2020 Bill Tracker

Infected sexual battery – HB 864 (Levine): Provides that, in order for a person to be convicted of infected sexual battery,  (i) knew that he was infected at the time of the offense with HIV, syphilis, or hepatitis B and (ii) knew that his infection was currently detectable and transmittable, and committed the offense without using a prophylactic barrier, including a condom or dental dam. EV IS MONITORING

HB 864 Status: Continued to 2021 in Courts of Justice by voice vote

Department of State Police; reporting hate crimes – HB 276 (Sullivan): Includes within the definition of a “hate crime” a criminal act committed against a person because of sexual orientation or gender identification, and requires the reporting of the commission of such crime to the State Police. EV SUPPORTS

HB 276 Status: Signed into law by Governor.

Hate crimes; gender, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation, penalty – HB 618 (Plum): Adds gender, gender identity, disability, and sexual orientation to categories of hate crimes, as well as increasing the penalty of an offense against victims chosen based on gender, gender identity, disability, and sexual orientation. EV SUPPORTS

HB 618 Status: Signed into law by Governor.

Local human rights ordinances; sexual orientation and gender identity – HB 696 (Roem): Provides that localities may prohibit discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations, credit, and education on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

HB 696 Status: Signed into law by Governor.

Prohibited discrimination; sexual orientation and gender identity – HB 1049 (Levine) and all other nondiscrimination bills: Prohibits discrimination in employment, public accommodation, public contracting, apprenticeship programs, housing, banking, and insurance on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill contains technical amendments. EV SUPPORTS

HB 1049 Status: Signed into law by Governor.

Prohibited discrimination; public accommodations, employment, credit, and housing: causes of action; sexual orientation and gender identity – HB 1663 (Sickles): A comprehensive nondiscrimination policy that creates explicit causes of action for unlawful discrimination in public accommodations and employment in the Virginia Human Rights Act. EV SUPPORTS

HB 1663 Status: Failed to pass in House

Prohibited discrimination: public accommodations, employment, credit, and housing – SB 868 (Ebbin): A comprehensive nondiscrimination policy that prohibits discrimination in public accommodations and employment on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. EV SUPPORTS

SB 868 Status: Signed into law by Governor.

Constitutional amendment marriage; (first reference) – SJ 3 (Ebbin), SJ 7 (Edwards), HJ 113 (Sickles): Proposes the repeal of the constitutional amendment dealing with marriage that was approved by referendum at the November 2006 election. EV SUPPORTS

SJ 3 Status: Continued to 2021 in Privileges and Elections (15-Y 0-N)

SJ 7 Status: Continued to 2021 in Privileges and Elections (15-Y 0-N)

HJ 113 Status: Continued to 2021 in Committee on Rules by voice vote

Same-sex marriages; civil unions – SB 17 (Ebbin) and HB 1490 (Guy): Repeals statutory prohibitions on same-sex marriages and civil unions or other arrangements between persons of the same sex claiming to bestow privileges and obligations of marriage, as affirmed by Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. ___ (June 26, 2015). EV SUPPORTS

SB 17 Status: Signed into law by Governor.

HB 1490 Status: Signed into law by Governor.

Health regulatory boards; conversion therapy – HB 966 (Walker): EV OPPOSES

HB 966 Status: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (4-Y 2-N)

Conversion therapy; prohibited by certain health care providers – SB 245 (Surovell) and HB 386 (Hope): Prohibits any healthcare provider or person who preforms counseling as any part of his profession licensed by the Department of Health Professions from engaging in conversion therapy with any person under 18 years of age. EV SUPPORTS

SB 245 Status: Signed into law by Governor.

HB 386 Status: Signed into law by Governor.

Public elementary and secondary school; treatment of transgender students, policies – SB 161 (Boysko) and HB 145 (Simon): Requires the Department of Education to develop and make available to each school board model policies regarding the treatment of transgender students in primary and secondary schools no later than December 31, 2020. EV SUPPORTS

SB 161 Status: Signed into law by Governor.

HB 145 Status: Signed into law by Governor.

Child-placing agencies; conscience clause, discrimination – HB 1051 (Levine): Repeals provisions that allowed child-placing agencies to refuse service to perform, assist with, counsel, recommend, consent to, refer, or participate in any child placements when the proposed placement would violate the agency’s written religious or moral convictions or policies. Also prohibits the Department of Social Services from providing funds to any child agency that, in making decisions regarding the placement of a child, discriminates on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or status as a veteran. EV SUPPORTS

HB 1051 Status: Left in Health, Welfare, and Institutions 

Voter identification; repeal of photo identification requirements – HB 19 (Lindsey): Removes the requirement that voters show a form of identification containing a photograph in order to be allowed to vote. EV SUPPORTS

HB 19 Status: Signed into law by Governor.

Sex designation; DMV – SB 246 (Surovell): Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to offer any applicant the option to mark “X” when identifying the applicant’s sex, except when otherwise required by federal law. EV SUPPORTS

SB 246 Status: Signed into law by Governor.

Certificate of birth; new certificate issued to show change of sex – SB 657 (Boysko) and HB 1041 (Simon): The State Registrar, upon the request of a person in accordance with requirements of the Board of Health, shall issue a new certificate of birth to show a change of sex of a person, as well as a change of name if the person submits a court order that changed their name. EV SUPPORTS

SB 657 Status: Signed into law by Governor.

HB 1041 Status: Signed into law by Governor.