SB 1332 increases the maximum allowable fee for towing and initial storage of passenger cars in California. It raises the cap on the hookup and initial towing fee from $150 to $210 per vehicle. This change directly affects towing and storage companies, which must now charge at or below the new limit, and vehicle owners who are charged these fees. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025, and applies specifically to passenger cars, not commercial vehicles.
Placing Nazi symbol or emblem on certain property with intent to intimidate; penalty. Creates a Class 6 felony for any person who, with the intent of intimidating any person or group of persons, places a Hakenkreuz, hooked cross, or Nazi symbol or emblem, sometimes referred to as the Nazi swastika, on the private property of another without permission. The bill also makes it a Class 6 felony if such Nazi symbol or emblem is placed on a highway or other public place in a manner having a direct tendency to place another person in reasonable fear or apprehension of death or bodily injury. Finally, the bill clarifies that such Nazi symbol or emblem does not include and is distinct from the sacred swastika word and symbol of peace and prosperity used by Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, or Native American religions.
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 HB 2218.
Revenue reserves of the Revenue Stabilization Fund and the Revenue Reserve Fund. Increases the maximum combined amount in the Revenue Stabilization Fund and the Revenue Reserve Fund from 15 percent to 20 percent of the Commonwealth's average annual tax revenues, provided that such combined amount shall only exceed 15 percent if the balance of the Revenue Reserve Fund does not exceed eight percent of such revenues. The bill also removes the requirement that the Governor make increased deposits into the Revenue Stabilization Fund during periods of increased revenue collection.
High school diploma seal of biliteracy; designation as high-demand industry workforce credential for certain purposes. Requires the Board of Education to include on its list of industry workforce credentials its diploma seal of biliteracy and to consider such seal to be a high-demand industry workforce credential for the purpose of satisfying graduation requirements and determining and calculating high school student readiness in its school accountability system.
Charter; Town of Dumfries. Makes numerous amendments to the charter for the Town of Dumfries in Prince William County. Proposed changes (i) broaden the statement of the town's general grant of powers; (ii) reference general law for procedures for removing members of the town council who are convicted of certain crimes; (iii) clarify the duties of the mayor and vice mayor; (iv) create the position of chair pro tem on the town council; (v) clarify how vacancies on the town council will be filled; (vi) clarify the procedure for introducing and passing town ordinances and emergency ordinances; (vii) specify that members of town committees, boards, and commissions serve at the pleasure of the town council; (viii) clarify the duties of various town officers; (ix) specify that there is a town clerk and describe the town clerk's duties; (x) provide that town departments include departments concerning recreation and civic engagement; (xi) add a reference to town authority to impose civil penalties and cap any such civil penalties at $5,000; and (xii) make numerous technical changes to update the town's charter, first enacted in 1994. This bill is identical to SB 1300.
Department of Education; model memorandum of understanding; counseling from school counselors by way of telehealth. Provides that the model memorandum of understanding developed by the Department of Education for partnerships with community mental health services providers or school-based telehealth providers shall include procedures allowing for students to receive counseling from school counselors by way of telehealth. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee to Study Pandemic Response and Preparedness in the Commonwealth and is identical to SB 1370.
Gift certificates; fees. Prohibits the imposition of a dormancy fee, an inactivity charge or fee, or a service fee with respect to a gift certificate, unless certain requirements of the bill are met.
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 SB 1413.
Public elementary and secondary schools; student cell phone possession and use policies; development and implementation. Directs each school board to develop and each public elementary and secondary school to implement policies relating to the possession and use of cell phones and smart devices by students on school property from bell to bell, as defined in the law, and requires such policies, among other things, to (i) restrict student cell phone and smart device possession and use on school property from bell to bell and (ii) permit any student, pursuant to an Individualized Education Plan, Section 504 Plan, individualized health care plan, or Limited English Proficiency plan, to possess and use a cell phone or smart device on school property, including in the classroom, from bell to bell to monitor or address a health concern or as an accommodation or assistive technology support. This bill is identical to SB 738.
Unemployment compensation; increase weekly benefit amounts; report. Provides that, for unemployment compensation claims effective on or after January 1, 2026, an eligible individual's weekly benefit amount shall be $52 higher than the current weekly benefit amount, as denoted in the table in the printed bill. The bill directs the Commission on Unemployment Compensation, in consultation with the Virginia Employment Commission, to convene a work group to study making annual adjustments to individual weekly benefit amounts based on the average weekly wage. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on Unemployment Compensation. This bill is identical to HB 1766.
Grooming and boarding establishments; inspections by animal control officers. Allows an animal control officer to inspect a grooming or boarding establishment that is not regulated by the Board of Veterinary Medicine with the consent of the owner or person in charge or pursuant to a warrant upon a receipt of a complaint or twice annually upon their own motion to ensure compliance with state animal care laws and regulations. The bill requires an animal control officer, a law-enforcement officer, or the State Veterinarian to obtain the consent of the owner or person in charge of any business premises of any dealer, pet shop, groomer, or boarding establishment to investigate allegations of a complaint of a suspected violation of state or local animal care laws. Current law does not require such consent to investigate allegations of a complaint. The bill allows an animal control officer to search a building or place pursuant to a warrant after making a sworn statement regarding any potential violations of the cruelty to animals laws. Current law only allows a sheriff, deputy sheriff, or police officer to conduct such a search. The bill also directs the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to, in consultation with the State Veterinarian, convene a work group to consider whether to propose a state license and other regulatory requirements for animal boarding establishments similar to the current licensing requirements for animal shelters and submit its report of such findings and recommendations by December 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 2313.
