Department of Medical Assistance Services; appeals of agency determinations. Allows health care providers to appeal any adverse action or determination by the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) or a DMAS contractor. Under current law, such appeal is allowed for a determination of overpayment to a provider by DMAS. The bill adds provisions allowing for DMAS and an appealing provider to stay the deadline for their appeal decision to facilitate settlement discussions. The bill further specifies that DMAS contractors are required to represent themselves during appeal proceedings. This bill is identical to HB 2082.
Photo speed monitoring devices; school crossing zones. Requires photographs, microphotographs, videotapes, or other recorded images, or documentation, produced by a photo speed monitoring device placed in a school crossing zone to depict or confirm a portable sign or tilt-over sign that is in position or blinking sign that is activated, indicating the school crossing zone, at the time of such vehicle speed violation in order for a sworn certificate to be considered prima facie evidence for purposes of enforcing vehicle speed violations.
Public school buildings; indoor air quality; inspection and evaluation. Establishes several enumerated requirements for local school divisions to ensure indoor air quality in each public school building in the local school division, including providing for an inspection and evaluation program at least once every two years and an industry-recognized uniform inspection and evaluation at least once every four years. This bill is identical to HB 2618.
Department of Medical Assistance Services; appeals of agency determinations. Allows health care providers to appeal any adverse action or determination by the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) or a DMAS contractor. Under current law, such appeal is allowed for a determination of overpayment to a provider by DMAS. The bill adds provisions allowing for DMAS and an appealing provider to stay the deadline for their appeal decision to facilitate settlement discussions. The bill further specifies that DMAS contractors are required to represent themselves during appeal proceedings. This bill is identical to SB 1237.
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; rental payment methods. Prohibits a landlord subject to the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act from charging a tenant any fee for the collection or processing of any payment of rent, security deposit, or any other fees, unless the landlord offers an alternative method of payment that does not include additional fees. This bill is identical to SB 1356.
Real Estate Board; membership; qualifications. Increases from five to seven years the amount of time a licensed real estate broker or salesperson must be actively engaged in the profession in order to serve as a member of the Real Estate Board. The bill also provides additional qualifications and requirements specific to those members who are licensed real estate brokers or salespersons. This bill is identical to SB 866.
Sale and procurement of dogs by pet shops; pet shop regulations. Requires a pet shop, upon taking custody of a dog, or any representative of a pet shop upon taking custody of a dog on behalf of the pet shop, to make a record of the matter containing certain information relating to the custody of the dog. The bill requires the pet shop to maintain such records for at least two years and make them available to the State Veterinarian at the time of inspection or upon request. The bill requires the pet shop make a summary of such records available to the State Veterinarian during inspection or upon request. The bill also directs the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services to include in its regulations governing the keeping of dogs and cats by a pet shop a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 per violation for each finding in a given inspection of a pet shop upon communication to the pet shop, provided that the cumulative civil penalty does not exceed $5,000. The bill requires the civil penalty to be recovered in a civil action brought by the Attorney General in the name of the Commonwealth and paid into a special fund in the state treasury to the credit of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
School boards; prohibition against hiring or contracting for the services of certain individuals; certain criminal convictions. Prohibits each school board from employing or contracting for the services of any individual who has been convicted of any felony crime of violence as defined in the bill or any offense involving a child. Current law prohibits each school board from employing or contracting for the services of any individual who has been convicted of any violent felony set forth in a certain statutory definition of "barrier crime" or any offense involving the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse, or rape of a child, or the solicitation of any such offense.
Criminal records; expungement and sealing of records. Amends numerous statutes related to the expungement and sealing of criminal records that are scheduled to become effective on July 1, 2025. In addition, the bill requires (i) the Department of State Police to develop a secure portal by October 1, 2026, for the purpose of allowing government agencies to determine whether a record has been sealed prior to responding to a request pursuant to current law; (ii) the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission to (a) educate and provide support to public defenders and certified court-appointed counsel on expungement and sealing, (b) conduct trainings on expungement and sealing across the Commonwealth, (c) develop a library of resources on expungement and sealing for use by public defenders and court-appointed counsel, and (d) post information regarding expungement and sealing for use by the public on its website; and (iii) the Department of State Police, Department of Motor Vehicles, Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, and clerk of any circuit court to provide data and information on sealing upon request of the Virginia State Crime Commission for purposes of monitoring and evaluating the implementation and impact of the sealing processes. The bill also directs (1) the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia to collect data related to petitions filed pursuant to relevant law, (2) the Virginia State Crime Commission to analyze data and information collected on automatic and petition sealing and report to the General Assembly by the first day of the 2026 Regular Session, and (3) the Virginia State Crime Commission to continue its study on the sealing of criminal records and report its work to the General Assembly by the first day of the 2026 Regular Session.The bill repeals the Sealing Fee Fund and directs any money in such Fund to be reverted to the general fund. The bill contains a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026, for the provisions related to the sealing of former possession of marijuana offenses without entry of a court order and the sealing of charges and convictions related to automatic sealing and such petitions. Lastly, the bill delays the repeal of the relevant law related to marijuana possession, limits on dissemination of criminal history record information, and prohibited practices by employers, educational institutions, and state and local governments until July 1, 2026. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia State Crime Commission. This bill is identical to SB 1466.
Gaming; fantasy contests; age restrictions. Increases from 18 years of age to 21 years of age the minimum age an individual must be to participate in fantasy contests.
Use of artificial intelligence-based tool. Requires that the recommendations or predictions provided by any artificial intelligence-based tool, as such term is defined in the bill, shall not be the sole basis for any decision related to pre-trial detention or release, prosecution, adjudication, sentencing, probation, parole, correctional supervision, or rehabilitation of criminal offenders, provided that any such decision is made by the judicial officer or other person charged with making such decision. The bill provides that the use of any artificial intelligence-based tool shall be subject to any challenge or objection as permitted by law.
Fines, restitution, forfeiture, penalties, and other costs; criminal and traffic cases; itemized statement. Requires the clerk of the court, upon written or electronic request, to provide an itemized statement to any defendant convicted of a traffic infraction or a violation of any criminal law of the Commonwealth or of any political subdivision thereof, or found not innocent in the case of a juvenile, who is sentenced to pay a fine, restitution, forfeiture, or penalty or assessed any other costs in the circuit court or appropriate district court of his county or city at the time such fine, restitution, forfeiture, penalty, or other costs are assessed, or within a reasonable time after assessment. The bill requires the clerk to also provide an updated statement of the outstanding balances of any fines, forfeiture, and penalties, restitution and costs, or payment history upon written or electronic request of the defendant. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2026.
