Bills & Legislation

Higher ed. institutions, baccalaureate public; SCHEV to study $10,000 tuition per year degree.

Study; State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; $10,000 per year baccalaureate degree; report. Requests that the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (i) study the feasibility of implementing the option for students to pay $10,000 annually for tuition and mandatory fees to earn a degree at a baccalaureate public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth by surveying each baccalaureate public institution of higher education to determine the likely impact of such an option on enrollment, revenue, costs, services, staffing, and such other factors as the institution deems relevant and (ii) report its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than November 30, 2024.

Chris S. RunionRepublican

Cannabis; Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to study creation of a retail market.

Study; Virginia Cannabis Control Authority; creation of a retail cannabis market; report. Requests the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to study the creation of a retail cannabis market in the Commonwealth and draft regulations governing the indoor cultivation, processing, manufacturing, testing, packaging, labeling, distribution, sale, and delivery of cannabis. The resolution requires that such regulations include (i) appropriate application and license fees; (ii) reasonable restrictions on cannabis advertising; (iii) restrictions on product size and potency; (iv) transaction limits; (v) comprehensive enforcement mechanisms; (vi) provisions regarding tax collection and revenue allocation; (vii) provisions regarding participation in the retail marijuana market by persons in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities; and (viii) any other restrictions or requirements necessary to protect public health and safety, prevent diversion, and enforce regulated sales. The resolution requires the Authority to include certain persons in its study and to submit its executive summaries and reports to the General Assembly by the first day of the 2026 Session of the General Assembly.

Terry G. KilgoreRepublican

Localities hosting data center infrastructure; DHCD to study revenue sharing program.

Study; Department of Housing and Community Development; revenue sharing program for localities hosting data center infrastructure; report. Directs the Department of Housing and Community Development to study creating a revenue sharing program for localities hosting data center infrastructure for data centers located in other localities.

Michael J. WebertRepublican

Roads maintained/managed by VDOT & localities; JLARC to study rate of accidents that cause fatality.

Study; JLARC; rate of accidents that cause fatalities on roads maintained and managed by the Virginia Department of Transportation and localities; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the rate of accidents that cause fatalities on roads maintained and managed by the Virginia Department of Transportation and roads maintained and managed by localities.

Irene ShinDemocrat

Fair school funding reform; joint committee of various House and Senate committees to study.

Study; joint committee of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health to study fair school funding reform; report. Establishes a joint committee consisting of five members of the House Committee on Education and three members of the Senate Committee on Education and Health to study fair school funding reform by, among other things, utilizing the recommendations from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission in its July 2023 report, "Virginia's K-12 Funding Formula," and any stakeholder input and feedback received by the joint committee to produce and submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Services by the first day of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly an executive summary of its findings and recommendations.

Shelly A. SimondsDemocrat

State park; DCR to study feasibility of establishing in Washington County.

Study; Department of Conservation and Recreation; state park in Washington County; report. Requests the Department of Conservation and Recreation to study the feasibility of establishing a state park in Washington County at the Mendota Trail and Abrams Falls located within the Holston River Watersheds.

Israel D. O'QuinnRepublican

Early childhood care and education; publicly funded providers.

