Virginia 2023 Regular Session All Bills
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB1758
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
1/24/23
Refer
1/24/23
Department of Regulatory Innovation; Virginia Regulatory Sandbox Program; created. Creates the Department of Regulatory Innovation to oversee the Virginia Regulatory Sandbox Program, also created by the bill, which allows an individual or business to demonstrate a product, production method, or service under a waiver or suspension of one or more state laws or regulations. The bill sets out the process by which an individual or business may apply for participation in the Program, the role of the Department in reviewing such applications for approval or denial, and the requirements for participation in the Program, including provisions related to consumer protection.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB1759
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
1/31/23
Refer
1/31/23
Report Pass
2/3/23
Engrossed
2/6/23
Refer
2/8/23
Report Pass
2/17/23
Enrolled
2/24/23
Chaptered
3/23/23
Passed
3/23/23
Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services; workgroup; statewide strategic plan; report. Directs the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services to convene a workgroup to study and develop recommendations for implementing a statewide strategic plan to guide legislation to make Virginia the best state for veterans. The Commissioner or his designee shall serve as chairman and be responsible for conducting the meetings of the workgroup, developing key performance indicators that can be compared with those of other states in determining veterans' quality of life, and reporting the workgroup's findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on General Laws and the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology. Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services; workgroup; statewide strategic plan; report. Directs the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services to convene a workgroup to study and develop recommendations for implementing a statewide strategic plan to guide legislation to make Virginia the best state for veterans. The Commissioner or his designee shall serve as chairman and be responsible for conducting the meetings of the workgroup, developing key performance indicators that can be compared with those of other states in determining veterans' quality of life, and reporting the workgroup's findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on General Laws and the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB1760
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
1/30/23
Refer
1/30/23
Virginia Teacher Residency Training Corps; established. Establishes the Virginia Teacher Residency Training Corps for the purposes of attaining and retaining public elementary and secondary school teachers in school divisions in the Commonwealth by awarding scholarships to students seeking to obtain teaching degrees and certifications at participating institutions and requiring such students upon completion of their degree or certificate to fill teaching positions for one year for each year of scholarship receipt at a high-need school, as defined pursuant to federal law. The bill also creates the Virginia Teacher Residency Training Corps Scholarship Fund and Program for the purpose of funding such scholarships at the participating institutions of Longwood University, Norfolk State University, Radford University, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Finally, the bill establishes the 12-member Virginia Teacher Residency Training Corps Commission to administer the Program and directs the Commission to begin meeting on or after September 1, 2023, and to establish the parameters for the Program and award the first scholarships prior to the beginning of the 2024–2025 academic year. Virginia Teacher Residency Training Corps; established. Establishes the Virginia Teacher Residency Training Corps for the purposes of attaining and retaining public elementary and secondary school teachers in school divisions in the Commonwealth by awarding scholarships to students seeking to obtain teaching degrees and certifications at participating institutions and requiring such students upon completion of their degree or certificate to fill teaching positions for one year for each year of scholarship receipt at a high-need school, as defined pursuant to federal law. The bill also creates the Virginia Teacher Residency Training Corps Scholarship Fund and Program for the purpose of funding such scholarships at the participating institutions of Longwood University, Norfolk State University, Radford University, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Finally, the bill establishes the 12-member Virginia Teacher Residency Training Corps Commission to administer the Program and directs the Commission to begin meeting on or after September 1, 2023, and to establish the parameters for the Program and award the first scholarships prior to the beginning of the 2024–2025 academic year.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB1761
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
State Corporation Commission; Energy-Intensive Trade-Exposed Industries work group; report. Directs the State Corporation Commission to convene a work group for the purposes of assessing the competitiveness of manufacturers in energy-intensive trade-exposed industries in the Commonwealth to foreign manufacturers that are not required to meet the same federal and state standards regarding labor, energy, intellectual property, and environmental factors. The bill defines "energy-intensive trade-exposed industry" and establishes the requirements for the membership of the work group. The work group is required to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Commerce and Energy and the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor no later than December 1, 2025.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB1762
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
1/30/23
Refer
1/30/23
Report Pass
2/1/23
Engrossed
2/6/23
Refer
2/8/23
Report Pass
2/16/23
Enrolled
2/23/23
Chaptered
3/23/23
Passed
3/23/23
