Legislative Update for Substance Abuse Addiction Recovery Alliance
Friday March 7, 2025


BillPatronTitleSynopsisUpcoming HearingsStatus
HB 1637 Patrick A. Hope Opioid Antagonists; Dispensing And Administration By Person Acting On Behalf Of An Organization. Opioid antagonists; dispensing and administration by person acting on behalf of an organization. Permits persons acting on behalf of an organization that provides services to individuals at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose or training in the administration of naloxone or other opioid antagonists to dispense other opioid antagonists. The bill also allows persons to whom other opioid antagonists are dispensed to possess and administer such opioid antagonists. Under current law, persons acting on behalf of such organizations may only dispense naloxone. This bill is identical to SB 1035. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (2/18)
HB 1765 Marty Martinez Health Insurance; Coverage For Non-opioid Prescription Drugs. Health insurance; coverage for non-opioid prescription drugs. Prohibits a health insurance carrier from imposing any cost-sharing, prior authorization, step therapy, or other limitation on coverage of a covered non-opioid drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment or management of pain that is more restrictive or less favorable to the enrollee relative to a covered opioid drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment or management of pain. H Left in Labor and Commerce (2/5)
HB 1877 Anne Ferrell Tata; Sam Rasoul; Katrina Callsen Barrier Crimes; Peer Recovery Specialists; Screening Requirements. Barrier crimes; peer recovery specialists; screening requirements. Modifies the barrier crimes screening assessment requirements for peer recovery specialists applying for employment with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, an employer licensed by the Department, or a community services board to require that such specialists have completed all prison or jail terms, been free of parole or probation for at least five years, have no pending charges in any locality, and not be under probation or parole supervision in order to be eligible for a screening assessment. Under current law, an applicant must also have paid all fines, restitution, and court costs for any prior convictions. S Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (2/18)
HB 1893 Holly M. Seibold State Plan For Medical Assistance Services; Recovery Residences; Work Group; Report. State plan for medical assistance services; recovery residences; work group; report. Directs the Board of Medical Assistance Services to amend the state plan for medical assistance services to include a provision for payment of care provided at certain recovery residences for individuals diagnosed with a substance use disorder. The bill also directs the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to (i) convene a work group of relevant stakeholders to (a) establish a monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the effectiveness and impact of recovery residences on long-term recovery outcomes and (b) study the economic impact of recovery residences on the Commonwealth and (ii) in consultation with such work group, promulgate regulations to ensure recovery residences are operating in compliance with American Society of Addiction Medicine standards. The bill directs the work group to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Health and Human Services and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by November 1, 2025. H Left in Appropriations (2/4)
HB 1895 Rodney T. Willett Involuntary Temporary Detention Orders; Amends Definition Of "psychiatric Emergency Department." Involuntary temporary detention orders; definition of 'psychiatric emergency department.' Amends the definition of 'psychiatric emergency department' as it relates to involuntary temporary detention orders to remove the requirement that a psychiatric emergency department be located adjacent to a facility licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and to add requirements that a psychiatric emergency department (i) be licensed by either the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services or the Department of Health and (ii) provide that at least one physician who is primarily responsible for the emergency department be on duty and physically present at all times that the hospital is operating as an emergency service. This bill applies to hospitals with a psychiatric emergency department located in the City of Hampton for the purpose of employing certain trained individuals to perform evaluations to determine whether a person meets the criteria for temporary detention for behavioral health treatment and has an expiration date of July 1, 2026, and is identical to SB 1094. S Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (2/18)
HB 1955 Debra D. Gardner Manufacturing, Selling, Giving, Distributing, Or Possessing With Intent To Manufacture, Sell, Give, Or Distribute A Controlled Substance Or An Imitation Controlled Substance Prohibited; Penalties. Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute a controlled substance or an imitation controlled substance prohibited; penalties. Removes the distinction between cocaine, which refers to powder cocaine, its salts, optical and geometric isomers, and salts of isomers and a mixture or substance that contains cocaine base, which refers to crack cocaine, for the offense of manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute a controlled substance or an imitation controlled substance. This bill is identical to SB 888. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (2/18)
