of training law-enforcement agencies and other public institutions throughout the Commonwealth to use and implement the substantial risk order law. The bill states that the programming shall provide training regarding proper procedures to follow, the circumstances under which the law can be used, the benefits to public safety from proper use of the law, and the harm that may ensue from the law not being used when lawfully available. The Program shall also include efforts to educate the public on and increase awareness of the substantial risk order law.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB638
Introduced
1/9/24
Refer
1/9/24
Electric utilities; energy efficiency programs; duty to implement the Energy Policy of the Commonwealth; RPS program requirements; competitive procurement. Provides that "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 and directs the Commission to initiate a proceeding no later than December 31, 2025, to establish a single, consistent cost-effectiveness test for use in evaluating proposed energy efficiency programs. Electric utilities; energy efficiency programs; duty to implement the Energy Policy of the Commonwealth; RPS program requirements; competitive procurement. Provides that "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 and directs the Commission to initiate a proceeding no later than December 31, 2025, to establish a single, consistent cost-effectiveness test for use in evaluating proposed energy efficiency programs. The bill provides (i) that "total electric energy" for purposes of the RPS Program requirements does not include energy sold to certain customers purchasing 100 percent renewable energy and (ii) that in any RPS program compliance year, any electric energy that was generated in the previous calendar year from certain nuclear generating plants, or any zero-carbon electric generating facilities, including small modular nuclear reactors and green hydrogen facilities, will reduce the utility's RPS Program requirements by an equivalent amount. The bill provides that the Commission and its staff have the affirmative duty to ensure the Commonwealth implements the Energy Policy of the Commonwealth at the lowest reasonable cost, taking into account all cost-effective demand-side management options and the security and reliability benefits of the regional transmission entity to which each incumbent electric utility has joined. The bill requires that for certain required petitions by Appalachian Power and Dominion Energy Virginia for approvals to construct, acquire, or purchase the generating capacity using energy derived from sunlight or onshore wind, at least 35 percent of such generating capacity is from the purchases of energy from solar or onshore wind facilities owned by persons other than such utilities. Current law requires 35 percent of such generating capacity to be from the purchases of energy from solar or onshore wind facilities owned by persons other than such utilities.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB639
Introduced
1/9/24
Refer
1/9/24
Report Pass
1/31/24
Engrossed
2/5/24
Refer
2/7/24
Report Pass
2/15/24
Enrolled
2/26/24
Chaptered
3/26/24
Passed
3/26/24
Real property tax; notice of assessment changes. Provides that in certain localities, in the event that the total assessed value of real property would result in an increase of one percent or more in the total real property tax levied, the notice of assessment changes shall state the tax rate that would levy the same amount of real estate tax as the previous year when multiplied by the new total assessed value of real estate.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB64
Introduced
12/22/23
Refer
12/22/23
Medicare supplement policies; annual open enrollment period. Requires an insurer, health services plan, or health maintenance organization issuing Medicare supplement policies or certificates in the Commonwealth to offer to an individual currently insured under any such policy an annual open enrollment period commencing on the day of the individual's birthday and remaining opening for at least 30 days thereafter, during which time the individual may purchase any Medicare supplement policy made available by the insurer in the Commonwealth that offers the same benefits as or lesser benefits than those provided by the current coverage. The bill also requires such insurer, health services plan, or health maintenance organization to notify, at least 15 days but not more than 30 days prior to the commencement of such annual open enrollment period, each individual to which such open enrollment period applies of the dates of that open enrollment period, the rights of the individual during that open enrollment period, and any modification of benefits provided by or adjustment of premiums charged for such Medicare supplement policy.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB640
Introduced
1/9/24
Refer
1/9/24
Report Pass
1/26/24
Refer
1/26/24
Report Pass
1/31/24
Engrossed
2/5/24
Refer
2/7/24
Report Pass
2/19/24
Report Pass
2/28/24
Enrolled
3/7/24
Chaptered
4/4/24
Passed
4/4/24