School boards; Teacher Reengagement Program established. School boards; Teacher Reengagement Program established. Establishes the Teacher Reengagement Program for the purpose of addressing instructional personnel shortages and COVID-19 pandemic-related student learning loss. The bill permits any school board to hire an individual pursuant to the Program, subject to the following conditions and limitations: (i) the individual works on a part-time basis; (ii) the individual is compensated with part-time pay, with any health, dental, and vision insurance coverage that is available to full-time school board employees, or with some combination of such pay and coverage; (iii) in the case of an individual who holds a renewable or provisional teaching license issued by the Board of Education, the individual's duties consist of teaching students, providing one-on-one tutoring services to students, or mentoring teachers, or some combination thereof; (iv) in the case of an individual who does not hold a renewable or provisional teaching license issued by the Board, the individual has professional experience or expertise in a certain subject matter area and the individual's duties consist of providing one-on-one tutoring services to students in such subject matter area; and (v) the individual complies with all laws, regulations, and school board policies and procedures applicable to part-time school board employees. The bill requires any school board that hires any part-time employee pursuant to the Program to annually report to the Department of Education such data on the implementation of the Program that the Department deems necessary to evaluate its continued effectiveness at addressing instructional personnel shortages and student learning loss. The foregoing provisions of the bill expire on July 1, 2028. The bill requires the Department to submit to the General Assembly no later than October 1, 2027, its recommendation for preserving, extending, or eliminating such expiration date.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB1763
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Workers' compensation; injuries caused by repetitive and sustained physical stressors. Provides that, for the purposes of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act, "occupational disease" includes injuries or diseases from conditions resulting from repetitive and sustained physical stressors, including repetitive and sustained motions, exertions, posture stresses, contact stresses, vibrations, or noises. The bill provides that such injuries or diseases are covered under the Act and that such coverage does not require that the injuries or diseases occurred over a particular time period, provided that such time period can be reasonably identified.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB1764
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Physician assistants; practice agreement exemption; elimination of practice ratio for physicians and physician assistants. Allows physician assistants practicing in hospitals, certain facilities operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, or federally qualified health centers designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to practice without a practice agreement if the credentialing and privileging requirements of the applicable facility include a practice arrangement, as described in the bill. The bill also eliminates the practice ratio for physicians and physician assistants; under current law, patient care team physicians and patient care team podiatrists are not allowed to collaborate or consult with more than six physician assistants at any one time. Physician assistants; practice agreement exemption; elimination of practice ratio for physicians and physician assistants. Allows physician assistants practicing in hospitals, certain facilities operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, or federally qualified health centers designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to practice without a practice agreement if the credentialing and privileging requirements of the applicable facility include a practice arrangement, as described in the bill. The bill also eliminates the practice ratio for physicians and physician assistants; under current law, patient care team physicians and patient care team podiatrists are not allowed to collaborate or consult with more than six physician assistants at any one time.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB1765
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
2/2/23
Engrossed
2/6/23
Refer
2/8/23
Report Pass
2/15/23
Enrolled
2/23/23
Chaptered
3/22/23
Passed
3/22/23
Fire protection; definition of fire company. Provides that firefighter support group members shall not be included in certain provisions of the Code of Virginia related to public safety, fire protection, or workers' compensation unless otherwise designated for inclusion by ordinance or resolution of the governing body of the applicable county, city, or town of the Commonwealth. Fire protection; definition of fire company. Provides that firefighter support group members shall not be included in certain provisions of the Code of Virginia related to public safety, fire protection, or workers' compensation unless otherwise designated for inclusion by ordinance or resolution of the governing body of the applicable county, city, or town of the Commonwealth.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB1766
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Uniform Statewide Building Code; multifamily residential housing construction projects; electric vehicle charging infrastructure standards. Requires the Board of Housing and Community Development to promulgate regulations for electric vehicle charging infrastructure standards for multifamily residential housing construction projects consisting of more than 25 residential dwelling units. The standards shall require a developer of such multifamily residential housing construction projects to ensure that at least 25 percent of the available parking spaces are electric vehicle charging ready during the design and construction process. Landlords, condominium unit owners' associations, and property owners' associations shall be authorized to negotiate with electric vehicle charging providers with respect to the installation and maintenance of electric vehicle infrastructure and any related revenue sharing. The bill also requires the Board to promulgate such regulations by January 1, 2024, and provides that such regulations shall only apply to any new multifamily residential housing construction projects approved by a locality after January 1, 2024.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB1767
