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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 31, 2024
Time and Place: 30 minutes after adjournment/Senate Room B

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. 164 Virginia Consumer Protection Act; prohibited practices, artificial intelligence disclosure.

Patron: Reeves

Virginia Consumer Protection Act; prohibited practices; artificial intelligence disclosure. Prohibits the dissemination or sale of an item created with artificial intelligence technology that contains a videographic or still image intending to depict an actual person or an audio or audio-visual recording intending to depict the voice of an actual person where the creator has not disclosed the use of artificial intelligence technology.

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

24103621D

S.B. 213 Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; early termination for military personnel, stop.

Patron: Perry

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; early termination for military personnel; stop movement order. Allows certain military personnel to terminate a rental agreement upon receipt of a stop movement order issued in response to a local, national, or global emergency that is effective for either an indefinite period or for a period of not less than 30 days and that prevents the service member from occupying the leased dwelling unit for a residential purpose. The bill also allows such military personnel to terminate a rental agreement after receiving any permanent change of station order or temporary duty order in excess of three months' duration. Current law allows such termination only for orders requiring a departure of 35 miles or more from the dwelling unit.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 55.1-1235 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; early termination for military personnel; stop movement order.

24101371D

S.B. 222 Commonwealth information security; requirements of state public bodies.

Patron: McGuire

Commonwealth information security requirements. Requires state public bodies, defined in the bill, to (i) comply with the Commonwealth's security policies and standards, (ii) ensure each of its employees completes information security training, (iii) conduct regular security audits, and (iv) report the results of such audits to the appropriate entity. The bill directs the Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth to (a) publish and maintain a list of the Commonwealth's security policies and standards with which state public bodies are required to comply, (b) ensure that transition meetings with state public bodies occur, and (c) document such transitions and any exemptions from the requirements of the bill.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-2009 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 Commonwealth information security requirements.

24103126D

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. 252 Consumer Data Protection Act; controller privacy notice, consumer consent.

Patron: McDougle

Consumer Data Protection Act; controller privacy notice; cookies; consumer consent. Requires the privacy notice that a controller must provide to consumers to include a method by which a consumer may opt out of the automatic placement of a data file, commonly referred to as a "cookie," on the consumer's computer or web browser and a disclosure of the purposes for which the data files are used. The bill prohibits controllers from using cookies, except those that are strictly necessary, without the prior express consent of the consumer and prohibits controllers from preventing access to their services if such consent is not granted. The bill also requires controllers to document and store proof of such consent and make available an easily accessible method by which consumers may withdraw such consent.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 59.1-578 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Consumer Data Protection Act; controller privacy notice; cookies; consumer consent.

24102338D

S.B. 302 Virginia First Manufacturing Incentive Program and Fund; created.

Patron: DeSteph

Virginia First Manufacturing Incentive Program and Fund; creation. Creates the Virginia First Manufacturing Incentive Program and Fund to facilitate the growth of existing manufacturing industries by creating a reshoring, nearshoring, and inshoring program focused on expanding and recruiting manufacturing operations that produce products identified as critical infrastructure by providing discretionary incentive funding for trade assistance.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 2.2-2240.7, relating to Virginia First Manufacturing Incentive Program and Fund; creation.

24102492D

S.B. 340 Virginia Freedom of Information Act; exclusions from mandatory disclosure, purchase card statement.

Patron: Salim

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; exclusions from mandatory disclosure; purchase card statement. Clarifies that the name of a public employee, officer, or official as it appears on a purchase card statement or other payment record and the description of individual purchases are not exempt from disclosure by the State Comptroller.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-3705.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Freedom of Information Act; exclusions from mandatory disclosure; purchase card statement.

24102889D

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. 401 Military leaves of absence for employees of the Commonwealth, etc.; includes prof. firefighters.

Patron: Durant

Military leaves of absence for employees of Commonwealth or political subdivisions; professional firefighters. Provides that any person who is employed by the Commonwealth or a political subdivision of the Commonwealth as a professional firefighter shall receive paid leaves of absence for up to 388 work hours that a leave of absence is required, regardless of whether such amount of work hours exceeds 21 workdays per federal fiscal year, during which such person is engaged in federally funded military duty, to include training duty, or is called forth by the Governor for military duty. Under current law, employees of the Commonwealth or a political subdivision of the Commonwealth are limited to an eight-hour, 21-workday cap, which equates to seven workdays for such employees working in 24-hour shifts. The 388-work-hour cap would provide leave for a little over 16 workdays for such employees working in 24-hour shifts.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 44-93 and 44-204 of the Code of Virginia, relating to military leaves of absence for employees of Commonwealth or political subdivisions; professional firefighters.

