Virginia 2023 Regular Session All Bills
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1262
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
1/27/23
Engrossed
1/31/23
Refer
2/10/23
Report Pass
2/14/23
Engrossed
2/17/23
Engrossed
2/20/23
Enrolled
2/23/23
Chaptered
3/21/23
Passed
3/21/23
Rappahannock River Basin Commission; membership. Updates the legislative membership for the Rappahannock River Basin Commission to reflect changes to state legislative districts following redistricting in 2021, which includes (i) removing two members of the Senate to reflect the changed number of Senatorial Districts eligible for representation on the Commission, thus reducing the total membership from 32 members to 30 members and (ii) decreasing a quorum from 11 members to nine members. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2024. Rappahannock River Basin Commission; membership. Updates the legislative membership for the Rappahannock River Basin Commission to reflect changes to state legislative districts following redistricting in 2021, which includes (i) removing two members of the Senate to reflect the changed number of Senatorial Districts eligible for representation on the Commission, thus reducing the total membership from 32 members to 30 members and (ii) decreasing a quorum from 11 members to nine members. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2024.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1263
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
1/25/23
Engrossed
1/30/23
Refer
2/10/23
Report Pass
2/14/23
Enrolled
2/22/23
Chaptered
3/23/23
Passed
3/23/23
Uniform Statewide Building Code; stop work orders; appeals of State Building Code Technical Review Board decisions; recovery of costs. Defines stop work orders for the purposes of the Uniform Statewide Building Code. The bill provides that if, during an appeal pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Process Act of the State Building Code Technical Review Board's decision with respect to the issuance of a stop work order by a local building official, the court finds in favor of the party that was issued the stop work order, such party shall be entitled to recover its actual costs of litigation, including court costs, attorney fees, and witness fees, from the locality responsible for issuing the stop work order. The bill contains technical amendments.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1264
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
2/1/23
Engrossed
2/6/23
Refer
2/10/23
Report Pass
2/20/23
Engrossed
2/23/23
Engrossed
2/23/23
Enrolled
3/7/23
Chaptered
3/26/23
Passed
3/26/23
Notifications in juvenile cases; exception to confidentiality. Provides that whenever an intake officer proceeds informally against a juvenile, the Department of Juvenile Justice or a local court service unit may disclose only such information as necessary to enforce any provision of the diversion program to any law-enforcement officer, school principal where such juvenile attends school, or known victim. The bill also provides that a local court service unit may provide information regarding the availability and ordering of a protective order and restitution and dispositional information to the victim in the case. Notifications in juvenile cases; exception to confidentiality. Provides that whenever an intake officer proceeds informally against a juvenile, the Department of Juvenile Justice or a local court service unit may disclose only such information as necessary to enforce any provision of the diversion program to any law-enforcement officer, school principal where such juvenile attends school, or known victim. The bill also provides that a local court service unit may provide information regarding the availability and ordering of a protective order and restitution and dispositional information to the victim in the case.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1265
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
1/30/23
Engrossed
2/6/23
Refer
2/9/23
Report Pass
2/16/23
Engrossed
2/21/23
Engrossed
2/21/23
Engrossed
2/25/23
Engrossed
2/25/23
Enrolled
3/7/23
Chaptered
4/12/23
Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act. Authorizes Dominion Energy Virginia, on or before July 1, 2024, to petition the State Corporation Commission (the Commission) for a financing order for deferred fuel costs. The bill sets forth specific transaction terms and other provisions related to the financing order. Before granting a financing order, the Commission is required to find that (i) the proposed issuance of deferred fuel cost bonds is in the public interest and the associated deferred fuel cost charges are just and reasonable and (ii) the structuring and pricing of the deferred fuel cost bonds are reasonably expected to result in reasonable deferred fuel cost charges consistent with market conditions at the time the deferred fuel cost bonds are priced and the terms set forth in such financing order. The bill requires the financing order to include, among other things: (a) the amount of deferred fuel costs to be financed using deferred fuel cost bonds; (b) a requirement that deferred fuel cost charges authorized under a financing order are non-bypassable and paid by all retail customers of the electric utility, irrespective of the generation supplier of such customer, except for certain exempt customers; (c) a formula-based true-up mechanism for making annual adjustments to the deferred fuel cost charges; and (d) a method of tracing funds collected as deferred fuel cost charges. The bill requires the utility to permit certain retail customers to opt out of financing the customer's pro rata obligation for the deferred fuel cost charges through deferred fuel cost bonds. Under the bill, the financing order is irrevocable. Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act. Authorizes Dominion Energy Virginia, on or before July 1, 2024, to petition the State Corporation Commission (the Commission) for a financing order for deferred fuel costs. The bill sets forth specific transaction terms and other provisions related to the financing order. Before granting a financing order, the Commission is required to find that (i) the proposed issuance of deferred fuel cost bonds is in the public interest and the associated deferred fuel cost charges are just and reasonable and (ii) the structuring and pricing of the deferred fuel cost bonds are reasonably expected to result in reasonable deferred fuel cost charges consistent with market conditions at the time the deferred fuel cost bonds are priced and the terms set forth in such financing order. The bill requires the financing order to include, among other things: (a) the amount of deferred fuel costs to be financed using deferred fuel cost bonds; (b) a requirement that deferred fuel cost charges authorized under a financing order are non-bypassable and paid by all retail customers of the electric utility, irrespective of the generation supplier of such customer, except for certain exempt customers; (c) a formula-based true-up mechanism for making annual adjustments to the deferred fuel cost charges; and (d) a method of tracing funds collected as deferred fuel cost charges. The bill requires the utility to permit certain retail customers to opt out of financing the customer's pro rata obligation for the deferred fuel cost charges through deferred fuel cost bonds. Under the bill, the financing order is irrevocable. The bill creates the deferred fuel cost charge and provides that the revenues generated by this charge, known as deferred fuel cost property, is a property right that can be transferred and pledged as security for the deferred fuel cost bonds. The bill establishes the procedures for creating, perfecting, and enforcing the security interest in deferred fuel cost property. The bill includes a state non-impairment obligation. Under the bill if the deferred fuel cost bonds are issued, the Commonwealth and its agencies, including the Commission, agree not to take any action that would limit or alter the deferred fuel cost charges until the deferred fuel cost bonds have been paid and performed in full. The bill makes various changes to procedures under which the Commission reviews the earnings and sets the rates of investor-owned incumbent electric utilities. The bill provides that, in lieu of the triennial review proceedings required under current law, Dominion Energy Virginia, beginning in 2023, will be subject to biennial reviews of their rates, terms, and conditions for generation, distribution, and transmission services. The bill requires that if, during a biennial review filed on or before December 31, 2023, the Commission determines that the utility has earned more than 70 basis points above its fair combined rate of return on its generation and distribution services, the Commission will direct that 85 percent of the amount of such overearnings be credited to customers' bills. For a biennial review filed after December 31, 2023, the bill requires that if the Commission determines that the utility has earned above its fair combined rate of return on its generation and distribution services, the Commission will direct that 85 percent of the amount of such overearnings be credited to customers' bills and that all of any such overearnings that were more than 150 basis points above the utility's fair combined rate of return on its generation and distribution services be credited to customers' bills. The bill requires that the Commission, in determining a fair rate of return on common equity for an investor-owned electric utility in any biennial review initiated prior to December 31, 2023, set such rate at 9.70 percent, which is based on the simple average of the authorized returns for vertically integrated electric utilities by the applicable regulatory commissions in the peer group jurisdictions of Florida, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, West Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina. The bill provides that for any review after December 31, 2023, the Commission may use any methodology to determine such return it finds consistent with the public interest. The bill provides that the Commission may increase or decrease an electric utility's combined rate of return for generation and distribution services by up to 50 basis points based on factors that may include reliability, generating plant performance, customer service, operating efficiency of a utility, and load forecasting. The bill requires the Commission, before December 31, 2023, to direct the initiation of a proceeding to review and determine the appropriate protocols and standards applicable to implementing any such performance-based adjustments. The