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2024 SESSION

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Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology

Chair: Adam P. Ebbin

Clerk: Eric Bingham, Andrew Horton
Staff: Joanne Frye
Date of Meeting: January 24, 2024
Time and Place: 30 minutes after adjournment/Senate Room B

S.B. 36 Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definition of meetings.

Patron: Locke

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definition of meetings. Exempts certain public meetings from the definition of "meeting" under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to clarify that three or more members of a public body may appear and participate in such public meeting without violating the Act, provided that no public business is transacted or discussed.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-3701 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definition of meetings.

24102327D

S.B. 50 Eviction Diversion Pilot Program; extends expiration of Program to July 1, 2025.

Patron: Locke

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; Eviction Diversion Pilot Program; expiration. Extends the expiration of the Eviction Diversion Pilot Program to July 1, 2025. Currently, the Program is set to expire on July 1, 2024. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Housing Commission.

A BILL to amend and reenact the fourth enactment of Chapter 355 and the fourth enactment of Chapter 356 of the Acts of Assembly of 2019, as amended by Chapter 797 of the Acts of Assembly of 2022, relating to Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; Eviction Diversion Pilot Program; expiration.

24100911D

S.B. 79 Solar-ready roofs for certain gov't bldgs.; net-zero energy consumption bldg. design for schools.

Patron: Favola

Solar-ready roofs for certain government buildings; net-zero energy consumption building design for schools. Requires any executive branch agency or institution and any 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, to ensure that such building includes a solar-ready, cool, or energy-efficient roof, defined in the bill. The bill also requires new public school buildings and facilities and improvements and renovations to existing public school buildings and facilities where the cost of the renovation exceeds 50 percent of the value of the building to, after notice is given to the governing body, be designed and constructed to meet net-zero energy consumption standards. The provisions of this bill only apply to projects entering the design phase on or after January 1, 2025.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-1183 and 15.2-1804.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to solar-ready roofs for certain government buildings; net-zero energy consumption building design for schools.

24103593D

S.B. 122 Pharmaceutical Services, Office of; establishes in Department of General Services, report.

Patron: VanValkenburg

Department of General Services; Office of Pharmaceutical Services; report. Establishes in the Department of General Services an Office of Pharmaceutical Services to develop and execute a plan to consolidate state agency prescription drug purchasing and pharmacy benefit management programs to increase efficiency in prescription drug purchasing and constrain spending on prescription drugs. The bill directs the Department to provide to the Governor and the General Assembly an interim report on the development of the plan by November 1, 2024, and a final report on the plan by November 1, 2025.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 11 of Title 2.2 an article numbered 9, consisting of a section numbered 2.2-1184, relating to Department of General Services; Office of Pharmaceutical Services; report.

24101273D

S.B. 124 Sports betting; permitted on Virginia college sports.

Patron: VanValkenburg

Sports betting; Virginia college sports. Permits betting, with the exception of proposition betting, on Virginia college sports. Under current law, betting other than proposition betting is allowed on all college sports except Virginia college sports.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 58.1-4030 and 58.1-4039 of the Code of Virginia and the fourth enactment of Chapter 1197 and the fourth enactment of Chapter 1248 of the Acts of Assembly of 2020, relating to sports betting; Virginia college sports.

24101271D

S.B. 177 Employee designation and payment policies; nursing staff at state psychiatric hospitals.

Patron: Favola

Department of Human Resource Management; employee designation and payment policies; nursing staff at state psychiatric hospitals. Directs the Department of Human Resource Management to amend its policies to authorize the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and state psychiatric hospitals to designate as full-time employees nursing staff and psychiatric technicians who work at least 36 hours per week. The bill prohibits the Department from requiring reductions in pay or other benefits for such employees based solely on the fact that the employee works 36 hours per week. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission and the Behavioral Health Commission.

A BILL to direct the Department of Human Resource Management to amend its policies relating to employee designations, pay, and benefits for nursing staff at state psychiatric hospitals.

24103981D

S.B. 195 Uniform Statewide Building Code; Board of HCD to convene advisory group to evaluate, report.