24104672D

S.B. 408 Charitable organization; registration fees, solicitation of contributions.

Patron: Durant

Solicitation of contributions; registration of charitable organization; fees. Reduces fees for the registration of charitable organizations that intend to solicit contributions within the Commonwealth. The bill also contains technical amendments.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 57-49 of the Code of Virginia, relating to solicitation of contributions; registration of charitable organization; fees.

24102306D

S.B. 422 VA Residential Landlord & Tenant Act; prohibited provisions in rental agreements, prohibited fees.

Patron: Ebbin

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; prohibited provisions; fees for maintenance and periodic payments. Prohibits landlords subject to the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act from charging a tenant (i) any fee for the maintenance or repair of any dwelling unit unless necessitated by the tenant's violation of a requirement of the Act or (ii) any fee to submit periodic rent payments or other amounts due, regardless of the method of payment.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 55.1-1208 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; prohibited provisions; fees for maintenance and periodic payments.

24105046D

S.B. 432 Consumer Data Protection Act; protections for children.

Patron: Suetterlein

Consumer Data Protection Act; protections for children. Requires a controller or processor to obtain verifiable parental consent, defined in the bill, prior to registering any child with the operator's product or service or before collecting, using, or disclosing such child's personal data and prohibits a controller from knowingly processing the personal data of a child for purposes of (i) targeted advertising, (ii) the sale of such personal data, or (iii) profiling in furtherance of decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects concerning a consumer. The bill also amends the definition of child for purposes of the Consumer Data Protection Act to include any natural person younger than 18 years of age.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 59.1-575, 59.1-576, and 59.1-578 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 59.1-577.1, relating to Consumer Data Protection Act; protections for children.

24103309D

S.B. 436 Workforce Development and Advancement, Department of; changes title of Director to Commissioner.

Patron: Suetterlein

Department of Workforce Development and Advancement; Director. Changes the title of the Director of the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement to the Commissioner of Workforce Development and Advancement. The bill directs the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement to examine the feasibility or need of any new workforce development program prior to its creation and provide a report to the Governor and the General Assembly. The bill changes the minimum level of fiscal support from WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker funds to training and job placement services from 40 to 50 percent. The bill also makes the Department responsible for providing a list of high-demand occupations to eligible educational institutions.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-2035, 2.2-2036, 2.2-2037, 2.2-2041, 2.2-2043 through 2.2-2046, 2.2-2049, 2.2-2050, 2.2-2052, 2.2-2472.2, 23.1-627.3, and 23.1-2911.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Workforce Development and Advancement; Director.

24104629D

S.B. 437 Real estate brokers; prohibits certain locations from being used as places of business.

Patron: Suetterlein

Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation; real estate brokers; places of business. Defines "place of business" for real estate brokers. The bill requires firm licenses and licenses of branch offices, defined in the bill, to be maintained on the premises of such firm or branch office and to be made readily available to the public upon request. Finally, the bill requires any nonresident real estate broker residing in a state that mandates resident real estate brokers of the Commonwealth to maintain a place of business in such mandating state to maintain a place of business in the Commonwealth.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 54.1-2100, 54.1-2106.1, and 54.1-2110 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation; real estate brokers; places of business; prohibited locations.

24104479D

S.B. 479 Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; enforcement by localities.

Patron: Aird

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; enforcement by localities. Provides that if a condition exists in a rental dwelling unit that constitutes a material noncompliance by the landlord with the rental agreement or with any provision of law that, if not promptly corrected, constitutes a fire hazard or serious threat to the life, health, or safety of tenants or occupants of the premises, a locality may institute an action for injunction and damages to enforce the landlord's duty to maintain the rental dwelling unit in a fit and habitable condition, provided that (i) the property where the violation occurred is within the jurisdictional boundaries of the locality and (ii) the locality has notified the landlord who owns the property, either directly or through the managing agent, of the nature of the violation and the landlord has failed to remedy the violation to the satisfaction of the locality within a reasonable time after receiving such notice.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 55.1-1259 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; enforcement by localities.

24102691D

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. 538 Uniform Statewide Building Code; violations, increases fines.

Patron: Bagby

Uniform Statewide Building Code; violations; fines. Increases from $2,500 to $5,000 the minimum amount and from $5,000 to $10,000 the maximum amount that any person, firm, or corporation shall be fined when convicted of a third or subsequent offense of violating the provisions of the Building Code committed within 10 years of another such offense after having been at least twice previously convicted of such an offense. The bill also adds penalties for similar violations committed by owners of a blighted multifamily property.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 36-106 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Uniform Statewide Building Code; violations; fines.

