SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2021 SPECIAL SESSION I

  • print version
Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations

Chair: Janet D. Howell

Clerk: Michael Jackson
Staff: Connor Garstka
Date of Meeting: February 22, 2021
Time and Place: 15 Min. after Adj./SM West / Public can register @ GA website
https://virginia-senate.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3

H.B. 1750

Patron: Gooditis

Dairy Producer Margin Coverage Premium Assistance Program. Directs the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services to establish and administer the Dairy Producer Margin Coverage Premium Assistance Program (the Program). The bill provides that any dairy farmer that has a resource management plan or nutrient management plan and participates in the federal margin coverage program for dairy producers at the tier I level as contained in the federal Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 is eligible to participate in the Program. Under the bill, each year a Program participant will receive a refund of its annual premium payment paid into the federal program. Such reimbursement shall be provided on a first-come, first-served basis and shall be subject to availability of funds expressly appropriated for the purposes set forth in the chapter. The Commissioner shall submit an annual report no later than December 1 of each year to the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources assessing the effectiveness of the Program.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 3.2 a chapter numbered 33.1, consisting of sections numbered 3.2-3304 through 3.2-3307, relating to Dairy Producer Margin Coverage Premium Assistance Program; report.

21103881D

H.B. 1751

Patron: Brewer

Excise tax on peanuts. Extends from July 1, 2021, to July 1, 2026, the sunset date of the excise tax on all peanuts grown in Virginia and reduces from $0.30 per 100 pounds to $0.25 per 100 pounds the excise tax rate. The proceeds from this tax are used for promoting the sales and use of Virginia peanuts.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 3.2-1905 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the excise tax on peanuts.

21100674D

H.B. 1855

Patron: Sullivan

Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy. Renames the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy as the Department of Energy. Within the Department, the bill renames the Division of Mined Land Reclamation as the Division of Mined Land Repurposing and renames the Division of Energy as the Division of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.

The bill makes substantive changes, removing the requirement that the Chief of the Division of Mines be appointed by the Governor and authorizing an employee other than the Virginia Gas and Oil Inspector to serve as the principal executive of the staff of the Virginia Gas and Oil Board. The bill also provides that the Chief Clean Energy Policy Advisor shall be appointed by the Governor. The bill removes or updates outdated language.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-204, 2.2-604.2, 2.2-1157, 2.2-1176.1, 2.2-3705.6, 2.2-4006, 10.1-606.3, 10.1-659, 10.1-1194, 10.1-1329, 10.1-1330, 10.1-1406.2, 11-34.3, 15.2-958.3, 15.2-980, 15.2-2224, 23.1-2626, 23.1-2627, 28.2-1208, 30-275, 33.2-236, 45.1-161.1, 45.1-161.2, 45.1-161.5, 45.1-161.15, 45.1-161.179, 45.1-161.292:2, 45.1-180, 45.1-229, 45.1-230, 45.1-270.4:1, 45.1-361.28, 45.1-361.41, 45.1-383, 45.1-390, 56-265.15:1, 56-576, 56-585.5, 56-594.3, 56-596.2, 58.1-439.2, 58.1-439.12:02, 58.1-3660, 58.1-3706, 58.1-3745, 62.1-44.15:21, 62.1-44.15:66, 62.1-195.1, 62.1-243, 62.1-256, 62.1-259, 63.2-805, 67-200, 67-202.1, 67-602, 67-900, 67-1000, 67-1206, 67-1208, 67-1209, 67-1403, and 67-1506 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 45.1-161.4:1, relating to Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy.

