Abandoned vehicles; owner and lienholder information. Provides that if an abandoned vehicle has been titled in anotherjurisdiction, the Department of Motor Vehicles, in its search for the owner or lienholder of such vehicle, may rely on informationprovided by a business in possession of the abandoned vehicle thatacquired such vehicle from an insurance company in connection witha total loss unresolved claim, provided that such information is obtainedfrom a nationally recognized title database with access to such jurisdiction'srecords about all entities having security interest in such vehicle.The bill requires the business to defend, indemnify, and hold theDepartment and the Commonwealth harmless for damages and costs resulting from such reliance.
Sponsored bills
Manufactured home parks; resident rights.Provides that a rental agreement with a term of one year or morewill not be automatically renewed if the tenant notifies the landlord60 days prior to the expiration date of such tenant's intent to notrenew the agreement. The bill permits a tenant to not renew a rentalagreement due to a change in terms of the agreement by the landlordif such tenant notifies the landlord of his intent to not renew therental agreement within 30 days of receiving the notice of the changein terms. The bill allows a landlord to include in a written rentalagreement a late fee, not to exceed 10 percent of the amount of therent due and owed, for unpaid rental payments. The bill increasesfrom 60 days or more to less than one year the term of a rental agreementthat may be terminated by written notice at least 60 days prior tothe termination date of the agreement. Finally, the bill removesthe right of a landlord to evict a tenant for two or more violationsof any rule or provision of the rental agreement occurring withina six-month period.
Marriage lawful regardless of sex, gender, or race of parties; issuance of marriage license. Provides that no person authorized to issue a marriage license shall deny the issuance of such license to two parties contemplating a lawful marriage on the basis of the sex, gender, or race of the parties. The bill also requires that such lawful marriages be recognized in the Commonwealth regardless of the sex, gender, or race of the parties. The bill provides that religious organizations or members of the clergy acting in their religious capacity shall have the right to refuse to perform any marriage. This bill is identical to HB 174.
Animal testing facilities; public notification;report. Requires any animal testing facility, contract testingfacility, or manufacturer, as defined in relevant law, that uses an animal test method to make publicly available, on or before December1 for the preceding federal fiscal year, the total number of animalsused for research, education, testing, or experimental, scientific,or biomedical purposes. The bill requires the report to identifyand group such animals according to species (i) by displaying a linkto access such information on the homepage or landing page of theanimal testing facility's, contract facility's, or manufacturer'swebsite or (ii) if such animal testing facility does not have a website,by making such information available by means of a press releaseor other similar publication.
Local animal cruelty registries. Allows any locality to establish an animal cruelty registry for public access on the website of such locality or its local police department. The bill provides that such registry may include the names and relevant information of persons convicted of certain felony offenses for animal cruelty and that a person on such registry may request removal of his name after 15 years, provided that he has no additional felony convictions of an animal cruelty offense. The bill directs that all costs relating to a locality's animal cruelty registry shall be borne by such locality. This bill is identical to HB 62.
Declawing cats; prohibition; civil penalty.Makes unlawful the practice of declawing cats except as necessaryfor a therapeutic purpose, as defined in the bill, and creates acivil penalty of $500 for the first violation, $1,000 for the secondviolation, and $2,500 for the third or any subsequent violation. The bill also entitles any animal control officer, humane investigator,or state or local law-enforcement officer to bring a civil actionfor a violation of this section.
Search warrants, subpoenas, court orders, or other process; menstrual health data prohibited. Prohibits the issuance of a search warrant, subpoena, court order, or other process for the purpose of the search and seizure or production of menstrual health data, as defined in the bill, including data stored on a computer, computer network, or other device containing electronic or digital information. This bill is identical to HB 78.
Creation of local historic district. Allowsa locality to, by ordinance, establish one or more historic districtsfor the purpose of increasing awareness and support for historicconservation in the locality. The locality may in each historic districtprovide incentives for the conservation and renovation of certifiedhistoric structures, as defined in the bill, and grant tax incentivesand provide certain regulatory flexibility within the limits of theConstitutions of Virginia and of the United States.
Maximum number of judges in each judicial district and circuit. Increases by one the maximum number of authorized juvenile and domestic relations district court judges in the Twentieth and Thirty-first Judicial Districts. The bill also increases by one the maximum number of authorized circuit court judges in the First, Ninth, Fifteenth, and Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuits. This bill is a recommendation of the Committee on District Courts and the Judicial Council of Virginia. This bill incorporates SB 686 and is identical to HB 310.
Behavioral health technicians; behavioral health technician assistants; qualified mental health professionals; qualified mental health professional-trainees; scope of practice, supervision, and qualifications. Adds behavioral health technicians and behavioral health technician assistants to the professions governed by the Board of Counseling. The bill also establishes qualification, scope of practice, and supervision requirements for qualified mental health professionals and qualified mental health professional-trainees. The bill directs the Board of Counseling to adopt regulations governing the behavioral health technician, behavioral health technician assistant, qualified mental health professional, and qualified mental health professional-trainee professions by November 1, 2024, and for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Department of Medical Assistance Services to promulgate regulations that align with the regulations adopted by the Board of Counseling in accordance with the bill.