New Virginia laws take effect

Here are a few of the newly enacted Virginia laws that took effect July 1:

Public education

Senate Bill 656 – The Department of Education is directed to develop model policies on sexually explicit content in instructional material by July 30. School boards must adopt policies by Jan. 1, 2023, for ensuring parental notification of any instructional material that includes sexually explicit content.

House Bill 4/SB 36 – School principals must report to law enforcement certain acts that may constitute a misdemeanor offense and must notify parents. Current law requires such reports only for acts considered a felony.

HB 319/SB 616 – The Virginia Literacy Act requires education training programs to require candidates for a teacher license to demonstrate mastery of science-based reading research and evidence-based literacy instruction. School boards must establish a literacy plan and employ one reading specialist for every 550 K-3 students.

HB 1272/SB 739 – Under a law that took effect Feb. 16, public schools must offer the minimum required in-person instruction. Parents are given the authority to decide whether their child should wear a mask on school property.

Higher education

HB 355 – The State Council of Higher Education must provide on its website data on student metrics for all baccalaureate-granting public institutions of higher education.

HB 525/SB 439 – Adam’s Law requires colleges to provide new members of student organizations hazing prevention training. Colleges must report findings of violations of the institution’s code of conduct and laws related to hazing.

HB 507/SB 223 – Several parameters are established for student athletes at institutions of higher education to allow compensation and the use of such student’s name, image, or likeness.

Economic development

SB 28 – Establishes the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program Fund to provide grants to prepare sites for industrial or commercial development.

Privacy

SB 534 – Authorizes the attorney general to pursue damages to consumers if a controller or processor of the personal data of Virginians violates the Consumer Data Protection Act.

Alcohol

HB 426/SB 254 – Creates a third-party delivery license that authorizes the licensee to deliver alcoholic beverages purchased by consumers from other retail licensees.

Criminal offenses and procedures

HB 496/SB 687 – Changes the term “incapacitated adult” to “vulnerable adult” with regard to crimes of abuse and neglect. Defines “vulnerable adult” as anyone 18 years or older who is impaired due to mental illness, intellectual or developmental disability, physical illness or disability, or other causes affecting their ability to make reasonable decisions about their well-being.

HB 497/SB 124 – Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for an agent under a power of attorney to knowingly or intentionally engage in the financial exploitation of an incapacitated adult.

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SB 249 – Makes it a Class 6 felony to engage in sexual contact with an animal; causes another person by force, threat, or intimidation to engage in sexual contact with an animal; or possesses produces, distributes, publishes, sells, or finances an obscene item depicting sex with an animal.

HB 750/SB 327 – Prohibits law enforcement agencies from setting a quota that requires officers to make a specific number of arrests or issue a specific number of summonses within a designated period of time.

HB 734 – The disclosure of certain criminal records is excluded from the mandatory disclosure provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

Voting

HB 1140 – General registrars must provide notice of the cancellation of a voter’s registration to the voter by mail and email.

Civil procedure

SB 493 – Any person 18 or older who knowingly transmits an intimate image by computer or other electronic means to another person 18 or older without consent is liable for damages or $500, whichever is greater.

Firearms and weapons

HB 1130/SB 207 – Retired law enforcement officers no longer need to be employed full-time to purchase their service handgun.

SB 758 – Selling or possessing a switchblade is no longer prohibited.

HB 120 – Authorizes lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for disabled veterans.

SB 8 – Allows hunting on Sundays as long as it takes place more than 200 yards from a place of worship.

Emergencies

HB 158/SB 4 – The duration of executive orders issued by the governor pursuant to his powers under the Emergency Services and Disaster Law is limited to 45 days.

The environment and natural resources

SB 537 – Allows localities to adopt an ordinance providing for the planting and replacement of trees during the development process.

SB 551 – The Flood Resilience Bill provides minimum criteria for the development of a flood protection plan and updates the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan.

HB 1309/SB 756 – Creates the Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund to provide loans and grants for local resilience projects.

Local government

HB 272/SB 501 – Certain local land use approvals addressing the Covid pandemic are extended from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023.

HB 710 – Local governments are required to take into consideration or give preference to a qualified individual’s status as a person with a disability in its hiring policies and practices.

SB 345 – Department of Motor Vehicles documents can indicate blood type on a driver’s license.

Banks

HB 263 – Banks are permitted to provide virtual currency custody services so long as the bank has adequate protocols in place to effectively manage the associated risks.

Gaming

HB 763/SB 403 – The conduct of electronic gaming is restricted to qualified social organizations on their premises or other qualified organizations that lease the premises of a qualified social organization.

SB 96 – Gaming businesses are prohibited from using the phrase “Virginia is for Bettors” in advertisements.

Healthcare

HB 481 – Hospitals must provide information online about standard charges.

HB 537 – Medical and behavioral practitioners licensed in another state can provide telemedicine services to a patient in Virginia for no more than one year.

Law enforcement and the military

HB 1203 – A new position, suicide prevention coordinator, is created in the Department of Veterans Services to support and coordinate effective mental healthcare for military service members and veterans and their families.

SB 741 – Authorizes local law-enforcement agencies to use facial recognition technology for certain purposes.

Social Services

HB 50 – Directs the Department of Social Services to establish a toll-free, 24-hour hotline to provide information about safe haven laws on the relinquishment of an infant.

SB 40 – Provides safeguards for individuals facing involuntary discharge from assisted living facilities.

Transportation

HB 450 – Parking of a non-electric vehicle is prohibited in an EV charging spot.

HB 632 – Excessively noisy car exhaust systems are classified as a primary offense.

SB 362 – Riding a bicycle, e-bike, and other mobility devices two abreast is prohibited.

Taxation

HB 936 – The sales tax exemption for gold, silver, and platinum bullion is extended from June 30, 2022, to June 30, 2025.