21102112D

H.B. 1890

Patron: Price

Elections; prohibited discrimination in voting and elections administration; required process for enacting certain covered practices; civil causes of action. Prohibits any voting qualification or any standard, practice, or procedure related to voting from being imposed or applied in a manner that results in the denial or abridgment of the right of any United States citizen to vote based on his race or color or membership in a language minority group. The bill further prohibits at-large methods of election from being imposed or applied in a locality in a manner that impairs the ability of a protected class, defined in the bill, to elect candidates of its choice or to influence the outcome of an election, by diluting or abridging the rights of voters who are members of a protected class. Prior to enacting or administering a covered practice, defined in the bill, the governing body of a locality is required to publish the proposed covered practice and accept public comment for a minimum of 30 days on the proposed covered practice; after the public comment period, a 30-day waiting period is required. During this period, any person who will be subject to or affected by the covered practice may challenge the covered practice as (i) having the purpose or effect of denying or abridging the right to vote on the basis of race or color or membership in a language minority group or (ii) resulting in the retrogression in the position of members of a racial or ethnic group with respect to their effective exercise of the electoral franchise. The bill permits the local governing body to instead submit the proposed covered practice to the Office of the Attorney General for issuance of a certification of no objection and, once such certification is issued, to enact or administer the covered practice. Certain unlawful actions, including knowingly communicating false information to voters, that are currently subject to criminal penalties will create civil causes of action under the bill. The bill authorizes the Attorney General to commence civil actions when there is reasonable cause to believe that a violation of an election law has occurred and the rights of any voter or group of voters have been affected by the violation. Civil penalties assessed as a result of such action are payable to the Voter Education and Outreach Fund, established by the bill. Current provisions related to language minority accessibility are moved to a newly created chapter relating to the rights of voters.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-105, as it shall become effective, 24.2-306, 24.2-649, 24.2-1000, 24.2-1005, and 24.2-1005.1 of the Code of Virginia; to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 24.2-104.1, by adding a section numbered 24.2-1005.2, and by adding in Title 24.2 a chapter numbered 1.1, consisting of sections numbered 24.2-125 through 24.2-131; and to repeal § 24.2-124, as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to elections; prohibited discrimination in voting and elections administration; required process for enacting certain covered practices; civil causes of action; penalties.

21103495D

H.B. 2001

Patron: Helmer

Building standards for certain state and local buildings. Requires that any executive branch agency or institution or locality entering the design phase for the construction of a new building greater than 5,000 gross square feet in size or the renovation of a building where the cost of the renovation exceeds 50 percent of the value of the building ensure that such building has sufficient electric vehicle charging infrastructure, defined in the bill, and has features that permit the agency or institution to track the building's energy efficiency and carbon emissions. The bill authorizes the Director of the Department of General Services to grant exemptions to such standards, in writing and with certain terms. The bill requires agencies to annually report to the Governor the energy efficiency and carbon emissions metrics for each such building built or renovated.

The bill requires localities to design such building projects according to the same or similar standards, or more stringent standards if adopted by ordinance. The bill also requires that localities incorporate appropriate resilience and distributed energy features. The bill requires that any exemption from the standards granted by resolution of the governing body of a locality be made in writing and explain the basis for granting the exemption.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-1182 and 2.2-1183 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-1804.1, relating to building standards for certain state and local buildings.

21103607D

H.B. 2004

Patron: Hurst

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; law-enforcement criminal incident information; criminal investigative files. Adds criminal investigative files, defined in the bill, relating to a criminal investigation or proceeding that is not ongoing, also defined in the bill, to the types of law-enforcement and criminal records required to be released in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Under current law, the release of criminal investigative files is discretionary. The bill also provides that the mandatory release of criminal incident information relating to felony offenses and criminal investigative files shall be enjoined if a court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the release of such information would likely effect certain results, outlined in the bill. The bill contains technical amendments. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-3706, 2.2-3711, 19.2-174.1, and 19.2-368.3 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 2.2-3706.1, relating to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; law-enforcement criminal incident information; criminal investigative files.