Early childhood care and education; publicly funded providers. Provides that any locality wishing to participate in the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) must submit a proposal by May 15 of each year identifying a lead VPI agency responsible for developing a local plan for the delivery of preschool services to at-risk children. A local match based on the composite index of local ability to pay is required to fund such a proposal. The proposal must include the number of at-risk four-year-olds and three-year-olds to be served and eligibility criteria for participation. Upon acceptance, the Department will disburse state VPI funds to the lead VPI agency in such localities, which may be used with local matching funds to provide preschool education, health services, social services, parental involvement services, and transportation. The Department must establish academic standards for VPI programs that prepare students to successfully enter kindergarten. Full day VPI programs must operate for a minimum of five and a half instructional hours per day, while half day VPI programs operate for a minimum of three instructional hours per day. The bill requires the Department of Education to collect information from VPI and the Mixed Delivery Grant Program to compile a comprehensive report on the use of state funds, including the number of slots and funding allocated to each local program or provider and the number of slots that have been filled. The bill codifies the Child Care Subsidy Program, which is currently established pursuant to regulations of the Board of Education, for the purpose of assisting families who meet certain eligibility criteria with the cost of child care provided by approved vendors. The bill requires the Child Care Subsidy Program to be overseen by the Department of Education and permits the Department to contract with state and local agencies to administer the Program. The bill requires the Department and Board of Education, as applicable, to establish rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and standards for the Program. The bill also codifies the Mixed Delivery Grant Program, which is currently established pursuant to the general appropriation act, for the purpose of awarding grants on a competitive basis to local public entities that enter into partnerships with local private early childhood care and education entities and other community organizations, as applicable, to provide, under the direction and leadership of a lead agency identified in the grant proposal, high-quality care and education, either part time or full time, for at-risk infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children who reside in the locality. The bill requires the Mixed Delivery Grant Program to be administered by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation in partnership with the Department of Education and, consistent with any provisions relating to the Program in the general appropriation act, requires the Foundation and the Department to establish policies, procedures, and standards for the Program.

Debra D. GardnerDemocrat

School boards; placement in alternative education programs, disclosure of certain information.

School boards; placement in alternative education programs; disclosure of certain information in delinquency cases. Requires the clerk of any court in which a disposition is entered or deferred in any proceeding where a student is charged with an offense that, pursuant to relevant law, is required to be disclosed to the superintendent of the school division in which the student is enrolled to, upon request of any such division superintendent, provide additional information that may be relevant to such student's placement in an alternative education program, including the circumstances surrounding the disposition or deferred disposition and any conditions ordered in relation to a deferred disposition. If the student is not enrolled in school at the time the disposition is entered or deferred, the clerk is required to send the additional information to the division superintendent of the school in which he was enrolled at the time of the offense, upon request of such division superintendent.

Paul V. MildeRepublican

Veterinary medicine; exceptions for care of animals injured in line of duty.

Department of Health Professions; veterinary medicine; exceptions for care of animals injured in line of duty. Provides an exception to the unauthorized practice of veterinary medicine for any law-enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency medical services personnel who provides emergency treatment to any animal in his care that is injured in the line of duty.

James A. "Jay" LeftwichRepublican

Human Resource Management, Department of; disclosure of certain information.

Department of Human Resource Management; disclosure of certain information. Requires the Department of Human Resource Management to provide any recognized public employee association, upon the request of such association, a list containing the name and work address of each current state employee. The bill requires such association to ensure that the information contained in such list remains confidential and prohibits any mailing sent by such association to a state employee from containing (i) political or partisan content, (ii) commercial advertising, or (iii) the personal information of any state employee.

Joshua G. ColeDemocrat

Virginia Retirement System; return to work for law-enforcement officers.

Virginia Retirement System; return to work for law-enforcement officers. Allows a retired law-enforcement officer to return to work full time as a law-enforcement officer and continue to receive his pension under the Virginia Retirement System. Such person shall be required to have a break in service of at least six calendar months before reemployment. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025.

Michael J. JonesDemocrat

Dam Safety, Flood Prevention, and Protection Assistance Fund; percentage of funds available.

Dam Safety, Flood Prevention, and Protection Assistance Fund; percentage of funds available; owner match requirements.

Amy J. LauferDemocrat

Prisoners; Department of Corrections- and jailer-issued identification.

Prisoners; Department of Corrections-issued and jailer-issued identification. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall establish a procedure for securing a government-issued identification card, birth certificate, or Social Security card through the Department of Motor Vehicles and that the Department of Motor Vehicles shall expedite the processing of an application submitted by a prisoner for such government-issued identification card and the issuance of such identification. The bill also requires the Department of Corrections, in coordination with the State Board of Local and Regional Jails, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and the State Registrar of Vital Records, to (i) review the processes involved in assisting a prisoner in applying for and obtaining a government-issued identification card, birth certificate, or Social Security card; (ii) identify any obstacles that may interfere with a prisoner obtaining such identification or documents prior to such prisoner's release or discharge; and (iii) issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2024.

Rae CousinsDemocrat

Estate tax; reinstates tax for persons dying on and after July 1, 2024.