bill provides that in any proceeding to establish base rates for Appalachian Electric Power or Dominion Energy Virginia conducted by the Commission, if the Commission determines in its sole discretion that the utility's existing base rates will, on a going-forward basis, either produce (1) revenues in excess of the utility's authorized rate of return or (2) revenues below the utility's authorized rate of return, then the Commission is required to order any reductions or increases, as applicable and necessary, to such base rates that it deems appropriate to ensure the resulting base rates (A) are just and reasonable and (B) provide the utility an opportunity to recover its costs of providing services over the rate period and earn a fair rate of return. The bill requires Dominion Energy Virginia, in its 2023 biennial review, to combine certain rate adjustment clauses having a combined annual revenue requirement of at least $350 million with the utility's base rates. The bill provides that the combination of such rate adjustment clauses is subject to audit by the Commission in the utility's 2023 biennial review filing. The bill authorizes the Commission to, in its discretion, direct the consolidation of any previously implemented rate adjustment clauses in the interest of judicial economy, customer transparency, or other factors the Commission determines to be appropriate. The bill requires the Commission to include in its report to the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation and the Governor any information concerning the reliability impacts of generation unit additions and retirement determinations by Appalachian Power and Dominion Energy Virginia, along with the potential impact on the purchase of power from generation assets outside the Virginia jurisdiction used to serve the utility's native load. The bill requires Dominion Energy Virginia, through December 31, 2024, to undertake reasonable efforts to maintain, subject to audit by the Commission, its common equity capitalization to total capitalization ratio at a level equal to 52.10 percent.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1266
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
1/30/23
Engrossed
2/2/23
Refer
2/10/23
Public utilities; shared solar; minimum bill. Provides that a customer's net bill for participation in the shared solar program shall not exceed the minimum bill that the State Corporation Commission is required to establish, provides considerations for the Commission in establishing such minimum bill, such as minimizing the costs shifted to nonparticipating customers, and provides that the calculation of a customer's minimum bill shall be based on the kilowatt hours billed by the utility rather than the subscriber's portion of shared solar facility generation. The bill increases the shared solar facility program capacity from 150 megawatts to 700 megawatts with an additional 300 megawatts of capacity to be approved by the Commission upon determining that at least 210 megawatts of the aggregated shared solar capacity in the Commonwealth are subscribed to by low-income customers. Under current law, the Commission is required to approve a program of 150 megawatts with an additional 50 megawatts. The bill requires the Commission's regulations for the shared solar program to allow all jurisdictional and nonjurisdictional customer classes to participate in the program. The bill also directs the Commission to implement through regulation the provisions of the bill within 180 days of enactment and require each utility to file any tariffs, agreements, or forms to implement the provisions of the bill within 60 days of the effective date of such regulations. Public utilities; shared solar; minimum bill. Provides that a customer's net bill for participation in the shared solar program shall not exceed the minimum bill that the State Corporation Commission is required to establish, provides considerations for the Commission in establishing such minimum bill, such as minimizing the costs shifted to nonparticipating customers, and provides that the calculation of a customer's minimum bill shall be based on the kilowatt hours billed by the utility rather than the subscriber's portion of shared solar facility generation. The bill increases the shared solar facility program capacity from 150 megawatts to 700 megawatts with an additional 300 megawatts of capacity to be approved by the Commission upon determining that at least 210 megawatts of the aggregated shared solar capacity in the Commonwealth are subscribed to by low-income customers. Under current law, the Commission is required to approve a program of 150 megawatts with an additional 50 megawatts. The bill requires the Commission's regulations for the shared solar program to allow all jurisdictional and nonjurisdictional customer classes to participate in the program. The bill also directs the Commission to implement through regulation the provisions of the bill within 180 days of enactment and require each utility to file any tariffs, agreements, or forms to implement the provisions of the bill within 60 days of the effective date of such regulations.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1267
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
2/3/23
Engrossed
2/6/23
Refer
2/7/23
Report Pass
2/13/23
Enrolled
2/21/23
Chaptered
3/22/23
