Electric utilities; construction of electrical transmission lines; advanced conductors. Requires the State Corporation Commission to consider the prudency of using advanced conductors in making any determination regarding need, corridor, route, or method of installation as it relates to certain applications for the construction of transmission lines of 138 kilovolts or more. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2026.
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 37.2-808, 37.2-809, 37.2-813, as they are currently effective and as they shall become effective, 37.2-815, 37.2-816 and 37.2-817, as they are currently effective and as they shall become effective, and 37.2-1104 of the Code of Virginia, relating to referrals to community-based outpatient stabilization programs for voluntary treatment.
Barrier crimes; peer recovery specialists; screening requirements. Modifies the barrier crimes screening assessment requirements for peer recovery specialists applying for employment with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, an employer licensed by the Department, or a community services board to require that such specialists have completed all prison or jail terms, been free of parole or probation for at least five years, have no pending charges in any locality, and not be under probation or parole supervision in order to be eligible for a screening assessment. Under current law, an applicant must also have paid all fines, restitution, and court costs for any prior convictions.
Voter registration; time period for closing registration records before certain elections. Reduces from 21 to 10 days the number of days during which registration records are closed before primary and general elections and from 13 to 10 days the number of days during which registration records are closed before special elections that are not called by the Governor, Speaker of the House of Delegates, or President pro tempore of the Senate. This bill is identical to SB 991.
Recording of proceedings in district courts. Allows an audio recording of proceedings in a district court, which includes both general district court and juvenile and domestic relations district court, to be made by a party or his counsel. Under current law, such recordings are only allowed in a general district court.Additionally, the bill (i) allows the judge of a juvenile and domestic relations district court to impose any restriction as necessary to comply with the confidentiality requirements applicable to such district court and (ii) prohibits the judge of a district court from (a) ordering or requiring a party or his counsel to submit a copy of such audio recording or transcript of such recording to the clerk of a district court to be maintained in such party's individual case file or (b) prohibiting a party or his counsel from providing such copy or transcript to the opposing party or his counsel.
Certified public accountant; educational requirements. Clarifies education and experience requirements for candidates to qualify for CPA licensure. The bill also provides that, to qualify for practice privileges within the Commonwealth, an individual must have a license in good standing in another jurisdiction and have passed the CPA examination. The bill directs the Board of Accountancy to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill contains technical amendments. This bill is identical to SB 1042.
Department of Health; WIC applications; information. Directs the Department of Health to provide information, resources, and education to food banks regarding providing assistance to individuals completing a Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) application.
Department of Medical Assistance Services; application for medical assistance; eligibility for Medicaid Works. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to seek the necessary approvals from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to amend its application for medical assistance to gather all necessary information to determine an applicant's eligibility for the Medicaid Works program.
Transportation Trust Fund; investments; personal liability. Extends the limitation on personal liability for loss in investments from moneys in the Transportation Trust Fund to an individual's actions taken while serving on or employed by certain entities, even if such individual no longer serves on or is employed by any such entity. The bill also applies such limitation on personal liability for loss in investments to members and employees of the Central Virginia Transportation Authority. This bill is identical to SB 1250.
Optometry; TPA-Formulary; TPA-Formulary Committee; dissolution. Dissolves the TPA-Formulary and the TPA-Formulary Committee. The TPA-Formulary is the list of the therapeutic pharmaceutical agents that a TPA-certified optometrist may prescribe. The TPA-Formulary Committee provides recommendations to the Board of Pharmacy regarding the therapeutic pharmaceutical agents to include on the TPA-Formulary for the treatment of diseases and abnormal conditions of the eye and its adnexa by TPA-certified optometrists. This bill is identical to SB 1081.
Department of Medical Assistance Services; state plan for medical assistance services; dental care services for pregnant women; report. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to amend the state plan for medical assistance services to include a provision for payment for comprehensive dental care services for pregnant women. The bill requires the Department to report to the Governor and General Assembly annually on the implementation and outcomes of the provision, and requires the first such report to be submitted by November 1, 2026.
Public officers; death, resignation, or ceasing to hold office; automatic substitution. Provides that certain provisions providing for the dismissal of an action where a party fails to make a motion for substitution of parties when such motion is necessary do not apply in actions where a public officer is a party in an official capacity, provided that the only claim in such action was made against such public officer in his official capacity, and such officer dies, resigns, or otherwise ceases to hold office while an action is pending. In any such instance, such public officer's successor shall be automatically substituted as a party. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Boyd-Graves Conference.