Patron: VanValkenburg

Board of Housing and Community Development; stakeholder advisory group; report. Directs the Board of Housing and Community Development (the Board) to convene a stakeholder advisory group to evaluate and recommend revisions to the Uniform Statewide Building Code to permit Group R-2 occupancies to be served by a single exit, provided that the building has not more than six stories above grade plane. The bill requires the stakeholder advisory group to submit its findings and recommendations to the Board and to the Chairmen of the House Committee on General Laws and the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology no later than December 1, 2024.

A BILL to direct the Board of Housing and Community Development to convene a stakeholder advisory group to evaluate and recommend revisions to the Uniform Statewide Building Code to permit Group R-2 occupancies to be served by a single exit; report.

24104899D

S.B. 215 FOIA; removal of Virginia residency requirement for access to certain criminal investigation files.

Patron: Perry

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; removal of Virginia residency requirement for access to certain criminal investigation files. Removes the requirement that persons to whom non-ongoing criminal investigation files shall otherwise be disclosed be citizens of the Commonwealth. Current law limits disclosure of public records to individuals who are citizens of the Commonwealth unless a clear exception applies.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-3706.1 and 8.01-622.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Freedom of Information Act; removal of Virginia residency requirement for access to certain criminal investigation files.

24100018D

S.B. 233 Faith in Housing for the Commonwealth Act; construction of affordable housing.

Patron: Hashmi

Faith in Housing for the Commonwealth Act. Permits a religious organization, defined in the bill, to construct affordable housing on real estate owned by such religious organization (i) on or before January 1, 2024, or for a period of not less than five years, and (ii) for which the religious organization retains a majority ownership interest.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 36 a chapter numbered 13, consisting of sections numbered 36-176 and 36-177, relating to Faith in Housing for the Commonwealth Act.

24104744D

S.B. 244 FOIA; meetings held through electronic communication during declared states of emergency.

Patron: McPike

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; effective date of procedures for conducting meetings held through electronic communication means during declared states of emergency. Provides that the provisions for conducting a meeting by electronic means due to a state of emergency stated in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) are declarative of existing law since March 20, 2020, with respect to the Governor's declared state of emergency due to COVID-19. Under the bill, any meeting by a public body using electronic communication means occurring from that date until July 1, 2021, and any otherwise lawful action taken at it is validated with respect to FOIA if the body provided public notice, public access, and public comment commensurate with the requirements of existing FOIA provisions regarding electronic and closed meetings.

A BILL to amend and reenact the third enactment of Chapter 597 of the Acts of Assembly of 2022, relating to the effective date of procedures for conducting meetings held through electronic communication means during declared states of emergency.

24104842D

S.B. 247 Building service employees; public contracting.

Patron: McPike

Building service employees; public contracting. Permits any county, city, or town in the Commonwealth to provide for certain requirements concerning incumbent and successor building service employers, defined in the bill, by local ordinance or resolution. For example, such local ordinance or resolution may require that successor building service employers retain incumbent employees during a transition period of 90 days. Under the bill, building service employees are those who perform work in connection with the care or maintenance of property, services at an airport, or food preparation services at schools. The bill provides that a building service employer that violates the provisions of a local ordinance or resolution enacted pursuant to the bill may be subject to a civil action and monetary damages.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 6 of Chapter 43 of Title 2.2 a section numbered 2.2-4377.1, relating to building service employees; public contracting.

24104539D

S.B. 281 Family cemeteries; interment rights, proof of kinship.

Patron: Roem

Family cemeteries; interment rights; proof of kinship. Allows a family member or descendant, as defined in the bill, of a deceased person buried in a family cemetery, also defined in the bill, that is located on private property to petition the circuit court of the county or city where the property is located for interment rights upon such property. The bill provides that such family member or descendant may prove kinship to the court through official documentation or nonofficial documentation, such as obituaries, family Bibles or other documents with family signatures, journals or letters of the deceased person interred on the private property, family photographs, or other documentation deemed by the court to be reliable.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 57-27.1:1, relating to family cemeteries; interment rights; proof of kinship.

24104351D

S.B. 307 Regulation of electronic gaming devices; penalties.