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Motion picture production tax credit. Increases the cap on the total amount of motion picture production tax credits that may be issued per fiscal year from $6.5 million to $10 million beginning with fiscal year 2024.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB1768
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
1/31/23
Refer
1/31/23
Report Pass
2/1/23
Engrossed
2/6/23
Refer
2/8/23
Report Pass
2/17/23
Engrossed
2/21/23
Engrossed
2/22/23
Enrolled
3/7/23
Chaptered
3/22/23
Passed
3/22/23
Child-protective services; investigations; interview by child advocacy center. Requires that if a local multidisciplinary team has determined during an investigation of a report of child abuse or neglect that an interview of the child by a child advocacy center recognized by the National Children's Alliance is needed and an interview with a recognized child advocacy center within the jurisdiction cannot be completed within 14 days, the local department of social services may facilitate the interview with a recognized child advocacy center located in another jurisdiction. Child-protective services; investigations; interview by child advocacy center. Requires that if a local multidisciplinary team has determined during an investigation of a report of child abuse or neglect that an interview of the child by a child advocacy center recognized by the National Children's Alliance is needed and an interview with a recognized child advocacy center within the jurisdiction cannot be completed within 14 days, the local department of social services may facilitate the interview with a recognized child advocacy center located in another jurisdiction.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB1769
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
1/18/23
Engrossed
1/23/23
Refer
1/25/23
Report Pass
2/16/23
Enrolled
2/24/23
Chaptered
3/26/23
Passed
3/26/23
MEI Project Approval Commission; review procedures. Adds to the incentive packages for economic development, film, and episodic television projects that require MEI Project Approval Commission (the Commission) review and approval any incentive package in which one of the incentives being sought includes a cash payment of more than $3.5 million from any fund prior to any performance metrics being met by the proposed project. The bill clarifies that in calculating whether the value of proposed incentives exceeds $10 million and thus requires review under current law, the value of existing nondiscretionary tax credits, tax incentives, and grants shall not be considered, with the exception of the sales tax exemption for data centers and the motion picture tax credit. In addition, the bill provides that economic development projects that propose to relocate or expand operations in one area of the Commonwealth while closing or reducing operations in another area of the Commonwealth shall be subject to Commission review only if the value of the proposed incentives exceeds $2.5 million. MEI Project Approval Commission; review procedures. Adds to the incentive packages for economic development, film, and episodic television projects that require MEI Project Approval Commission (the Commission) review and approval any incentive package in which one of the incentives being sought includes a cash payment of more than $3.5 million from any fund prior to any performance metrics being met by the proposed project. The bill clarifies that in calculating whether the value of proposed incentives exceeds $10 million and thus requires review under current law, the value of existing nondiscretionary tax credits, tax incentives, and grants shall not be considered, with the exception of the sales tax exemption for data centers and the motion picture tax credit. In addition, the bill provides that economic development projects that propose to relocate or expand operations in one area of the Commonwealth while closing or reducing operations in another area of the Commonwealth shall be subject to Commission review only if the value of the proposed incentives exceeds $2.5 million. The bill also requires state agencies and political subdivisions that have significant involvement in a proposed individual incentive package to verify the job creation and investment data before they are presented to the Commission. Finally, the bill allows the Commission to also review potential economic development projects that are not required to be presented to the Commission that would be financed through entitlements to sales taxes or through personal or corporate income tax incentives or modifications.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB1770
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
2/2/23
Engrossed
2/6/23
Refer
2/8/23
Report Pass
2/20/23
Engrossed
2/22/23
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 House Bill HB1771
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Tax credit for participating landlords. Increases from $250,000 to $1 million the maximum amount of tax credits that may be issued to participating landlords, as defined in relevant law, each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 2024 and provides that, in the event that the amount of the qualified requests for tax credits for such participating landlords in the fiscal year exceeds $1 million, the Department of Housing and Community Development will prorate the tax credits among the qualified applicants.
VA
Virginia 2023 Regular Session
Virginia House Bill HB1772
Introduced
1/10/23
Refer
1/10/23
Report Pass
2/2/23
Refer
2/6/23
All-terrain vehicles and off-road motorcycles; seizure, impounding, and disposition. Authorizes local governing bodies to provide for the lawful seizure, impounding, and disposition of (i) an illegally operated all-terrain vehicle or (ii) an off-road motorcycle operated on a highway or on private property without the consent of the property owner.