Use of artificial intelligence system by mental health service providers; civil penalty. Permits the use of an artificial intelligence system by mental health service providers to assist in providing therapy or counseling services if such mental health service provider maintains full responsibility for all interactions, outputs, and data use associated with the system. The bill prohibits the use of an artificial intelligence system to provide therapy or counseling services without a mental health service provider. The bill specifies that records kept by mental health service providers must comply with health records privacy requirements; creates an exception for religious counseling, peer support, or self-help materials and educational resources; and establishes a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for violations of the statute.
Civil actions; assignment as business litigation action; requirements. Allows counsel for any party or the judge of the circuit court initially assigned to certain civil actions to request to have such action assigned by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia to have such civil action assigned as a business litigation action. The bill provides that an action to be eligible to be considered a business litigation action, the action shall (i) have a minimum amount in controversy of $1,000,000, (ii) present special complexity, including specialized issues or acute litigation management needs, and (iii) fall into one or more of several enumerated categories of civil actions. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.
Title insurance; schedule of risk rates. Requires each title insurance company to publish its schedule of risk rates, including policies, endorsements, closing protection letter fees, any rate classifications or groupings, and any modifications or amendments. The bill prohibits a title insurance company or a title insurance agency or agent from charging a policy rate for a title insurance policy that exceeds those set forth in the title insurance company's published schedule of policy rates, with certain exceptions. Notwithstanding such prohibition, the bill permits a title insurance company or its agent to charge policy rates that it negotiates on policies insuring an owner-occupied primary residence in which a natural person or estate planning entity is in title.
Zoning; special exceptions; City of Portsmouth. Adds the City of Portsmouth to those localities that have been granted authority to impose a condition upon any special exception relating to retail alcoholic beverage control licensees that provides that such special exception will automatically expire upon a change of ownership of the property, a change in possession, a change in the operation or management of a facility, or the passage of a specific period of time.
Parole; investigation prior to release; input from the attorney for the Commonwealth. Requires the Parole Board to notify the attorney for the Commonwealth in each jurisdiction in which an offense occurred for which a prisoner is incarcerated as part of the required investigation to determine if such prisoner will be released on parole. The bill further provides that the attorney for the Commonwealth may submit his input to the Board regarding the impact the release of the prisoner will have on the jurisdiction. The bill requires that any such input received shall be considered by the Board but shall not infringe on the Board's authority to exercise its decision-making authority.
Elections; absentee voting; counting ballots prior to the close of polls. Allows officers of election at a central absentee precinct to begin ascertaining and recording the number of votes cast by absentee ballots at any time after noon on the day of the election. Under current law, absentee ballots that are counted by hand may be tallied, but not counted, at any time after noon on the day of the election, and no ballot totals for any absentee ballots shall be ascertained until after polls close. The bill also clarifies that vote totals for absentee ballots cast in person on voting systems cannot be determined until the day of the election. The bill also requires that general registrars begin processing absentee ballots on the fourteenth day prior to the day of the election. Under current law such processing is not required until the seventh day prior to the day of the election.
Expiration of cooperative agreements; period of oversight by Commissioner of Health; transfer of records. Establishes that cooperative agreements approved pursuant to the recommendation of the Southwest Virginia Health Authority shall automatically expire on June 30, 2028. The bill directs the Department of Health to transfer all records related to the approval and supervision of any cooperative agreement to the Commissioner of Health within 60 days of such expiration, establishes a five-year supervision period after such expiration during which the Commissioner supervises any managed care pricing restrictions in effect at the time of expiration pursuant to an agreement, and requires the Commissioner to report annually the status of its supervision to the Attorney General. The bill directs the Department of Health to repeal the provisions of 12VAC5-221 of the Virginia Administrative Code upon the expiration of cooperative agreements pursuant to the bill.
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; fixed in-state tuition policy; review; report. Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (the Council), in consultation with each baccalaureate public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth, to assess the potential impact of a policy whereby such institutions are required to establish a fixed in-state tuition rate for each incoming first year undergraduate Virginia student enrolled in a four-year baccalaureate program and declare each such student eligible for such rate for four academic years or any portion or term thereof during which the student makes satisfactory progress toward completing such degree program, provided that the student maintains continuous enrollment. The bill requires the Council to report its findings to the Chairs of the House Committee on Appropriations, the House Committee on Education, the Senate Committee on Education and Health, and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations no later than November 30, 2026.
Interstate Massage Compact; education and examination requirements; Compact Commission membership. Modifies the education and examination requirements of the Interstate Massage Compact to clarify acceptable national examinations and expand acceptable education programs to include massage therapists with less than 625 clock hours of education but who have held a license in good standing for at least two years. The bill permits each state to choose its delegate to the Commission as either a member of the state's licensing board or its primary administrative officer of the state's licensing authority and the Compact Commission to elect up to two ex officio, nonvoting members of the Commission. As introduced, the amendments are statutory updates requested of participating states by the Interstate Massage Compact Commission.
This bill (SJ 110) is a ceremonial resolution celebrating the life of Lucille Murray Brown. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, programs, or individuals through legislative action. The resolution was formally adopted by both the Senate and House of Representatives in February 2026, as documented in its passage record. It serves solely to honor the individual's life and legacy through a formal legislative expression.
This is a ceremonial resolution (SJ 113) that formally honors the life of Sincere B. Allah. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or affect any policies or individuals. The resolution passed both the Senate and House in February 2026 as a symbolic gesture of recognition. It directly affects no one through legislative action, serving only as a formal expression of tribute.
This bill is a ceremonial resolution commending Jerren Lucas, Sr., for his contributions. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, programs, or individuals beyond this formal recognition. The resolution passed both the Senate and House via voice vote, with final approval recorded on February 25, 2026. It serves solely as an official expression of appreciation with no binding effect.
