Administrative Process Act; regulatory economic analysis required. Provides that executive branch agencies shall ensure that all regulations and guidance documents are posted on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall in accordance with instructions issued by the Department of Planning and Budget. Such postings shall include a regulatory economic analysis, defined in the bill, that is prepared by the executive branch agency, along with any other information as determined by the Department of Planning and Budget's instructions.
Additional local sales and use tax to support schools; referendum. Authorizes all localities to impose an additional local sales and use tax at a rate not to exceed one percent with the revenue used only for public school capital projects, as defined in the bill, if such levy is approved in a voter referendum. The bill removes the requirement that such a tax must have an expiration date on either (i) the date of the repayment of any bonds or loans used for such capital projects or (ii) a date chosen by the governing body. Under current law, only Charlotte, Gloucester, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Northampton, Patrick, and Pittsylvania Counties and the City of Danville are authorized to impose such a tax.
Assisted living facilities; involuntary discharge; notice. Requires that regulations of the Board of Social Services regarding involuntary discharges of residents from assisted living facilities provide residents, the Department of Social Services, and the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman with a 45-day notice prior to an involuntary discharge. Under current law, a 30-day notice is required prior to involuntary discharge.
Nonresident concealed handgun permits. Requires the Department of State Police to issue a nonresident concealed handgun permit within 90 days of receipt of a completed application unless it is determined that the applicant is disqualified.
Certain boundary line adjustments; Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act. Requires a locality to provide, by ordinance, that a boundary line adjustment that applies to lots that are located in a Resource Protection Area and that are grandfathered under the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act does not create a new lot of record. The bill requires such ordinance to include that such boundary line adjustment shall be considered as a lot that predates the Act. The bill clarifies that its provisions do not limit a locality's zoning authority. The bill also directs the State Water Control Board to amend its criteria under the Act to allow an owner of a lot in any locality that predates the Act to submit an application for a boundary line adjustment without creating a new lot of record.
Virginia Brownfield and Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund. Increases from $100 per kilowatt of nameplate capacity from renewable energy sources that are located on brownfields to $200 per kilowatt of nameplate capacity from renewable energy sources that are located on brownfields the grant amount a project developer can receive from the Virginia Brownfield and Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund. This bill is a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation.
Optional provisions in subdivision ordinances; time-based restrictions. Adds to the list of optional provisions in local subdivision ordinances provisions restricting the frequency of permissible subdivisions for a qualifying property within a specified time frame not to exceed seven years. The bill requires such provisions to enumerate the required qualifications for eligible properties and to establish procedures for seeking a subdivision of property.
Consumer Data Protection Act; individual action for damages or penalty; social media platforms. Allows a parent or minor who suffers loss as the result of a violation of Consumer Data Protection Act provisions relating to social media platforms to initiate an action against a controller or processor in violation of such provisions. The bill requires a parent or minor to provide a controller or processor 30 days' written notice and an opportunity for the controller or processor to cure the noticed violation prior to initiating such an action.
Health insurance; coverage for the treatment of acquired brain injury required. Requires health insurance carriers to provide coverage for the treatment of acquired brain injury that includes coverage for treatment using cognitive rehabilitation therapy, cognitive communication therapy, neurocognitive therapy, neuropsychological testing, neurofeedback therapy, functional rehabilitation therapy, community reintegration services, post-acute residential treatment services, inpatient services, outpatient and day treatment services, and home and community-based treatment.
Electric utilities; certificate of operation for high-load facilities. Prohibits any person from operating a high-load facility, defined in the bill as a facility whose electricity demand exceeds 25 megawatts that was not operating before July 1, 2026, without first having obtained a certificate of operation from the State Corporation Commission. The bill includes factors for the Commission to consider in reviewing a petition to operate a high-load facility. The bill establishes a presumption that a high-load facility shall be considered to have met certain requirements if the high-load facility has secured sufficient contracts for energy storage resources or zero-carbon electric generating resources or that the high-load facility has a plan to implement sufficient demand reduction measures. The bill also requires the Commission to consider certain factors in a review of a petition for a certificate to operate a high-load facility, including whether there is sufficient energy, capacity, and grid infrastructure to support the operation of the high-load facility and whether the operation of the high-load facility would create an unreasonable cross-subsidy across customers served by the incumbent electric utility.
Local governing bodies; school division budgets; funding levels. Requires the annual budget for educational purposes prepared and approved by each local governing body to meet or exceed the funding levels set out in the needs-based budget prepared and approved by the school board and submitted by the division superintendent in accordance with relevant law.
Prospective school board employees and contractors; disqualification based on conviction for certain crimes. Prohibits any school board from employing or contracting for the services of any individual who has been convicted of any violent felony or crime of moral turpitude set forth in a certain statutory definition of barrier crime. Under current law, school boards are permitted to employ or contract for the services of any such individual if certain enumerated conditions are met.
