Virginia Sets a New Precedent for Bipartisan Cooperation with Historic Bill Signings

Governor Glenn Youngkin took additional action on legislation sent to him by the General Assembly, signing 150 bipartisan bills. This marked a significant step forward in addressing a broad spectrum of issues affecting the residents of Virginia. These legislative actions encompass a wide range of subjects, from economic development and healthcare improvements to environmental conservation and public safety enhancements.

Key highlights from this legislative package include efforts to lower DMV fees for all Virginians, streamline economic development projects, combat elder abuse, and significantly improve maternal health outcomes. This comprehensive approach underscores the collaborative effort between lawmakers to forge solutions that benefit the Commonwealth’s residents across various sectors.

Among the bills signed are initiatives aimed at enhancing public safety, such as HB 22, which focuses on the prohibition of auto sears and trigger activators, and HB 36, addressing child access to firearms. Environmental concerns are also addressed, with legislation like HB 71, aimed at ensuring compliance with regulations for combined sewer overflow outfalls in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, and HB 85, which prohibits the use of cyanide in mineral mining and processing.

Efforts to improve health care and support for Virginians are evident in bills like HB 238, which mandates health insurance coverage for colorectal cancer screening, and HB 255, focusing on adult wellness screenings for sickle cell disease. Additionally, HB 322 establishes the Cosmetology Compact, streamlining licensing for cosmetologists moving between states, and HB 292, which renames the Drug Treatment Court Act to the Recovery Court Act, emphasizing the shift towards a more rehabilitative approach to drug offenses.

This legislative session also brings attention to the needs of the military community, with bills like HB 279, expanding military leave rights, and HB 194, ensuring equal protection for Virginia’s military parents, including members of the Space Force.

Governor Youngkin and the General Assembly’s actions demonstrate a commitment to progressive governance that prioritizes the well-being and safety of its citizens. By addressing a diverse array of challenges through these newly signed bills, Virginia sets a precedent for bipartisan collaboration aimed at creating a more prosperous, inclusive, and safe environment for all its residents.

Here’s the list of the signed bills:

HB 5 Town of Leesburg Parking Authority; created.
HB 14 Unemployment compensation; employer’s failure to respond to requests for information, etc.
HB 15 Warning light units, certain; increases the number of units a person may equip on one vehicle, etc.
HB 18 Hate crimes and discrimination; ethnic animosity, penalties.
HB 22 Auto sears and trigger activators; prohibition on manufacture, importation, sale, etc., penalty.
HB 24 Amber warning lights; flashing lights on certain fox hunting vehicles.
HB 36 Abuse and neglect of children; causing or enabling the child to gain possession of a firearm, penalty.
HB 42 Dentists and dental hygienists were added to the list of providers immune from civil liability, etc.
HB 48 Higher educational institutions, public applications, legacy admissions, etc.
HB 55 Primary elections; candidates for nomination, withdrawal of candidacy.
HB 57 Restaurant exemptions; certain organizations participating in fundraising events.
HB 59 Virginia Regional Industrial Facilities Act; Planning Districts 13 and 14.
HB 69 Vacancies in elected local offices; interim appointments; notice requirement.
HB 70 Virginia Retirement System; plan credits and accounts.
HB 71 Combined sewer overflow outfalls; compliance with regulations, Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
HB 74 Unpaved secondary highways; improvement of secondary highways. includes improvements other than paving.
HB 85 Mineral mining and processing; cyanide or a cyanide compound prohibited.
HB 86 Summons for unlawful detainer specifies a process by which a plaintiff may amend the amount due.
HB 90 Candidates; declaration of candidacy for primary.
HB 91 Smithfield, Town of; amending charter, municipal elections, repealing outdated provisions.
HB 100 Child labor offenses; increases civil penalties.
HB 103 Local and Regional Jails, State Board of; powers and duties.
HB 105 Resale Disclosure Act; resale certificate, fees.
HB 114 Health Insurance Reform Commission increases membership.
HB 115 Guardians and conservators; order of appointment and certificate of qualification, annual report.
HB 120 DPOR and DHP; certain suspensions are not considered disciplinary action.
HB 121 SOL includes severe allergic reaction awareness training.
HB 123 Health insurance; ethics and fairness in carrier business practices.
HB 124 State Corporation Commission; annual report filing requirements.
HB 128 Door-to-door vendors; local regulation, political parties exempted.
HB 131 Learning needs dashboard; the Department of Education shall continue to maintain a sunset date.
HB 133 Local gov’t; ongoing health care for employees exposed to toxic materials.
HB 136 Staunton, City of; City allowed to reduce or waive utility connection fees in certain areas.
HB 140 Adoption; award of damages, death by wrongful act.
HB 143 Utility work database: VDOT will establish and maintain a publicly accessible database.
HB 144 Speed limits; notify the primary liaison in each locality when a change occurs.
HB 155 Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund; claims.
HB 156 Jury service increases from 70 to 73, the age at which a person is exempt from service upon request.
HB 159 State correctional and juvenile correctional facilities; use of canines, prohibited acts.
HB 163 Higher educational institutions, public; student identification cards, emergency services website.
HB 168 Homeless students; Dept. of Ed. to develop a resource document on supports and services.
HB 171 Signing of pleadings, motions, and other papers; electronic signatures.
HB 172 Family or household member; clarifies definition, penalty.
HB 174 Marriage is lawful regardless of sex, gender, or race of parties; a marriage license is issued.
HB 188 Advance Health Care Planning Registry; amendment of regulations.
HB 194 Virginia Military Parents Equal Protection Act; members of Space Force.
HB 199 Virginia Brownfield and Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund and Program; allocation of funds.
HB 200 Updating Virginia Law to Reflect Federal Recognition of Virginia Tribes; Commission on.
HB 203 Private security services business; training requirements for human trafficking.
HB 205 Workers’ compensation; prompt payment, limitation on claims.
HB 220 Water facilities; staffing of licensed operators.
HB 223 Cruelty to animals; possession and ownership of animals.
HB 225 Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact authorizes Virginia to become a signatory to the Compact.
HB 227 Colonial Heights, City of; amending charter, relating to duties of city manager, etc.
HB 237 Virginia Growth and Opportunity Board; increases membership.
HB 238 Health insurance; coverage for colorectal cancer screening.
HB 255 Adult wellness screening; sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait.
HB 264 Legal notices and publications; online-only news publications, requirements.
HB 268 Juveniles; evidence of trafficking, sexual abuse, or rape by the alleged victim.
HB 269 Provisional (Career Switcher) License; special education.
HB 279 Military leaves of absence for employees of the Commonwealth, etc., include Prof. firefighters.
HB 281 Child day programs; use of office buildings, waiver of zoning requirements.
HB 282 Highway work zones create a traffic infraction for any moving violation in a work zone.
HB 287 Geology: The definition of geological mapping expands the definition of the practice of geology.
HB 288 Stationary blinds for waterfowl; providing location of blinds to Department of Wildlife Resources.
HB 291 Long-term services and supports screening; expedited screening and screening exemption.
HB 292 Drug Treatment Court Act renames the Act as the Recovery Court Act.
HB 294 Protective order in case of family abuse; termination of a temporary order of child support.
HB 299 License tax; retired police or military dogs, exemption.
HB 309 Forestland and Urban Tree Canopy Conservation Plan; Department of Forestry to establish.
HB 312 Rental conveyances relocate certain provisions related to rent assignments.
HB 314 State hospitals; discharge planning.
HB 317 Children’s residential facility; Off. of Children’s Ombudsman to interview children in foster care.
HB 322 Cosmetology Compact; established.
HB 332 Termination of trust; notice requirements.
HB 336 Powers of attorney, certain; transfer on death deeds.
HB 349 Advanced registered medication aides; aides who administer drugs in certified nursing facilities.
HB 352 Va. Residential Landlord & Tenant Act; early termination for military personnel, stop certain order.
HB 356 Investment of public funds; qualified public entity allowed to invest in asset-backed securities.
HB 358 Voluntary Registration Health and Safety Checklist; DOE to update.