Del. Ian Lovejoy

Commending Harry J. Parrish II.

Virginia Social Media Regulation Act established;penalties. Establishes the Virginia Social Media Regulation Actfor the purpose of prohibiting minors in Virginia from possessingan account on any social media platform, defined in the bill, withoutthe express consent of a parent or guardian. The bill requires asocial media company to provide a minor's parent or guardian withaccess to the minor's account and all posts and information on suchaccount. The bill also places prohibitions on the type of data andpersonal information a social media platform may collect from a minoraccount holder and prohibits the use of any practice, design, or feature on a social media company's platform that the company knows,or should reasonably know, could cause a minor account holder tohave an addiction to the social media platform. Lastly, the billprovides that any violation of the Virginia Social Media RegulationAct shall constitute a prohibited practice and be subject to theenforcement provisions of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.

Health education and family life education;certain videos and animations relating to human development insidethe uterus. Requires health education instruction to includean oral, written, or digital lesson, lecture, or presentation abouthuman biology relating to pregnancy and human development insidethe uterus, including (i) a high-definition ultrasound video, atleast three minutes in duration, showing the development of the brain,heart, sex organs, and other vital organs in early fetal developmentand (ii) a high-quality, computer-generated rendering or animation showing the process of fertilization and every stage of human development inside the uterus, noting significant markers in cell growth andorgan development for each significant marker of pregnancy untilbirth. The bill requires any family life education curriculum orsimilar curriculum offered by a local school division that includesany oral, written, or digital lesson, lecture, or presentation aboutsexual activity and pregnancy in the context of student health orhealthy relationships to also include such a video and renderingor animation.

Siting of data centers; parks, schools, andresidential areas. Requires that any local government land use application required for the siting of a data center, as definedin the bill, be approved only for areas that are one-quarter mileor more from federal, state, or local parks, schools, and propertyzoned or used for residential use.

State Air Pollution Control Board; regulations; low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle standards. Repeals theState Air Pollution Control Board's authority to implement low-emissionsand zero-emissions vehicle standards that apply for vehicles witha model year of 2025 and later.

Free use of toll facilities; certain disabledveterans. Authorizes the free use of all toll bridges, toll roads,and other toll facilities in the Commonwealth for drivers who havebeen rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as having a100 percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability. Thebill also replaces the current window sticker for certain personsexempted from tolls due to a disability with a specialized electronictoll collection device identifying such person as eligible for freepassage.

Siting of data centers; impacts on resourcesand historically significant sites. Provides that any local governmentland use application required for the siting of a data center shallonly be approved in areas where the data center will (i) have a minimal impact on historic, agricultural, and cultural resources and (ii)not be within one-half mile of a national park, state park, or otherhistorically significant site.

Absentee voting; absentee voting in person;available beginning 14 days prior to election. Limits the availabilityof absentee voting in person to 14 days before the election. Undercurrent law, absentee voting in person is available beginning 45 days prior to the election.

Portable benefit accounts; tax credit.Authorizes a Virginia resident who has worked as an independent contractorto establish a portable benefit account. Under the bill, a portable benefit account offered through and administered by a bank, creditunion, or other depository institution and distributions from theaccount may be used for the payment of various health-related costs.The bill establishes a nonrefundable tax credit for taxable years2024 through 2028 for individuals who contribute to a portable benefitaccount.

Law-enforcement officers; protected personalinformation. Provides that any law-enforcement officer who providesinformation relative to a criminal investigation or in proceedingspreliminary to a criminal prosecution may refuse, unless orderedby a court, to disclose his residence address, home telephone number,or any personal information concerning his family. The bill alsoprovides that any law-enforcement officer who testifies as a witnessin a criminal case may refuse to disclose personal information concerninghis family unless it is determined by the court that such evidenceis relevant to the case.