HB14 - Unemployment compensation; employer's failure to respond to requests for information, etc.

7 Co-Sponsors

Unemployment compensation; employer failure to respond to requests for information; claim determination; notice requirements. Provides that an employer's account shall not be relieved of charges relating to an erroneous payment if the Virginia Employment Commission determines that (i) the employer has failed to respond timely or adequately to a written request for information related to the claim and (ii) the employer has established a pattern of failing to respond timely or adequately to such requests, as described in the bill. The bill requires the Commission to provide written notice for each instance of untimely or inadequate employer response to such requests. The bill provides that upon the Commission's third determination, and for each subsequent determination, within the applicable review period that an employer failed to respond timely or adequately to such a request, the employer shall be considered to have waived all rights in connection with the claim, including participation and appeal rights. The bill requires a deputy examining a claim to provide the reasoning behind the decision, as described in the bill, and a short statement of case-specific facts material to the determination together with any notice of determination upon a claim. The provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2025. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on Unemployment Compensation.

HB1365 - Higher educational institutions, public; release of student transcripts.

9 Co-Sponsors

Public institutions of higher education; release of student transcripts. Requires each public institution of higher education to release an academic transcript directly to the employer or prospective employer of a student currently or formerly enrolled at such institution upon the request of the student. The bill also prohibits any public institution of higher education from conditioning the release of an academic transcript to a student currently or formerly enrolled at such institution on the payment of an outstanding debt if (i) such outstanding debt is less than $500, (ii) such outstanding debt is less than $1,000 and such currently or formerly enrolled student received a Federal Pell Grant at any time during his enrollment, or (iii) such currently or formerly enrolled student has enrolled in a repayment plan and has made at least three consecutive monthly payments on such outstanding debt. Public institutions of higher education; release of student transcripts. Requires each public institution of higher education to release an academic transcript directly to the employer or prospective employer of a student currently or formerly enrolled at such institution upon the request of the student. The bill also prohibits any public institution of higher education from conditioning the release of an academic transcript to a student currently or formerly enrolled at such institution on the payment of an outstanding debt if (i) such outstanding debt is less than $500, (ii) such outstanding debt is less than $1,000 and such currently or formerly enrolled student received a Federal Pell Grant at any time during his enrollment, or (iii) such currently or formerly enrolled student has enrolled in a repayment plan and has made at least three consecutive monthly payments on such outstanding debt.

HB1487 - DHCD; translation of certain forms and documents into five non-English languages on website, etc.

6 Co-Sponsors

Department of Housing and Community Development; forms and documents for landlords and tenants; translation into non-English languages. Directs the Department of Housing and Community Development to translate all forms and documents that the Department is mandated by law to create and that are posted on its website for use by residential landlords and tenants into the five non-English languages most commonly spoken in Virginia. The bill allows the Department to accept materials translated by volunteers but requires the Department to verify the accuracy of such translations prior to making such translations available on its website. Department of Housing and Community Development; forms and documents for landlords and tenants; translation into non-English languages. Directs the Department of Housing and Community Development to translate all forms and documents that the Department is mandated by law to create and that are posted on its website for use by residential landlords and tenants into the five non-English languages most commonly spoken in Virginia. The bill allows the Department to accept materials translated by volunteers but requires the Department to verify the accuracy of such translations prior to making such translations available on its website.

HB811 - Toll relief; maximum charges.

5 Co-Sponsors

Toll relief; maximum charges. Limits to $200 per month the tolls charged to residents of the Commonwealth via electronic toll collection devices for the use of toll bridges, toll ferries, toll tunnels, or toll roads in the Commonwealth. The bill prohibits misusing, sharing, or transferring an electronic toll collection device for the purpose of (i) generating tolls to reach the toll limit or (ii) obtaining toll-free use of toll facilities in the Commonwealth. The bill authorizes the free use of all toll bridges, toll roads, and other toll facilities in the Commonwealth for drivers who are recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits.

HB179 - Imprisonment; consecutive terms.

7 Co-Sponsors

Consecutive terms of imprisonment. Eliminates the required imposition of mandatory consecutive sentences of imprisonment.

HJR172 - Commending Marie Ridder.

51 Co-Sponsors

HB911 - Va. Conflict of Interest & Ethics Advisory Council; annual audit of certain disclosure forms.

1 Co-Sponsor

Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council; staffing; annual audit of certain disclosure forms; lobbyist registration and reporting; civil penalties. Provides for an annual audit of the Statement of Economic Interests disclosure forms filed by members of the General Assembly to ensure the completeness and material accuracy of the information disclosed. The bill directs the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council to appoint and employ an executive director; currently, the Division of Legislative Services employs the executive director and provides additional staff assistance. Additional staff required pursuant to the bill includes at least one experienced lawyer and at least one experienced auditor or investigator. The bill also increases the civil penalty for certain violations related to filing such disclosure forms and prohibits any such penalty from being paid using funds contributed to or received by a candidate or his campaign committee or by any political committee. Lastly, the bill brings the reporting period and deadline for lobbyists' disclosures into alignment with the schedule for filing disclosures required pursuant to the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act and the General Assembly Conflicts of Interests Act.

HB212 - MEI Project Approval Commission; board-level gender and diversity requirements.

4 Co-Sponsors

MEI Project Approval Commission; board-level gender and diversity requirements. Requires the MEI Project Approval Commission to consider, prior to recommending approval of any major employment and investment (MEI) project, a board diversity disclosure statement submitted by the business seeking incentives. The Commission is required to consider (i) whether such statement specifies the number and percentage of diverse directors who identify as female or as representing a national, racial, ethnic, indigenous, or cultural minority in the country of the business's principal executive offices and (ii) whether the business commits to annually updating and submitting such statement.

HB175 - Assault firearms; carrying in public areas prohibited, penalty.

3 Co-Sponsors

Carrying assault firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty. Prohibits the carrying of certain semi-automatic center-fire rifles and shotguns on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, or public right-of-way or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public, with certain exceptions. Under current law, the current prohibition on carrying certain shotguns and semi-automatic center-fire rifles and pistols applies to a narrower range of firearms, only in certain localities, and only when such firearms are loaded.

HB1531 - Cruelty to elephants; pain-inflicting training tools prohibited, civil penalty.

6 Co-Sponsors

Cruelty to elephants; pain-inflicting training tools prohibited; actions for attachment; civil penalty. Prohibits using devices such as a bullhook, axe handle, or block and tackle or engaging in certain practices in order to discipline, train, or control the behavior of an elephant. The bill provides that any person who uses such devices or engages in certain practices that inflict fear or pain on or cause physical injury to an elephant is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for the first offense and not to exceed $5,000 for subsequent violations. Finally, the bill provides that an action in equity may be brought to request an attachment for any devices prohibited by the bill against a person violating the provisions of the bill. Cruelty to elephants; pain-inflicting training tools prohibited; actions for attachment; civil penalty. Prohibits using devices such as a bullhook, axe handle, or block and tackle or engaging in certain practices in order to discipline, train, or control the behavior of an elephant. The bill provides that any person who uses such devices or engages in certain practices that inflict fear or pain on or cause physical injury to an elephant is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for the first offense and not to exceed $5,000 for subsequent violations. Finally, the bill provides that an action in equity may be brought to request an attachment for any devices prohibited by the bill against a person violating the provisions of the bill.