[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6360687,"mediaKeyId","2174391-841b77eeee8fea4f3434ccfaab85866d","parentId",2174391,"title","Virginia senators split on food labeling bills after weeks of debate over religious and allergy notices","audioSeconds",1895,"startMs",1253000,"endMs",3148000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2174391-841b77eeee8fea4f3434ccfaab85866d&start=1253&end=3148","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2174391-841b77eeee8fea4f3434ccfaab85866d/thumbnail_1253000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6360687/Virginia/Virginia-senators-split-on-food-labeling-bills-after-weeks-of-debate-over-religious-and-allergy-notices","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360687-4fc0c0a1b5a859d5ad5cfad631676ea4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198372&Signature=jjQ2cSgE91qoI~5iwgJY6KVYOlquF7zq7HyocMA-qzyD1-dbCCgAWD9ig7272EDjAVzLZ3t3qj8kq2stIG5dmg-xPzExg-xj6y4l1kRq9C9aILK3x4vCcXBQFXLV1qne1emj4tD09~XHxsiBCnT066oXVs6Bdapn19Hc4V2zP7vAKuo7x3UzmXb6dY0fyUUJj3xCJk28b7i-Q5v3dzSn0MZb7CJ7RsxqRI0Uxl~0ABW7FWF5NaaepHaOIPEpT52BR1hV8UsBmpMe2LUCvt4gsadsSvMTR1NDUXliDMBvZ38D1Rhf7HLwkfiuol0RIM4IRzG0EBXSw3rMcByQRKeOHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Virginia Legislature","date","2025-01-30T00:00:00Z","article","Senators on the Senate Education and Health Committee advanced separate but related bills aimed at giving restaurant patrons clearer information about ingredients and food-allergy procedures.

The committee approved amendments and later reported Senate Bill 1133, carried for the town of Herndon, which asks restaurants and caterers to place a conspicuous notice next to or under menu items that contain pork products. The committee removed a penalty provision and revised wording to ask that restaurants \"make all reasonable efforts\" to provide the requested information rather than imposing fines for inadvertent errors. The motion to report SB 1133 as amended passed in committee and the measure was recorded as reported as amended.

The committee also reported Senate Bill 1350, which would require the State Department of Health to post a food-allergy notice in English and in the six most-spoken languages on its website and would require restaurants to post the same notice in employee-accessible areas in languages spoken by staff. SB 1350 also requires restaurants to include a food-allergy notification on menus and to provide a method for customers to indicate allergies. A proposed civil penalty was removed in committee; senators confirmed there is no civil penalty in the version that advanced.

Supporters told the committee they brought the bills in response to constituents who wanted clearer information to avoid violating religious dietary restrictions or to reduce the risk of allergic reactions. Senator Boisco said the pork-notice bill was requested by Herndon officials because of a substantial Muslim and Jewish population and clarified that the adopted amendment removed the earlier penalty so restaurants would not face fines if a disclosure was missed.

Opponents and some committee members raised questions about overlapping federal allergen labeling rules for packaged foods and the scope of state law for prepared foods. Counsel noted that existing Virginia law (Code of Virginia § 3.2-5124 and related sections) already addresses certain representations of \"kosher\" or \"halal\" for repackaged foods and that SB 1133/SB 1350 are distinct from those provisions. Senators also debated whether the measures should be statewide or left to local ordinance—Senator Head urged that localities could adopt rules if desired, while Senator Boisco said Herndon residents commonly patronize restaurants outside the town's four-square-mile boundary and favored a statewide standard.

Committee staff and counsel clarified that the bills use the statutory term \"restaurant,\" which in state code excludes manufacturers of packaged goods sold in grocery stores; convenience stores that primarily sell packaged goods would generally not be covered. Committee counsel also said the Department of Health would publish the model allergy notice in English and the six most-spoken languages.

The committee recorded the report on SB 1350 after the line amendment removing civil penalties was adopted. The vote tally in committee was recorded as Ayes 10, Noes 3, 2 abstentions for SB 1350 in its substitute form.

Senators said they want restaurants to do more to prevent inadvertent cross-contact and to improve staff awareness while avoiding punitive measures that could penalize servers for mistakes. The bills will continue through the legislative process with the text that the committee advanced.

A next step for both bills will be committee reports and any subsequent consideration on the Senate floor or conference with the House where companion language may appear.

