Del. Amy Laufer

Veterans' Services Protection Act; prohibited practices; penalty. Creates the Veterans' Services Protection Act to prohibit any person from receiving compensation for preparing, presenting, prosecuting, advising, consulting, or assisting any individual regarding any veterans' benefits matter, as defined in the bill, except as permitted under federal law. The bill provides that a violation of its provisions constitutes a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.

Contraception; right to contraception; applicability; enforcement. Establishes a right to obtain contraceptives and engage in contraception, as such terms are defined in the bill. The bill clarifies that none of its provisions shall be construed to permit or sanction the performance of any sterilization procedure without a patient's voluntary and informed consent. The bill creates a cause of action that may be instituted against anyone who infringes on such right. This bill is identical to SB 1105.

Baby Food Protection Act; testing and labeling requirements for toxic heavy metals. Prohibits a person from selling, distributing, or offering for sale a baby food product that contains certain toxic heavy metals that exceed the limits established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The bill requires a manufacturer of a baby food product to meet certain testing requirements and include certain information related to toxic heavy metals on the manufacturer's website and on the baby food product. The bill requires a consumer to report a baby food product to the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services if the consumer reasonably believes that the baby food is being sold in the Commonwealth with toxic heavy metals that exceed the limits established by the FDA. The foregoing provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2026. The bill also directs the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to convene a work group to study and make recommendations on the current enforcement of laws related to the presence of toxic heavy metals in baby food products and any further action needed to address the issue of toxic heavy metals in baby food products. The bill requires the work group to report on its findings and recommendations by the first day of the 2026 Regular Session.

Department of Corrections; functional literacy program for inmates; data sharing and tracking; salary schedules for teachers; Virginia Prison Education Task Force established; report. Requires the Superintendent employed by the Director of Corrections to (i) include in the functional literacy program for inmates developed pursuant to applicable law evidence-based literacy instruction, as defined in accordance with applicable law; (ii) share data with (a) the state entity that oversees the management, direction, and governance of the Commonwealth's education and workforce data for the purpose of developing educational, health, social service, and employment outcome data and improving the efficacy of state services and (b) the Virginia Community College System necessary for comprehensive community colleges to apply for and maintain eligibility as Federal Pell Grant-eligible prison education programs; and (iii) track and publicly report at least annually the number of incarcerated individuals eligible for, enrolled in, and waitlisted for the functional literacy program. The bill also establishes the Virginia Prison Education Task Force for the purpose of implementing a consistent education program across all state correctional facilities operated by the Department. The bill requires the Task Force to complete its work by July 1, 2030. Finally, the bill requires the Department of Education to, by November 1, 2025, (a) review and update the salary schedules for teachers licensed by the Board of Education and employed by the Department of Corrections to provide instruction in the schools of the correctional centers to be competitive with those in effect for the school division in which the correctional facility is located and (b) make recommendations for the inclusion of such teacher salary increases in the appropriation act.

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.

Small renewable energy projects; permit by rule. Amends the definition of "small renewable energy project" for the purposes of obtaining a permit by rule from the Department of Environmental Quality to include interconnection facilities, as defined in the bill. The bill requires that the Department of Environmental Quality and the State Corporation Commission enter into a memorandum of understanding to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

Electric utilities; virtual power plant pilot program. Requires Dominion Energy Virginia to petition the State Corporation Commission for approval to conduct a pilot program to evaluate methods to optimize demand through various technology applications, including the establishment of virtual power plants, by December 1, 2025. The bill requires the pilot program to evaluate electric grid capacity needs and the ability of such virtual power plants to provide grid services, including peak-shaving, during times of peak electric demand. This bill is identical to SB 1100.

Electric utilities; generation of electricity from renewable and zero carbon sources; projects on or adjacent to public elementary or secondary schools. Provides that for purposes of compliance with a renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS) program, to the extent that low-income qualifying projects, as defined in existing law, are not available and projects located on or adjacent to public elementary or secondary schools are available, a certain percentage of the required projects shall be composed of projects located on or adjacent to public elementary or secondary schools. This bill is identical to SB 1192.

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.