HB 1989 Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler; Alex Q. Askew Medical Cannabis Program; Changes Requirements For Product Labels, Dispensing Cannabis Products. Medical cannabis program; product labels; delivery. Changes the requirements for what is included on medical cannabis product labels affixed by pharmaceutical processors to include (i) the total milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol included in the edible cannabis product or topical cannabis product, both defined in the bill; (ii) the number of milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol in each serving of the edible cannabis product or topical cannabis product; and (iii) the total percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol included in the inhalable cannabis product, defined in the bill. Under current law, the product label of any medical cannabis product is required to include the total percentage and milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol included in the product and the number of milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol in each serving. The bill also allows a pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility to dispense or deliver cannabis products in person to a patient or such patient's registered agent, parent, or legal guardian at any residence, including a temporary residence, or business. However, the bill prohibits dispensing or delivering cannabis products to any public gathering places, including sporting events, festivals, fairs, races, concerts, and terminals of public transportation companies. H Senate substitute agreed to by House (84-Y 14-N) (2/20)
HB 2117 Karen Keys-Gamarra Experiencing Or Reporting An Overdose Or Act Of Sexual Violence; Arrest And Prosecution. Arrest and prosecution when experiencing or reporting an overdose or act of sexual violence. Provides that no individual shall be subject to arrest or prosecution for the unlawful purchase, possession, or consumption of alcohol or marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, intoxication in public, or possession of controlled paraphernalia if the individual, in good faith, seeks or obtains assistance for himself or another individual from emergency medical services personnel, a health care provider, or a law-enforcement officer, as those terms are defined in relevant law, and seeks to report an act of sexual violence committed against himself or another individual, so long as (i) such individual identifies himself to the law-enforcement officer who responds to the report of the act of sexual violence and (ii) the evidence for the prosecution of such an offense was obtained as a result of the individual seeking or obtaining medical attention, rendering care or assistance, or reporting to law enforcement. However, such immunity shall not apply to an individual who is alleged to have committed the act of sexual violence or if the emergency medical attention was sought or obtained during the execution of a search warrant or during the conduct of a lawful search or a lawful arrest. The bill also provides that no individual immune to arrest or prosecution when experiencing or reporting an overdose or act of sexual violence shall have his bail, probation, furlough, supervised release, suspended sentence,or parole revoked for complying with the provisions of applicable law. H Senate Amendment agreed to by House (96-Y 0-N) (2/20)
HB 2168 C. Todd Gilbert Felony Homicide; Certain Drug Offenses, Penalty. Felony homicide; certain drug offenses; penalty. Provides that a person is guilty of felony homicide, which constitutes second degree murder and is punishable by confinement of not less than five nor more than 40 years, if the underlying felonious act that resulted in the killing of another involved the manufacture, sale, gift, or distribution of a Schedule I or II controlled substance to another and (i) such other person's death results from his use of the controlled substance and (ii) the controlled substance is the proximate cause of his death. The bill provides that venue for a prosecution of this crime shall lie in the locality where the underlying felony occurred, where the use of the controlled substance occurred, or where death occurred. The bill also provides that if a person gave or distributed a Schedule I or II controlled substance only as an accommodation to another individual who is not an inmate in a community correctional facility, local correctional facility, or state correctional facility, or in the custody of an employee thereof, and not with intent to profit thereby from any consideration received or expected nor to induce the recipient of the controlled substance to use or become addicted to or dependent upon such controlled substance, he is guilty of a Class 5 felony. H Left in Courts of Justice (2/4)
HB 2176 Nadarius E. Clark Marijuana-related Offenses; Modification Of Sentence, Sunset. Modification of sentence for marijuana-related offenses. Creates a process by which persons convicted of certain felony offenses involving the possession, manufacture, selling, giving, distribution, transportation, or delivery of marijuana committed prior to July 1, 2021, who remain incarcerated or on community supervision on July 1, 2025, may receive an automatic hearing to consider modification of such person's sentence. The provisions of this bill sunset on July 1, 2028. This bill was incorporated into HB 2555. H Left in Courts of Justice (2/4)