Ending: Lawmakers said they expect to continue stakeholder outreach as the bills move forward and that the Department of Health notice will serve as a baseline for restaurant training and customer disclosures.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","January 30, 2025 - Education and Health - SR A (305) - 8:30 am","oneSentenceSummary","Senators on the Senate Education and Health Committee advanced two bills requiring restaurants to disclose pork content and to post food-allergy guidance in multiple languages, removing proposed penalties and narrowing requirements after debate.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature VA, Virginia","taxId",77687,"location","Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6360673,"Senate committee splits on bill to convert appointed school boards to elected bodies; measure fails to advance",545,8138000,8683000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2174391-841b77eeee8fea4f3434ccfaab85866d&start=8138&end=8683","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2174391-841b77eeee8fea4f3434ccfaab85866d/thumbnail_8138000.jpg","/articles/6360673/Virginia/Senate-committee-splits-on-bill-to-convert-appointed-school-boards-to-elected-bodies-measure-fails-to-advance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360673-baffd2556173925ec0ab698c869794ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198372&Signature=LdTcaZ-0GVYZlYG67pBh33PnqEQe9Mu5hSZtZnEY0oA9VNldkPDkBUr~kAzgSYGXxUQfX7GshcJfW1e7~jeyy8dpwnLm~rE8aftI~AyX8F384ATkGkNcmZmyzZzcRM4JlDmt~TWMBS8oAsf9fVYKpfNI0h6QFNmQ0sACRkOC~PSckxDJh9TH4-eKKDBZEbEGphOUylS4dDQYboH20qRFfgmpTHPGaT8tvl08Att0z2k3uFwHbgbICH7RqYTXKijC82PXX1RsELqJuz1HsAMyBfR2PPgAI8Pl1B5YIKjSe5XpUsT5VRBiMW4soOSb01tRDKts6KRrmqISTbyioz123g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Education and Health Committee considered Senate Bill 1404, a proposed statute to change jurisdictions that currently have appointed school boards so those boards become elected. After an extended discussion in which senators on both sides described constituent demands and concerns about local governance, the committee did not advance the bill.

Supporters argued parents and voters deserve a direct voice in selecting the people who oversee schools and educational budgets. Senator Piekarski, a former school-board member, said many constituents asked for elected boards and described appointed boards as an accountable mechanism run by elected officials; she argued the public should have the ability to remove members by vote.

Opponents said appointed boards can produce reliable expertise and allow closer coordination with local governing bodies; several senators representing localities with appointed boards urged deference to locally chosen systems. Senator Suterlain described strong local support for appointed boards in his region and urged maintaining current structures.

Committee members ultimately failed to adopt a motion to pause or to pass the bill; a subsequent motion to report the bill also failed. The clerk recorded the final committee vote on reporting as Ayes 6, Noes 7, 2 abstentions; the measure therefore did not advance out of committee.

Ending: Senators said the debate exposed deep differences over democratic control versus local governance practices; members urged continued dialogue with localities and constituents.

","Senate Bill 1404, which would require the conversion of appointed local school boards to elected school boards, failed to report out of the Education Committee after extended debate. Supporters framed the measure as restoring democratic accountability; opponents cited local control and the view that appointments can yield expert boards.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6360677,"Committee declines to report IEP emergency-procedures bill after members question one-size-fits-all approach",324,5705000,6029000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2174391-841b77eeee8fea4f3434ccfaab85866d&start=5705&end=6029","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2174391-841b77eeee8fea4f3434ccfaab85866d/thumbnail_5705000.jpg","/articles/6360677/Virginia/Committee-declines-to-report-IEP-emergency-procedures-bill-after-members-question-one-size-fits-all-approach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360677-2ba7bb938ee8ec3c8870f35dab7e33e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198372&Signature=MO204u4Ct1wDofDOy7X0AqFT8eF6LWn6wIfTIJD0fESQg9h9ABT1IG7YQpVqQNuoXmY2oxaTnSmKywYe-FOfnBWk~2zqexSt9lWCprjZy5CQhbfzani0ebyEXYxXUFsn9wXhNW6tusqi~v2eD2aGa73QAVbnT8KJMLCJpTC7-GD1nhFb1kRfXtee1UWUGYq4KdhpaVef4g1I0ln2otRjDfUAoUwx7D4b44DmkKXcOzUqo-VysF8MOAv734Ydkla9MDuqyaBc1EJxUjnb4L4QWNbwdE9be8K9OynUNB20iEV8~yquro-VTp~nZcBOwpuKhkFUOe4O1u88YtLd6tEBYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Education and Health Committee declined to report Senate Bill 1126 after senators said the measure was drafted too broadly and could undermine the individualized nature of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

The substitute presented to the committee would have conformed the bill to a House version and allowed certain emergency-procedure language to be included in IEP sections covering accommodations and supports. It would also have provided that no school-board employee be disciplined for acts or omissions resulting from failure to implement those IEP sections except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Several senators, including the chair of the subcommittee, said they had \"real reservations\" about a mandate that would require every student with an IEP to have an emergency procedure section. Senator Van Valkenburg said that requirement could defeat the individualized intent of an IEP and create significant burdens for schools. Senator Boisco said the bill was \"a work in progress\" and asked that additional changes be made.

