Virginia Freedom of Information Act; electronic meetings. Amends the number of all-virtual public meetings that public bodies, with certain exceptions, may convene in a calendar year to no more than two times per calendar year or 50 percent of the meetings held per calendar year rounded up to the next whole number, whichever is greater. Current law limits the number of all-virtual public meetings to no more than two times per calendar year or 25 percent of the meetings held per calendar year rounded up to the next whole number, whichever is greater. The bill also provides that with respect to all-virtual public meetings, when audio-visual technology is available, a member of a public body shall, for purposes of a quorum, be considered absent from any portion of the meeting during which visual communication with the member is voluntarily disconnected or otherwise fails or during which audio communication involuntarily fails. This bill is identical to HB 894.
Department of Environmental Quality reports;consolidation. Consolidates varying due dates for certain reportsrelating to the Department of Environmental Quality to the Governorand the General Assembly to November 1 and requires such reportsbe submitted as part of one annual report. The bill removes the requirementthat the Roanoke River Basin Bi-State Commission submit its annualreport to the Governor and General Assembly of North Carolina. Thebill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025.
Assessment of omitted taxes; erroneous payments. Provides that any retail sales tax payment erroneously remitted by a taxpayer to the Department of Taxation shall be applied to the taxpayer's delinquent use tax accounts. The taxpayer must provide evidence of the erroneous sales tax collected and remitted in each transaction. The provisions of this bill do not apply in the case of (i) the taxpayer already applying for and receiving the relief described in this bill or (ii) a false or fraudulent action by the taxpayer with the intention of evading the payment of the tax. Further, the taxpayer must show that the erroneous retail sales tax has been refunded to the purchaser or credited to the purchaser's account prior to receiving a refund from Department of Taxation. This bill is identical to SB 709.
Alcoholic beverage control; annual mixed beverage performing arts facility licenses; on-and-off premises wine and beer licenses. Defines performing arts facility and sports facility and standardizes the eligibility criteria for annual mixed beverage performing arts facility licenses and on-and-off-premises wine and beer licenses for performing arts food concessionaires. Under current law, the eligibility criteria for such licenses varies by location and includes inconsistent ownership, lease, capacity, and seating requirements. The bill also removes provisions that allow the Board of Directors of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to grant annual mixed beverage motor sports facility licenses and motor car sporting event facility licenses and creates an annual mixed beverage sports facility license, which may be granted to persons operating a sports facility or food concessions at a sports facility and would authorize the licensee to sell mixed beverages during any event and immediately subsequent thereto to patrons within all seating areas, concourses, walkways, concession areas, and additional locations designated by the Board (i) in closed containers for off-premises consumption or (ii) in paper, plastic, or similar disposable containers or in single original metal cans for on-premises consumption. This bill is identical to SB 180, SB 400, SB 657, and SB 724.
Penalties for failure to appear; contempt. Provides that any person (i) charged with any offense or (ii) convicted of any offense and execution of sentence is suspended who willfully fails to appear before any court or judicial officer as required is guilty of contempt punishable by a fine of no more than $100 or imprisonment of no more than two days, either or both. Under current law, such person is guilty of a Class 6 felony, if charged with a felony, or a Class 1 misdemeanor, if charged with a misdemeanor, for such a violation. The bill excludes from such penalty persons who are incarcerated, in the custody of a law-enforcement officer at the time such person is required to appear, or has a matter scheduled to appear before another court and appears before such court on the same date. The bill provides that if a person does not appear in court as required, the court shall first issue a rule to show cause summons returnable at a future date for such person's appearance, and if such person fails to appear at the show cause hearing, the court may issue a capias.
Fort Monroe Authority; powers and duties. Renames the executive director of the Fort Monroe Authority as the chief executive officer of the Authority. This bill is identical to SB 89.
Combined sewer overflow outfalls; compliance with regulations; Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Extends from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026, the date by which certain combined sewer overflow (CSO) outfalls that discharge into the Chesapeake Bay Watershed must be in compliance with Virginia law, the federal Clean Water Act, and the Presumption Approach described in the EPA CSO Control Policy, unless a higher level of control is necessary to comply with a total maximum daily load. This bill is identical to SB 372.
Elections; campaign finance; exemptions for candidates for certain offices; directors of soil and water conservation districts. Provides that a candidate for director of a soil and water conservation district may also seek an exemption from the requirement that he designate a separate campaign depository by certifying that (i) he has not and will not contribute any money to his own campaign and (ii) he has not and will not expend any money in the course of the campaign. The bill also provides that a candidate for local office or for director of a soil and water conservation district applying for a general exemption is exempt from having to make special reports for certain large pre-election contributions. This bill is identical to HB 1346.
Assessment of omitted taxes; erroneous payments. Provides that any retail sales tax payment erroneously remitted by a taxpayer to the Department of Taxation shall be applied to the taxpayer's delinquent use tax accounts. The taxpayer must provide evidence of the erroneous sales tax collected and remitted in each transaction. The provisions of this bill do not apply in the case of (i) the taxpayer already applying for and receiving the relief described in this bill or (ii) a false or fraudulent action by the taxpayer with the intention of evading the payment of the tax. Further, the taxpayer must show that the erroneous retail sales tax has been refunded to the purchaser or credited to the purchaser's account prior to receiving a refund from Department of Taxation. This bill is identical to HB 1508.
Commercial driver's licenses and commercial learner's permits; definitions; commercial driver training; drug and alcohol violations. Conforms the definition of commercial motor vehicle to federal regulations, codifies the entry-level driver training system required by federal regulations, and removes contradictory provisions. The bill also prohibits the issuance or continued validity of commercial driver's licenses and commercial learner's permits after a drug or alcohol violation by the applicant, licensee, or permittee. The bill contains technical amendments. This bill is identical to SB 353.
Elections; campaign finance; exemptions for candidates for certain offices; directors of soil and water conservation districts. Provides that a candidate for director of a soil and water conservation district may also seek an exemption from the requirement that he designate a separate campaign depository by certifying that (i) he has not and will not contribute any money to his own campaign and (ii) he has not and will not expend any money in the course of the campaign. The bill also provides that a candidate for local office or for director of a soil and water conservation district applying for a general exemption is exempt from having to make special reports for certain large pre-election contributions. This bill is identical to SB 577.
Physician assistants; practice agreement exemption. Allows physician assistants employed by a hospital or employed incertain facilities operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services or in federally qualified health centersdesignated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to practicewithout a separate practice agreement if the credentialing and privilegingrequirements of the applicable facility include a practice arrangement,as described in the bill.