21101252D

H.B. 2007

Patron: Sickles

Prescription drug price transparency. Directs the Department of Health to enter into a contract or an agreement with a nonprofit data services organization to collect, compile, and make available on its website information about prescription drug pricing and requires every health carrier, pharmacy benefits manager, and drug manufacturer to report information about prescription drug prices to the nonprofit data services organization with which the Department of Health has entered into a contract for such purpose. The bill provides that in any case in which the Department determines that the data reported by health carriers, pharmacy benefit managers, and drug manufacturers is insufficient, the Department may require wholesale distributors to report certain data about prescription drug costs. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2022.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-3705.6 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 3 of Chapter 1 of Title 32.1 a section numbered 32.1-23.3, by adding a section numbered 38.2-3407.15:6, by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 34 of Title 38.2 a section numbered 38.2-3407.22, by adding in Article 3 of Chapter 34 of Title 54.1 a section numbered 54.1-3436.1, and by adding in Article 4 of Chapter 34 of Title 54.1 a section numbered 54.1-3442.02, relating to prescription drug price transparency.

21103917D

H.B. 2017

Patron: Mullin

Juvenile offenders; youth justice diversion programs. Authorizes any jurisdiction to establish a youth justice diversion program, defined in the bill as a diversionary program that (i) is monitored by a local youth justice diversion program advisory committee; (ii) uses juvenile volunteers as lawyers, jurors, and other court personnel; (iii) uses volunteer attorneys as judges; (iv) conducts peer trials, subject to the juvenile and domestic relations court's jurisdiction, of juveniles who are referred to the program by an intake officer; and (v) imposes various sentences emphasizing restitution, rehabilitation, accountability, competency building, and education, but not incarceration. The bill provides that a jurisdiction may establish a youth justice diversion program upon establishment of a local youth justice diversion program advisory committee and approval of the program by the chief judge of the juvenile and domestic relations court that serves such jurisdiction The bill requires each local youth justice diversion program advisory committee to establish criteria for the eligibility and participation of juveniles alleged to have committed a delinquent act other than an act that would be a felony or a Class 1 misdemeanor if committed by an adult, with the consent of the juvenile's parent or legal guardian, and to establish policies and procedures for the operation of such program. The bill provides that whenever an intake officer takes informal action on a complaint alleging that a child committed a delinquent act other than an act that would be a felony or a Class 1 misdemeanor if committed by an adult, the intake officer may refer the juvenile to a youth justice diversion program. The bill also adds provisions that the Department of Juvenile Justice shall develop a statewide evaluation model and conduct ongoing evaluations of the effectiveness and efficiency of youth justice diversion programs and report these evaluations to the General Assembly by December 1 of each year.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 16.1-260 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 12.1 of Chapter 11 of Title 16.1 a section numbered 16.1-309.11, relating to juvenile offenders; youth justice diversion programs.

21102998D

H.B. 2027

Patron: Coyner

Standards of Learning assessments; reading and mathematics; grades three through eight; individual student growth. Requires the Board of Education to establish, in lieu of a one-time end-of-year assessment and for the purpose of providing measures of individual student growth over the course of the school year, a through-year growth assessment system, aligned with the Standards of Learning, for the administration of reading and mathematics assessments in grades three through eight. The bill requires such through-year growth assessment system to include at least one beginning-of-year and one end-of-year assessment in order to provide individual student growth scores over the course of the school year, provided that the total time scheduled for taking all such assessments shall not exceed 150 percent of the time scheduled for taking a single end-of-year proficiency assessment. The bill requires the Department of Education to ensure adequate training for teachers and principals on how to interpret and use student growth data from such assessments to improve reading and mathematics instruction in grades three through eight throughout the school year. The bill requires such through-year growth assessment system to be fully implemented in each local school division no later than the 2024-2025 school year.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-253.13:3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Standards of Learning assessments; reading and mathematics; grades three through eight; individual student growth.

21103824D

H.B. 2053

Patron: Samirah

Department of Housing and Community Development; stakeholder advisory group; accessory dwelling units. Directs the Department of Housing and Community Development (Department) to convene a stakeholder advisory group to evaluate the construction of internal, attached, and detached accessory dwelling units as a strategy to address the Commonwealth's growing demand for affordable and market-rate housing. The bill requires the stakeholder advisory group to report its findings and recommendations, including any legislative recommendations, to the Director of the Department, the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, the commissioners of the Virginia Housing Development Authority, and the Virginia Housing Commission no later than November 1, 2021.