Patron: McPike

Regulation of electronic gaming devices; penalties. Authorizes and specifies the licensing requirements for the manufacture, distribution, operation, servicing, hosting, and play of electronic gaming devices, as defined in the bill. The bill provides that electronic gaming devices are regulated by the Virginia Lottery Board and requires employees of such licensees to be registered with the Virginia Lottery. The bill imposes criminal and civil penalties for violations of the law and regulations related to electronic gaming devices. The bill imposes a 34 percent tax on all gross profits from the play of such gaming devices and provides for the use of such tax proceeds, with most being deposited into the general fund.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-3711, as it is currently effective and as it may become effective, 18.2-325, 18.2-334, 18.2-334.3, 19.2-389, 37.2-314.2, 58.1-4002, 58.1-4003, 58.1-4006, 58.1-4007, 58.1-4012, 58.1-4019.1, and 58.1-4027 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 3 of Title 11 a section numbered 11-16.3 and by adding in Chapter 40 of Title 58.1 an article numbered 3, consisting of sections numbered 58.1-4049 through 58.1-4075, relating to the regulation of electronic gaming devices; penalties.

24104586D

S.B. 324 Virginia Freedom of Information Act; charges for production of public records.

Patron: Roem


Virginia Freedom of Information Act; charges for production of public records. Prohibits a public body from charging a requester for any costs incurred during the first two hours spent accessing or searching for requested records when such requester has made four or fewer individual record requests to such public body within 31 consecutive days. The bill provides that for any additional time spent accessing or searching for such records, or when such requester makes five or more individual record requests to such public body within any 31-consecutive-day period, the public body shall not charge an hourly rate for accessing or searching for the records exceeding the lesser of the hourly rate of pay of the lowest-paid individual capable of fulfilling the request or $33 per hour. The bill allows a public body to petition the appropriate court for relief from the $33 per hour fee cap upon showing by a preponderance of the evidence that there is no qualified individual capable of fulfilling the request for $33 per hour or less and requires such petition to be heard within seven days of when the petition is made, provided that the public body has sent and the requester has received a copy of the petition at least three working days prior to filing. The bill also provides that in certain instances a hearing on any petition shall be given precedence on a circuit court's docket over all cases that are not otherwise given precedence by law and that the time period the public body has to respond to a record request shall be tolled between the requester's receipt of the petition and the final disposition of the court. Finally, the bill prohibits a public body from charging a requester for any court costs or fees resulting from a petition.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-3704 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Freedom of Information Act; charges for production of public records.

24104457D

S.B. 344 Charitable gaming; organization to use predetermined percentage of its receipts for expenses.

Patron: Reeves

Charitable gaming. Amends charitable gaming law to allow, as a condition of receiving a charitable gaming permit or authorization to conduct electronic gaming, certain organizations to use a predetermined percentage of its receipts for expenses related to the rental of real property where such real property is involved in the operation of the organization and used for lawful religious, charitable, community, or educational purposes. The bill (i) prohibits the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services from promulgating electronic gaming regulations that prohibit (a) devices that display spinning, rotating, or rolling reels or animations or flashing lights; (b) devices that accept vouchers; or (c) the purchase and play of an electronic pull tab with a single press or touch of a button. The bill also requires qualified organizations and electronic gaming manufacturers to pay one-quarter of one percent of its gross receipts or adjusted gross receipts, as appropriate, to be deposited by the Department into the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund and prohibits any qualified social organization that is subject to Department regulations from conducting electronic gaming in a separately demised premises that has a direct or indirect means of ingress to or egress from any adjacent space unless such space is used exclusively by members or guests of such qualified organization.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 18.2-340.16, 18.2-340.19, 18.2-340.31, and 18.2-340.33 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-340.31:1, relating to charitable gaming.

24100604D

S.B. 345 Casino gaming; limits on required local referendums.

Patron: Reeves

Casino gaming; limits on required local referendums. Provides that the governing body of any eligible host city that holds a local referendum on the question of whether casino gaming should be permitted in such city that subsequently fails shall be prohibited from holding another referendum on the same question for a period of three years from the date of the last referendum.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 58.1-4123 of the Code of Virginia, relating to casino gaming; limits on required local referendums.

24100601D

S.B. 348 Gaming; posting of illegal gaming tip line information.

