Del. Alfonso Lopez

Special license plates; Sons of Confederate Veterans and Robert E. Lee. Repeals authorization for the issuance of Sons of Confederate Veterans and Robert E. Lee special license plates and provides that such special license plates already in circulation will remain valid until their expiration and shall not be renewed.

Additional local sales and use tax to support schools; referendum. Authorizes all counties and cities to impose an additional local sales and use tax at a rate not to exceed one percent with the revenue used only for capital projects for the construction or renovation of schools if such levy is approved in a voter referendum. The bill removes the requirement that such a tax must have an expiration date on either (i) the date of the repayment of any bonds or loans used for such capital projects or (ii) a date chosen by the governing body. Under current law, only Charlotte, Gloucester, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Northampton, Patrick, and Pittsylvania Counties and the City of Danville are authorized to impose such a tax. This bill is identical to HB 805.

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; Department of Housing and Community Development; summary of rental agreement provisions. Requires landlords to include, upon request, a summary page with any written rental agreement offered to a prospective tenant that includes the duration of the lease, the amount of rent and the date upon which such rent shall be due, an explanation of any deposits and late fees that may be charged, and any termination provisions. The bill also directs the Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development to develop a sample summary page to be used by landlords to summarize the provisions of the lease agreement and to maintain such sample summary page on the Department's website in English and any language for which any locality in the Commonwealth regularly provides official government communications. The bill also requires any landlord who owns or manages more than four rental dwelling units or more than a 10 percent interest in more than four rental dwelling units, whether individually or through a business entity, in any locality in the Commonwealth that regularly provides official government communications in languages other than English to provide, upon request of a prospective tenant, such summary page in any of such languages using the sample summary page developed by the Director.

Abortion or other reproductive health care services; prohibitions on extradition for certain crimes; prohibited practices under Virginia Consumer Protection Act. Provides that no demand for extradition of a person charged with a criminal violation of the law of another state shall be recognized by the Governor if such alleged violation involves the receipt of or assistance with reproductive health care services, defined in the bill, within the Commonwealth unless the alleged criminal violation would also constitute a criminal offense under the laws of the Commonwealth. The bill also provides that such limit on extradition shall not apply when the person who is subject to such demand for extradition by another state was physically present in the demanding state at the time of the commission of the alleged offense and thereafter fled from such state. The bill adds obtaining, disclosing, selling, or disseminating certain enumerated personal reproductive or sexual health information without the consent of the consumer as a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. This bill incorporates HB 1493.

Purchase, possession, or transportation of firearm following an assault and battery or stalking violation; prohibition period; penalty. Prohibits a person who has been convicted of assault and battery, assault and battery of a family or household member, or stalking from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm. The prohibition expires five years after the date of conviction, at which point the person's firearm rights are restored, unless he receives another disqualifying conviction. A person who violates the provisions of the bill is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also extends from three years to five years the existing prohibition period for persons convicted of assault and battery of certain family or household members.

Noncitizens of the United States; terminology.Removes the term "alien" as it pertains to persons who are not citizensor nationals of the United States and replaces it with synonymouslanguage, as appropriate, throughout the Code of Virginia.

Concealed handgun permits; reciprocity with other states. Provides that the Superintendent of State Police, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, shall determine whether states meet the statutory qualifications for Virginia to recognize the concealed handgun permit of a person from another state. Under current law, any out-of-state permit is recognized in the Commonwealth provided that (i) the issuing authority provides the means for instantaneous verification of the validity of all such permits or licenses issued within that state, accessible 24 hours a day; (ii) the permit or license holder carries a photo identification issued by a government agency of any state or by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Department of State and displays the permit or license and such identification upon demand by a law-enforcement officer; and (iii) the permit or license holder has not previously had a Virginia concealed handgun permit revoked. The bill also provides that a Virginia resident who has not been issued a valid resident concealed handgun permit may not use a concealed handgun or concealed weapon permit or license issued by another state to carry a concealed handgun in the Commonwealth. The bill requires the Superintendent of State Police, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, to review any agreements for reciprocal recognition that are in place with any other states as of July 1, 2024, to determine whether the requirements and qualifications of those states' laws are adequate to prevent possession of a permit or license by persons who would be denied a permit in the Commonwealth and revoke any reciprocity agreement or recognition of any states that do not meet such requirements or qualifications by December 1, 2024. The bill requires the Attorney General to provide a written explanation for any determination that a state's laws are adequate to prevent possession of such permit or license by persons who would be denied such permit in the Commonwealth.

Contraception; right to contraception; applicability; enforcement. Establishes a right to obtain contraceptives and engage in contraception, as defined in the bill. The bill creates a cause of action that may be instituted against anyone who infringes on such right. This bill is identical to SB 237.

Local Environmental Impact Fund. Allows localities to create a permanent and perpetual fund to be known as the Local Environmental Impact Fund. The bill provides that the Fund shall consist exclusively of appropriated local moneys and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf and that the Fund is to be created for the purpose of granting funds to residents or locally owned businesses for the mitigation of environmental impacts. Such grants from the Fund shall be used only for the purchase of energy efficient (i) lawn care and landscaping equipment, (ii) home appliances, (iii) HVAC equipment, or (iv) micromobility devices. The Fund shall be administered and managed by the locality.

Invasive plant species; retail sales; civil penalty. Requires, for the retail sale of any invasive plant species for outdoor use on a list established by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, a retail establishment to post in a conspicuous manner on the property located in proximity to each invasive plant display signage identifying such plant as invasive, educating consumers regarding invasive plant species, and encouraging consumers to ask about alternatives. The bill requires the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services to designate the format, size, and content of such signage no later than October 1, 2024, and requires the Commissioner to issue a stop sale order and mark or tag a plant in a conspicuous manner when an invasive plant is for sale at a retail establishment without appropriate signage. In such case, the bill requires the Commissioner to give written notice of a finding made to the owner, tenant, or person in charge of such retail establishment and requires the stop sale order issued to remain in effect until the required signage is posted. Any retail establishment that violates the provisions of the bill is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $500. This bill is identical to SB 306.