Quick Buzz Feed
Here’s the status of some of the main pieces of legislation from the General Assembly, covering a wide range of topics from artificial intelligence and data centers to cannabis legalization, gun control, and tax reforms. Many bills have passed and are awaiting the governor's signature, while others have been continued to the next session or died in committee.
Legislation addressing roadside zoos and the captive wildlife trade passed both the House and Senate and is now headed to the governor. Specifically, SB 344 and HB 112 aim to prevent the separation of baby wild mammals from their mothers before four months of age, with exceptions for medical necessity and non-commercial trades between accredited facilities. These bills also prohibit the intentional breeding of different wild mammal species (hybridization), reflecting a move to enhance animal welfare regulations. Both bills demonstrated strong bipartisan support in their final votes.
Several bills concerning artificial intelligence were introduced, with mixed outcomes. SB 586, which sought to require health insurance companies to disclose AI usage in claims management and prevent exclusive reliance on AI for adverse determinations, passed the Senate but was continued to 2027 by the House. HJ 32, mandating a study by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) on AI policies in state higher education and the development of a model policy, successfully passed both chambers and moves to the governor. SB 269, allowing mental health providers to use AI in therapy with client consent and provider responsibility, passed the Senate but was also continued to 2027 by the House. Measures to establish an AI Safety Advisory Board (SB 384, HB 797), intended to assess AI models for safety standards, passed both legislative bodies with substitutes and are awaiting gubernatorial action. HB 580, which proposed expanding the Division of Consumer Counsel's duties to combat AI fraud and abuse, passed both the House and Senate. SB 796, known as the Artificial Intelligence Chatbots and Minors Act, requiring age verification and emergency notifications for minors, passed the Senate but was continued to 2027 by the House. Finally, SB 85, a consumer data protection act granting users more control over their data on social media and AI platforms, passed the Senate but was tabled in a House committee, indicating significant debate on AI regulation in Virginia.
Bills to legalize and regulate retail cannabis sales (SB 542 and HB 642) successfully navigated both chambers, with differences resolved in a conference committee. If signed by the governor, these measures would allow recreational marijuana sales to individuals 21 years or older starting January 1, 2027. This represents a significant policy shift, moving Virginia towards a regulated adult-use cannabis market after previous decriminalization efforts.
A suite of bills aimed at regulating data centers saw varied progress. SB 43, directing the Department of Energy to study demand-response programs for utilities, passed both the Senate and House and is with the governor. HB 507, requiring data centers to meet Tier 4 equivalent generator emission limits for new applications, also passed both chambers. HB 1502, calling for a one-year study by the Department of Environmental Quality on standby generator pollution from commercial facilities including data centers, passed the House but was continued to 2027 in the Senate. SB 336, mandating a State Corporation Commission study on the impact of cleaner-burning generators for data centers, passed the Senate but was continued to 2027 in the House. HB 591, a comprehensive bill promoting information sharing on energy and water usage and enhancing cybersecurity for data centers, passed the House but was continued to 2027 by the House itself, likely due to amendments. SB 334, requiring public hearings for land transactions involving high-energy-use facilities like data centers, passed the Senate but was tabled in the House. Significant attention was given to siting regulations (SB 94 and HB 153), which would require site assessments for noise, water, and environmental impacts for large data centers. After multiple conferences, a version passed both chambers that requires assessments but notably removes a clause mandating data centers be located only on industrial-zoned land, now going to the governor. HB 897, requiring data centers to restrict carbon emissions and use clean energy to qualify for tax exemptions, passed the House but was indefinitely passed in the Senate. Finally, SB 553 and HB 496, requiring public disclosure of water usage by data centers, passed both legislative bodies with a conference committee agreeing on the Senate version, sending it to the governor.
Bills impacting higher education included HB 1385, which passed both legislative bodies after a conference, clarifying that gubernatorial appointees to college boards only take office upon General Assembly confirmation. This strengthens legislative oversight of board appointments and is now with the governor. HB 1374, initially intended to dissolve the VMI Board of Visitors, was amended to limit alumni representation and was later recommitted to committee in the Senate, effectively dying. HB 1377, proposing a study on VMI's responsiveness to a 2021 report and exploring changes to distance VMI from the 'Lost Cause' narrative, passed both chambers after a conference committee adjusted the task force composition, and is now awaiting the governor's action.