HB 2252 Wren M. Williams Decreasing Probation Period; Criteria For Mandatory Reduction, Effective Clause, Report. Decreasing probation period; criteria for mandatory reduction. Establishes criteria for which a defendant's supervised probation period shall be reduced, including completing qualifying educational activities, maintaining verifiable employment, complying with or completing any state-certified or state-approved mental health or substance abuse treatment program, securing and maintaining qualifying health insurance or a qualifying health care plan, and obtaining housing and establishing residence. The bill provides that a court may decrease a defendant's probation period if warranted by the defendant's conduct and in the interests of justice and may do so without a hearing, unless the defendant poses an imminent threat to the health and safety of himself or others. Except for the provision of the bill requiring the Department of Corrections to meet with all relevant stakeholders and report to the General Assembly on (i) current practices for community supervision as it relates to monitoring engagement and attainment in education, employment, treatment, and other programs and making recommendations to the court for modification of time served on probation; (ii) how such practices compare to the processes and practices that would be established pursuant to the bill; and (iii) a plan for such implementation by November 1, 2025, the provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2026 Session of the General Assembly. This bill is identical to SB 936. C Amended by conference committee (2/22)
HB 2289 Carrie E. Coyner Zoning; Recovery Residences. Zoning; recovery residences. Provides that zoning ordinances for all purposes shall consider a certified recovery residence in which no more than eight individuals with substance use disorder reside, either with or without one or more resident or nonresident staff persons, as residential occupancy by a single family and that no conditions more restrictive than those imposed on residences occupied by persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption shall be imposed on such certified recovery residence. The bill provides that no clinical treatment shall take place in such recovery residence and that the recovery residence shall submit the individual name and contact information for the person responsible for the residence to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. H Left in Counties, Cities and Towns (2/4)
HB 2290 Carrie E. Coyner Behavioral Health Services; Correctional Facilities, Exchange Of Medical/mental Health Information. Behavioral health services; exchange of medical and mental health information and records; correctional facilities. Permits the Department of Medical Assistance Services, the Department of Social Services, and any local department of social services to access medical and mental health information and records for persons committed to any correctional facility for the purposes of providing pre-release services, reentry planning, and post-incarceration placement and services. The bill also authorizes the Department of Medical Assistance Services to access a juvenile's social, medical, psychiatric, and psychological reports and records during pre-release and up to 30 days following such juvenile's release from commitment for the purposes of providing pre-release services, reentry planning, and post-incarceration placement and services. H Incorporated by Health and Human Services (HB2754-Singh) (Voice Vote) (1/28)
HB 2296 Mark L. Earley, Jr.; David Owen Illegal Fentanyl; Reckless Exposure To Certain Persons, Penalty Reckless exposure of illegal fentanyl to certain persons; penalty; arrest and prosecution when experiencing or reporting overdoses. Provides that any person who unlawfully possesses fentanyl, including its isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, and recklessly exposes a law-enforcement officer, correctional officer, jail officer, firefighter, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel, as those terms are defined in relevant law, to such fentanyl and causes severe bodily injury or an overdose to such officer, firefighter, or personnel is guilty of a Class 4 felony. The bill also provides that no individual incarcerated in a local, regional, or state correctional facility shall be subject to arrest or prosecution for such offense if such individual seeks or obtains emergency medical attention for himself or another individual experiencing an overdose or is experiencing an overdose and another individual seeks or obtains emergency medical attention for him. H Left in Courts of Justice (2/4)
HB 2317 Will Davis Marijuana, Etc.; Possession, Smoking By Person Younger Than 21 Years Of Age Prohibited. Possession of marijuana, marijuana products, retail tobacco products, and hemp products intended for smoking by a person younger than 21 years of age prohibited; penalty. Provides that no person younger than 21 years of age shall consume or possess, or attempt to consume or possess, any marijuana, marijuana products, retail tobacco products, or hemp products intended for smoking, as such terms are defined in relevant law, and a violation of such prohibition is a Class 1 misdemeanor, with certain exceptions. The bill also allows any such person charged with his first offense of underaged possession of retail tobacco products or hemp products intended for smoking to have the proceedings deferred, to be placed on probation by the court, and to have the charges dismissed by the court without an adjudication of guilty upon such person's successful completion of probation. H Left in Courts of Justice (2/4)
HB 2319 H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.; Michael J. Webert; Mark D. Sickles Drug And Controlled Paraphernalia; Creates Exception For Drug Checking Products. Drug paraphernalia; controlled paraphernalia; drug checking products; exception. Creates an exception for drug checking products used to determine the presence or concentration of a contaminant that can cause physical harm or death from the definitions of drug paraphernalia and controlled paraphernalia. Under current law, the exception applies only to narcotic testing products used to determine whether a controlled substance contains fentanyl or a fentanyl analog. S Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (2/18)