Reinstatement of the estate tax. Reinstates the estate tax for persons dying on and after July 1, 2024. The bill provides that no estate tax shall be imposed on a gross estate if the majority of the assets of the estate are an interest in a closely held business or a working farm. The bill designates revenues from the estate tax to be used for early childhood care and education purposes.

Elizabeth B. Bennett-ParkerDemocrat

Firearms; valid permit to purchase, penalties.

Firearm purchases; permit to purchase a firearm required; penalties. Requires any person purchasing a firearm from a firearms dealer to present a valid permit issued by the Department of State Police that allows the holder to purchase a firearm. The bill prohibits a firearms dealer from selling, renting, trading, or transferring from his inventory any firearm to any person until he has received such permit. The bill sets forth the procedures to apply for the permit and prohibits the permitting of any person who (i) is younger than 21 years of age; (ii) is prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm; (iii) within the two years prior to the date of application, has been convicted of any offense against a person that is an act of violence, force, or threat or a firearm-related offense that is punished as a Class 1 misdemeanor; (iv) is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; (v) within the two years prior to the date of application, has not completed a firearms safety or training course or class offered to the public by a law-enforcement agency, institution of higher education, or private or public institution or organization or by a firearms training school utilizing instructors certified or approved by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, and with a required curriculum, detailed in the bill; or (vi) for whom it would not be in the interest of the public health, safety, or welfare of the Commonwealth as determined by the Department of State Police for the person to obtain a permit because the person is found to be lacking in essential character or temperament necessary to be entrusted with a firearm. The bill provides that such permit is valid for five years from the date of issuance. The bill details reasons for revocation of a permit and provides that any person who fails to return a revoked permit to the Superintendent of State Police within five days' notice of revocation is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also states that any person who willfully and intentionally makes a materially false statement on the application form for a permit is guilty of a Class 5 felony.

Patrick A. HopeDemocrat

Mattaponi Indian Tribe; DOF to convey tracts of land in Sandy Point State Forest to the Tribe.

Land grant; Sandy Point; Mattaponi Indian Tribe. Authorizes the Department of Forestry to grant and convey tracts of land within Sandy Point State Forest in King William County south of and including Brooks Creek to the Mattaponi Indian Tribe. The bill also authorizes the Department to grant and convey other tracts of land within Sandy Point State Forest as the Department deems suitable, provided that prior to such conveyance, the Department may enter into discussions with the Tribe, localities, and relevant stakeholders to determine how such tracts of land may be used for the benefit of the public.

M. Keith HodgesRepublican

Juvenile detention specialists; enhanced retirement benefits.

Pensions; enhanced retirement benefits for juvenile detention specialists. Requires each political subdivision participating in the Virginia Retirement System and each county or city participating in the Virginia Retirement System to provide retirement benefits comparable to the benefits provided to state police officers to juvenile detention specialists.

Bill WileyRepublican

New College Institute; duties.

New College Institute; duties. Requires the New College Institute to design and implement, in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Industry, the Virginia Community College System, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the Virginia Board of Workforce Development, and other relevant agencies and organizations, any workforce development programs necessary to support the initiatives of any relevant agency or office of the Commonwealth, including adult education and workforce training programs. The bill contains a reenactment clause.

Eric PhillipsRepublican

Real property tax; assessment of real property used for affordable housing.

Real property tax; assessment of real property used for affordable housing. Requires the duly authorized real estate assessor of a locality to appraise affordable rental housing in accordance with the income approach, as described by the bill. The bill provides that, should the duly authorized real estate assessor fail to follow generally accepted appraisal practices, the assessment will not be entitled to a presumption of correctness, and if the owner then successfully appeals such assessment, the locality shall reimburse the owner for attorney fees and costs incurred.

Carrie E. CoynerRepublican

DGS, et al.; review of procurement process, employment services organizations.

Department of General Services; Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services; review of procurement process; employment services organizations. Directs the Department of General Services, in cooperation with the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, to perform a comprehensive review of the process for procuring goods and services from employment services organizations. The bill provides that such review shall examine the current process for procurement, potential set-asides or percentage goals, and whether employment services organizations should be housed alongside small, women-owned, or minority-owned businesses within the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity.

