Local taxation for solar photovoltaic projects five megawatts or less. Provides that generating equipment of solar photovoltaic projects five megawatts or less shall be taxable by a locality, at a rate determined by such locality, but shall not exceed the real estate rate applicable in that locality, and that the exemption shall be as follows: 80 percent of the assessed value in the first five years in service after commencement of commercial operation, 70 percent of the assessed value in the second five years in service, and 60 percent of the assessed value for all remaining years in service. The bill also provides that (i) solar photovoltaic projects five megawatts or less shall not be exempt from the assessment of a revenue share by ordinance of that locality and (ii) nothing in the bill shall be construed to authorize local taxation of generating or storage equipment of solar photovoltaic projects that serve the electricity needs of that property upon which such solar facilities are located. If a locality assesses a revenue share on such projects, the amount of the exemption shall be 100 percent of the assessed value. The bill does not apply to projects five megawatts or less that were approved by a locality prior to July 1, 2022.
Sponsored bills
Seafood industry workforce liaison. Directs the Governor or the Secretary of Labor to designate a liaison to address seafood industry workforce needs by (i) promoting the interests of seafood industry employees and employers; (ii) assisting employees and employers in understanding the rights and processes available to them, including those related to temporary worker visas; (iii) answering inquiries; (iv) providing referrals to public and private agencies upon request; and (v) reporting annually on the liaison's activities to the House Committees on Commerce and Energy and Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committees on Commerce and Labor and Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources. The bill requires the liaison to carry out his duties with impartiality and provides that he is immune from civil liability in the performance of his duties. The bill also provides that certain records and communications are exempt from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The bill directs the Governor or the Secretary of Labor to designate a current employee of the executive branch to serve in this capacity in lieu of hiring a new employee.
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation; real estate brokers; protection of real estate escrow funds. Clarifies that, upon the ratification of a contract, an earnest money deposit received by the principal broker or supervising broker, or an agent of such principal broker or supervising broker, that will be held in the firm's escrow account shall be placed in such account by the end of the fifth business banking day following ratification, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the principals to the transaction. The bill provides that if an earnest money deposit received by the principal broker or supervising broker, or an agent of such principal broker or supervising broker, will not be held in the firm's escrow account, the principal broker or supervising broker shall ensure that the earnest money deposit is delivered to the escrow agent named in the contract by the end of the fifth business banking day following receipt of the deposit, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the principals to the transaction.
Judge; Second Judicial Circuit; resident judge in Counties of Accomack and Northampton. Requires that one judge from the Second Judicial Circuit be a resident and domiciliary of the County of Accomack or Northampton and preside regularly in the Counties of Accomack and Northampton.
Food donations; labeling; liability. Exemptsindividuals and entities that donate food and charitable organizations that accept food donations from criminal and civil liability fordonating or receiving food past its best-by date or other non-safety labels so long as all parties are informed. The bill provides thatimmunity from liability shall not apply in instances of gross negligenceor intentional misconduct.
Electric cooperatives; net energy metering; power purchase agreements; local facilities usage charges. Permits any customer, besides a farm or small agricultural generating facility and any customer selling power to the electric cooperative, to interconnect with an electric cooperative and enter an agreement for local facilities usage charges. The bill provides that electric cooperatives can seek approval from the State Corporation Commission at any time for a tariff for local facilities usage charges for the use of cooperative system facilities; however, the terms of an independent agreement for local facilities usage charges shall prevail if inconsistent with the approved tariff amount.The bill permits the board of directors of an electric cooperative to approve any voluntary tariff and associated cost recovery without filing additional information with the Commission besides an informational notice. Under the bill, the Commission may administratively approve a change in rate, tariff, or term or condition of service without notice or a hearing.The bill removes the limit on raising the cap for electric cooperatives' generating capacity beyond seven percent of system peak for the purposes of net energy metering. The bill also allows electric cooperatives to permit the use of third-party partial requirements power purchase agreements for eligible customer-generators without separate approval by the Commission; however, the cooperative is required to file a revised net energy metering compliance filing.Additionally, the bill permits impacted cooperative customers to file a petition with the Commission for redress and review of the local facilities usage charges. This bill is identical to HB 266.
Workers' compensation; cost of living supplements. Provides that cost-of-living supplements shall be payable to claimantswho are receiving disability benefits under the Virginia Workers'Compensation Act but are not receiving federal disability benefits.
Local land use approvals; extension of approvals to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Extends from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023, the sunset date for various local land use approvals that were valid and outstanding as of July 1, 2020. The bill also provides that its provisions shall not be construed to extend previous extensions related to the COVID-19 housing crisis. This bill is identical to HB 272.
Department of General Services; conveyance of easement and appurtenances thereto to telecommunications companies. Adds telecommunications companies to the list of entities to which a state department, agency, or institution may grant an easement. This bill is identical to HB 1019.
Life cycle of renewable energy facilities; report. Directs the State Corporation Commission, in consultation with the Department of Energy and the Department of Environmental Quality, to create a task force to analyze the life cycle of renewable energy facilities in the Commonwealth. The State Corporation Commission shall report the findings of the task force to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources no later than May 1, 2023. This bill is identical to HB 774.