A BILL to direct the Department of Housing and Community Development to convene a stakeholder advisory group to evaluate the construction of internal, attached, and detached accessory dwelling units as a strategy to address the Commonwealth's growing demand for affordable and market-rate housing.

21104312D

H.B. 2063

Patron: Mullin

Virginia Overtime Wage Act; penalties. Requires an employer to compensate its employees who are entitled to overtime compensation under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act at a rate not less than one and one-half times the employee's regular rate of pay, defined in the bill, for any hours worked in excess of 40 hours in any one workweek. The bill includes provisions for calculating overtime premiums due to fire protection and law-enforcement employees by certain public sector employers. The penalties provided by the bill for an employer's failure to pay such overtime wages, including civil and criminal penalties, are the same as currently provided for failing to pay wages generally. The statute of limitations for bringing a claim for a violation of the bill is three years.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 40.1-29 and 40.1-29.1 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 40.1-29.2, relating to the Virginia Overtime Wage Act; penalties.

21103929D

H.B. 2074

Patron: Simonds

Environmental justice; interagency working group. Establishes the Interagency Environmental Justice Working Group as an advisory council in the executive branch of state government to further environmental justice in the Commonwealth and directs each of the Governor's Secretaries to designate at least one environmental justice coordinator to represent the secretariat as a member of the Working Group. The bill directs the Working Group to focus its work during its first year on the environmental justice of current air quality monitoring practices in Virginia and provides that the Working Group shall expire on July 1, 2031.

The bill directs each state agency to adopt an agency-specific environmental justice policy that requires an evaluation of the environmental justice consequences of any covered agency action, requires a consideration of the environmental justice consequences or cumulative impacts of the administration of regulations, and contains other features, including public participation plans for residents of environmental justice communities and fenceline communities potentially affected by a covered agency action.

Finally, the bill requires each local government adopting or reviewing a comprehensive plan to consider identifying certain environmental justice communities, objectives, and policies.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-234 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 12 of Chapter 2 of Title 2.2 sections numbered 2.2-236 and 2.2-237 and by adding a section numbered 15.2-2223.5, relating to environmental justice; interagency working group.

21104161D

H.B. 2099

Patron: Coyner

Limitations on enforcement of judgments; judgment liens; settlement agents. Reduces from 20 years to 10 years from the date of a judgment the period of time within which an execution may be issued or action may be taken on such judgment.  The bill provides that the limitation of the enforcement of a judgment may be extended by a recordation of a certificate prior to the expiration period in the clerk's office in which a judgment lien is recorded. The bill provides that such recordation shall extend the limitations period for 10 years from the date of such recordation. Under current law, such limitation period may be extended on motion of the judgment creditor or his assignee. The bill allows a settlement agent or title insurance company to release a judgment lien, in addition to a deed of trust as provided under current law, provided that the obligation secured by such judgment lien has been satisfied by payment made by the settlement agent and whether or not the settlement agent or title insurance company is named as a trustee under such lien or received authority to release such lien. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2022.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 8.01-251, 8.01-458, and 55.1-339 of the Code of Virginia, relating to limitations on enforcement of judgments; judgment liens; settlement agents.

21103747D

H.B. 2113

Patron: Herring

Automatic expungement of criminal records; penalties. Establishes a process for the automatic expungement, defined in the bill, of criminal records for certain convictions, deferred dispositions, and acquittals and for offenses that have been nolle prossed or otherwise dismissed. The bill also provides a process for the automatic expungement of criminal records for charges arising from mistaken identity or the unauthorized use of identifying information. The bill has staggered delayed effective dates in order to develop systems for implementing the provisions of the bill. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia State Crime Commission.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 9.1-101, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 17.1-293.1, 17.1-323, 17.1-413, 17.1-502, 19.2-72, 19.2-74, 19.2-310.7, 19.2-340, 19.2-389.3, and 19.2-390 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 19.2 a chapter numbered 23.2, consisting of sections numbered 19.2-392.5 through 19.2-392.16, relating to automatic expungement of criminal records; penalties.