Amy J. LauferDemocrat

Income tax, state; deduction for union dues.

Income tax deduction; union dues. Provides an income tax deduction beginning in taxable year 2024 for the amount paid by an individual for union dues for participation in a labor organization.

Karen Keys-GamarraDemocrat

Health professions; universal licensure, requirements.

Health professions; universal licensure; requirements. Requires health regulatory boards within the Department of Health Professions to recognize licenses or certifications issued by other United States jurisdictions, as defined in the bill, as fulfillment for licensure or certification in the Commonwealth if certain conditions are met. The bill also requires such health regulatory boards to recognize work experience as fulfillment for licensure or certification in the Commonwealth if certain conditions are met. The bill does not apply to licensure for physicians or dentists.

Marcia S. "Cia" PriceDemocrat

Grandparent; petition for visitation.

Visitation; petition of grandparent. Removes the provision providing that, in any case or proceeding in which a grandparent has petitioned the court for visitation with a minor grandchild, and a natural or adoptive parent of the minor grandchild is deceased or incapacitated, the grandparent who is related to such deceased or incapacitated parent shall be permitted to introduce evidence of such parent's consent to visitation with the grandparent, in accordance with the rules of evidence and that, if the parent's consent is proven by a preponderance of the evidence, the court may then determine if grandparent visitation is in the best interest of the minor grandchild.

Nicholas J. FreitasRepublican

Absentee voting in person; voter satellite offices, days and hours of operation.

Absentee voting in person; voter satellite offices; days and hours of operation. Authorizes the governing body of any county or city establishing voter satellite offices for absentee voting in person to prescribe, by ordinance, the dates and hours of operation for such offices. The bill prohibits any reduction in the dates or hours of operation of such offices to be enacted within 60 days of any general election.

Atoosa R. ReaserDemocrat

Trauma-informed training and education; work group to study.

Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia; work group to study trauma-informed training and education; report. Directs the Office of the Executive Secretary to convene a work group to make recommendations on the development, adoption, and implementation of trauma-informed training and education for judges, magistrates, and court personnel. The bill requires the work group to submit its recommendations by December 1, 2024, to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice.

Rae CousinsDemocrat

Length of Stay Guidelines & Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center; DJJ's work group to study, report.

Department of Juvenile Justice; work group to study Length of Stay Guidelines and Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center; report. Directs the Department of Juvenile Justice to convene a work group to study issues related to the Department's Length of Stay Guidelines and the Department's direct care capacity in response to the Department's report on the 2023 Length of Stay Guidelines. The work group is directed to study (i) the evidence and research relied upon by the Department as identified in the Department's report, including adjusting for changes in risk profiles for committed juveniles over time; (ii) best practices on staffing ratios, the current actual staffing ratios at Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center (BAJCC), and the projected population forecast; (iii) the ability of BAJCC to operate the community treatment model without single coverage on units and maintain consistent staffing on each residential unit and unit population not to exceed 14 residents; (iv) the ability of BAJCC to maintain all therapeutic, vocational, and educational programming; (v) a detailed comparison of youth by age, risk level, and offense level and their projected length of stay under the 2015 Length of Stay Guidelines and the 2023 Length of Stay Guidelines; (vi) trends in determinate commitments, including the percentage of such commitments in circuit court and with an active Department of Corrections sentence; and (vii) how the Department will maintain current programming and the continuum of services for youth when direct care capacity exceeds actual capacity. The work group is also directed to study the rates of serious incidents and contributing factors at BAJCC since January 2022. The bill requires the work group to submit a report with its recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee for Courts of Justice and the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice by November 1, 2024. Such report shall include evidence or research relating to the 2023 changes to the Length of Stay Guidelines and whether such evidence or research supports the changes.

Rae CousinsDemocrat

Film and television industry; apprenticeship program.

Apprenticeship program; film and television industry. Requires the Director of Workforce Development and Advancement to establish a program to promote apprenticeships in the film and television industry. The Director may provide financial incentives to employers who hire and retain an apprentice in the film and television industry for at least six months. In consultation with the Virginia Film Office, the Director shall establish guidelines and criteria for the program.

