Summary: Commission on Electric Utility Regulation; evaluation of infrastructure necessary for electric vehicle charging facilities. Directs the State Corporation Commission and the Department of Housing and Community Development to provide technical assistance to the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation (the Commission) if the Commission evaluates the design and deployment of the electrical distribution infrastructure necessary to support the installation of electric vehicle charging facilities in new developments consisting of single-family and multifamily residential units. The bill requires the Commission to engage representatives from the residential and commercial development industries, private sector utility consultants, and other stakeholders if it conducts such an evaluation.

Summary: Requirement for electric vehicle charging stationsfor certain developments. Provides that any locality may by ordinancerequire electric vehicle charging stations as part of subdivisionor site plan approval for a development containing commercial, industrial,or multifamily residential uses with a density of seven residentialdwelling units per acre or greater. The bill contains a delayed effectivedate of July 1, 2025.

Summary: Enterprise zones; renewal periods. Authorizes the Governor, upon the recommendation of the Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development, to renew enterprise zones for up to four five-year renewal periods for zones designated on or after July 1, 2005, and for up to two five-year renewal periods for zones designated before July 1, 2005. Under current law, zones designated on or after July 1, 2005, may be renewed for up to three such periods and zones designated before July 1, 2005, may be renewed for up to one such period.

Summary: Conservation of trees during land development process; authorized localities. Allows any locality to adopt an ordinance providing for the conservation of trees during the land development process. Under current law, only a locality within Planning District 8 (Northern Virginia) that meets certain population density and nonattainment classification criteria is authorized to adopt such an ordinance. This bill was incorporated into HB 1100.

Summary: Local enforcement of property maintenance.Adds the violation of one or more local ordinances related to theproper maintenance of property to existing provisions that allow a locality to require a property owner to remove, repair, or securea building, wall, or other structure that might endanger the publichealth or safety of other residents of such locality as a reasonfor requiring such maintenance. The bill also allows the localitythrough its own agents or employees to take such actions after propernotice.

Summary: Release of developer performance guarantees.Clarifies that existing provisions related to the periodic partialand final release of developer performance guarantees also appliesto performance guarantees for erosion and sediment control measures,stormwater management facilities, and fill and borrow areas.

Summary: Community revitalization fund; expanding use for all localities. Expands the current provisions of law allowing for the establishment of a community revitalization fund for the purpose of preventing neighborhood deterioration to apply to all localities. Currently, only the City of Richmond is authorized to establish such a fund. This bill is identical to SB 49 and is a recommendation of the Virginia Housing Commission.

Summary: Conservation and replacement of trees during development process. Expands certain existing local government authority to conserve or replace trees during the development process by expanding such authority statewide. The bill allows localities to establish higher tree canopy replacement percentages based on density per acre. The bill also alters the current process for granting exceptions to a local ordinance by altering a provision that requires the granting of an exception when strict application of the ordinance would result in unnecessary or unreasonable hardship to the developer and replacing it with a requirement that the locality concur with such determination. The bill permits localities to monitor and assess the condition and coverage of tree canopies at development sites during the time period up to 20 years' maturity of the planted trees. The bill makes numerous technical amendments.

Summary: Conservation of trees; Town of Vienna. Allows the Town of Vienna, by ordinance, to require that a subdivision or development provide for the preservation or replacement of trees on the development site such that the minimum tree canopies or covers 10 years after development is projected to meet specified coverage criteria. Under current law, the criteria apply to tree canopies or covers 20 years after development. This bill was incorporated into HB 1100.

Summary: Zoning; residential and electrical generation projects; period of validity. Provides that the conditions of a special exception or special use permit may include a period of validity; however, in the case of a special exception or special use permit for residential and electrical generation projects, the period of validity shall be no fewer than three years. The bill provides that for so long as a special exception, special use permit, or conditional use permit remains valid, no change or amendment to any local ordinance, map, resolution, rule, regulation, policy, or plan adopted subsequent to the date of approval of the special exception, special use permit, or conditional use permit shall adversely affect the right of the developer or his successor in interest to commence and complete an approved development in accordance with the lawful terms of the special exception, special use permit, or conditional use permit unless the change or amendment is required to comply with state law or there has been a mistake, fraud, or a change in circumstances substantially affecting the public health, safety, or welfare.