Passed
3/22/23
Information to certain defendants; services of community services boards. Requires general district courts, juvenile and domestic relations district courts, and circuit courts, in cases in which a defendant is found not guilty of any offense after a trial at which evidence of the defendant's mental condition at the time of the alleged offense was introduced, to make available to the defendant information regarding services provided by the community services board and how such services may be accessed. The bill requires each community services board to develop, regularly update, and make available to such courts in the same locality information regarding the services provided by the community services board and information about how to access such services.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1268
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
School psychologists; staffing flexibility. Provides that in order to fill vacant school psychologist positions, any local school board may employ, under a provisional license issued by the Department of Education for three school years with an allowance for an additional two-year extension with the approval of the division superintendent, clinical psychologists licensed by the Board of Psychology, provided that any such individual makes progress toward completing the requirements for full licensure as a school psychologist during such period of employment.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1269
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
1/24/23
Engrossed
1/26/23
Refer
2/9/23
Report Pass
2/14/23
Refer
2/14/23
Auxiliary grants; independent community living. Allows the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services to provide auxiliary grants to eligible recipients residing in independent community living, as defined in the bill, under conditions set forth in the bill. The bill directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to, if deemed necessary, amend the state plan for medical assistance services and any waivers thereof to implement the provisions of the bill and limits to no more than 200 the number of auxiliary grant recipients in independent community living. The bill contains a reenactment clause and directs the Commissioner for Aging and Rehabilitative Services to develop and report to the General Assembly an implementation plan for expanding the auxiliary grants program to recipients residing in independent community living. Auxiliary grants; independent community living. Allows the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services to provide auxiliary grants to eligible recipients residing in independent community living, as defined in the bill, under conditions set forth in the bill. The bill directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to, if deemed necessary, amend the state plan for medical assistance services and any waivers thereof to implement the provisions of the bill and limits to no more than 200 the number of auxiliary grant recipients in independent community living. The bill contains a reenactment clause and directs the Commissioner for Aging and Rehabilitative Services to develop and report to the General Assembly an implementation plan for expanding the auxiliary grants program to recipients residing in independent community living.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1270
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
2/3/23
Engrossed
2/6/23
Refer
2/10/23
Report Pass
2/14/23
Engrossed
2/17/23
Engrossed
2/20/23
Enrolled
2/23/23
Chaptered
3/23/23
Passed
3/23/23
Department of Medical Assistance Services; data collection and analysis; claims submitted to managed care organizations; report. Requires the Department of Medical Assistance Services to collect data for each fiscal year from fiscal year 2018 through fiscal year 2022 regarding (i) the number and percentage of claims submitted to managed care organizations that were denied and the reasons for such denials and (ii) the number and percentage of claims submitted to managed care organizations that required resubmission prior to payment and the reasons for such resubmissions and to examine such data and identify barriers that providers encounter when accepting and treating patients enrolled in the state plan for medical assistance services. Under the bill, the Department shall report such data and analysis by November 1, 2023, to the Joint Commission on Health Care and the Joint Subcommittee for Health and Human Resources Oversight. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1271
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
1/31/23
Report Pass
2/2/23
Engrossed
2/6/23
Refer
2/7/23
Report Pass
2/15/23
Engrossed
2/20/23
Engrossed
2/25/23
Engrossed
2/25/23
Enrolled
3/7/23
Chaptered
3/26/23
Passed
3/26/23