Rae CousinsDemocrat

Pharmacy technician profession; Board of Pharmacy to review framework.

Board of Pharmacy; pharmacy technician profession; work group; report. Requires the Board of Pharmacy to convene a work group of relevant stakeholders to review and make recommendations related to the regulatory framework for the pharmacy technician profession, educational barriers to the pharmacy technician profession, compensation of pharmacy technicians, and the educational requirements of pharmacy technicians. The bill requires the Board to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Health and Human Services and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by November 1, 2024. The bill also requires the Board to promulgate emergency regulations within 280 days of the work group's completion based on the work group's recommendations.

Rodney T. WillettDemocrat

Virginia Institute of Marine Science; review the cumulative surface water intake effects.

Virginia Institute of Marine Science; review the cumulative surface water intake effects on aquatic fauna in the Chesapeake Bay; report. Directs the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) to review the feasibility of studying cumulative impacts of surface water intakes on aquatic fauna and water quality in Virginia's rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. VIMS is required to report whether the study may be conducted and, if so, report the total amount of funding necessary to conduct the study to the Governor by October 1, 2024.

Hillary Pugh KentRepublican

Mobile machinery and equipment; tax credit for purchase.

Tax credit for purchase of mobile machinery and equipment used by road contractors for processing recyclable asphalt materials on pavements and roadways. Creates a nonrefundable tax credit for taxable years 2025 through 2029 in an amount equal to 20 percent of the purchase price paid, as defined in the bill, during the taxable year for machinery and equipment used to reclaim, recycle, or reprocess existing asphalt materials from pavements and roadways. The bill requires a taxpayer to submit invoices with an income tax return verifying the amount of purchase price paid for such machinery and equipment. The bill provides a $3 million aggregate annual cap on the number of credits to be distributed, as administered by the Department of Taxation. Any credit not used for the taxable year in which the purchasing price for recycling machinery was paid may be carried over for the next 10 years until the total credit amount is used.

Alfonso H. LopezDemocrat

Retail Sales and Use Tax; exemption for certain baby products.

Sales tax exemption; certain baby products.

Candi Mundon KingDemocrat

JLARC; Department of Human Resource Management's Grievance Procedure Manual, report.

JLARC; Department of Human Resource Management; Grievance Procedure Manual; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to conduct a review of the Department of Human Resource Management's Grievance Procedure Manual as it relates to the Department of Corrections and Department of Juvenile Justice. The bill requires that JLARC evaluate the effectiveness of such procedures and report its findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology and the House Committee on General Laws by November 1, 2024.

Debra D. GardnerDemocrat

Data centers; sales and use tax exemption for certain equipment or enabling software.

Sales and use tax; exemption for data centers.

Vivian E. WattsDemocrat

Health insurance; cost-sharing, pharmacy benefits managers' compensation and duties, civil penalty.

Health insurance; cost-sharing; pharmacy benefits managers' compensation and duties: civil penalty. Amends provisions related to rebates provided by carriers and health benefit plans to health plan enrollees by defining "defined cost-sharing," "price protection rebates," and "pharmacy benefits management services." The bill requires that an enrollee's defined cost-sharing for each prescription drug be calculated at the point of sale based on a price that is reduced by an amount equal to at least 80 percent of all rebates received or expected to be received in connection with the dispensing or administration of the prescription drug. The bill prohibits a pharmacy benefits manager from deriving income from pharmacy benefits management services provided to a carrier or health benefit plan except for income derived from a pharmacy benefits management fee. The bill requires the amount of any pharmacy benefits management fees to be set forth in the agreement between the pharmacy benefits manager and the carrier or health benefit plan and that such fee not be based on the acquisition cost or any other price metric of a drug; the amount of savings, rebates, or other fees charged, realized, or collected by or generated based on the activity of the pharmacy benefits manager; or the amount of premiums, deductibles, or other cost-sharing or fees charged, realized, or collected by the pharmacy benefits manager from enrollees or other persons on behalf of an enrollee. The bill requires a pharmacy benefits manager to annually certify to the State Corporation Commission that it has met certain requirements. The bill establishes a pharmacy benefits manager duty, which includes the duties of care and good faith and fair dealing, owed to any enrollee, provider, or health benefit plan that receives pharmacy benefits management services from the pharmacy benefits manager or that furnishes, covers, receives, or is administered a unit of a prescription drug for which the pharmacy benefits manager has provided pharmacy benefits management services. The bill requires the Commission to define by regulation the scope of such duty and provides for a private cause of action for any person aggrieved by the breach of such duty.