After discussion, the motion to report SB 1126 failed. Senators said they favored additional stakeholder work and revisions to narrow the bill so it would not impose unnecessary or uniform obligations on every IEP.

Ending: The patron and committee members indicated they will continue conversations to refine the language before any future reintroduction.

","Senate Bill 1126, which would have expanded statutory coverage for individualized emergency procedures within individualized education programs (IEPs), failed to report out of committee. Senators raised concerns that the measure, as drafted, would require emergency procedures for every IEP and could create unworkable burdens for schools.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6360682,"Senate panel advances bill expanding diabetes care in Virginia schools, sends training elements for further review",502,7375000,7877000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2174391-841b77eeee8fea4f3434ccfaab85866d&start=7375&end=7877","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2174391-841b77eeee8fea4f3434ccfaab85866d/thumbnail_7375000.jpg","/articles/6360682/Virginia/Senate-panel-advances-bill-expanding-diabetes-care-in-Virginia-schools-sends-training-elements-for-further-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360682-834077bd7844226efa9ce6195f47842f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198372&Signature=KDwO80zZPRvsEydLRz8YPMnV~UUrvjsXuZ-vnyXOS7ahiJRbj~RH7yKFEVK-UnGyQ9OAVl030XamAAqjnUMHRfG0oETqU8YLN9K07VfPgSlYv4nKqrbK9ae~53KQo0ojRkDBYXNqiKWl6dH-4Mv57Fv9DehIkQNvCdrrMKCxqgicHcBl2cb406wHsc9GT4b3Ynj0Ys7Zns7fzYKlz1JgLPcLvXN9nnbsZVfNYUe8CG6k9B7FIONODFc6XtRlfOUZeOT08f3xtH~3ANexuLMGKdE~rLuqIOVnrxK3XYQxQ5x7uLTdNTEit5r1qj2UKwyg9v8jokGHSosKKqChyIxUKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators voted to report Senate Bill 1303 after extensive debate over school implementation, training requirements and parental medical orders.

The bill would require school boards to permit students with diabetes to receive diabetes care and management services in school as specified in a diabetes medical management plan (DMMP) prepared by the student's health care provider and submitted by a parent. It also expands the diabetes-related tasks that designated school employees may provide and requires certain employees to complete training levels (level 1, 2 and 3) aligned with those services. The substitute reported to the full committee added clarifications and asked that the School Health Services Commission review training and implementation details.

Senator McPike, the bill's patron, said the measure addresses situations where medical orders in students' plans were being ignored in practice. He and other supporters stressed the need for life-saving access to medications (including glucagon) and for students to be permitted to use monitoring devices, including cell phones, to support glucose monitoring.

Opponents and some committee members urged caution because the bill alters school operational practices and would require additional education for staff and changes to policies such as cell phone allowances. The committee ultimately recorded the bill as reported after senators agreed that the School Health Services Commission should \"kick the tires\" on implementation details; the committee also noted the expectation of continued work as the measure advances.

The committee vote to report SB 1303 was recorded (Ayes 10, Noes 2, 3 abstentions). The committee recommended continued stakeholder work with Department of Education, Department of Health and school nursing stakeholders.

Ending: Senators asked that the School Health Services Commission and the relevant agencies produce implementation guidance and that stakeholders continue to refine training expectations as the bill proceeds through the legislative process.

","The Senate Education and Health Committee reported SB 1303, which expands duties and training related to diabetes management in public schools, allows designated school staff to provide care under a student's diabetes medical management plan, and prompted the committee to refer training implementation questions to the School Health Services body.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Virginia senators split on food labeling bills after weeks of debate over religious and allergy notices

Senate committee splits on bill to convert appointed school boards to elected bodies; measure fails to advance

Committee declines to report IEP emergency-procedures bill after members question one-size-fits-all approach

Senate panel advances bill expanding diabetes care in Virginia schools, sends training elements for further review