Rep. Mike Webert

Study; Department of Housing and Community Development; revenue sharing program for localities hosting data center infrastructure; report. Directs the Department of Housing and Community Development to study creating a revenue sharing program for localities hosting data center infrastructure for data centers located in other localities.

Human trafficking investigators; licensing by the Department of Criminal Justice Services. Authorizes the Department of Criminal Justice Services to register and issue licenses for human trafficking investigators. The bill provides that a human trafficking investigator is a private investigator who is GSA compliant and engages in the business of, or accepts employment to make, investigations to obtain information on sex trafficking or severe forms of trafficking as defined in the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and in the federal Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution formally commends Carolyn Kirkland of Warrenton for receiving the "5 over 50" award from Aging Together. The bill recognizes her decades of service as a Navy nurse and her ongoing volunteer work with veterans organizations, including her role as an ambassador for Hero's Bridge. It directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution to present to Kirkland as an expression of appreciation for her dedication to supporting veterans.

Uniform Statewide Building Code; bus shelters.Exempts plans and specifications for bus shelters that do not exceed256 square feet that are to be constructed for transit agencies receivingstate money and that will be constructed on state-owned propertyfrom the Department of General Services' review process requiredby the Uniform Statewide Building Code. The bill authorizes the localbuilding official of the locality in which the state-owned propertyis located to conduct the review process within 60 days of the applicant'sinitial submission of the plans and specifications for such bus shelter.

Energy efficiency programs; incremental annualsavings. Provides that it is in the public interest and the policyof the Commonwealth to deploy demand-side management programs andenergy efficiency measures throughout the Commonwealth to achievethe greatest possible reductions in energy consumption. The billpermits the State Corporation Commission to increase or decreasean investor-owned electric utility's combined rate of return basedon the utility's success in complying with energy efficiency programtargets in existing law. Additionally, the bill states that "in thepublic interest" for the purpose of assessing energy efficiency programsmeans that the Commission determines that the program is cost-effective.Finally, the bill directs the Commission to promulgate regulationsno later than December 31, 2025, establishing a single, consistent cost-effectiveness test for use in evaluating proposed energy efficiency programs.

Annual retail sales and use tax holiday. Establishes an annual retail sales and use tax holiday that takes place on the first full weekend in August beginning on July 1, 2025, through July 1, 2030. During such weekend, state retail sales and use tax will not apply to certain (i) school supplies, (ii) clothing and footwear, (iii) qualified products designated as Energy Star or WaterSense, (iv) portable generators, or (v) hurricane preparedness equipment. This bill is identical to SB 116.

Virginia Verified Meat certification. Prohibitsany person from labeling any product as Virginia Verified Meat ifit does not meet the definition of that term in the bill and requiresthe Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services to establisha licensing protocol and auditing process whereby persons and businessesnot employed by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Servicesare eligible to certify Virginia Verified Meat claims.

Fixing period of suspension of sentence; sexualbattery; sexual abuse of a child under 15 years of age. Allowsthe court to fix the period of suspension of sentence for a reasonabletime, having due regard to the gravity of the offense, without regardto the statutory maximum period for the offenses of sexual batteryand sexual abuse of a child 13 years of age or older but under 15years of age. Current law allows a court to fix the period of suspensionfor up to the maximum period for which the defendant might originallyhave been sentenced to be imprisoned.

Motor vehicle value; J.D. Power OfficialUsed Car Guide. Adds the J.D. Power Official Used CarGuide to the list of publications from which the retail valueof an automobile is admissible as evidence of fair market value ofsuch automobile in any civil or criminal case in which the priceof an automobile is in issue.

Veterinary medicine; traineeships. Allowsany veterinary medicine licensure applicant enrolled in a traineeshipprogram to engage in the limited practice of veterinary medicine,as that term is defined by the Board of Veterinary Medicine, underthe direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian. The bill directsthe Board to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisionsof the bill.