State Corporation Commission; distribution cost sharing program; required distribution system upgrades. Directs the State Corporation Commission by July 1, 2026, to establish by regulation a distribution cost sharing program for Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Power to construct distribution system upgrades required to interconnect participating projects, as defined in the bill. The bill directs the Commission to require each such utility to file any tariffs, agreements, or forms necessary for the implementation of the program by December 1, 2026, and to submit a report on the implementation of the program by November 1, 2028. This bill is identical to HB 2266.
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 HB 1961.
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 SB 1051.
Reckless driving; exhibition driving; penalties; emergency. Expands reckless driving to include exhibition driving, defined in the bill. The bill prohibits (i) slowing or stopping traffic for a race or exhibition driving, (ii) riding as a passenger on the hood or roof of a motor vehicle during a race or exhibition driving, or (iii) aiding or abetting exhibition driving. The bill establishes penalties for violations and establishes a process for impounding or immobilizing motor vehicles driven by persons arrested for exhibition driving. The bill contains an emergency clause.
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; recovery residences; certification required; penalty; work group. Changes the existing civil penalty for a violation of law related to the operation of recovery residences to a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill allows the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to issue conditional certification to certain recovery residences. The bill also directs the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to convene a work group to (i) make recommendations related to oversight and transparency for recovery residences and (ii) develop credentialing guidelines for recovery residences. The bill directs the work group to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by November 1, 2025.
Immunity of persons for tort actions based on statements made at certain hearings. Adds to the tort actions for which an individual shall be immune pursuant to applicable law any tort action based solely on a statement made at a Title IX hearing before the applicable tribunal of an institution of higher education. Current law provides that an individual shall be immune for any tort action based solely on statements made at a public hearing before, or otherwise communicated to, the governing body of any locality or other political subdivision, or the boards, commissions, agencies, and authorities thereof, and other governing bodies of any local governmental entity concerning matters properly before such body.
Trespass with an unmanned aircraft system; penalties. Creates a Class 4 felony for any person who knowingly and intentionally, and without authorization, causes an unmanned aircraft system to enter the airspace over any public services or utilities or critical infrastructure, as defined in relevant law, including any military base authorized by the U.S. Department of Defense. The bill also adds that the offenses related to trespass with an unmanned aircraft system shall not apply to any person who causes an unmanned aircraft system to enter any prohibited property if such person is (i) an employee of the property and is conducting official business or (ii) an employee of a public service or utility or critical infrastructure and is conducting official business.
Decreasing probation period; criteria for mandatory reduction. Establishes criteria for which a defendant's supervised probation period shall be reduced, including completing qualifying educational activities, maintaining verifiable employment, complying with or completing any state-certified or state-approved mental health or substance abuse treatment program, securing and maintaining qualifying health insurance or a qualifying health care plan, and obtaining housing and establishing residence. The bill provides that a court may decrease a defendant's probation period if warranted by the defendant's conduct and may do so without a hearing, but the court may also revoke any credits accrued after a hearing for any reason the court deems necessary and in the interest of the health and safety of the public. The bill also requires the Department of Corrections to meet with all relevant stakeholders and report to the General Assembly on (i) current practices for community supervision as it relates to monitoring engagement and attainment included in Executive Order 36 (2024) and (ii) recommendations for court-ordered modification of time served on supervised probation. However, no recommendation shall be considered that allows the probationer (a) to receive credits while being in technical violation of his probation or (b) to receive more than 150 days of credit in one calendar year for a modified term. The work group shall take into consideration the impact of a reduced period of supervised probation on probationers who were released from incarceration due to sentence reductions pursuant to relevant law. The work group shall submit an executive summary and report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 1, 2025. Except for the provision requiring the Department of Corrections to meet with all relevant stakeholders and report to the Governor and General Assembly, the provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2026 Session of the General Assembly. This bill is identical to SB 936.
Eminent domain; condemnation proceedings. Makes various changes to provisions governing eminent domain, primarily relating to procedures in condemnation proceedings and the transfer of a defeasible title by certificate. The bill specifies that, in a condemnation proceeding initiated by an authorized condemnor or the Commissioner of Highways, a certificate transferring a defeasible title shall include certain information describing the property and any rights to the property being taken or damaged. Finally, the bill repeals the requirement that the court refer a matter initiating a condemnation proceeding to a dispute resolution orientation.
Decreasing probation period; criteria for mandatory reduction. Establishes criteria for which a defendant's supervised probation period shall be reduced, including completing qualifying educational activities, maintaining verifiable employment, complying with or completing any state-certified or state-approved mental health or substance abuse treatment program, securing and maintaining qualifying health insurance or a qualifying health care plan, and obtaining housing and establishing residence. The bill provides that a court may decrease a defendant's probation period if warranted by the defendant's conduct and in the interests of justice and may do so without a hearing, unless the defendant poses an imminent threat to the health and safety of himself or others. The bill requires the Department of Corrections to meet with all relevant stakeholders and report to the General Assembly on (i) current practices for community supervision as it relates to monitoring engagement and attainment in education, employment, treatment, and other programs and making recommendations to the court for modification of time served on probation; (ii) how such practices compare to the processes and practices that would be established pursuant to the bill; and (iii) a plan for such implementation by November 1, 2025. Except for this provision requiring the Department of Corrections to meet with all relevant stakeholders and report to the General Assembly, the provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2026 Session of the General Assembly. This bill is identical to HB 2252.
Department of Social Services; assisted living facilities; appointment of receiver. Specifies the circumstances under which the Commissioner of Social Services may petition the court to appoint a receiver for an assisted living facility, which is permitted under current law, and describes the procedures to be followed (i) for the filing of such petition and (ii) when a receivership has been established.
Appeals; procedure on appeal. Provides an appellate court with discretion in assessing attorney fees, costs, and necessary expenses against an indigent defendant when the conviction of the defendant is upheld on appeal. Under current law, the appellate court must assess such fees, costs, and expenses against an indigent defendant when the conviction of the defendant is upheld on appeal.Finally, the bill also provides that a panel of the Court of Appeals may dispense with oral argument if such panel unanimously decides that such oral argument is unnecessary because the facts and legal arguments are adequately presented in the briefs and the record such that the decisional process would not be significantly aided by oral argument and provides that this provision shall expire on June 30, 2027, unless reenacted by the 2027 Session of the General Assembly.
