General Laws Subcommittee advances mold rules, geologist licensure, and other professional regulation bills

General Laws Subcommittee members met Feb. 20 and advanced a slate of bills affecting professional regulation, licensing and technical standards, voting to report most measures to the full committee and tabling one pending further review.

The session matters because the bills affect consumer protections, occupational standards and program eligibility across the Commonwealth — from tenants dealing with mold to engineers and geologists on infrastructure projects and people seeking entry to licensed careers.

Votes at a glance: House bills acted on Feb. 20, 2025 - HB 2195 (substitute): Consumer-protection and mold inspection/remediation bill — reported to full committee (substitute adopted; roll call reported unanimously, tally not specified). - HB 2736: Expand Virginia Values Veterans grant to include military spouses — reported to full committee (unanimous, tally not specified). - HB 1835 (with substitute): Create mandatory licensure for professional geologists, convert existing voluntary certificates to licenses — reported to full committee (substitute adopted; unanimous, tally not specified). - HB 2612: Increase minimum massage-therapy education hours from 500 to 625 — motion to lay bill on the table carried (bill tabled for further consideration). - HB (ear piercing statute change; sponsor Simon): Create an ear-piercing salon category and allow needle-based ear-piercing licensing distinct from full body-piercing licensure — reported as amended (unanimous, tally not specified). - HB 2503: Update statutory references to the Virginia State Plane Coordinate System of 2022 (delayed enactment tied to NOAA NGS release) — reported as amended (unanimous, tally not specified). - HB 2557: Clarify authority for unlicensed property managers to sign routine lease documents in residential transactions — reported as amended (unanimous, tally not specified). - Several other technical or committee-management bills (line‑amendments, incorporations and roll-ins) were incorporated or rolled together and reported; the subcommittee adjourned after reporting the docket.

What the headline bills do (selected details) HB 2195 — mold inspection, remediation and consumer protections. The bill, presented as a substitute after patrons worked together, would (1) add consumer-protection language to existing law, (2) direct the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) to study licensure/licensure alternatives in consultation with the Virginia Department of Health and industry professionals, and (3) remove a statutory limit that currently caps the advisory board to four meetings per year. Delegate McQuinn and Delegate Wilt were listed as patrons during floor discussion; multiple housing- and health‑focused advocates testified in support. Andrea Jackson, representing Virginia Organizing’s Waynesboro chapter, told the subcommittee, "Mold is not something that should be taken lightly. It has serious health implications and can cause asthma, headaches, and long term respiratory issues." Gusta (Gustavo) Espinosa of the Legal Aid Justice Center described cases in which nonprofessionals or untrained maintenance staff failed to identify or properly remediate mold, and called for qualified remediation professionals. The substitute requires a DPOR study to conclude by Jan. 1, 2026, and would provide affected tenants with clearer standards to hold service providers and landlords to account. The motion to report the substitute passed and the bill was reported to the full General Laws Committee.

HB 1835 — professional geologist licensure. Delegate Wiley presented a substitute that would convert Virginia’s current voluntary certification for geologists into a mandatory license and make other technical updates. The measure includes a provision to license existing certificate holders (those with certification prior to July 1, 2025) to reduce administrative workload at DPOR. Chris McDonald (Williams Mullen), representing the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists, said the state is one of the last with only voluntary certification and that mandatory licensure would align Virginia with 32 other states. Steve Pond, a certified professional geologist who testified in favor, said the change "protects public safety" and urged support. The substitute was adopted and the bill was reported to the full committee.

HB 2612 — massage therapy education hours (laid on table). Delegate Walker proposed raising the minimum educational hours required for massage‑therapy licensure from 500 to 625. Supporters, including Jonathan Malul of Saval Malul International Hair Academy, said increasing hours aligns Virginia with national standards and federal financial‑aid rules (programs below 600 hours generally are not Pell‑eligible), potentially improving access for underserved students. The Virginia chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association testified in opposition, noting neighboring states’ curricula and urging more stakeholder discussion. After debate, a motion to lay HB 2612 on the table carried; the bill was not reported and will return for future consideration.

Ear‑piercing salon category (sponsor: Delegate Simon) — narrow licensing carve‑out for needle ear piercing. The bill creates a distinct ear‑piercing salon category and allows DPOR to develop specific regulations and license classes for ear‑piercing operators who use single‑use sterile needles. B. Gonzales of studs.com described a robust training and apprenticeship program and said the change resolves a timing mismatch between regulation and industry practice: ear‑only needle piercing is safer and distinct from full body piercing. The subcommittee adopted technical line amendments and reported the bill to the full committee.

Other technical items and administrative actions - HB 2736 would expand the Virginia Values Veterans program grant to include military spouses (adds employers with <300 employees a $1,000 grant per eligible hire, up to $10,000 annually) and was reported. Rick Dwyer (Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance) and Jasmine Gore (Virginia Department of Veterans Services) spoke in support. The motion to report carried unanimously. - HB 2503 updates Code of Virginia cross‑references to the Virginia State Plane Coordinate System of 2022 and replaces a foot‑conversion factor with the international foot; the bill includes a delayed effective date contingent on NOAA NGS publishing the 2022 system and was reported as amended with a technical line change; VDOT and Old Dominion University testified in support. - HB 2557 clarifies that unlicensed property managers acting under a supervising broker may sign leases and routine documents for residential transactions; stakeholders including the Apartment and Office Building Association and Virginia Realtors supported the substitute and the bill was reported.

Process notes and next steps Most measures advanced by voice vote or by the subcommittee roll call and were reported to the full General Laws Committee for consideration at the next scheduled floor hearing. Where a substitute or line amendment was adopted, sponsors said the changes were technical or the result of stakeholder negotiation. HB 2612 (massage hours) was tabled for further stakeholder work.

Speakers at this hearing included subcommittee members and a broad set of witnesses from advocacy organizations, professional associations and regulated industries; testimony ranged from public‑health concerns about mold to industry safety and training standards for geologists, cosmetologists and ear‑piercing operators. The full General Laws Committee will consider the reported measures at its calendared meeting.

Ending The subcommittee adjourned after completing its docket and reported the items listed above to the full General Laws Committee for further action.