HB 2366 Carrie E. Coyner Public Safety & Homeland Security & Hhr, Secretaries Of; Combat Sale Of Illicit Cannabis Products. Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security and Secretary of Health and Human Resources; combat the sale of illicit cannabis products; work group; report. Directs the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to convene a work group to analyze the current efforts in the Commonwealth to combat the sale of illicit cannabis products and develop recommendations to enhance such enforcement efforts with a focus on protecting consumers and children from harmful, untested, and unregulated products. The bill requires the work group to complete its work and submit a report regarding its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committees on Appropriations, on General Laws, and for Courts of Justice and the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations, on General Laws and Technology, on Rehabilitation and Social Services, and for Courts of Justice by October 1, 2025. H Left in Rules (2/4)
HB 2435 Michael J. Webert Model Policy For Law-enforcement Officer Investigating Overdose; Notification To Prescriber. Model policy for law-enforcement officer investigating overdose; investigation; notification to prescriber. Requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to establish a model policy for best practices for law-enforcement officers responding to or investigating an overdose to notify the prescriber of any controlled substance found to be in the possession of or ingested by the victim that such prescription was involved in an overdose. S Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N) (2/20)
HB 2485 Dan I. Helmer; Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler; Paul E. Krizek Cannabis Control; Establishes Framework For Creating Retail Market, Penalties. Cannabis control; retail market; penalties. Establishes a framework for the creation of a retail marijuana market in the Commonwealth, to be administered by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. The bill allows the Authority to begin issuing all marijuana licenses on September 1, 2025, but provides that no retail sales may occur prior to May 1, 2026. S Passed Senate (21-Y 18-N) (2/12)
HB 2498 Paul E. Krizek; Bryce E. Reeves Virginia Gaming Commission; Established, Penalties, Report. Virginia Gaming Commission; established. Establishes the Virginia Gaming Commission as an independent agency of the Commonwealth, exclusive of the legislative, executive, or judicial branches of government, to oversee and regulate all forms of legal gambling in the Commonwealth except for the state lottery. The bill sets eligibility requirements for the appointment of a Commissioner and Virginia Gaming Commissioner Board members, provides powers and duties of such Commissioner and Board members, and provides for the transfer of current employees of relevant state agencies to the Commission. The bill contains numerous technical amendments. H Left in Appropriations (2/4)
HB 2555 Nadarius E. Clark; Rozia A. Henson, Jr. Marijuana-related Offenses; Modification Of Sentence, Sunset. Modification of sentence for marijuana-related offenses. Creates a process by which persons convicted of certain felony offenses involving the possession, manufacture, selling, giving, distribution, transportation, or delivery of marijuana committed prior to July 1, 2021, who remain incarcerated or on community supervision on July 1, 2025, may receive an automatic hearing to consider modification of such person's sentence. The provisions of this bill sunset on July 1, 2028. This bill incorporates HB 2176. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/3)
HB 2649 H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. Prescription Monitoring Program; Exemptions, Licensed Narcotic Maintenance Treatment Programs. Prescription Monitoring Program; exemptions; licensed narcotic maintenance treatment programs. Removes dispensing of covered substances within a licensed narcotic maintenance treatment program from the list of circumstances that are exempt from the reporting requirements of the Prescription Monitoring Program. The bill specifies that any reporting of information related to dispensing covered substances within a licensed narcotic maintenance program shall comply with applicable federal laws and regulations. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026. S Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (2/18)
HJ 497 Paul E. Krizek Retail Cannabis Market; Joint Commission Established To Oversee Transition Of The Commonwealth. Joint commission to oversee transition of the Commonwealth into a retail cannabis market established; report. Establishes a joint commission to oversee the transition of the Commonwealth into a retail cannabis market. The joint commission shall expire on July 1, 2028. H Senate Amendment agreed to by House (50-Y 45-N) (2/20)
SB 746 Bill DeSteph; Ryan T. McDougle Felony Homicide; Certain Drug Offenses, Penalty. Involuntary manslaughter; certain drug offenses. Provides that any person who knowingly, intentionally, and feloniously manufactures, sells, or distributes a controlled substance knowing that such controlled substance contains a detectable amount of fentanyl, including its derivatives, isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, and unintentionally causes the death of another person, is guilty of involuntary manslaughter if (i) such death results from use of the controlled substance and (ii) such controlled substance is the proximate cause of the death. The bill provides that venue for a prosecution of this crime shall lie in the locality where the manufacturing, sale, or distribution of such controlled substance occurred, where the use of the controlled substance occurred, or where death occurred. The bill also provides that if a person gave or distributed such controlled substance only as an accommodation to another individual who is not an inmate in a community correctional facility, local correctional facility, or state correctional facility, or in the custody of an employee thereof, and not with intent to profit thereby from any consideration received or expected nor to induce the recipient of the controlled substance to use or become addicted to or dependent upon such controlled substance, is not guilty of involuntary manslaughter but is guilty of a Class 6 felony. This bill is identical to HB 2657. C Amended by conference committee (2/21)