Patron: Reeves

Gaming; posting of illegal gaming tip line information. Requires those legally authorized to sell Virginia lottery tickets or conduct charitable gaming, horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering, and casino gaming in the Commonwealth to post in a conspicuous place on their premises a sign that bears the toll-free telephone number and website of the illegal gaming tip line established and administered by the Office of the Gaming Enforcement Coordinator in the Department of State Police for members of the public to report concerns about, or suspected instances of, illegal gaming activities.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 18.2-340.19 and 59.1-369, 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 a section numbered 58.1-4007.3 and by adding in Article 7 of Chapter 41 of Title 58.1 a section numbered 58.1-4122.1, relating to gaming; posting of illegal gaming tip line information.

24101186D

S.B. 388 Virginia Consumer Protection Act; prohibited practices, mandatory fees disclosure.

Patron: Pekarsky

Virginia Consumer Protection Act; prohibited practices; mandatory fees disclosure. Prohibits a supplier in connection with a consumer transaction from advertising, displaying, or offering any pricing information for goods or services without prominently displaying the total price, which shall include all mandatory fees or charges other than taxes imposed.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 59.1-200 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Consumer Protection Act; prohibited practices; mandatory fees disclosure.

24104448D

S.B. 397 Gaming; posting of illegal gaming tip line information.

Patron: Ebbin

Gaming; posting of illegal gaming tip line information. Requires those legally authorized to sell Virginia lottery tickets or conduct charitable gaming, horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering, and casino gaming in the Commonwealth to post in a conspicuous place on their premises a sign that bears the toll-free telephone number and website of the illegal gaming tip line established and administered by the Office of the Gaming Enforcement Coordinator in the Department of State Police for members of the public to report concerns about, or suspected instances of, illegal gaming activities.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 18.2-340.19 and 59.1-369, 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 a section numbered 58.1-4007.3 and by adding in Article 7 of Chapter 41 of Title 58.1 a section numbered 58.1-4122.1, relating to gaming; posting of illegal gaming tip line information.

24101320D

S.B. 415 Virginia Freedom of Information Act; amends definition of "meeting."

Patron: Stuart

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definition of "meeting." Amends the definition of "meeting" as it relates to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to add an exception for local political party meetings. The bill is a recommendation of the FOIA Council.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-3701 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definition of "meeting."

24103187D

S.B. 426 Pari-mutuel wagering; historical horse racing, percentage retained for distribution.

Patron: Deeds

Pari-mutuel wagering; historical horse racing; percentage retained for distribution. Provides that with respect to all authorized historical horse racing terminals, of the amount that a horse racing licensee retains from wagering on historical horse racing pools, 0.025 percent shall be provided to each of the following: (i) the Virginia Breeders Fund; (ii) the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, for its equine programs; (iii) the Virginia Horse Center Foundation; and (iv) the Virginia Horse Industry Board. The bill also provides that, in addition to the amount horse racing licensees distribute to localities and the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund under current law, such licensees shall distribute the remainder of the percentage retained to the Commonwealth as a license tax.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 59.1-392 of the Code of Virginia, relating to pari-mutuel wagering; historical horse racing; percentage retained for distribution.

24100426D

S.B. 429 Casino gaming; eligible host cities.

Patron: VanValkenburg

Casino gaming; eligible host cities. Reduces from five to four the number of cities eligible to host a casino in the Commonwealth by removing Richmond from the list of eligible host cities.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 58.1-4107 of the Code of Virginia, relating to casino gaming; eligible host cities.

24101270D

S.B. 463 Accountancy, Board of; powers and duties, repeals requirement for an annual audit of the Board.

Patron: Hackworth

Board of Accountancy; powers and duties. Repeals the requirement for an annual audit of the Board of Accountancy and amends several Code provisions relating to the Board. The bill changes the Secretariat of the Board from the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to the Secretary of Finance. The bill authorizes the Board to initiate complaints against (i) individuals or firms claiming to hold a Virginia license, as defined in the bill, and (ii) unlicensed individuals or firms using the certified public accountant title in Virginia, as defined in the bill. The bill also grants the Executive Director of the Board the power to request and receive reports from the Central Criminal Records Exchange in conjunction with the Executive Director's investigative and enforcement powers. Finally, the bill directs the Board to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-204, 2.2-211, 19.2-389, 54.1-4400, 54.1-4402, 54.1-4403, 54.1-4407, 54.1-4412.1, 54.1-4413.4, 54.1-4421, and 54.1-4425 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal § 54.1-4420 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Board of Accountancy; powers and duties.

