Summary: Department of Labor and Industry; tipped employee wages; work group. Directs the Department of Labor and Industry to convene a work group to study (i) options for increasing tipped employee minimum cash wages, (ii) circumstances related to wage theft or payment inequities by employers of tipped wage employees, and (iii) amending the penalty provisions related to employee remedies and employer penalties for violations of minimum wage requirements. The bill directs the work group to submit a report of its findings no later than December 1, 2024.

Summary: Parking Lot Solar Development Program and Fund; report. Directs the Department of Energy, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Quality, to establish by January 1, 2025, a Parking Lot Solar Development Program for the purpose of encouraging development of distributed parking lot solar projects up to one megawatt in size in the Commonwealth. The bill also creates the Parking Lot Solar Development Fund for the purposes of (i) funding solar renewable energy credit values at an updated 10-year levelized incentive level through the renewable energy certificate market using a solar financing model as described in the bill, (ii) implementing and administering the Parking Lot Solar Development Program, and (iii) implementing and administering an alternative auction site that sets a fixed price for solar renewable energy credits not sold in the Commonwealth. The bill requires the Department, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Quality, to engage in a stakeholder consultation to evaluate the current costs of solar installations and incentive levels across market segments and study benefits to grid security and reliability, ratepayers, and environmental goals of the Commonwealth by December 1, 2024, and every five years thereafter. The bill also directs the Commission to consult with agencies and stakeholders to develop an online mapping database of potential parking lot solar sites for development in the Commonwealth by December 1, 2024. Finally, the bill requires the Department, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Quality, to submit an annual report to the General Assembly regarding the implementation of the Parking Lot Solar Development Program for the preceding fiscal year by November 1, 2025.

Summary: Broadband access in farmland and rural areas; information and reporting. Requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to create and maintain, in consultation with the Commonwealth Broadband Chief Advisor, the Broadband Advisory Council, and the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, an interactive tool or application to provide current information on connectivity and broadband access in rural areas of the Commonwealth and on farmland in the Commonwealth and permits such tool or application to be incorporated into the Department's website. The bill also directs the Department to, with the assistance of any necessary agencies of the Commonwealth, collect and incorporate information and data regarding connectivity and broadband access in rural areas and on farmland into such interactive tool or application and annually report to the Broadband Advisory Council any such information and data.

Summary: Fisheries Innovation for Sustainable Harvest Fund established. Establishes the Fisheries Innovation for Sustainable Harvest Fund for the purposes of supporting and promoting the economic growth and development of Virginia's seafood economy. The Fund shall be administered by the Marine Resources Commission for the sole purpose of supporting and promoting the economic growth and development of Virginia's seafood economy while enhancing the sustainability of Virginia's marine fisheries resources through the awarding of grants, revolving loans, or other financial tools. The bill provides that the Commercial Fishing Advisory Board shall advise the Commission on expenditures from the Fund. This bill is identical to SB 464.

Summary: E-bike rebate program. Creates the ElectricPower-Assisted Bicycle Rebate Program for the purchase of new electricpower-assisted bicycles, as defined in the bill, to be administeredby the Department of Energy. Under the bill, a purchaser of a newelectric power-assisted bicycle would receive a $500 rebate appliedtoward payment for the purchase, and a purchaser with an annual householdincome that does not exceed 300 percent of the federal poverty levelwould be entitled to an additional $600 rebate for a new electricpower-assisted bicycle. The bill provides for both rebates beginningJanuary 1, 2025. Additional rebates are provided for in amounts of(i) up to $100 for related equipment, (ii) $300 for an electric power-assistedbicycle designed for carrying cargo, defined in the bill, and (iii)$250 for an adaptive electric power-assisted bicycle, also definedin the bill.

Summary: Recycling Infrastructure Improvement Fund; established;report. Establishes the Virginia Recycling Infrastructure ImprovementFund for the purpose of supporting local government recycling programs.The bill requires the Department of Environmental Quality to administerthe Fund as a grant program to encourage the establishment of physicalinfrastructure and equipment necessary to start or improve local government recycling operations. The bill prohibits local governmentsfrom discontinuing their recycling programs until after July 1, 2028.

Summary: Virginia Tourism Authority; Governor's MajorEntertainment Opportunity Fund. Renames the Governor's MotionPicture Opportunity Fund under the Virginia Tourism Authority asthe Governor's Major Entertainment Opportunity Fund and changes itspurpose from supporting the film and video industries in Virginiato supporting major entertainment events not regularly scheduled inVirginia by providing the means for attracting entertainment operationsand projects with spectators or participants in the Commonwealthusing Virginia employees, goods, and services.

Summary: Virginia investment performance grants; Virginia economic development incentive grants. Requires, for any Virginia investment performance grant award determination that includes a job creation requirement, an eligible manufacturer or research and development service to pay an average wage, excluding fringe benefits, that is no less than the prevailing average wage for such new jobs. Under the bill, beginning July 1, 2024, (i) the aggregate amount of Virginia investment performance grants payable to all grant recipients in any fiscal year shall not exceed $7 million and (ii) grants shall be payable in amounts up to $5 million per eligible manufacturer or research and development service in five equal, annual installments of up to $1 million, beginning in the first year after verification of capital investment and pledged employment. The bill also provides that eligible companies shall be eligible to receive Virginia economic development incentive grants in the first year after verification that requirements applicable to such grant are satisfied. The bill contains an enactment clause clarifying that no existing agreement entered into prior to the effective date of the bill shall be impacted by the bill.

Summary: Apprenticeship program; film and television industry. Requires the Director of Workforce Development and Advancement to establish a program to promote apprenticeships in the film and television industry. The Director may provide financial incentives to employers who hire and retain an apprentice in the film and television industry for at least six months. In consultation with the Virginia Film Office, the Director shall establish guidelines and criteria for the program.