SB 790 Christopher T. Head Opioid Antagonists; Dispensing And Administration By Person Acting On Behalf Of An Organization. Opioid antagonists; dispensing and administration by person acting on behalf of an organization. Permits persons acting on behalf of an organization that provides services to individuals at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose or training in the administration of naloxone or other opioid antagonists to dispense other opioid antagonists. The bill also allows persons to whom other opioid antagonists are dispensed to possess and administer such opioid antagonists. Under current law, persons acting on behalf of such organizations may only dispense naloxone. S Incorporated by Education and Health (SB1035-Pekarsky) (15-Y 0-N) (1/23)
SB 802 Ryan T. McDougle Illegal Drugs; Venue For Certain Distribution Offenses. Illegal drugs; venue for certain distribution offenses. Provides that a prosecution for an offense related to distribution of a Schedule I or II drug, where an overdose death occurred from such distribution, may be had in any county or city in which (i) any act in furtherance of the crime was committed or (ii) the deceased person was located. S Left in Courts of Justice (2/5)
SB 838 Rodney T. Willett; Schuyler T. VanValkenburg Recovery Residences; Certification Required Penalty, Report. Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; recovery residences; certification required; penalty; work group. Changes the existing civil penalty for a violation of law related to the operation of recovery residences to a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill allows the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to issue provisional certification to certain recovery residences. The bill also directs the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to convene a work group to (i) make recommendations related to oversight and transparency for recovery residences and (ii) develop credentialing guidelines for recovery residences. The bill directs the work group to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by November 1, 2025. S House Amendments agreed to by Senate (38-Y 0-N) (2/20)
SB 841 Barbara A. Favola Opioid Treatment Programs; Dispensing, Medications From Mobile Units. Board of Pharmacy; Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; opioid treatment programs; mobile units; report. Directs the Board of Pharmacy, in collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, to develop and implement a process by which opioid treatment programs can apply for and receive the necessary permissions and waivers to dispense opioid use disorder treatment medications from mobile units. The bill directs the Board to report to the Joint Commission on Health Care by November 1, 2025, on the status of and any barriers to the development and implementation of such process. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care. H Left in Appropriations (2/18)
SB 842 Barbara A. Favola Mobile Health Clinics; Dhcd To Include Broadband Access Services For Clinics. Department of Housing and Community Development; broadband access services for mobile health clinics. Requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to, as part of its broader initiative to support the development and implementation of programs that support telehealth, include broadband access services for mobile health clinics as a priority for broadband nondeployment programs using federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program funding to the extent approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/3)
SB 970 Jennifer D. Carroll Foy; Aaron R. Rouse Cannabis Control; Establishes Framework For Creating Retail Market, Penalties. Cannabis control; retail market; penalties. Establishes a framework for the creation of a retail marijuana market in the Commonwealth, to be administered by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. The bill allows the Authority to begin issuing all marijuana licenses on September 1, 2025, but provides that no retail sales may occur prior to May 1, 2026. H Passed House (53-Y 44-N) (2/12)
SB 1035 Stella G. Pekarsky; Christopher T. Head Opioid Antagonists; Dispensing And Administration By Person Acting On Behalf Of An Organization. Opioid antagonists; dispensing and administration by person acting on behalf of an organization. Permits persons acting on behalf of an organization that provides services to individuals at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose or training in the administration of naloxone or other opioid antagonists to dispense other opioid antagonists. The bill also allows persons to whom other opioid antagonists are dispensed to possess and administer such opioid antagonists. Under current law, persons acting on behalf of such organizations may only dispense naloxone. This bill incorporates SB 790 and is identical to HB 1637. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/3)
