Commonwealth Clean Energy Policy. Establishes the Commonwealth Clean Energy Policy, replacing the Commonwealth Energy Policy. The bill sets out the energy policy and objectives of the Commonwealth Clean Energy Policy, which include: (i) the Commonwealth recognizes that effectively addressing climate change and enhancing resilience will advance the health, welfare, and safety of the residents of the Commonwealth and that addressing climate change requires reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the Commonwealth's economy sufficient to reach net-zero emission by 2045 in all sectors, including the electric power, transportation, industrial, agricultural, building, and infrastructure sectors; (ii) the Commonwealth recognizes the need to promote environmental justice and ensure that it is carried out throughout the Commonwealth and the need to address and prevent energy inequities in historically economically disadvantaged communities; and (iii) the Commonwealth must continue to prioritize economic competiveness and workforce development in an equitable manner.
Sponsored bills
Establishing an Opioid Abatement Authority.Establishes the Opioid Abatement Authority. The Authority, with theassistance of the Office of the Attorney General, would administerthe Opioid Abatement Fund, which would receive moneys from settlements,judgments, verdicts, and other court orders, or related agreements,concerning claims regarding the manufacturing, marketing, distribution,or sale of opioids that would be used to provide grants and loans to Virginia agencies and certain localities for the purpose of treating, preventing, and reducing opioid use disorder and the misuse of opioidsin the Commonwealth.
Public defender offices; County of Chesterfield. Establishes a public defender office for the County of Chesterfield. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act.
Department of Veterans Services; Military Spouse Liaison; position created. Establishes the position of Military Spouse Liaison (the Liaison) in the Department of Veterans Services to conduct outreach and advocate on behalf of military spouses in the Commonwealth. The bill directs the Liaison to report by December 1 of each year through the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services to the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, the Governor, and the General Assembly on the work of the Liaison and any legislative recommendations. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act.
Pharmaceutical processors; cannabis products.Permits pharmaceutical processors to produce and distribute cannabisproducts other than cannabis oil. The bill defines the terms "botanicalcannabis," "cannabis product," and "usable cannabis." The bill requiresthe Board of Pharmacy to establish testing standards for botanical cannabis and botanical cannabis products, establish a registrationprocess for botanical cannabis products, and promulgate emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill allowsthe Board of Pharmacy to assess and collect a one-time botanicalcannabis regulatory fee from each pharmaceutical processor, not toexceed $50,000, to cover costs associated with the implementationof the provisions of the bill, including costs for new personnel,training, promulgation of regulations and guidance documents, andinformation technology.
Behavioral health assessments in local correctional facilities. Provides that the State Board of Local and RegionalJails, in establishing the minimum standards for behavioral healthservices in local correctional facilities, shall include a requirementthat if a behavioral health screening indicates that the person mayhave a mental illness, an assessment of his need for mental healthservices shall be conducted within 72 hours of the time of the screening.
Special immigrant juvenile status; jurisdiction. Permits the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court to retain jurisdiction in cases where a child has petitioned the court to makefindings of fact that would allow the child to apply for or receivea state or federal benefit until such child reaches 21 years of agefor the purpose of entering findings of fact or amending past orders,to include findings of fact necessary for the person to petitionthe federal government for status as a special immigrant juvenile.
Confirmatory adoption. Expands the stepparentadoption provisions to allow a person who is not the child's stepparentbut has a legitimate interest in the child to file a joint petitionfor adoption with the child's birth parent or parent by adoption.
Virginia Fair Housing Law; unlawful discriminatory housing practices. Prohibits any locality, its employees, or its appointed commissions from discriminating (i) in the application of local land use ordinances or guidelines, or in the permitting of housing developments, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, source of funds, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or disability; (ii) in the permitting of housing developments because the housing development contains or is expected to contain affordable housing units occupied or intended for occupancy by families or individuals with incomes at or below 80 percent of the median income of the area where the housing development is located or is proposed to be located; or (iii) by prohibiting or imposing conditions upon the rental or sale of dwelling units, provided that the provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to prohibit ordinances related to short-term rentals. The bill provides that it shall not be a violation of the Virginia Fair Housing Law if land use decisions or decisions relating to the permitting of housing developments are based upon considerations of limiting high concentrations of affordable housing. The bill also requires the Fair Housing Board, after determining the existence of an unlawful discriminatory housing practice and after consultation with the Attorney General, to immediately refer the matter to the Attorney General for civil action.
Visitation; petition of grandparent. Requires the court, in petitions for visitation filed by the grandparent ofa child where either (i) the parent is the grandparent's child andis deceased, incarcerated, or incapacitated, or has had his parentalrights terminated or (ii) the grandparent has an established relationshipwith the child and has provided a significant level of care for thechild, to consider the following factors: (a) the historical relationshipbetween the grandparent and child; (b) the motivation of the grandparentin seeking visitation; (c) the motivation of the living parent indenying visitation to the grandparent; (d) the quantity of time requestedand the effect it will have on the child's daily activities; and (e) the benefits of maintaining a relationship with the extended familyof the deceased parent.