Various bills aimed at electricity regulation and clean energy were debated. HB 1075, seeking to examine Appalachian Power’s resource usage and weather impacts on customer bills, was continued to 2027. HB 1467, requiring Appalachian Power to pilot virtual power plants, passed both chambers and goes to the governor. Balcony solar bills (HB 395 and SB 250), allowing small portable solar devices for residential use without utility contracts, passed both chambers after reconciliation, advancing to the governor. Bills to fast-track battery energy storage systems (BESS) on solar farms (HB 891 and SB 443) passed and are with the governor. HB 895 and SB 448, increasing BESS targets for Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power by 2045, passed both houses with amendments. HB 828 and SB 516, mandating utilities provide data on residential disconnections for nonpayment and for the SCC to create a public dashboard, passed both chambers unanimously or with wide support after conference, heading to the governor. SB 253 and HB 1393, concerning Dominion Energy’s largest customers paying specific costs and expanding energy assistance programs, passed after two conferences and are now with the governor. Energy efficiency upgrade bills (HB 2 and SB 72), requiring Dominion and Appalachian Power to help low-income residents transition to electric heat pumps, passed both chambers. HB 3 and SB 5, creating a task force to study barriers to energy efficiency and weatherization programs, also passed both chambers and are with the governor. Integrated resource plans (HB 429 and SB 249), focusing on utilities' long-term electricity demand roadmaps, passed after conference. Performance-based regulation bills (HB 903 and SB 251), directing regulators to study new frameworks for utilities, passed with amendments. Recovery of fuel and purchased power costs bills (HB 1256 and SB 505), directing state regulators to examine utility fuel cost management, passed both chambers unanimously. Shared solar bills (HB 807, HB 809, SB 254, SB 255), expanding program sizes and adjusting billing, passed both chambers. Solar 'ban on bans' and siting standards bills (HB 711 and SB 347), preventing outright local bans on utility-scale solar and creating guidelines, passed both chambers. Surplus interconnection bills (HB 1065 and SB 508), directing utilities to assess interconnection capacity and propose pilot programs, also passed both chambers.
Two environmental bills saw action. HB 1475 proposed the creation of the Virginia Fungi Task Force to assess the state’s fungi for economic and environmental implications but was continued to 2027. More significantly, HB 397 and SB 802, which sought to rejoin Virginia in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) – a carbon cap-and-trade program – passed both the House and Senate. These bills are now with the governor, marking a potential reversal of the previous administration's withdrawal from the program.
Legislation impacting the gaming industry had mixed results. SB 756, which would add Fairfax County to the list of localities eligible to host a casino, passed both chambers after a conference report and now goes to the governor. Bills to create a state gaming commission (HB 271 and SB 195) saw HB 271 continued to 2027, while SB 195 was incorporated into SB 609, which then died in conference committee. Internet gaming legalization bills (HB 161 and SB 118) also died in conference committees. Bills to legalize and regulate 'skill' games often found in convenience stores (HB 1272 and SB 661) also died in conference, except for SB 661 which ultimately passed both chambers after conference and is with the governor. This indicates ongoing legislative challenges and varied support for expanding and regulating different forms of gambling.
Several gun-related bills passed both chambers and are now with the governor. HB 217 and SB 749 would make it a misdemeanor to import, sell, manufacture, purchase, or transfer an assault firearm, passing both chambers with substitutes. HB 40 and SB 323, prohibiting plastic firearms, unfinished frames/receivers, and unserialized firearms (so-called 'ghost guns') and making their manufacture or possession a Class 5 felony, also passed both chambers after conference. HB 21 and SB 27 established standards of responsible conduct for firearm manufacturers, requiring controls on their products' manufacture, sale, distribution, use, and marketing, also passing both legislative bodies after conference. Lastly, HB 19 and SB 160 aimed to close the 'boyfriend loophole,' preventing individuals convicted of domestic assault and battery from purchasing firearms, and successfully passed both chambers after reconciliation, heading to the governor. These legislative actions reflect a significant effort to enhance gun control measures.