21103933D

H.B. 2124

Patron: Lopez

Department of Medical Assistance Services; testing for, treatment of, and vaccination against COVID-19; emergency services. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to, during a public health emergency related to COVID-19 declared by the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, deem testing for, treatment of, and vaccination against COVID-19 to be emergency services for which payment may be made pursuant to federal law for certain aliens not lawfully admitted for permanent residence.

A BILL to require the Department of Medical Assistance Services to deem testing for, treatment of, and vaccination against COVID-19 to be emergency services.

21102611D

H.B. 2129

Patron: Lopez

Chesapeake Bay; wastewater treatment; Enhanced Nutrient Removal Certainty Program. Requires the State Water Control Board to adopt regulations establishing a Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan Enhanced Nutrient Removal Certainty Program (ENRC Program), consisting of a number of total nitrogen and total phosphorous waste load allocation reductions assigned to particular water treatment facilities with schedules for compliance. The bill provides that the ENRC Program shall operate in lieu of certain Chesapeake Bay waste load regulations. The bill directs the Board to modify affected discharge permits to incorporate the provisions of the ENRC Program and requires certain compliance plans due from treatment works beginning February 1, 2023, to address the requirements of the ENRC Program.

The bill provides that the funding of certain design and installation costs for implementing nutrient upgrades pursuant to the ENRC Program shall be eligible for grants from the Water Quality Improvement Fund. The bill lists the projects and the total nitrogen or total phosphorus waste load allocation reductions that specified facilities are to complete. The bill provides that when grants to finance nutrient removal technology reach a sum sufficient to fund the completion of the ENRC Program at all publicly owned treatment works, certain General Assembly committees shall review funding needs and mechanisms.

Finally, the bill provides that the priority projects and waste load allocation reductions that it sets forth shall be deemed to implement goals of the Chesapeake Bay Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP). It authorizes the Secretary of Natural Resources to develop an additional watershed implementation plan if he determines on or after July 1, 2026, that the Commonwealth has not achieved or will not be able to maintain the nitrogen pollution reduction commitments it made in the Phase III WIP.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 10.1-1186.01, 62.1-44.19:13, and 62.1-44.19:14 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Chesapeake Bay Phase III Watershed Improvement Plan; nutrient removal; regulations.

21103828D

H.B. 2132

Patron: Roem

Homicides and assaults and bodily woundings; certain matters not to constitute defenses. Provides that the discovery of, perception of, or belief about another person's actual or perceived sex, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation, whether or not accurate, is not a defense to any charge of capital murder, murder in the first degree, murder in the second degree, voluntary manslaughter, or assault and bodily wounding-related crimes and is not provocation negating or excluding malice as an element of murder.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2 a section numbered 18.2-37.1 and by adding in Article 4 of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2 a section numbered 18.2-57.5, relating to homicides and assaults and bodily woundings; certain matters not to constitute defenses.