24104472D

S.B. 473 Administrative Process Act; requirement of executive branch agencies.

Patron: Hackworth

Administrative Process Act; executive branch agencies. Requires executive branch agencies to ensure that certain regulations and guidance documents under the Virginia Register Act and Administrative Process Act, as appropriate, are posted on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall according to instructions issued by the Department of Planning and Budget.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-4001 and 2.2-4002 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Administrative Process Act; executive branch agencies.

24104803D

S.B. 487 Artificial intelligence; use by public bodies prohibitions.

Patron: Aird

Use of artificial intelligence by public bodies; prohibitions. Prohibits any public body from implementing any system that employs artificial intelligence unless such public body (i) performs an initial impact assessment and ongoing impact assessments of such system to ensure its use will not result in any unlawful discrimination against any individual or group of individuals or have any disparate impact on any individual or group of individuals and (ii) does not implement or ceases to use such system if such effects occur. The bill requires all public bodies that implement such systems to submit an annual report on such assessments and provide an inventory of all such systems used to the appropriate entity designated in the bill. The bill directs the Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth to develop, publish, and maintain policies and procedures concerning systems that employ artificial intelligence and are used by public bodies.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-2007 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 55.3 of Title 2.2 a section numbered 2.2-5514.2, relating to use of artificial intelligence by public bodies; prohibitions.

24103787D

S.B. 496 Virginia Growth and Opportunity Act; Virginia investment performance grants.

Patron: Carroll Foy

Virginia Growth and Opportunity Act; Virginia investment performance grants; Virginia economic development incentive grants. Reduces the local funding match requirement for GO Virginia grants from being equal to the grant amount to being at least equal to half of the grant amount. The bill also allows payouts for the Virginia investment performance grant and the Virginia economic development incentive grant programs to begin in the first year after reaching performance targets. Under current law, payouts for such grant programs generally cannot begin until the third year after projects achieve their performance targets. The bill also requires projects seeking grants from the Virginia investment performance grant program to pay at least the prevailing average wage if job creation is included in a grant award determination.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-2489, 2.2-5100, 2.2-5101, and 2.2-5102.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Growth and Opportunity Act; Virginia investment performance grants; Virginia economic development incentive grants.

24104367D

S.B. 513 Funeral services; transportation protection agreements.

Patron: Williams Graves

Funeral services; transportation protection agreements. Defines "transportation protection agreement" as an agreement that provides for the coordination and arranging of all professional services related to transportation of human remains or cremated remains beyond the distance stated in the preneed funeral contract. The bill clarifies that transportation protection agreements are not considered preneed funeral contracts.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 54.1-2800 of the Code of Virginia, relating to funeral services; transportation protection agreements.

24101408D

S.B. 521 Preneed funeral contracts; declinable preneed funeral guarantee fee.

Patron: Williams Graves

Preneed funeral contracts; declinable preneed funeral guarantee fee. Defines "declinable preneed funeral guarantee fee" as an optional and declinable fee agreed to by a preneed funeral contract purchaser, if offered by a seller, for which the cost of the supplies and services as described in the preneed funeral contract are guaranteed. The bill describes certain requirements that must be met for funeral service licensees to offer declinable preneed funeral guarantee fees. The bill directs the Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 54.1-2800 and 54.1-2820 of the Code of Virginia, relating to preneed funeral contracts; declinable preneed funeral guarantee fee.

24104409D

S.B. 526 Resale Disclosure Act; delivery of resale certificate, remedies.

Patron: Williams Graves

Resale Disclosure Act; delivery of resale certificate; remedies. Provides that failure to deliver a resale certificate within 14 days, as required by the Resale Disclosure Act, deems the resale certificate unavailable. The bill grants a purchaser three days from the date of ratification of the contract or the date of receipt of the resale certificate or notice that such certificate is unavailable, as applicable, to cancel the contract. Finally, the bill (i) excludes from the resale certificate requirements of the Act an initial disposition of a lot to a person who is not acquiring the lot for his own residence and (ii) allows a resale certificate to be delivered to a purchaser's authorized agent. Current law excludes the resale certificate requirements of the Act for any initial disposition, regardless of its intended use, and only allows a resale certificate to be delivered to a purchaser.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 55.1-2308, 55.1-2309, 55.1-2310, 55.1-2312, 55.1-2316, and 55.1-2317 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Resale Disclosure Act; delivery of resale certificate; remedies.