24102774D

S.B. 554 Waterworks and wastewater works operators; reciprocal licensing.

Patron: Jordan

Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation; waterworks and wastewater works operators; reciprocal licensing. Requires the Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals, upon application, to recognize current and valid licenses or certificates issued by a neighboring state, defined in the bill, as fulfillment of qualifications for licensure as a waterworks and wastewater works operator in the Commonwealth if there are no pending investigations or complaints, no disqualifying criminal records, and no discipline imposed by another state.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 54.1-2301 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation; waterworks and wastewater works operators; reciprocal licensing.

24104600D

S.B. 560 Asbestos, Lead, and Home Inspectors, Virginia Board for; dust sampling technicians, renovators.

Patron: Hackworth

Virginia Board for Asbestos, Lead, and Home Inspectors; dust sampling technicians, renovators, and accredited renovation training programs. Removes the responsibility of the Board for Asbestos, Lead, and Home Inspectors to promulgate regulations concerning dust sampling technicians, renovators, and accredited renovation training programs.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 54.1-500, 54.1-500.1, 54.1-501, 54.1-503, 54.1-512, 54.1-516, and 54.1-517 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Board for Asbestos, Lead, and Home Inspectors.

24104936D

S.B. 570 Virginia Human Rights Act; definitions of "person" and "employer."

Patron: Ebbin

Virginia Human Rights Act; definitions of "person" and "employer." Waives the Commonwealth's sovereign immunity to a civil action under the definition of "person" in relevant law and makes the waiver retroactive to July 1, 2020. The bill also expands the definition of "employer" as it relates to the requirement to provide reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities under the Virginia Human Rights Act to include any government or political subdivision, or agent of such government or political subdivision, employing more than five employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year. The bill also reduces the number of employees from 15 to six for the definition of employer of domestic workers.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-3901, 2.2-3905, and 2.2-3905.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Human Rights Act; definitions of "person" and "employer."

24104820D

S.B. 596 Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; noncompliance with rental agreement.

Patron: Ebbin

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; noncompliance with rental agreement; emergency eviction process. Reduces from 15 to seven the number of days, after the date upon which a tenant is served a landlord's intent to terminate the tenancy due to certain illegal activities by the tenant, within which the initial hearing on the landlord's action for immediate possession of the premises shall be held. The bill also reorganizes certain provisions of the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to consolidate language and organize the structure of certain provisions of the Act.

A BILL to amend and reenact the second enactment of Chapter 47 of the Acts of Assembly of 2020, Special Session I; to amend and reenact §§ 55.1-1236 and 55.1-1245 of the Code of Virginia; and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 55.1-1245.1, relating to Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; noncompliance with rental agreement; emergency eviction process.

24104621D

S.B. 597 Affordable housing; local zoning ordinance authority, comprehensive plan.

Patron: McPike

Affordable housing; local zoning ordinance authority; comprehensive plan. Authorizes any locality in the Commonwealth to provide for an affordable housing dwelling unit program by amending the zoning ordinance of such locality. Current law restricts such authorization to counties with an urban county executive form of government or county manager plan of government and certain other localities. This bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2025.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 15.2-2304 of the Code of Virginia, relating to affordable housing; local zoning ordinance authority; comprehensive plan.

24103099D

S.B. 604 Virginia Public Procurement Act; prohibition on boycotting Israel.

Patron: McGuire

Virginia Public Procurement Act; prohibition on boycotting Israel. Requires all public bodies to include in every contract in excess of $100,000 with a business that employs more than 10 employees and in every subcontract or purchase order in excess of $10,000 a provision that states that during the performance of the contract, neither the contracting business nor any of its affiliates shall engage in a boycott of Israel.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 2.2-4311.3, relating to Virginia Public Procurement Act; prohibition on boycotting Israel.

24103464D

S.B. 636 Transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment; DVS to establish pilot program, report.

Patron: Locke

Transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment; pilot program. Directs the Department of Veterans Services (the Department) to establish a pilot program to make electroencephalogram (EEG) combined transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment available for military members, veterans, first responders, law-enforcement officers, and certain agents of federal agencies, and family members of the aforementioned individuals. The bill requires the Department to establish regulations for administration of the pilot program.

A BILL to direct the Department of Veterans Services to establish a pilot program for electroencephalogram combined transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment.

24105121D

S.B. 647 Virginia Public Procurement Act; apprenticeship programs, competitive sealed bidding.

