HB 349 – Emergency services and disaster preparedness programs; inclusion of federally recognized tribes.
Status:
Continued
SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED
Department of Emergency Management; emergency services and disaster preparedness programs; inclusion of federally recognized tribes. Requires the Department of Emergency Management to administer certain emergency services in coordination with federally recognized tribes that the Department has entered into a contract or memorandum of understanding with for assistance regarding such emergency services. This bill is a recommendation of the Commission on Updating Virginia Law to Reflect Federal Recognition of Virginia Tribes.
HB 669 – Impersonation of certain licensed professionals by chatbot; definitions, notice, civil liability.
Status:
Failed
SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED
Professions and occupations; impersonation of certain licensed professionals by chatbot; notice; civil liability. Provides that a proprietor that owns, operates, or deploys a chatbot, defined in the bill, shall not permit such chatbot to provide any substantive response, information, or advice, or take any action that, if taken by a natural person, would (i) constitute the unlawful practice of architecture, engineering, surveying, landscape architecture, geology, dentistry, medicine, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, certain mental health professions, psychology, social work, or veterinary medicine; (ii) violate the provisions of law making it unlawful for any person to practice medicine, osteopathic medicine, chiropractic, or podiatry or as a physician assistant in the Commonwealth without a valid unrevoked license or to practice law without being authorized or licensed; or (iii) violate the provisions of law making it unlawful for a teacher to be employed without a license or provisional license or relating to division superintendents, members of a school board or other school officers, or principals or teachers in a public school. The bill allows a person injured by a proprietor who engages in any such conduct to sue therefor no more than two years after the cause of action accrues and recover compensatory damages and reasonable attorney fees and costs.
The bill also requires a proprietor operating or deploying a chatbot to provide a clear, conspicuous, and explicit notice to users that they are interacting with a chatbot but specifies that the provisions of such notice shall not be a defense to liability.
HB 1310 – Federal changes to graduate & prof. student loan prog. on in-state students; SCHEV to study impact.
Status:
Continued
SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; evaluation; impact of recent federal changes to graduate and professional student loan programs on in-state students; report. Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, with the assistance of an advisory group that it convenes, to evaluate the impact of revised federal borrowing limits, the elimination of federal Grad PLUS loans, and any related federal definitions that alter the classification of graduate and professional programs for student financial aid purposes on in-state students enrolled at public institutions of higher education and private nonprofit institutions eligible to participate in the Tuition Assistance Grant Program and report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2026. The bill contains an emergency clause.
HB 1356 – Precipitation design standards; non-stationary precipitation, climate-adjusted rainfall.
Status:
Continued
SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED
Precipitation design standards; non-stationary precipitation; climate-adjusted rainfall. Requires the State Water Control Board to serve as the lead agency responsible for establishing and maintaining precipitation design standards to be used by all state agencies, localities, and other political subdivisions and in transportation projects. The bill requires such precipitation design standards to include the most recent precipitation frequency estimates published in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration national precipitation frequency atlas to account for observed and projected increases in precipitation intensity, frequency, and duration. The bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Transportation, and any other state agency to update any relevant manuals and design standards consistent with the provisions of the bill by July 1, 2027. The bill also allows the State Water Control Board and the Department of Transportation to adopt interim guidance or regulations implementing the provisions of the bill consistent with the Administrative Process Act, ensuring that updated precipitation design standards take effect no later than July 1, 2027. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee on Recurrent Flooding.
SB 481 – Emergency services and disaster preparedness programs; inclusion of federally recognized tribes.
Status:
Continued
SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED
Department of Emergency Management; emergency services and disaster preparedness programs; inclusion of federally recognized tribes. Requires the Department of Emergency Management to administer certain emergency services in coordination with federally recognized tribes that the Department has entered into a contract or memorandum of understanding with for assistance regarding such emergency services. This bill is a recommendation of the Commission on Updating Virginia Law to Reflect Federal Recognition of Virginia Tribes.Counts:
HB: 4 HJ: 0 SB: 1 SJ: 0