Electric utilities; cost recovery for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Requires Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Power, by May 1, 2025, to (i) file a proposal with the State Corporation Commission to design and deploy all electrical distribution infrastructure on the utility side of a customer's meter for each customer installing separately metered infrastructure to support electric vehicle charging stations, other than those in single-family residences; (ii) file an application with the Commission to accelerate widespread transportation electrification across the Commonwealth in a manner designed to lower total ratepayer costs and that significantly contributes to meeting air quality standards and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a manner consistent with the objectives of the energy policy of the Commonwealth, as defined by relevant law; and (iii) submit to the Commission a proposal for a specific rate or set of rates for electricity supplied to commercial and industrial facilities used to charge electric vehicles that encourage electric vehicle charging and support the efficient off-peak utilization of the electric grid.
Release of hunting dogs; state highway or right-of-way.Creates a Class 3 misdemeanor for the intentional release of hunting dogs on a Department of Transportation right-of-way or on a highwayowned or maintained by the Department of Transportation to hunt deerwithout the consent of the Department. The bill provides that a secondoffense is a Class 2 misdemeanor, and a third or subsequent offenseis a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also permits the stopping of avehicle on a highway for the retrieval of a companion animal froma highway or area adjacent to a highway.
Motor vehicles; improper tinting films, signs,decals, and stickers; issuing citations. Removes the provisions that prohibit a law-enforcement officer from lawfully stopping amotor vehicle for violations related to improper tinting films, signs,decals, and stickers on such motor vehicle's windows. The bill increasesfrom 35 percent to 50 percent the minimum percentage of total lighttransmittance required for tinting the rear and rear side windowsof any motor vehicle. The bill increases from 35 percent to 50 percentthe authorized reduction of total light transmittance for tintingthe rear and rear side windows of any motor vehicle and maintainsexemptions for multipurpose passenger vehicles and pickup trucks.
Careless driving and infliction of injury or death on vulnerable road users; penalty. Defines driving in a careless manner and distracted manner for purposes of the Class 1 misdemeanor of operating a motor vehicle in a careless or distracted manner such that such operation is the proximate cause of serious bodily injury or death of a vulnerable road user lawfully present on the highway at such time.
Abortion; use of public funds prohibited.Provides that no agency of the Commonwealth shall enter into anycontract with or make any grant of public funds, as defined in thebill, to any entity or any affiliate of any entity that providesabortion services or operates a facility at which abortion servicesare provided. The bill also repeals provisions authorizing the Boardof Health to use state general funds appropriated to the Department of Health to pay the cost of abortions for women who otherwise meetthe financial eligibility criteria for services through the stateplan for medical assistance services in cases in which (i) a pregnancyoccurs as a result of rape or incest that is reported to a law-enforcementor public health agency or (ii) a physician certifies in writingthat he believes the fetus will be born with a gross and totallyincapacitating physical deformity or with a gross and totally incapacitatingmental deficiency.
Campaign advertisements; independent expenditures; electioneering communications; disclaimer requirements. Broadensthe scope of disclaimer requirements for campaign advertisementsto include electioneering communications, as defined in the bill,and messages advocating for the passage or defeat of a referendum.The bill also requires an advertisement that is an independent expenditureor that expressly advocates for the passage or defeat of a referendumto contain a disclaimer providing the names of the advertisementsponsor's three largest contributors. The bill also requires independentexpenditure reports to be filed electronically. Current law allowssuch reports to be filed either electronically or in writing.
Zoning ordinance and amendments thereto; special exceptions; appeal. Clarifies that a claim (i) challenging theprocedures employed or (ii) stating a decision is void ab initiofor any reason relating to a local governing body's final decisionon a proposed zoning ordinance, or on an amendment of or special exception to such ordinance, only be filed within 30 days of suchdecision in a circuit court having jurisdiction of the land. Thebill provides that the provisions of the bill are declarative ofexisting law and are effective retroactively to any decision madeby a local governing body prior to July 1, 2024.
Vacancies in elected local offices; timelinessof special election to fill vacancy. Provides that when a vacancyoccurs in an elected local office that is subject to a ward-basedor district-based residency requirement, the election to fill suchvacancy shall be ordered and held within 365 days of the vacancyoccurring.
Election of certain governing bodies; conversionto single-member districts. Allows the governing body of a localitythat has been subject to a court order imposing a remedial election system under voting rights laws to adopt an ordinance to convertone or more at-large members of such body to single-member districts.The bill provides that members of such governing body in office onthe effective date of such ordinance shall complete their terms ofoffice.
Elections; form of ballot; party identificationof candidates; constitutional offices. Provides that any candidatefor a constitutional office who is nominated by a political partyor at a primary election shall be identified on the ballot by thename of his political party. Currently, only candidates for federal,statewide, and General Assembly offices are so identified. The constitutionaloffices are those of the treasurer, sheriff, attorney for the Commonwealth,clerk of court, and commissioner of the revenue.
Medical malpractice; limitations on recovery;certain actions. Eliminates the cap on the recovery in actionsagainst health care providers for medical malpractice where the act or acts of malpractice occurred on or after July 1, 2024, and occurredagainst a patient age 10 or younger.
Covenants not to compete; health care professionals;civil penalty. Adds health care professionals as a category ofemployee with whom no employer shall enter into, enforce, or threatento enforce a covenant not to compete. The bill defines "health careprofessional" as any physician, nurse, nurse practitioner, physician'sassistant, pharmacist, social worker, dietitian, physical and occupationaltherapist, professional counselor, behavior analyst, assistant behavioranalyst, or medical technologist authorized to provide health careservices in the Commonwealth. The bill provides that any employerthat violates the prohibition against covenants not to compete witha health care professional is subject to the civil penalty in currentlaw of $10,000 for each violation.
