Del. Marty Martinez

Health insurance; coverage for contraceptive drugs and devices. Requires health insurance carriers to provide coverage, under any health insurance contract, policy, or plan that includes coverage for prescription drugs on an outpatient basis, for contraceptive drugs and contraceptive devices, as defined in the bill, including those available over-the-counter. The bill prohibits a health insurance carrier from imposing upon any person receiving contraceptive benefits pursuant to the provisions of the bill any copayment, coinsurance payment, or fee, except in certain circumstances. This bill is identical to SB 780.

Public housing authorities; indigent parties; unlawful detainer. Exempts indigent defendants from having to post an appeal bond in unlawful detainer actions brought by a public housing authority. The bill also amends certain provisions of the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to (i) prohibit any landlord that is a public housing authority from requiring a tenant to pay any fees for the maintenance or repair of a dwelling unit unless such repair is necessitated by the tenant's action or omission and (ii) require, if a public housing authority issues a notice of nonpayment of rent to a tenant, such public housing authority to provide the tenant certain information printed on pink or orange paper explaining how the tenant may recertify the tenant's income in accordance with federal law and policy. This bill is identical to SB 1221.

Board of Medicine; continuing education; unconscious bias and cultural competency. Directs the Board of Medicine to require unconscious bias and cultural competency training as part of the continuing education requirements for renewal of licensure. The bill specifies requirements for the training and requires the Board of Medicine to report the number of licensees who have successfully completed such training to the Department of Health and the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative. This bill is identical to SB 740.

High school graduation requirements; history and social studies credits; certain substitutions permitted. Requires the Board of Education, in establishing high school graduation requirements, to permit any student to substitute the African American History course or the Advanced Placement African American Studies course for the World History I course or the World Geography course for the purpose of satisfying the history and social studies credit requirements, provided that enrollment in such an African American History course or Advanced Placement African American Studies course is available to the student. This bill is identical to SB 1462.

Local and regional correctional facilities; treatment of prisoners known to be pregnant. Prohibits the use of restraints, defined in the bill, on any prisoner of a local or regional correctional facility who is (i) known to be pregnant or (ii) in postpartum recovery unless a deputy sheriff or jail officer makes an individualized determination that (a) the prisoner will harm herself, the fetus, the newborn child, or any other person; (b) the prisoner poses a flight risk; or (c) the totality of the circumstances creates a serious security risk. Under current law, such prohibition applies only to state correctional facilities. The bill also requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to include in the compulsory minimum entry-level training standards training regarding pregnant prisoners for deputy sheriffs and jail officers who are employees of local or regional correctional facilities who may have contact with pregnant prisoners.

Department of Medical Assistance Services; state pharmacy benefits manager; independent evaluation. Requires the Department of Medical Assistance Services, by July 1, 2026, to select and contract with a third-party administrator to serve as the state pharmacy benefits manager to administer all pharmacy benefits for Medicaid recipients, including recipients enrolled in a managed care organization. The bill enumerates requirements for the Department's contract with the state pharmacy benefits manager. In addition, the bill directs the Department to engage an independent consultant to evaluate the implementation of a contract with a third-party pharmacy benefits manager pursuant to the bill. This bill incorporates HB 2209 and is identical to SB 875.

Virginia Consumer Protection Act; prohibited practices; mandatory fees or surcharges disclosure. Prohibits a supplier, in connection with a consumer transaction, from advertising or displaying a price for goods or services without clearly and conspicuously displaying the total price, which shall include all mandatory fees or surcharges, as defined in the bill. The bill specifies the requirements for compliance with its provisions for certain suppliers and excludes from its provisions (i) certain fees charged by motor vehicle dealers, as defined in relevant law; (ii) fees charged by electric utilities, natural gas utilities, and telecommunications service providers, as those terms are defined in relevant law; (iii) certain costs associated with real estate settlement services; and (iv) the provision of air transportation by air carriers. The bill requires a food delivery platform to (a) at the point when a consumer views and selects a vendor or items for purchase, include a clear and conspicuous disclosure of any additional fee or percentage charged, as defined in the bill, and (b) after a consumer selects items for purchase, but prior to checkout, display a subtotal page that itemizes the price of such selected items and any additional fee or percentage included in the total cost. This bill is identical to SB 1212.

Board of Education; teacher licensure; career and technical education; alternative pathway to provisional licensure. Requires the Board of Education (the Board) to issue a provisional license to any person seeking an initial license in the Commonwealth with an endorsement in the area of career and technical education who has a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate and an industry-recognized credential, certification, or license in the area in which such person seeks an endorsement but has not completed all requirements specified in the Board's regulations for licensure to allow time for such person to complete, in lieu of the outstanding requirements specified in the Board's regulations for licensure, coursework in three areas specified in the bill. The bill directs the Board to amend its regulations as necessary in accordance with the provisions of the bill. This bill is identical to SB 879.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 856) is a ceremonial resolution honoring Clarice Lorine Jordan. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, as it solely serves to recognize and celebrate her life. The resolution was passed by the House of Representatives on February 21, 2025, and is a standard procedural measure for commemorative purposes.

Maddy summaryHR 853 is a ceremonial resolution commending Khadijeh Aslankhani for her contributions, with no substantive policy changes or direct impact on legislation. It serves solely as a formal expression of appreciation from the House of Representatives. The bill was passed by voice vote and engrossed without debate, reflecting standard procedural steps for such resolutions. As a commemorative measure, it does not allocate funds, alter laws, or affect any specific group or policy.