24105078D

S.B. 540 Illegal gambling; exemptions.

Patron: Bagby

Illegal gambling; exemptions. Exempts from the provisions of Code prohibiting illegal gambling the placement or operation of or communication to and from equipment in the Commonwealth associated with the hosting of lottery games duly authorized by another state or jurisdiction and regulated and operated consistent with and exclusively for the benefit of such state or jurisdiction, provided that wagering on such games is legally authorized in such other state or jurisdiction and the individuals wagering on such games are required by the laws or regulations of such other state or jurisdiction to be physically located within the geographic bounds of such other state or jurisdiction at the time the wager is initiated or placed.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-334.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to illegal gambling; exemptions.

24102988D

S.B. 541 Casino gaming; removes the City of Richmond as an eligible host city.

Patron: Bagby

Casino gaming; eligible host city. Removes the City of Richmond as an eligible host city for casino gaming establishments in the Commonwealth.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 58.1-4107 of the Code of Virginia, relating to casino gaming; eligible host city.

24103472D

S.B. 576 Unfair Real Estate Service Agreement Act; created.

Patron: Ebbin

Consumer protection; creation of Unfair Real Estate Service Agreement Act. Creates the Unfair Real Estate Service Agreement Act and adds any violations of the Act to the list of prohibited violations of relevant consumer protection laws in the Commonwealth. The bill prohibits any real estate service agreement, defined in the bill, that is effective and binding for more than one year from its effective date from (i) purporting to run with the land or bind future owners of interests in the residential real property identified in the service agreement; (ii) allowing the service provider to assign or transfer the right to provide services under the service agreement without notice to and written agreement of all parties to the service agreement; or (iii) purporting to create a lien, encumbrance, or other real property security interest on the residential real property identified in the service agreement.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 59.1-199 and 59.1-200 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 55.1 a chapter numbered 32, consisting of sections numbered 55.1-3200 through 55.1-3206, relating to consumer protections; creation of Unfair Real Estate Service Agreement Act.

24101370D

S.B. 584 Department of General Services; General Services Board established; Chief Administrator.

Patron: Deeds

Department of General Services; General Services Board established; Chief Administrator. Establishes the General Services Board to oversee the Department of General Services and, among other duties, to appoint a Chief Administrator for the Department. The Board shall consist of nine members: one nonlegislative citizen member appointed by the Governor, two nonlegislative citizen members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, two nonlegislative citizen members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, one department or agency head appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules serving ex officio, one department or agency head appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates serving ex officio, and two department or agency heads appointed by the Governor serving ex officio. Under current law, the Department is headed by the Director who is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 1-508, 1-509, 2.2-106, 2.2-1100, 2.2-1101, 2.2-1102, 2.2-1106, 2.2-1108, 2.2-1115, 2.2-1119, 2.2-1124, 2.2-1125, 2.2-1131.1, 2.2-1133, 2.2-1136, 2.2-1138, 2.2-1139, 2.2-1141 through 2.2-1144, 2.2-1146, 2.2-1147, 2.2-1150.2, 2.2-1150.3, 2.2-1151, 2.2-1153, 2.2-1155, 2.2-1156, 2.2-1157, 2.2-1162, 2.2-1163, 2.2-1164, 2.2-1168, 2.2-1172 through 2.2-1180, 2.2-1183, 2.2-1516, 2.2-1517, 2.2-1519, 2.2-4303, 2.2-4311.2, 10.1-112, 27-5.5, 30-194, 30-280, 30-385, 36-99.3, and 36-139.1 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 24 of Title 2.2 an article numbered 31, consisting of a section numbered § 2.2-2499.9, relating to Department of General Services; General Services Board established; Chief Administrator.

24102562D

S.B. 621 Commission on Artificial Intelligence; report; sunset.

Patron: Pillion

Commission on Artificial Intelligence; report; sunset. Creates the Commission on Artificial Intelligence to advise the Governor on issues related to artificial intelligence and make advisory recommendations based on its findings. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2027.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 25 of Title 2.2 an article numbered 14, consisting of sections numbered 2.2-2565 through 2.2-2570, relating to Commission on Artificial Intelligence; report; sunset.

