Del. J.R. Henson

Commending Bishop Kim W. Brown.

Mineral mining and exploration; public notification.Requires an explorer conducting any mineral exploration activities,as those terms are defined in the bill, prior to the start of suchactivities, to (i) publish a notice in a newspaper having a generalcirculation in the locality where the exploration activity will occurat least once a week for two successive weeks, (ii) notify the governingbody of such locality at least 15 days in advance of such activity, and (iii) notify all individual residences and properties within500 yards of the property lines where the exploration activity willtake place at least 15 days in advance of such activity. The billrequires such notices to include certain information related to theexploration activity.

Synthetic media; penalty. Expands the applicabilityof provisions related to defamation, slander, and libel to includesynthetic media, defined in the bill. The bill makes it a Class 1misdemeanor for any person to generate, create, or use or cause tobe generated, created, or used any deceptive audio or visual media,defined in the bill, for the purpose of committing a criminal offenseinvolving fraud. The bill creates a rebuttable presumption that suchdeceptive audio or visual media was generated or created for thepurpose of committing such criminal offense if such deceptive audioor visual media is subsequently used as part of a plan or courseof conduct to commit such criminal offense. The bill also authorizesthe individual depicted in the deceptive audio or visual media tobring a civil action against the person who violates such prohibition to recover actual damages, reasonable attorney fees, and such otherrelief as the court determines to be appropriate. The bill directsthe Attorney General to convene a work group to study and make recommendationson the current enforcement of laws related to the use of deceptive audio or visual media, including deepfakes, and any further actionneeded to address the issue of such use in fraudulent acts.

Commending Blake Corum.

Commending Dr. Ben Fitzgerald III.

Commending the ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation.

Advisory Council on Sickle Cell Disease; established;report. Establishes the Advisory Council on Sickle Cell Diseaseto advise the State Health Commissioner on the efforts to improveawareness of sickle cell disease and the needs of individuals withsickle cell disease. The bill requires the Board of Health to reportannually by December 1 to the Governor and the General Assemblyregarding its activities and recommendations.

Petition for modification of a sentence; eligibility;procedures. Provides a process for a person serving a sentencefor any conviction or a combination of any convictions who remainsincarcerated in a state or local correctional facility or securefacility and meets certain criteria to petition the circuit courtthat entered the original judgment or order to (i) suspend the unservedportion of such sentence or run the unserved portion of such sentence concurrently with another sentence, (ii) place such person on probationfor such time as the court shall determine, or (iii) otherwise modifythe sentence imposed.

Study; JLARC; scope and cost of penalizing possessionof drugs as a felony. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit andReview Commission to study the scope and cost of the current lawsin the Commonwealth penalizing possession of drugs as a felony.

Toll relief; maximum charges. Limits to$200 per month the tolls charged to residents of the Commonwealthvia electronic toll collection devices for the use of toll bridges,toll ferries, toll tunnels, or toll roads in the Commonwealth. Thebill prohibits misusing, sharing, or transferring an electronic toll collection device for the purpose of (i) generating tolls to reachthe toll limit or (ii) obtaining toll-free use of toll facilitiesin the Commonwealth. The bill authorizes the free use of all tollbridges, toll roads, and other toll facilities in the Commonwealthfor drivers who are recipients of Temporary Assistance for NeedyFamilies (TANF) benefits.