New Laws and Happy Independence Day

Greetings! I am looking forward to seeing many of you at the City of Fairfax Independence Day Parade to celebrate our Nation’s 248th birthday. This year’s theme is “We Stand United.” The parade kicks off promptly at 10:00 a.m. followed by several family-friendly events. And, of course, we end the day with a bang at Fairfax High School for music and fireworks. Click here for the full schedule of activities.

We are also approaching a major milestone as the United States prepares for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. If you want to impress your friends and family, you can also refer to the Nation’s semi-quincentennial! To commemorate Virginia’s role, the General Assembly has established the American Revolution 250 Commission. Far from just fireworks and parades (although that is certainly a part of it) the Commission has developed an inspiring and thought-provoking series of events with the theme “To Form a More Perfect Union.” 

I hope you will visit the VA250 website as we learn from the past, celebrate our achievements, and draw inspiration as we continue to perfect our representative democracy.

Speaking of representative democracy, July 1st is the day when most of the bills passed during the General Assembly become law. This year, 845 bills were ultimately signed by the Governor. Below are just a few of the new laws that may be of interest to constituents. You can find an expanded version in the publication “In Due Course” from our Division of Legislative Services.

NEW LAWS

HB18 – Hate Crimes. Adds a person’s actual or perceived ethnic origin to provisions banning discrimination in employment and places of public accommodation. The bill also adds ethnic origin to Virginia’s hate crimes statute. This was a recommendation of the Virginia Commission to Combat Antisemitism.

HB22 – Auto Sears. Prohibits the manufacture, importation, and sale of automatic sears, defined as a device to convert a semi-automatic firearm to shoot automatically. Auto sears are already banned at the federal level.

HB25 – Sales Tax Holiday. Extends the sales tax holiday for school supplies, Energy Star and WaterSense products, and hurricane preparedness equipment through 2030. The holiday will take place the first full weekend in August.

HB36 – Children and Firearms. Makes it a felony for an adult to allow a child access to a firearm after having been notified that the child presents a threat of violence or physical harm to self or others.

HB48 – Higher Education Admissions. Prohibits any public institution of higher education from giving preferential admissions treatment on the basis of a student’s legacy status.

HB78 – Menstrual Health Data. Prohibits the issuance of search warrants for electronic or digital menstrual health data.

HB149 – Cannabis Use. Prohibits an employer from discriminating against an employee for legal use of medical cannabis oil provided the use conforms to Virginia law. Certain exceptions, such as law-enforcement officers, apply.

HB156 – Jury Duty. Increases from 70 to 73 the age at which a person is exempt from service on a jury upon request.

HB174 – Marriage Licenses. Forbids denial of a marriage license based on the sex, gender, or race of the applicant. While denying a license was deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015, the law was never updated in Virginia.

HB223 – Animal Cruelty. Provides that a person convicted of felony animal cruelty may be prohibited by a court from possession of companion or equine animals for life.

HB234 – All Terrain Vehicles. Authorizes any city to adopt an ordinance for the seizure, impounding, and disposition of all terrain and off-road motor vehicles that are illegally operated on highways or sidewalks.

HB238 – Colorectal Cancer Screening. Requires insurers to provide coverage for examinations related to colorectal cancer screening if the individual is in a specific risk category.

HB474 – Restroom Access. Requires retail establishments to provide access to an employee toilet facility if no public restroom is available, if the customer has a medical condition as defined in the law.

HB555 – Department of Corrections. Creates a Department of Corrections Ombudsman with the authority to conduct independent inspections of correctional facilities and to make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly.

HB688 – Cocktails-to-Go. Makes “cocktails-to-go” by restaurants permanent after they were temporarily authorized during COVID. The ability of third parties to deliver mixed drinks was only extended for a year pending a review of enforcement problems.

HB707 – Data Protections for Children. Prohibits processing personal data of known children for targeted advertising or profiling without parental consent.

HB719 – Hazing Education/Prevention. Requires hazing prevention instruction in grades 9 or 10 as part of physical or health education instruction.

HB759 – “Cake Pop Bill.” Expands the ability of a person to make food products at home, without an inspection, for sale at a temporary event such as a farmers market. 

HB790 – Vaping Age. Increases the age for legal purchase of vaping products from 18 to 21 and prohibits the sale of tobacco products from vending machines. The bill imposes stiff new penalties for illegal sales, including up to a $10,000 fine and revocation of licenses.

HB906 – Emergency Utilities Protection Act. Prohibits utilities from shutting off service during periods of extreme weather, during a public health state of emergency, or on Fridays, weekends, state holidays or the day before a state holiday.

HB 994 – Age of Marriage. Establishes the legal age of marriage at 18 without exception. Previously, 16- and 17-year-olds could petition a court for emancipation and marry under age 18.

HB1025 – Roadkill. Allows roadkill to be claimed by any person. Current law only allows roadkill to be claimed by the driver of the vehicle that collided with the animal.

HB 1071 – Speed Limits. Authorizes any local government to reduce the speed limit to 15 miles per hour on roads that are located in a business or residential district.

HB1354 – Declawing Cats. Makes it unlawful to declaw a cat except for therapeutic purposes. Therapeutic includes the need to address an infection, disease or injury, or to protect the owner’s health.

HB1443– Juror Harassment. Creates a new misdemeanor for any defendant who intentionally harasses, intimidates, or threatens a juror regarding such juror’s service after a jury trial.

SB454– Nuclear Power. Allows Dominion Power the ability to petition the State Corporation Commission to recover costs associated with development of small modular nuclear reactors. The Commission must still approve any cost recovery as being in the public interest.​

Do not hesitate to reach out if you want to learn more about these or other bills passed by the General Assembly. Happy Independence Day. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you!