Study; Department of Transportation; traffic congestion reduction on Virginia State Route 55; report. Requests the Department of Transportation to study traffic reduction on Virginia State Route 55. The study shall include the identification of methods and solutions for traffic reduction on Virginia State Route 55 and an assessment of the feasibility, cost, and impact on traffic flow of such methods and solutions.
Solar photovoltaic project; siting. Requires the Department of Energy's Division of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency to establish regional planning targets for each planning district for energy production and energy efficiency. The bill requires such targets to be included in the Virginia Energy Plan and for each planning district commission to amend its regional strategic plan to include a regional energy plan that meets such targets. The bill requires localities to incorporate into their comprehensive plans energy production and energy efficiency targets based on their planning district commission's regional strategic plan. The bill requires the Director of the Department of Energy to convene an Interagency Solar Advisory Committee for the purposes of reviewing solar photovoltaic project proposals and issuing advisory opinions on such proposals when requested. The Advisory Committee is required to review each proposal and to issue an advisory opinion within 120 days and provide such opinion to the relevant locality. In reviewing a proposal, the bill requires the Advisory Committee to consider (i) regional planning targets for the relevant planning district; (ii) the goals of the Commonwealth Clean Energy Policy; (iii) renewable energy portfolio requirements; (iv) cost effectiveness; (v) the project's proximity to existing energy infrastructure; (vi) any impacts to natural, historical, or cultural resources; (vii) any impacts to historically economically disadvantaged communities; and (viii) any other factor the Advisory Committee deems relevant. The bill requires localities to review and consider such advisory opinion before making decisions regarding a solar photovoltaic project.
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-945.1, 24.2-953.1, 24.2-953.2, 24.2-953.3, and 24.2-955.1 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 9.3 of Title 24.2 an article numbered 4.2, consisting of sections numbered 24.2-949.14 through 24.2-949.24, and by adding in Article 8 of Chapter 9.3 of Title 24.2 a section numbered 24.2-953.6, relating to campaign finance; coordination and required independent expenditure committee disclosure; civil penalties.
Power of magistrates to issue arrest warrants. Prohibits a magistrate from issuing an arrest warrant for an offense upon the basis of a complaint by a person other than a law-enforcement officer or an animal control officer without prior authorization by the attorney for the Commonwealth or by a law-enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the alleged offense. Current law places such prohibition only on felony offenses.
Possession of retail tobacco products and hemp products intended for smoking by a person younger than 21 years of age prohibited; penalty. Prohibits any person younger than 21 years of age from possessing any retail tobacco product or hemp product intended for smoking, as those terms are defined in relevant law. A violation of such prohibition is punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed $100 for a first violation and a civil penalty not to exceed $250 for a second or subsequent violation. The bill also provides that a court may, as an alternative to the civil penalty, and upon motion of the defendant, prescribe the performance of up to 20 hours of community service for a first violation and up to 40 hours of community service for a second or subsequent violation, but if the defendant fails or refuses to complete the community service as prescribed, the court may impose the civil penalty. Additionally, upon such violation, the judge may enter an order suspending the motor vehicle and driver's license of such person pursuant relevant law.
Collective bargaining by firefighters and emergency medical services providers. Authorizes firefighters and emergency medical services providers employed by a political subdivision of the Commonwealth to engage in collective bargaining through labor organizations or other designated representatives. The bill establishes the Fire Service Cooperation Board to administer its provisions. The bill provides for the appointment of a three-member board of arbitration regarding any dispute arising between an employer and firefighters or emergency medical services providers. Under the bill, determinations made by such board of arbitration are final on a disputed issue and are binding on the parties involved. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2026.
Living Shoreline Grant Fund established. Establishes the Living Shoreline Grant Fund to be administered by the Marine Resources Commission for the purpose of awarding grants to a local government or a federally recognized tribe in the Commonwealth to match federal or other matching funds. The bill requires such grants be used for the construction, renovation, or improvement of living shorelines greater than 1.5 miles in any shore angle direction. The bill requires the Commission to give priority to projects that (i) are located on public lands, (ii) demonstrate the ability for the living shoreline to migrate upland over time through documented control of upland properties, or (iii) are identified as priorities in the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan.
Motor vehicle accidents; actions brought by uninsured motorists; limited damages. Places limits on the amount of recoverable damages in a motor vehicle accident resulting in personal injury or property damage when the person injured or whose property was damaged is an uninsured motorist. The bill provides that the limits do not apply if (i) the tortfeasor was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, (ii) the tortfeasor failed to stop and report the injury of damage after such accident, or (iii) the injury or damage was a result of an intentional act taken by the tortfeasor to injure the person or damage such person's property.
Energy Innovation Pilot Program established. Establishes the Energy Innovation Pilot Program to foster the development of innovative energy projects by allowing Program participants to provide grid services or other beneficial energy measures. Under the Program, a participant, after obtaining State Corporation Commission approval, is not required to comply with specific state statutes and regulations pertaining to the generation, transmission, or distribution of electric energy for sale, except for those laws and regulations that are required for worker safety, public safety, or environmental protection, for a period of five years. The bill includes provisions for application requirements, an approval process, Program exit procedures, a test period extension process, suspension or revocation of Commission approval, consumer protections, Commission investigations, and recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
Commission on Early Childhood Care and Education; members. Expands from 31 to 32 the minimum number of members of the Commission on Early Childhood Care and Education by adding one representative of the Department of Veterans Services to the nonlegislative citizen members of the Commission. This bill was incorporated into SB 1391.
Department of Emergency Management; work groups related to the Commonwealth's response to the COVID-19 pandemic; report. Directs the Department of Emergency Management to convene work groups to (i) study the reliance of the Commonwealth and its localities on federal grants for core emergency management functions, (ii) study and develop a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework to take effect during a disaster for which a state of emergency has been declared, and (iii) study and develop solutions to address breaks in technology continuity among communities across the Commonwealth during emergencies. The bill directs each work group to complete its work and report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than November 30, 2025. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee to Study Pandemic Response and Preparedness in the Commonwealth. This bill was incorporated into SB 1326.
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 24.2-945.1, 24.2-953.1, 24.2-953.2, 24.2-953.3, and 24.2-955.1 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 9.3 of Title 24.2 an article numbered 4.2, consisting of sections numbered 24.2-949.14 through 24.2-949.24, and by adding in Article 8 of Chapter 9.3 of Title 24.2 a section numbered 24.2-953.6, relating to campaign finance; coordination and required independent expenditure committee disclosure; civil penalties.