Israel D. O'QuinnRepublican

Firefighters and emergency medical services personnel; recruitment and professional development.

Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security; work group to study recruitment and professional development of firefighters and emergency medical services personnel; report. Requires the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, to convene a work group to (i) study the recruitment and professional development of firefighters and emergency medical services personnel, (ii) make recommendations to ensure the uniformity of training for firefighters and emergency medical services personnel, and (iii) examine whether the state regulation of firefighters and emergency medical services personnel should be consolidated under a single secretariat and if a new secretariat should be created to oversee such regulation. The bill requires the work group to submit a report to the relevant General Assembly committees by November 1, 2024.

Amanda E. BattenRepublican

Public education; dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment, high school graduation.

Public education; dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment; high school graduation. Makes several changes relating to graduation from a public high school in the Commonwealth, including (i) eliminating the requirement for a student to complete one virtual course in order to graduate from high school and (ii) specifying that various options and requirements relating to earning career and technical education credentials for the purpose of satisfying high school graduation requirements are required to be high-demand career and technical education credentials. The bill also defines and thereby distinguishes the concepts of dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment in the context of high school students' participation in college-level coursework and requires the agreements for postsecondary attainment between school boards and comprehensive community colleges to specify the credit available for dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment courses.

Amanda E. BattenRepublican

Vegetative growth on certain property; maintenance.

Maintenance of vegetative growth on certain property. Provides that a locality may require the owner of property that (i) was formerly used as a golf course but where such use has been discontinued and (ii) abuts an area zoned for residential purposes to maintain the vegetative growth on the former golf course property in a manner that (a) prevents such property from becoming a detriment to the health, safety, or welfare of the residents of the abutting residential area and (b) does not change the character of the former golf course property so as to be incompatible with the surrounding residential area. The bill further provides that whenever the locality deems it necessary, after reasonable notice as determined by the locality, the locality may have its agents or employees cut or maintain the vegetative growth, in which event the cost and expenses thereof shall be chargeable to and paid by the owner of such property and may be collected by the locality as taxes are collected. An enactment clause states that the provisions of the bill are declarative of existing law.

Barry D. KnightRepublican

Nursing homes; application requirements.

Nursing homes; application requirements. Requires all applicants for a nursing home license to complete and submit an application on a form approved by the Department of Health. Under the bill, the applicant is required to provide certain information in the application form, including information on (i) ownership interests in nursing homes, (ii) pending litigation, (iii) real property related to the nursing home, (iv) secured notes, (v) the financial history of persons mentioned in the application, and (v) contact information for certain persons. The bill requires the Department of Health to publish written notice of all applications for nursing home licensure on its website, including a copy of the application form completed by the applicant and information about the public input and comment process. Under the bill, all applications for nursing home licensure are subject to a 30-day public comment period. The bill allows individuals to request a public hearing on an applicant's suitability for nursing home licensure. The bill sets forth the factors that the Department of Health is required to consider in determining whether to approve or deny an application to operate a nursing home.

Rodney T. WillettDemocrat

Southwest Regional Recreation Authority; powers.

Southwest Regional Recreation Authority; powers. Provides for the Attorney General to provide legal services in civil matters upon the request of the executive director or board of directors of the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority. The bill also provides for the board of the Authority to adopt policies for the procurement of goods and services and requires such policies to incorporate certain provisions of the Virginia Public Procurement Act. In addition, the bill (i) makes the provisions of the Virginia Personnel Act and the policies of the Department of Human Resource Management applicable to employees of the Authority, (ii) authorizes the Director of the Department of General Services to lease vehicles and construction and forestry equipment to the Authority, and (iii) authorizes the Commissioner of Highways to lease construction or forestry vehicles to the Authority.