SB 1054 Adam P. Ebbin Virginia Cannabis Control Authority; Draft Regulations Governing Cannabis, Report. Virginia Cannabis Control Authority; draft regulations governing cannabis; report. Directs the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to draft regulations governing the indoor cultivation, processing, manufacturing, testing, packaging, labeling, distribution, sale, and delivery of marijuana to adults age 21 or older in the Commonwealth, which shall (i) include appropriate application and license fees; (ii) include transaction limits; and (iii) model, to the greatest extent practicable, the regulations promulgated by the Authority governing the Medical Cannabis Program. The bill requires the Authority to report such draft regulations to the General Assembly by November 15, 2025, and indicate the date by which it would be able to implement and enforce such regulations, issue licenses, provide adequate enforcement, and implement a transitional sales program for pharmaceutical processors. The bill specifies that any regulations drafted by the Authority pursuant to the provisions of the bill shall not become effective until such regulations are approved by an act of the General Assembly. S Passed by indefinitely in Rehabilitation and Social Services (15-Y 0-N) (1/31)
SB 1071 Mark J. Peake Enhanced Earned Sentence Credits; Exemptions, Felony Drug Offenses. Enhanced earned sentence credits; exemptions; felony drug offenses. Removes any person convicted of a second or subsequent felony drug offense from being eligible to earn enhanced earned sentence credits. S Passed by indefinitely in Rehabilitation and Social Services (8-Y 7-N) (1/24)
SB 1235 Bill DeSteph Fentanyl, Heroin, Etc.; Manufacturing, Selling, Giving, Distributing, Etc., Penalties. Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, etc., of fentanyl, heroin, or related controlled substances; penalties. Provides that a person is guilty of felony homicide, which constitutes second degree murder and is punishable by confinement of not less than five nor more than 40 years, if the underlying felonious act that resulted in the killing of another involved the manufacture, sale, gift, or distribution of a Schedule I or II controlled substance to another and (i) such other person's death results from his use of the controlled substance and (ii) the controlled substance is the proximate cause of his death. The bill provides that venue for a prosecution of this crime shall lie in the locality where the underlying felony occurred, where the use of the controlled substance occurred, or where death occurred. The bill also provides that if a person gave or distributed a Schedule I or II controlled substance only as an accommodation to another individual who is not an inmate in a community correctional facility, local correctional facility, or state correctional facility, or in the custody of an employee thereof, and not with intent to profit thereby from any consideration received or expected nor to induce the recipient of the controlled substance to use or become addicted to or dependent upon such controlled substance, he is guilty of a Class 5 felony. The bill also requires the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to investigate the cause and manner of a death in any case where the attorney for the Commonwealth or the investigating law-enforcement agency has probable cause to believe that the death resulted from such felony homicide. The bill also adds mandatory minimum fines for manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with the intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, fentanyl, or carfentanil based on the weight of such mixtures or substances. S Incorporated by Courts of Justice (SB746-McDougle) (14-Y 0-N) (1/27)
SB 1240 Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. School-connected Overdoses; Policies Relating To Parental Notification And Response, Requirements. School-connected student overdoses; policies relating to parental notification. Requires public school principals and heads of private schools in the Commonwealth to report certain information to the parents of enrolled students within 24 hours of a confirmed or suspected school-connected student overdose, as defined in the bill. This bill is identical to HB 2774. C Amended by conference committee (2/22)
SB 1257 Lamont Bagby Student & Campus Safety; Opioid Antagonist Administration Training For Resident Assistants Required. Public institutions of higher education; student and campus safety; training in opioid antagonist administration for resident assistants required. Requires each resident assistant in a student housing facility at a public institution of higher education to complete, prior to the commencement of his duties, training in the administration of an opioid antagonist to any student, faculty, or staff member who is believed to be experiencing or about to experience a life-threatening opioid overdose. The bill requires each public institution of higher education to adopt policies and procedures relating to the administration of an opioid antagonist by each resident assistant, including policies and procedures (i) requiring each resident assistant to complete such training pursuant to the provisions of the bill and (ii) arranging for the provision of such opioid antagonist administration training. S House Amendments agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N) (2/20)
SB 1258 Tara A. Durant Fentanyl; Possession In Presence Of Minor Prohibited, Enhanced Penalty. Possession of fentanyl in presence of minor prohibited; enhanced penalty. Makes it a Class 3 felony for any person 18 years of age or older to knowingly possess any substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, including its derivatives, isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, in the presence of a minor younger than 15 years of age, unless such substance was obtained directly from, or pursuant to, a valid prescription or order of a practitioner while acting in the course of his professional practice, or except as otherwise authorized by the Drug Control Act. S Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (8-Y 6-N) (1/27)
SB 1278 Bill DeSteph Fentanyl And Heroin Enforcement, Task Force On; Bimonthly Meetings. Task Force on Fentanyl and Heroin Enforcement; quarterly meetings. Requires the Task Force on Fentanyl and Heroin Enforcement to meet quarterly beginning in July 2025 until the 2025 annual report is provided to the Governor and the General Assembly. C Amended by conference committee (2/22)