Animal testing facilities; public notification. Requires any animal testing facility, contract testing facility, or manufacturer, as defined in the bill, that uses an animal test method to display a link to its annual report (APHIS Form 7023) on the homepage or landing page of the facility's or manufacturer's website on or before December 1 for the preceding federal fiscal year. The bill requires an animal testing facility to make certain inspection reports publicly available by displaying a link to access such reports on the home page or landing page of the animal testing facility's website or, if such animal testing facility does not have a website, making such information available by means of a press release or other similar publication. The bill requires any animal testing facility operated by an institution of higher education that receives a citation for critical noncompliance, as defined in the bill, under the Animal Welfare Act or regulations adopted thereunder to notify the leadership of such institution, including the president, dean, and board of visitors or board of trustees. The provisions of the bill do not apply to any federal facility or privately owned licensed veterinary practice.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1272
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
2/1/23
Engrossed
2/6/23
Refer
2/10/23
Assault and battery; persons diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, or mental illness; penalties. Provides that any person charged with a simple assault and battery offense who has been diagnosed by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist with an autism spectrum disorder, an intellectual disability or developmental disability, or serious mental illness shall not be subject to a mandatory minimum punishment if the court finds that the violation was caused by or had a direct and substantial relationship to the person's disorder or disability. Under current law, certain simple assault and battery offenses carry a mandatory minimum punishment when such offenses are committed against certain groups of people, including judges, law-enforcement officers, first responders, school employees, and health care providers.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1273
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Health insurance; doula care services. Requires health insurers, health care subscription plans, and health maintenance organizations whose policy, contract, or plan includes coverage for obstetrical services to provide coverage for doula care services provided by a state-certified doula. The bill requires such coverage to include coverage for at least eight visits during the antepartum or postpartum period and support during labor and delivery. The bill provides that health insurance carriers are (i) not required to pay for duplicate services actually rendered by both a state-certified doula and another health care provider and (ii) prohibited from requiring supervision, signature, or referral by any other health care provider as a condition of reimbursement for doula care services, except when those requirements are also applicable to other categories of health care providers. The provisions of the bill apply to health benefit plans delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in the Commonwealth on and after January 1, 2024.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1274
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
1/20/23
Report Pass
2/2/23
Engrossed
2/6/23
Refer
2/10/23
Report Pass
2/10/23
Refer
2/10/23
Electronic communication systems within state correctional facilities; free telephone calls and communication services. Requires the Department of Corrections to provide telephone systems and web-based or electronic communications systems free of charge to any person, whether such person is initiating or receiving the communication. Electronic communication systems within state correctional facilities; free telephone calls and communication services. Requires the Department of Corrections to provide telephone systems and web-based or electronic communications systems free of charge to any person, whether such person is initiating or receiving the communication.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1275
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
2/2/23
Engrossed
2/6/23
Refer
2/10/23
Report Pass
2/14/23
Enrolled
2/22/23
Chaptered
3/26/23
Passed
3/26/23
Midwifery; administration of medication. Allows licensed midwives to obtain, possess, and administer drugs and devices within the scope of their practice. The bill requires the Board of Medicine to develop and publish best practice and standards of care guidance for all such drugs. The bill limits the liability of entities that provide or dispense drugs or devices to a licensed midwife and that rely in good faith upon the license information provided by the licensed midwife. Under the bill, completing all Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health patient safety bundles advanced by the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative is required of any licensed midwife who obtains, possesses, and administers drugs and devices within the scope of his practice.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia Senate Bill SB1276
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
1/19/23
Report Pass
1/24/23
Engrossed
1/26/23
Refer
2/10/23
Report Pass
2/17/23
Engrossed
2/22/23
Enrolled
3/7/23
Chaptered
3/24/23
Passed
3/24/23
Autopsies; decedents in the custody of Department of Corrections. Requires, if a decedent is an inmate in the custody of the Department of Corrections, that an autopsy be performed by the Chief Medical Examiner, an Assistant Chief Medical Examiner, or a pathologist with whom the State Health Commissioner has entered into an agreement. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2024.