James W. MorefieldRepublican

Family caregiver; creates a nonrefundable income tax credit for taxable years 2024 through 2028.

Family caregiver tax credit. Creates a nonrefundable income tax credit for taxable years 2024 through 2028 for expenses incurred by an individual in caring for an eligible family member, defined in the bill, who requires assistance with one or more activities of daily living, also defined in the bill. The credit equals 50 percent of eligible expenditures incurred by the caregiver up to $1,000. In order to qualify for the credit, the family caregiver must (i) not receive any compensation or reimbursement for the eligible expenditures and (ii) have federal adjusted gross income that is no greater than $100,000 for an individual or $200,000 for married persons. The bill requires the Tax Commissioner to establish guidelines for claiming the credit and provides that any unused credit may be carried forward by the taxpayer for five taxable years following the taxable year for which the credit was issued.

Sam RasoulDemocrat

Public elementary schools; incorporation of career & technical education into curricula.

Virginia Advisory Committee for Career and Technical Education; recommendations, guidelines, and best practices for incorporation of career and technical education into public elementary school curricula; report. Requires the Virginia Advisory Committee for Career and Technical Education established by the Board of Education to develop and submit to the Board of Education, the Governor, and the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2024, recommendations, guidelines, and best practices for the incorporation of career and technical education into public elementary school curricula.

Delores OatesRepublican

Uniform Statewide Building Code; amending Code, local building officials.

Board of Housing and Community Development; Uniform Statewide Building Code; local building officials. Requires the Board of Housing and Community Development to amend the Uniform Statewide Building Code and corresponding regulations to remove any authority for local building departments to appoint local building officials for permanent terms. The bill requires the Board to require local building departments to appoint such officials for a term not to exceed 10 years and to only reappoint such officials after holding a performance evaluation.

Delores OatesRepublican

Unfunded mandates; delay of implementation.

Unfunded mandates; delay of implementation. Allows a county, city, or town, in its discretion, to delay implementing an unfunded mandate until the next fiscal year after the fiscal year in which any unfunded mandate became effective. The locality shall do so by ordinance that states with specificity the unfunded mandate that the locality seeks to delay implementing and the date on which the unfunded mandate shall become effective after the delay. The bill defines "unfunded mandate" as an act that imposes on a locality the responsibility of providing funding for new programs or increased levels of service under existing programs and for which the Commonwealth does not provide sufficient funding to cover the required costs of such new programs or increased services, whether by appropriation or other means.

Delores OatesRepublican

Housing opportunity; increases tax credit.

Housing opportunity tax credit. Increases, for calendar years 2023 through 2025, the amount of housing opportunity tax credits that may be claimed from $60 million per calendar year to $100 million per calendar year.

Joshua E. ThomasDemocrat

Virginia Public Procurement Act; adds to definition of professional services.

Virginia Public Procurement Act; professional services; definition. Adds to the definition of "professional services," for use throughout the Virginia Public Procurement Act, services of an investment and financial advisor procured by the Department of the Treasury.

Bill WileyRepublican

Online educational courses; DOC to establish, etc., an educational program for prisoners.

Department of Corrections; online educational courses. Requires the Director of the Department of Corrections to establish, develop, and implement an educational program with the Online Virginia Network Authority for the purposes of providing a means for prisoners to earn degrees and postsecondary education credentials through accessing online degree and credential programs that are offered by George Mason University, Old Dominion University, James Madison University, and comprehensive community colleges.

Betsy B. CarrDemocrat

Affordable housing; City of Richmond has authority to provide.

Affordable housing; City of Richmond. Adds the City of Richmond to the list of localities with authority to provide for an affordable housing dwelling unit program.

Betsy B. CarrDemocrat

Faith in Housing for the Commonwealth Act; construction of affordable housing.

Faith in Housing for the Commonwealth Act. Permits a religious organization, defined in the bill, to construct affordable housing on real estate owned by such religious organization (i) on or before January 1, 2024, or for a period of not less than five years, and (ii) for which the religious organization retains a majority ownership interest.

Betsy B. CarrDemocrat