Wrongful incarceration; compensation. Provides that any person who is convicted of a felony by a county or city circuit court of the Commonwealth and is wrongfully incarcerated for such felony shall receive, in addition to the compensation for wrongful incarceration specified under current law, not less than $30,000 for each year or fraction thereof (i) of imprisonment after being sentenced to death or (ii) that such person was required to register with the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry. The bill further requires that the amount paid to the person wrongfully incarcerated shall be in the form of a lump sum; under current law, only the initial 25 percent of an award is required to be paid in lump sum form. Wrongful incarceration; compensation. Provides that any person who is convicted of a felony by a county or city circuit court of the Commonwealth and is wrongfully incarcerated for such felony shall receive, in addition to the compensation for wrongful incarceration specified under current law, not less than $30,000 for each year or fraction thereof (i) of imprisonment after being sentenced to death or (ii) that such person was required to register with the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry. The bill further requires that the amount paid to the person wrongfully incarcerated shall be in the form of a lump sum; under current law, only the initial 25 percent of an award is required to be paid in lump sum form. The bill further removes the bar against receiving compensation if such wrongfully incarcerated person received any funds pursuant to a settlement agreement with any person or entity for compensation or damages arising out of the factual situation in connection with the conviction. The bill replaces such requirement with a provision allowing for the wrongful incarceration compensation award to be offset by any such award in a civil action or settlement.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB641
Introduced
1/9/24
Refer
1/9/24
Refer
1/19/24
Report Pass
1/31/24
Engrossed
2/5/24
Refer
2/7/24
Report Pass
2/28/24
Enrolled
3/7/24
Chaptered
3/26/24
Passed
3/26/24
Claims; David Wayne Kingrea; compensation for wrongful inclusion on sex offender registry. Grants relief in an amount to be appropriated to David Wayne Kingrea, who was wrongly convicted of taking indecent liberties with a minor and, as a result of such wrongful conviction, was required to register on the sex offender registry. Claims; David Wayne Kingrea; compensation for wrongful inclusion on sex offender registry. Grants relief in an amount to be appropriated to David Wayne Kingrea, who was wrongly convicted of taking indecent liberties with a minor and, as a result of such wrongful conviction, was required to register on the sex offender registry.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB642
Introduced
1/9/24
Refer
1/9/24
Refer
1/25/24
Report Pass
2/6/24
Refer
2/6/24
Virginia Creative Economy Grant Program. Establishes the Virginia Creative Economy Grant Program, to be administered by the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, for the purpose of awarding grants to independent content creators and creative economy entrepreneurs, as those terms are defined in the bill, for the purpose of developing and expanding the creative economy, as defined in the bill, in the Commonwealth. The bill provides for the award of grants of no more than $20,000 to any recipient. Virginia Creative Economy Grant Program. Establishes the Virginia Creative Economy Grant Program, to be administered by the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, for the purpose of awarding grants to independent content creators and creative economy entrepreneurs, as those terms are defined in the bill, for the purpose of developing and expanding the creative economy, as defined in the bill, in the Commonwealth. The bill provides for the award of grants of no more than $20,000 to any recipient.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB643
Introduced
1/9/24
Refer
1/9/24
Campaign fundraising; legislative sessions; enforcement of civil penalty. Provides that violations of the prohibition on campaign fundraising during legislative sessions are to be reported to the Attorney General who shall initiate civil proceedings to enforce the civil penalty currently assessed for such violations. The bill provides that in the case of an alleged violation by the Attorney General, the State Board of Elections shall request the Supreme Court of Virginia to appoint outside counsel to receive such violation report and such outside counsel shall be responsible for initiating civil proceedings to enforce the civil penalty.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB644
Introduced
1/9/24
Refer
1/9/24
Report Pass
1/26/24
Engrossed
1/31/24
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 ordinance may include provisions for a civil penalty.
VA
Virginia 2024 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB645
Introduced
1/9/24
Refer
1/9/24
Report Pass
2/6/24
Engrossed
2/9/24
Refer
2/13/24
Report Pass
2/22/24
Enrolled
3/4/24
Vetoed
4/8/24
Parking spaces reserved for charging electric vehicles; signs. Removes the requirement that signs noting that a parking space is reserved for charging plug-in electric motor vehicles include the civil penalty for parking in violation of such sign.