Del. Michael Feggans

Extreme Weather Relief Act established. Establishes the Extreme Weather Relief Program, administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, for the purpose of holding parties responsible for covered greenhouse gas emissions between the covered period of January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2024, for the parties' share of the Commonwealth's costs due to climate change. The bill defines responsible parties as fossil fuel extractors or crude oil refiners causing emissions of one billion metric tons or more of covered greenhouse gases during the covered period. Under the bill, responsible parties are strictly liable for cost recovery payments to the Commonwealth. The bill requires the State Treasurer to conduct an assessment of the costs to the Commonwealth and its residents of the emissions of covered greenhouse gases during the covered period. The bill establishes the Extreme Weather Relief Fund into which the cost recovery payments from responsible entities are deposited and used to pay for extreme weather relief projects, as defined in the bill.

Health insurance; coverage for breast examinations for high-risk individuals. Requires health insurance carriers to cover diagnostic breast examinations and supplemental breast examinations, as those terms are defined in the bill, based on sound medical practices for any high-risk individual, as defined in the bill, without cost sharing under certain insurance policies, subscription contracts, and health care plans delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in the Commonwealth on and after January 1, 2026. The bill provides that such examinations include examinations using a health care provider's choice of diagnostic mammography, breast magnetic resonance imaging, or breast ultrasound. This bill was incorporated in HB 1828.

Maddy summarySJ 307 is a commemorative resolution honoring Joy Ann Durham Painter. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, as it is a ceremonial resolution expressing recognition for an individual's life. The resolution passed both the Senate (January 30, 2025) and House (February 3, 2025) without amendments. It serves solely to acknowledge and celebrate Joy Ann Durham Painter's contributions.

Maddy summarySJ 309 is a ceremonial resolution commending Carlos Del Toro, former U.S. Secretary of the Navy. It does not create any new laws or affect policy; it is a non-binding expression of appreciation. The resolution passed unanimously in both the Senate (January 30) and House (February 3) by voice vote. It was formally adopted on February 4 and now resides on the Speaker's table. This type of resolution typically honors individuals for service or contributions without altering legal obligations or funding.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (SJ 308) honoring Garland Nuckols, a recognized individual in the community. It does not create new laws or affect policies; it is a symbolic gesture of recognition. The resolution passed unanimously in both the Senate and House, and is now awaiting final processing as a ceremonial measure. No substantive changes or direct impacts on constituents or legislation are involved.

Transportation infrastructure and projects; noise analysis. Requires the Commonwealth Transportation Board or the Department of Transportation to begin a noise analysis within one year of receipt of a valid petition for a noise analysis. The bill also requires a noise analysis for any retrofit noise abatement project undertaken or considered by the Board or the Department.

Sale and distribution of plastic carryout bags by grocery stores prohibited; civil penalty. Prohibits any grocery store, as defined in the bill, from selling or distributing any plastic carryout bag, as defined in the bill, to its customers on or after January 1, 2027, unless such bag qualifies as an exempt bag, as defined in the bill. The bill provides that any grocery store that violates this provision shall be issued by the Department of Environmental Quality a written warning for the first violation and shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $500 for a second and each subsequent violation as determined by the Director of the Department. The bill also requires any grocery store, no later than January 1, 2027, to develop, implement, and maintain a program to encourage its customers to utilize reusable bags, as defined in the bill.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 59.1-200, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 59.1 a chapter numbered 58, consisting of sections numbered 59.1-607 through 59.1-610, relating to Fair Voice Purchasing Act established; penalties.

Short-term rentals; compliance; civil penalty. Authorizes localities to notify an accommodations intermediary that a short-term rental on its platform is not lawfully authorized to be offered on its platform. The accommodations intermediary shall remove any such listing from its platform within seven days of receiving notice and shall provide a refund to any customer reserving such listing. Under the bill, any accommodations intermediary who does not remove such a listing from its platform shall be subject to a civil penalty of $1,000, to be paid into the Virginia Housing Trust Fund. Any such listing required to be removed shall remain unlisted until the accommodations intermediary has been notified by the locality that the short-term rental has been brought into compliance. Once the locality determines that a delisted short-term rental has been brought into compliance, the locality shall have seven days to notify the accommodations intermediary of the change in status.

Domestic and Sexual Assault Conviction Database. Requires the Superintendent of State Police to establish a Domestic and Sexual Assault Conviction Database that would include information on persons who were convicted of certain offenses against a family or household member, defined in the bill. The Database will be available to the public on the Department of State Police website. Persons whose information is on the Database may petition for removal of their information from the Database if certain requirements are met, and the State Police shall include such petition information on the Database website. Under the bill, the Superintendent of State Police is required to complete the Database by July 1, 2026.