Del. Sally Hudson

Food packaging; PFAS chemicals; penalty.Prohibits the sale, offer for sale, or distribution for sale or useof any food packaging containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkylsubstances (PFAS chemicals), defined in the bill as a class of fluorinatedorganic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbonatom. The penalty for violating the prohibition is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Corporate income tax; combined reporting requirements; disclosures. Requires, for taxable years beginning on or afterJanuary 1, 2021, unitary combined reporting for Virginia corporateincome tax purposes. The bill also requires corporations, beginningwith taxable year 2020, to submit a public disclosure report to theDepartment of Taxation with certain data related to their state taxes,which will be redacted to hide their identities prior to publication.

Health care provider panels; vertically integrated carriers; providers. Requires any vertically integrated carrier to offer participation in each provider panel or network established for each of the vertically integrated carrier's policies, products, and plans, including all policies, products, and plans offered to individuals, employers, and enrollees in state and federal government benefit programs, to every provider in the Commonwealth under the same terms and conditions that apply to providers under common control with the vertically integrated carrier. The measure requires that the offered participation (i) be without any adverse tiering or other financial incentives that may discourage enrollees from utilizing the services of the provider, (ii) include all sites and services offered by the provider, and (iii) take into account the different characteristics of different providers with regard to the range, nature, cost, and complexity of services offered. The measure prohibits an officer or director of a vertically integrated carrier from simultaneously serving as an officer or director of an entity that owns, operates, manages, or controls an acute care hospital located, in whole or in part, in the Commonwealth. The measure defines "vertically integrated carrier" as a health insurer or other carrier that owns an interest in, is owned by, or is under common ownership or control with an acute care hospital facility, excluding an entity that is under the ultimate control of or under common control with a public hospital.

Health insurance program for local governmentemployees; entities created or owned by local governments. Addsemployees of locally owned public service corporations, local governmentassociations, and entities created for the joint exercise of powerby political subdivisions to the definition of "employees of localgovernments" for the purposes of the Commonwealth's health insuranceprogram for local government employees. The bill defines "locallyowned public service corporation" as a public service corporationthat is wholly owned by any locality or by a combination of localities.

Inclusionary housing. Provides that localitiesmay create, implement, and enforce inclusionary housing programs applicableto new housing development and to conversions of previously non-residentialuses into residential uses. A locality establishing an inclusionaryhousing ordinance shall define the term "affordable" according tothe needs of the residents of that locality and shall ensure thatthe program is consistent with the locality's comprehensive planand any other local or regional housing plans applicable to the locality.The program shall further one or more of several specified goals and may offer a variety of incentives, such as density bonuses andfinancial incentives. In developing and adopting such housing programs,the locality shall create an advisory committee and actively seekinput from citizens, developers of residential and mixed-use property,real estate professionals, historic preservation professionals, redevelopmentand housing professionals, anti-poverty advocates, planners, urbandesign professionals, and finance professionals. To the greatest extentpossible, adopted programs should rely on market-based approachesto providing and maintaining inclusionary dwelling units.

Essential health benefits; abortion coverage.Removes the prohibition on the provision of coverage for abortionsin any qualified health insurance plan that is sold or offered forsale through a health benefits exchange established or operatingin Virginia.

Elections; same-day registration; in-person absentee and election day voting. Provides an exception to the closing of registration records for any person who (i) is qualified to register to vote, (ii) is unregistered or registered in a locality in which the person no longer resides but is otherwise entitled to vote by absentee ballot, (iii) desires to vote absentee in person at the time that they present themselves to be registered, and (iv) provides proof of residency. The bill also permits same-day registrants to vote absentee and provides an excuse for election day absentee voting for such voters. The bill requires all voters who register to vote under the provisions of this bill to fill out an absentee application, including the required oath, in order to vote. This bill was incorporated into HB 201.

Commending Virginia Organizing.

Commending Albemarle County.

Employment; covenants not to compete. Declaresthat any contract, including a provision of an employment agreement,entered into on or after July 1, 2020, by which an employee is restrainedfrom engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business for a specifiedperiod of time, in a specified geographical area, or for anotheremployer is contrary to public policy and void.