Summary: Counties, cities and towns; powers of localgovernment; conveyance of real property; public hearing requirement.Adds to the list of exemptions from the requirement imposed uponlocalities to hold a public hearing prior to the disposition of realproperty owned by such locality the conveyance of any utility easementnecessary to provide utilities to residential properties adjacentto property owned by the locality. Current law only excludes fromsuch public hearing requirement (i) the leasing of real propertyto another public body, political subdivision, or authority and (ii)the conveyance of site development or utility easements related totransportation projects across public property.

Summary: Zoning; development and use of accessory dwellingunits. Requires a locality to include in its zoning ordinancesfor single-family residential zoning districts accessory dwellingunits, or ADUs, as defined in the bill, as a permitted accessory use. The bill requires a person to seek a permit for an ADU from thelocality, requires the locality to issue such permit if the personmeets certain requirements enumerated in the bill, and restrictsthe fee for such permit to $100 or less. The bill prohibits the localityfrom requiring (i) dedicated parking for the ADU; (ii) lot sizesor setbacks for the ADU greater than that of the primary dwelling;(iii) consanguinity or affinity between the occupants of the ADUand the primary dwelling; and (iv) redundant water, sewer, or septiccapacity for the ADU. The bill has a delayed effective date of January1, 2025.

Summary: Affordable housing; assisted living facilities. Allows localities that have adopted an affordable housing program to require that in an application for a special exception or special use permit affordable rental units be included for any proposed development of an assisted living facility. Such ordinance shall apply to newly licensed assisted living facilities and permit applications approved on or after January 1, 2025.

Summary: Southwest Regional Recreation Authority; powers. Provides for the Attorney General to provide legal services in civil matters upon the request of the executive director or board of directors of the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority. The bill also provides for the board of the Authority to adopt policies for the procurement of goods and services and requires such policies to incorporate certain provisions of the Virginia Public Procurement Act. In addition, the bill (i) makes the provisions of the Virginia Personnel Act and the policies of the Department of Human Resource Management applicable to employees of the Authority, (ii) authorizes the Director of the Department of General Services to lease vehicles and construction and forestry equipment to the Authority, and (iii) authorizes the Commissioner of Highways to lease construction or forestry vehicles to the Authority.

Summary: Conservation of trees during land development process. Expands current provisions that provide that certain localities in Planning District 8 (Northern Virginia) may, by ordinance, require conservation of trees during the land development process by making such provisions available to localities statewide. This bill incorporates HB 170 and HB 534.

Summary: Affordable housing; City of Richmond. Addsthe City of Richmond to the list of localities with authority toprovide for an affordable housing dwelling unit program.

Summary: Russell County Industrial Development Authority; appointments. Clarifies that the board of supervisors of Russell County may appoint nine members to its industrial development authority, which shall consist of two members from the governing body of a town that has used its borrowing capacity to borrow $2 million or more for industrial development and such other members as the board of supervisors shall agree upon. Under current law, two of the members must come from a town that has used its borrowing capacity to borrow $2 million or more for industrial development. This bill is identical to SB 727.

Summary: Civil penalty for demolition of historic structures. Authorizes any locality to adopt an ordinance establishing a civil penalty for the razing, demolition, or moving of a building or structure that is located in a historic district or that has been designated by a governing body as a historic structure or landmark in violation of an ordinance that no such building or structure shall be razed, demolished, or moved without the approval of a review board. The bill provides that such civil penalty shall not exceed the market value of the property as determined by the assessed value of the property at the time of razing, demolition, or moving of the building or structure.

Summary: Plastic bag tax; distribution to towns. Providesthat any town located within a county that has imposed a disposableplastic bag tax shall receive a distribution of revenues collectedby the county based on the local sales tax distribution formula forappropriations to towns. The bill requires that towns use such revenuesfor the same purposes allowable for a county or city.

