Del. Lee Ware

Electric utilities; State Corporation Commission; energy policy of the Commonwealth. Requires the State Corporation Commission to ensure that the Commonwealth implements the energy policy of the Commonwealth, as defined by relevant law, at the lowest reasonable cost, taking into account all cost-effective demand-side management options and the security and reliability benefits of the regional transmission entity that each incumbent electric utility has joined. The bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that plans, petitions, or proposals from utilities that do not ensure such implementation at the lowest reasonable cost are not in the public interest.

Electric utilities; State Corporation Commission; energy policy of the Commonwealth. Requires the State Corporation Commission to ensure that the Commonwealth implements the energy policy of the Commonwealth, as defined by relevant law, at the lowest reasonable cost, taking into account all cost-effective demand-side management options and the security and reliability benefits of the regional transmission entity that each incumbent electric utility has joined. The bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that plans, petitions, or proposals from utilities that do not ensure such implementation at the lowest reasonable cost are not in the public interest.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution honors the memory of David Andrew Rosenberg, a retired attorney who served the Virginia state government for nearly 30 years. The document outlines his distinguished career, which included work as an assistant attorney general and a long-term staff attorney for the Division of Legislative Services where he supported the General Assembly. It details his specific contributions, such as securing an $11 million settlement for consumers and helping draft hundreds of pieces of legislation on taxation and budgeting. The resolution formally notes the House of Delegates' sadness at his passing and directs the Clerk to present a copy of the document to Rosenberg's family as a gesture of respect.

Unemployment compensation; collection of overpayments; limitations. Provides that collection activities for an overpayment, provided that such overpayment was not caused by fraud on the part of the claimant, shall be suspended and that the Virginia Employment Commission shall determine as uncollectable and discharge the overpayment if it remains unpaid after the earliest of the following: (i) after the expiration of five years from the last day of the benefit year in which the overpayment was made, (ii) immediately upon the death of the claimant, (iii) upon the claimant's discharge in bankruptcy occurring subsequently to the determination of payment; or (iv) at any time where the Commission finds such overpayment to be uncollectible or the recovery of such overpayment to be administratively impracticable. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Commission on Unemployment Compensation.

Unemployment compensation; employer failure to respond to requests for information; claim determination; notice requirements. Provides that an employer's failure to respond timely or adequately to a written request for information relating to an unemployment claim results in a waiver of all of such employer's rights in connection with the claim, including participation and appeal rights, unless such employer demonstrates that good cause exists for such failure. The bill requires the Virginia Employment Commission to provide written notice for each instance of untimely or inadequate employer response to such requests and specifies that such notice may be delivered through the Employer Self-Service Tax System website maintained by the Commission. The bill also requires the Commission to provide each employer with information regarding deadlines for timely and adequate responses to such requests. Such provisions of the bill apply to erroneous payments established on or after July 1, 2024. The bill also prohibits a deputy designated by the Commissioner to adjudicate unemployment claims from examining or considering facts contained within an employer's untimely or inadequate response and requires that information or evidence from an employer or third party must be shared with the claimant, who must also be provided a reasonable opportunity to review and respond to such information or evidence. The bill requires such deputy to provide the reasoning behind the decision, as described in the bill, and a short statement of case-specific facts material to the determination together with any notice of determination upon a claim. This bill is a recommendation of the Commission on Unemployment Compensation.

Active-duty status for any service member injured while in the line of duty. Provides that the Adjutant General may maintain state active-duty status for any service member injured while in the line of duty during the course of a state active-duty mission who is unable to return to civilian employment for a period of up to 90 days after the date of the service member's injury.

Unemployment compensation; employer failure to respond torequests for information; claim determination; notice requirements.Provides that an employer's failure to respond timely or adequately to a writtenrequest for information relating to an unemployment claim results in a waiverof all of such employer's rights in connection with the claim, includingparticipation and appeal rights, unless such employer demonstrates that goodcause exists for such failure. The bill requires the Virginia EmploymentCommission to provide written notice for each instance of untimely orinadequate employer response to such requests and specifies that such noticemay be delivered through the Employer Self-Service Tax System websitemaintained by the Commission. The bill also requires the Commission to provideeach employer with information regarding deadlines for timely and adequateresponses to such requests. Such provisions of the bill apply to erroneouspayments established on or after July 1, 2024. The bill also prohibits a deputydesignated by the Commissioner to adjudicate unemployment claims from examiningor considering facts contained within an employer's untimely or inadequateresponse and requires that information or evidence from an employer or thirdparty must be shared with the claimant, who must also be provided a reasonableopportunity to review and respond to such information or evidence. The billrequires such deputy to provide the reasoning behind the decision, as describedin the bill, and a short statement of case-specific facts material to thedetermination together with any notice of determination upon a claim. This billis a recommendation of the Commission on Unemployment Compensation.

Center for Rural Virginia; name change. Renames the Center for Rural Virginia as the Senator Frank M. Ruff, Jr. Center for Rural Virginia. This bill is identical to SB 704.

Health Insurance Reform Commission; membership.Adds two legislative members to the Health Insurance Reform Commission.The bill requires one such member to be a member of the House Committeeon Appropriations who is appointed by the Speaker of the House ofDelegates and one to be a member of the Senate Committee on Financeand Appropriations who is appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.This bill is a recommendation of the Health Insurance Reform Commission.

Tangible personal property tax; indoor agriculture equipment and machinery. Specifies that farm machinery, farm equipment, and farm implements used by an indoor, closed, controlled-environment commercial agricultural facility are a class of farm machinery and farm implements that a locality may exempt from personal property taxation. This bill incorporates HB 384 and is identical to SB 483.