Electric utilities; energy storage requirements; Department of Energy and Department of Environmental Quality to develop model ordinances; work groups; reports. Increases the targets for energy storage capacity that Appalachian Power and Dominion Energy Virginia are required to petition the State Corporation Commission for approval to construct, acquire, or procure and extends the time frame by which such capacity must be met. Under the bill, (i) Appalachian Power shall petition the Commission for approval to construct, acquire, or procure at least 780 megawatts of short-duration energy storage capacity by 2040 and 520 megawatts of long-duration energy storage capacity by 2045 and (ii) Dominion Energy Virginia shall petition the Commission for approval to construct, acquire, or procure at least 5,220 megawatts of short-duration energy storage capacity by 2045 and 3,480 megawatts of long-duration energy storage capacity by 2045. "Long-duration energy storage" and "short-duration energy storage" are defined in the bill. The bill requires the Commission to conduct a technology demonstration program for long-duration energy storage resources and initiate a proceeding to determine if such technology is viable and that the targets in the bill are reasonably achievable, for which a final order shall be entered no later than March 1, 2030. Certain provisions of the bill are only effective upon such determination by the Commission.The bill requires the Department of Energy, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Fire Programs, to create model ordinances for use by localities in their regulation of energy storage projects and to convene a work group to develop such model ordinances and submit a report by December 1, 2025. The bill directs the Department of Energy and the Department of Environmental Quality to convene a work group to develop recommendations and financial incentives related to the development of long-duration energy storage projects and submit a report by December 1, 2025. The bill also directs the Department of Energy to engage with PJM Interconnection, LLC, in reviewing regional market conditions related to energy storage resources and permits Dominion Energy Virginia to propose a partnership with institutions of higher education to deploy energy storage resources. This bill is identical to SB 1394.
Del. Destiny LeVere Bolling
Sponsored bills
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.
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 on the training to the Department of Health. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care.
Department of Medical Assistance Services; pregnancy mobile application. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to partner with a mobile pregnancy application to promote awareness of state government maternal and infant health programs and information available to prenatal, pregnant, and postpartum individuals who are eligible for Medicaid. The bill requires the Department to submit a request for proposal within 180 days of the bill's effective date.
Department of Medical Assistance Services; state plan for medical assistance services; postpartum doula care; report. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to amend the state plan for medical assistance services to include a provision for payment for up to 10 doula visits, with up to four doula visits during pregnancy and up to six doula visits during the 12 months after the individual gives birth. The bill requires the Department to report to the Governor and General Assembly annually on the implementation and outcomes of the provision, and requires the first such report to be submitted by December 31, 2026. This bill is identical to SB 1418.
Task Force on Maternal Health Data and Quality Measures; report. Directs the State Health Commissioner to reestablish the Task Force on Maternal Health Data and Quality Measures for the purpose of evaluating maternal health data collection processes to guide policies in the Commonwealth to improve maternal care, quality, and outcomes for all birthing people in the Commonwealth. The bill directs the Task Force to report its findings and conclusions to the Governor and General Assembly by November 1 of each year regarding its activities. The bill directs the Task Force to conclude its work by November 1, 2026. This bill reestablishes the Task Force on Maternal Health Data and Quality Measures that concluded on December 1, 2023.
Women's Menstrual Health Program established; provision of education, training, and information. Directs the Commissioner of Health to establish the Women's Menstrual Health Program within the Department of Health. The bill directs the Department, in administering the Program, to provide (i) education and training concerning menstrual health, menstrual health screening, and menstrual health care to health care providers, hospital staff who encounter patients in emergency situations, and the public and (ii) on the Department's website, clinical practice guidelines for health care providers related to menstrual disorders and educational materials for health care providers and the public concerning menstrual disorders.
Health insurance; reimbursement for services rendered by certain practitioners other than physicians. Requires health insurers and health service plan providers whose policies or contracts cover services that may be legally performed by a licensed certified midwife or licensed midwife to provide equal coverage for such services. The bill requires the reimbursement for a service provided by a licensed certified midwife or licensed midwife to be in the same amount as the reimbursement paid under the policy to a certified nurse midwife performing such service in the area served, subject to certain conditions.
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.
Discovery. Requires the Commonwealth, upon request of the accused or his counsel, to copy or photograph any discovery materials or evidence the accused is permitted to inspect and review, including relevant police reports, criminal records, and body-worn camera footage, and requires the Commonwealth to provide such copies or photographs, electronically or otherwise, to the accused or his counsel, unless such material is prohibited from being distributed by law or impossible to provide by electronic means. The bill requires the attorney for the Commonwealth in any district court to provide to counsel of record for the accused, if requested, by electronic means a copy of any police report at least 10 days prior to the date the case is set for trial or preliminary hearing, provided that counsel of record agrees to any reasonable redaction or restricted dissemination as requested by the attorney for the Commonwealth. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission. This bill is identical to SB 963.