High polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pavementsealants; prohibition; civil penalty. Prohibits the sale or distribution of any pavement sealant that contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations greater than one percent by weight onor after July 1, 2024, except that a retailer may continue to sellany existing inventory that remains in stock on that date. The billalso prohibits the application or use of such sealants on or afterJuly 1, 2025. Any person who violates either prohibition is subjectto a civil penalty of $250, to be paid into the Virginia EnvironmentalEmergency Response Fund.
High school graduation requirements; satisfaction of certain course credits with workforce credentials; development and maintenance of list of accepted credentials. Requires the Board of Education, in collaboration with the Virginia Community College System, Career and Technical Education directors, and industry partners, to develop and maintain a current, comprehensive, and uniform list of industry-recognized workforce credentials that students may take as a substitute for certain units of credit required for graduation, including such credentials that are accepted as substitutes for electives credits and credentials completed outside of regular school hours. The bill requires each school board to accept as a substitute for a required credit any credential listed as an accepted substitute for such required credit. The bill also requires any College and Career Access Pathways Partnership entered into between a school board and a comprehensive community college to specify, consistent with the list, industry-recognized credentials that are accepted as substitutes for certain credits required for high school graduation. Finally, the bill requires the Board, in establishing graduation requirements, to permit any student to substitute elective credits for completion of any industry-approved workforce credential that is included on the list as an accepted substitute for such credits. This bill incorporates HB 1009 and is identical to SB 199.
Historic preservation. Provides that thefiling of a historic designation application shall stay a localityfrom issuing any permit to raze or demolish a proposed historic landmark,building, or structure until 30 days after the rendering of the finaldecision of the governing body of the locality. The bill also specifies that the affected property owner, the applicant, or any residentof the locality who provided public input on the locality's historicdistrict plan may appeal to the circuit court for review of any finaldecision of the governing body pursuant to such application.
Pro tempore judicial appointments; criminal background checks; financial disclosure. Requires that prior to an appointment as a pro tempore judge, a person submit his fingerprints for a national and Virginia criminal history record search, submit to a search of the central registry maintained by the Department of Social Services for founded complaints of child abuse and neglect, and provide a written statement of economic interests. The bill prohibits any person with a criminal felony conviction from being appointed as a pro tempore judge.
Public middle schools and high schools; student organizations; career and technical education organizations permitted.Permits each public middle school and high school to establishcareer and technical education student organizations, regardlessof whether such school offers career and technical education courses.
Tangible personal property tax; classification; certain vehicles. Removes the sunset on authorization for localities to assign a rate of tax or assessment different from the general tangible personal property rate on certain automobiles, trucks, motor vehicles for use by the handicapped, motorcycles, mopeds, all-terrain vehicles, off-road motorcycles, campers, and other recreational vehicles. Under current law, such authorization is limited to taxable years 2022 through 2024. This bill incorporates HB 422 and is identical to SB 194.
Marriage lawful regardless of sex, gender, or race of parties; issuance of marriage license. Provides that no person authorized to issue a marriage license shall deny the issuance of such license to two parties contemplating a lawful marriage on the basis of the sex, gender, or race of the parties. The bill also requires that such lawful marriages be recognized in the Commonwealth regardless of the sex, gender, or race of the parties. The bill provides that religious organizations or members of the clergy acting in their religious capacity shall have the right to refuse to perform any marriage. This bill is identical to HB 174.
Board of Accountancy; powers and duties. Repeals the requirement for an annual audit of the Board of Accountancy and amends several Code provisions relating to the Board. The bill changes the Secretariat of the Board from the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to the Secretary of Finance. The bill authorizes the Board to initiate complaints against (i) individuals or firms claiming to hold a Virginia license, as defined in the bill, and (ii) unlicensed individuals or firms using the certified public accountant title in Virginia, as defined in the bill. The bill also grants the Executive Director of the Board the power to request and receive reports from the Central Criminal Records Exchange in conjunction with the Executive Director's investigative and enforcement powers. Finally, the bill directs the Board to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill. This bill is identical to HB 1337.
Teachers; renewable licenses; requirements;assessments. Prohibits the Board of Education from includingin its regulations governing the award of a renewable license asa teacher any requirement that an individual take and receive a passingscore on any national or state-based communications and literacyassessment as a condition of the initial award or renewal of sucha license. The bill also clarifies that the Board is not prohibitedfrom requiring any such individual to take and receive a passingscore on any other assessment as a condition of the initial awardor renewal of such a license.
Use of artificial intelligence by public bodies; prohibitions; Commission on Artificial Intelligence established; report; sunset. Prohibits any public body from implementing any system that employs artificial intelligence, defined in the bill, unless such public body (i) performs an initial impact assessment and ongoing impact assessments of such system to ensure its use will not result in any unlawful discrimination against any individual or group of individuals or have any disparate impact on any individual or group of individuals and (ii) does not implement or ceases to use such system if such effects occur. The bill requires all public bodies that implement such systems to submit an annual report on such assessments and provide an inventory of all such systems used to the appropriate entity designated in the bill. The bill directs the Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth to develop, publish, and maintain policies and procedures concerning systems that employ artificial intelligence and are used by public bodies. The bill creates the Commission on Artificial Intelligence to advise the General Assembly on issues related to artificial intelligence and make advisory recommendations on its findings. The Commission sunsets on July 1, 2027. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2025. This bill incorporates SB 621.
Legal age for marriage. Establishes the legal age of marriage to be 18 years of age and eliminates the ability for a minor to be declared emancipated on the basis of the intent to marry. The bill contains a reenactment clause.
Duties of agencies and their appointing authorities; diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic plans. Requires each state agency to submit its annual report assessing the impact of its diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic plans on the populations served by the agency and on the agency's workforce and budget to the General Assembly, in addition to the Governor, by July 1 of each year.