21104105D

H.B. 2137

Patron: Guzman

Paid sick leave. Requires employers to provide certain employees paid sick leave. An employee is eligible for paid sick leave under the bill if the employee is an essential worker and works on average at least 20 hours per week or 90 hours per month. The bill provides for an employee to earn at least one hour of paid sick leave benefit for every 30 hours worked. An employee shall not use more than 40 hours of earned paid sick leave in a year, unless the employer selects a higher limit. The bill provides that earned paid sick leave may be used for (i) an employee's mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; an employee's need for medical diagnosis, care, or treatment of a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; or an employee's need for preventive medical care or (ii) care of a family member with a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; care of a family member who needs medical diagnosis, care, or treatment of a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; or care of a family member who needs preventive medical care. The bill prohibits employers from taking certain retaliatory actions against employees related to leave. The bill provides for a hardship waiver for employers that demonstrate that providing paid sick leave threatens the financial viability of the employer, jeopardizes the ability of the employer to sustain operations, significantly degrades the quality of the employer's business operations, or creates a significant negative financial impact on the employer. The bill requires the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to promulgate regulations that (a) identify workers as essential based on the categories listed in the bill; (b) include reasonable requirements for recordkeeping, confidentiality, and notifying employees of their rights under provisions of the bill; (c) establish complaint, investigation, and enforcement procedures that include fines, not to exceed $500, for violations of provisions of the bill; (d) establish requirements for compensation and accrual of paid sick leave for employees employed and compensated on a fee-for-service basis; and (e) include procedures and requirements for an employer to qualify for a hardship waiver. The provisions of the bill do not apply to a retail business with fewer than 25 employees.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 3 of Title 40.1 an article numbered 2.1, consisting of sections numbered 40.1-33.3 through 40.1-33.9, relating to employees; paid sick leave.

21101625D

H.B. 2148

Patron: Willett

Small renewable energy projects; energy storage. Includes in the definition of a "small renewable energy project" certain energy storage facilities and projects that include storage facility components. Such facilities are eligible for special permitting, review, and inspection requirements. The bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality to promulgate initial regulations to implement the provisions of the bill by January 1, 2022.

A BILL to amend and reenact 10.1-1197.5 of the Code of Virginia, relating to small renewable energy projects; energy storage.

21102904D

H.B. 2163

Patron: Tran

Department of Motor Vehicles; privileged information. Limits the release of Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) privileged information to government entities and law-enforcement agencies for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement unless (i) the subject of the information provides consent or (ii) the requesting agency presents a lawful judicial order, judicial subpoena, or judicial warrant. The bill requires the DMV to notify the subject of the request that such a request was made and the identity of the entity that made the request. The bill requires any entity receiving privileged information from the DMV to enter into a written agreement with the DMV prior to such release of such information and prohibits any entity from rereleasing any such DMV information to any third party unless explicitly permitted to do so in the entity's agreement with the DMV. The bill contains requirements for any such written agreement between the DMV and the Department of State Police.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-100, 46.2-208, 46.2-209, 46.2-209.1, and 46.2-328.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Motor Vehicles; privileged information.

21103639D

H.B. 2191

Patron: Leftwich

Local department of social services; location of child in local department's custody. Provides that a local department of social services shall, upon request of the legal guardian or custodian of a child, disclose to such legal guardian or custodian the location of the child when the child is in the custody of another legal guardian or custodian, unless the local department finds that such disclosure would compromise the safety of the child or the legal guardian or custodian.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 63.2-104 of the Code of Virginia, relating to local department of social services; location of child in local department's custody.

21103371D

H.B. 2203

Patron: Filler-Corn

Virginia Agriculture Food Assistance Program and Fund; established. Requires the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services (the Commissioner) to establish the Virginia Agriculture Food Assistance Program (VAFA Program) for Virginia farmers and food producers to donate, sell, or otherwise provide agriculture products to charitable food assistance organizations. The bill also creates the Virginia Agriculture Food Assistance Fund to disburse moneys to such charitable food assistance organizations to reimburse farmers or food producers for any costs associated with harvesting, processing, packaging, or transporting agriculture products donated to such charitable food assistance organizations. The bill authorizes the Commissioner to adopt guidelines and regulations to carry out the VAFA Program.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 3.2 a chapter numbered 47.1, consisting of sections numbered 3.2-4780 through 3.2-4783, relating to the Virginia Agriculture Food Assistance Program and Fund; established.

21102121D

H.B. 2227

Patron: Kory

Uniform Statewide Building Code; amendments; energy efficiency and conservation. Directs the Board of Housing and Community Development, upon each publication by the International Code Council of a new version of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), to consider adopting amendments to the Uniform Statewide Building Code to address changes in the IECC related to energy efficiency and conservation.