Bills addressing health care included HB 6 and SB 596, which would codify the right to use and prescribe FDA-approved methods of contraception. These bills passed both the House and Senate after reconciliation and are now with the governor. SB 721, proposing a pilot program for maternal health monitoring for pregnant women with high blood pressure and gestational diabetes, was continued to 2027. HB 1109, seeking to establish data collection and reporting requirements for pharmacy benefit managers, failed to advance out of a Senate subcommittee. Prescription drug affordability board bills (SB 271 and HB 483), which would create a state board to review and potentially set upper payment limits for high-cost drugs, passed both chambers and are with the governor. Remote patient monitoring bills (HB 425), expanding Medicaid coverage for maternal health services during pregnancy and postpartum, passed both chambers after conference and are now with the governor.
Housing-related legislation saw mixed success. HB 1058, which would have allowed economic development authorities to build affordable housing, was continued to 2027. SB 454, requiring localities to allow residential construction on most business or commercial zoned land, passed the Senate but died in a House committee. HB 1212, mandating localities with populations over 50,000 to have zoning that permits housing construction on small lots, passed both the Senate and House with amendments and is now going to the governor. These outcomes reflect ongoing debate regarding local control over zoning and efforts to address housing affordability.
Labor-related bills included HB 1263 and SB 378, which would allow public employees to unionize. Both bills passed both chambers after conference committee negotiations and are now with the governor. HB 1 and SB 1 aimed to increase the commonwealth’s minimum wage to $12.77 per hour in 2026, $13.75 in 2027, and $15 in 2028, with annual adjustments thereafter. Both passed and are heading to the governor. HB 1207 and SB 2 proposed creating a paid family medical leave program, funded by taxes on employers and employees. These bills successfully passed both chambers after conference committees. Conversely, SB 32, which would have repealed the state’s 'right-to-work' law, died by being left in committee, indicating resistance to changes in union membership requirements.
Two bills related to law enforcement were considered. HB 295, which would have made the deliberate killing of a correctional officer an aggravated murder charge, passed the House but was killed in a Senate committee. HB 1482 and SB 352, concerning face coverings for state and local police officers (House bill) and federal officers in Virginia (Senate bill), both passed after conference committee revisions and are now with the governor, reflecting a move towards greater transparency or specific uniform regulations for law enforcement personnel.
A bill concerning local governance, HB 732, aimed to change Rocky Mount’s charter to allow term limits for council members. However, this bill was tabled in committee after legal advice suggested it violated the state constitution, halting its progress.
In manufacturing, HB 799 and SB 403 sought to establish the Power Transformer Manufacturing Grant Fund, providing up to $29.4 million in grants over 10 years to Hitachi Energy for its Halifax County expansion, which includes a $457 million investment and 825 new jobs. Both bills passed their respective chambers unanimously or with strong support and are now with the governor, signaling state support for economic development and job creation.
Several tax-related bills were introduced with varied outcomes. Bills to repeal the 'car tax' (HB 566 and SB 799) both failed to advance out of committee. Similarly, bills to study ways to eliminate the car tax (HJ 34 and SR 6) were continued until 2027. HB 334, SB 66, and SB 607, which would allow localities to hold a referendum on creating a 1% sales tax for schools, saw the House version continued to 2027, and the Senate versions merged but failed in committee, though the Senate budget version includes this provision. HB 378, proposing a net investment income tax, failed to advance out of committee. New tax brackets for higher incomes (HB 188 and HB 979) were merged and continued to 2027. Bills extending the sales tax to services, including digital services (HB 900 and SB 730), were also continued to 2027. SB 7 and HB 12, aiming to make permanent the increased standard deduction amounts, saw the House bill fail in a Senate committee and the Senate bill continued to 2027. Finally, HB 919 and SB 763, proposing an 11% tax on firearms and ammunition sales, were both continued until 2027, indicating no immediate changes to firearm taxation.