Patron: Carroll Foy

Virginia Public Procurement Act; competitive sealed bidding; required criteria in invitations to bid. Requires all public bodies to include in any Invitation to Bid criteria that will be used in determining whether a bidder who is not prequalified by the Virginia Department of Transportation is a responsible bidder. Current law authorizes, but does not require, localities to include such criteria in Invitations to Bid.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-4302.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Public Procurement Act; competitive sealed bidding; required criteria in invitations to bid.

24105084D

S.B. 667 Cloud Computing Cluster Infrastructure Grant Fund; performance agreement.

Patron: Stuart

Cloud Computing Cluster Infrastructure Grant Fund; performance agreement. Removes the authority to make commitments related to accelerated permitting, property tax classifications, and other such issues in an agreement between a qualified company and a locality for purposes of the Cloud Computing Cluster Infrastructure Grant Fund.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 59.1-284.42 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Cloud Computing Cluster Infrastructure Grant Fund; performance agreement.

24100954D

S.B. 680 Manufactured homes; conversion to real property.

Patron: Rouse

Manufactured homes; conversion to real property. Creates a process by which a manufactured home with a security interest may be converted to real property and provides requirements and procedures for doing so.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-653.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to manufactured homes; conversion to real property.

24105362D

S.B. 681 Virginia Housing Trust Fund; expands eligibility for loans.

Patron: Durant

Virginia Housing Trust Fund; eligibility. Expands eligibility for loans from the Housing Trust Fund to include low, moderate, or middle income persons and families and requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to (i) include definitions for such income levels in program guidelines for administering the Fund and (ii) prioritize funding for low income and middle income housing projects in program guidelines for administering the Fund. Under current law, such loans may be provided only to low or moderate income citizens of Virginia.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 36-141, 36-142, 36-143, 36-145 through 36-148.1, and 36-151 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Housing Trust Fund; eligibility.

24104431D

S.B. 684 Online Children's Safety Protection Act; established, civil penalties.

Patron: Stanley

Online Children's Safety Protection Act established; civil penalties. Creates the Online Children's Safety Protection Act, which requires certain duties of covered entities, defined in the bill, to protect the best interests of children who use online services, products, or features. The bill requires any covered entity that provides an online service, product, or feature likely to be accessed by a child to complete a data protection impact assessment, the details of which are described in the bill, within two years before any new online service, product, or feature is offered to the public on or after July 1, 2024. The bill also prohibits certain actions by covered entities and authorizes the Attorney General to impose penalties and initiate actions against any covered entity that violates the provisions of the bill.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 59.1 a chapter numbered 57, consisting of sections numbered 59.1-603 through 59.1-607, relating to Online Children's Safety Protection Act established; civil penalties.

24104080D

S.B. 701 Vested rights; building permits.

Patron: French

Vested rights; building permits. Provides that if a locality has issued a building permit, despite nonconformance with the zoning ordinance, and a property owner, relying in good faith on the issuance of the building permit, incurs extensive obligations or substantial expenses in diligent pursuit of a building project that is in conformance with the building permit, the locality shall not treat such building as an illegal use but rather as a legal nonconforming use. Current law requires that such project be completed and a certificate of occupancy issued in order to receive such protection.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 15.2-2307 of the Code of Virginia, relating to vested rights; building permits.

24104047D

S.B. 704 Rural Virginia, Center for; renames Center the Senator Frank M. Ruff, Jr. Center for Rural Virginia.

Patron: Mulchi

Center for Rural Virginia; name change. Renames the Center for Rural Virginia as the Senator Frank M. Ruff, Jr. Center for Rural Virginia.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-2699.3, 2.2-2720, and 3.2-3103 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Center for Rural Virginia; name change.

24104217D

S.B. 734 Virginia Freedom of Information Act; electronic meetings.

Patron: Marsden

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; electronic meetings. Amends the number of all-virtual public meetings that public bodies, with certain exceptions, may convene in a calendar year to no more than two times per calendar year or 50 percent of the meetings held per calendar year rounded up to the next whole number, whichever is greater. Current law limits the number of all-virtual public meetings to no more than two times per calendar year or 25 percent of the meetings held per calendar year rounded up to the next whole number, whichever is greater. The bill also provides that with respect to all-virtual public meetings, when audio-visual technology is available, a member of a public body shall, for purposes of a quorum, be considered absent from any portion of the meeting during which visual communication with the member is voluntarily disconnected or otherwise fails or during which audio communication involuntarily fails.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-3708.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; electronic meetings.

24102038D