24105043D

S.B. 628 Casino gaming; eligible host cities.

Patrons: Aird, Lucas

Casino gaming; eligible host cities. Amends the list of cities eligible to host a casino in the Commonwealth by replacing Richmond with Petersburg.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 58.1-4107 of the Code of Virginia, relating to casino gaming; eligible host cities.

24101505D

S.B. 648 Fire and Emergency Medical Services Grant Fund; vehicle registration fees; funding for fire.

Patron: Perry

Fire and Emergency Medical Services Grant Fund; vehicle registration fees; funding for fire and emergency medical services. Increases the vehicle registration fee used to provide support for emergency medical services from $4.25 to $6.25 for each pickup or panel truck and each motor vehicle. The bill also creates the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Grant Fund to provide funding (i) to increase the number of firefighters and emergency medical services personnel to help communities meet industry minimum standards and attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate assistance and (ii) to purchase heavy apparatus necessary for fire and emergency medical services.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-694, as it is currently effective and as it may become effective, of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 27 a section numbered 27-23.12, relating to funding for fire and emergency medical services.

24103963D

S.B. 675 Casino gaming; eligible host localities.

Patron: Marsden


Casino gaming; eligible host localities. Adds Fairfax County to the list of localities eligible to host a casino in the Commonwealth and provides that any proposed site for a casino gaming establishment considered by Fairfax County shall be (i) located within one-quarter of a mile of an existing station on the Metro Silver Line, (ii) part of a coordinated mixed-use project development, (iii) outside of the Dulles airport flight path, (iv) within two miles of a major shopping destination containing not less than 1.5 million square feet of gross building area, and (v) outside of the Interstate 495 Beltway. The bill also requires an eligible host locality in selecting a preferred casino gaming operator to consider and give substantial weight to the proposer's history of or commitment to (a) paying or contracting for the payment of prevailing wages to those individuals providing construction labor during the initial construction of the casino gaming establishment and any hospitality facilities on the premises, and (b) entering into labor peace agreements with labor organizations that are actively engaged in representing or seeking to represent employees in the gaming or hospitality industries in the Commonwealth. The bill also requires an eligible host locality to provide with its submission of its preferred casino gaming operator to the Virginia Lottery an executed agreement with its preferred casino gaming operator certifying that such casino gaming operator and any subcontractor or sublessee responsible for the performance of casino gaming or hospitality operations at the proposed casino gaming establishment will enter into a labor peace agreement with each labor organization actively engaged in representing or seeking to represent employees in the gaming or hospitality industries in the Commonwealth that requests such labor peace agreement, and evidence of all such signed labor peace agreements.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 58.1-4032, 58.1-4100, 58.1-4101, 58.1-4107, 58.1-4107.1, 58.1-4109, 58.1-4110, 58.1-4111, 58.1-4123, and 58.1-4125 of the Code of Virginia, relating to casino gaming; eligible host localities.

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S.B. 689 Exemptions to article; cruise ship gaming in the offshore waters of the Commonwealth.

Patron: Craig

Exemptions to article; cruise ship gaming in the offshore waters of the Commonwealth.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2 a section numbered 18.2-334.7, relating to exemptions to article; cruise ship gaming in the offshore waters of the Commonwealth.

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S.B. 694 Skill games; exceptions.

Patron: Stanley

Skill games; exceptions. Clarifies that skill games are a form of illegal gambling except where relevant Code provides otherwise.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-325 of the Code of Virginia, relating to skill games; exceptions.

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S.J.R. 14 Artificial intelligence; Joint Commission on Technology and Science to study advancements.

Patron: Subramanyam

Joint Commission on Technology and Science; study; advancements in artificial intelligence; report. Directs the Joint Commission on Technology and Science to study advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), including assessing (i) the impacts of deep fakes, data privacy implications, and misinformation; (ii) measures to ensure these technologies do not indirectly or directly lead to discrimination; (iii) strategies to promote equity in AI algorithms; and (iv) ways in which AI can be utilized to improve government operations and services, and to make recommendations on any appropriate legislation for consideration by the General Assembly.

Directing the Joint Commission on Technology and Science to study advancements in artificial intelligence. Report.

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