A BILL to direct the Board of Housing and Community Development to consider adopting amendments to the Uniform Statewide Building Code relating to energy efficiency and conservation upon each publication of a new version of the International Code Council's International Energy Conservation Code.

21104318D

H.B. 2276

Patron: Simon

Manufacture, import, sale, transfer, or possession of plastic firearms and unfinished frames or receivers and unserialized firearms; penalties. Creates a Class 5 felony for any person who manufactures, imports, sells, transfers, or possesses any firearm that, after removal of all parts other than a major component, as defined in the bill, is not detectable as a firearm by the types of detection devices, including X-ray machines, commonly used at airports for security screening. The bill updates language regarding the types of detection devices that are used at airports for detecting plastic firearms.

The bill also creates several Class 1 misdemeanors, which are punishable as a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense, making it unlawful (i) for any person to possess, sell, offer to sell, transfer, purchase, transport, or receive an unfinished frame or receiver or firearm, unless the party possessing or receiving the unfinished frame or receiver or firearm is a federal firearms importer or manufacturer or the unfinished frame or receiver or firearm is imprinted with a serial number issued by a federal firearms importer or manufacturer and (ii) for any person to manufacture, cause to be manufactured, assemble, or cause to be assembled a firearm that is not imprinted with a serial number issued by a federal firearms importer or manufacturer in compliance with all federal laws and regulations regulating the manufacture and import of firearms. The bill creates exceptions for (i) any firearm that has been rendered permanently inoperable, (ii) an antique firearm, or (iii) any firearm or unfinished frame or receiver manufactured before October 22, 1968.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-308.5 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-308.5:2, relating to manufacture, import, sale, transfer, or possession of plastic firearms and unfinished frames or receivers and unserialized firearms; penalties.

21103385D

H.B. 2322

Patron: Herring

Opioid Abatement Authority; established, report. Establishes the Opioid Abatement Authority. The Authority, with the assistance of the Office of the Attorney General, would administer the Opioid Abatement Fund, which would receive moneys from settlements, judgments, verdicts, and other court orders relating to claims regarding the manufacturing, marketing, distribution, or sale of opioids and any other funds received on the fund's behalf that would be used to provide grants and loans to Virginia agencies and certain localities for the purpose of treating, preventing, or reducing opioid use disorder and the misuse of opioids or otherwise abating or remediating the opioid epidemic in the Commonwealth.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-212 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 2.2-507.3, by adding in Chapter 22 of Title 2.2 an article numbered 12, consisting of sections numbered 2.2-2365 through 2.2-2376, and by adding in Article 3.1 of Chapter 1 of Title 51.1 a section numbered 51.1-124.40, relating to establishing an Opioid Abatement Authority.

21104247D

H.B. 2331

Patron: Mullin

Elimination of mandatory minimum sentences; modification of sentence to mandatory minimum term of confinement for felony offenses. Eliminates mandatory minimum sentences of confinement for certain crimes. The bill also provides a petition process for a person who was convicted or adjudicated delinquent of certain felony offenses committed prior to July 1, 2021, sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of confinement for any such felony offense, and remains incarcerated in a state or local correctional facility serving the mandatory minimum term of confinement for any such felony offense to petition the circuit court that entered the original judgment or order to (i) suspend the unserved portion of such mandatory minimum sentence, (ii) place such person on probation for such time as the court shall determine, or (iii) otherwise modify the sentence imposed. The bill provides that such petition shall be filed by July 1, 2024.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 3.2-4212, 4.1-302, 18.2-186.4, 18.2-248, 18.2-248.01, 18.2-248.03, 18.2-248.1, 18.2-248.5, 18.2-255, 18.2-255.2, 46.2-357, and 46.2-391 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 19.2-303.03, relating to elimination of mandatory minimum sentences; modification of sentence to mandatory minimum term of confinement for felony offenses.

21103590D