Summary: Virginia Regional Industrial Facilities Act; Planning Districts 13 and 14. Adds Planning Districts 13 (Southside) and 14 (Commonwealth Regional Commission) to the list of areas where localities may create a regional industrial facility authority that contains a town and only one city or county rather than at least two cities or counties.

Summary: Charter; Town of Smithfield. Amends the charter for the Town of Smithfield in Isle of Wight County to reflect the town's shift from May to November municipal elections. The bill also updates or repeals outdated provisions of the town's charter. This bill is identical to SB 309.

Summary: Waiving of utility connection fees in certainareas; City of Staunton. Allows the City of Staunton to reduceor waive utility connection fees in certain designated areas.

Summary: Charter; City of Colonial Heights. Amends the charter of the City of Colonial Heights by updating language related to the duties of the City Manager and City Attorney, including elimination of the City Attorney's duties to the school board and school superintendent. The bill also includes the update or repeal of various outdated provisions related to appropriations, purchasing, and capital improvements. This bill is identical to SB 112.

Summary: Charter; City of Virginia Beach; board of equalization. Amends the charter for the City of Virginia Beach by expanding theboard of equalization from four members to five members and an alternate.

Summary: Charter; City of Richmond. Makes extensiveupdates to the charter for the City of Richmond. Many changes inthe bill have the effect of removing outdated or duplicative provisionsand more closely aligning the city's powers with those set out ingeneral law. Other changes include authorizing compensation to individualcouncil members as may be set by the city council by resolution ascompensation for attending meetings of standing committees or othermeetings of the city council, in addition to the sums permitted by general law. In addition, the bill authorizes the city council tofix an additional sum to be paid to the president and vice presidentof the city council, notwithstanding the limitations set out in generallaw. The bill makes the city's chief administrative officer, ratherthan the mayor, responsible for making certain recommendations tothe council concerning the personnel system. Further changes in thebill provide for additional protected classes to include all of theprotected classes recognized under general law. The bill also removesthe requirement that the mayor annually submit a capital budget programto the city council and authorizes the city's chief administrativeofficer, not the mayor, to make transfers between completed projectsand projects that are incomplete. The bill contains numerous technicalamendments.

Summary: Vacant buildings; registration. Permits any county, city, or town to require, by ordinance, the owner ofany building that has been vacant for at least 12 months and (i) thatmeets the definition of "derelict building" in relevant law, (ii)that meets the definition of "criminal blight" in relevant law, or(iii) in which a locality has determined a person is living withoutthe authority of the owner to register such building annually. Undercurrent law, any city and certain towns are permitted to requirethe owner of any building that has been vacant for at least 12 monthsand meets the definition of "derelict building" in relevant law toregister such building annually. This bill is a recommendation ofthe Virginia Housing Commission.

Summary: Home-based firearms dealers; prohibited nearschools; penalties. Provides that no home-based firearms dealer,as defined in the bill, shall be engaged in the business of selling,trading, or transferring firearms at wholesale or retail within 1.5miles of any elementary or middle school, including buildings andgrounds. The bill provides that any person who willfully violatessuch prohibition is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor for a first offenseand guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense.

Summary: Military centered community zones; local designation. Allows localities to establish, by ordinance, one or more military centered community zones, defined in the bill as a community that has a significant presence of military personnel living or working in the designated area and where such presence drives, or has the potential to drive, significant economic activity. The bill provides that a locality, or another political subdivision acting on behalf of the locality, may offer unique benefits to businesses looking to locate within a zone for the purpose of serving the needs of the military personnel, including reduction of certain fees and taxes. In addition, the bill provides that local governing bodies are authorized to enter into agreements for the payment of economic development incentive grants to such businesses. The bill also allows a governing body to provide for certain regulatory flexibility and incentives and provides that the establishment of a military centered community zone shall not preclude the area from also being designated as an enterprise zone or from receiving support under the Virginia Military Community Infrastructure Grant Program. This bill is identical to SB 343.

Summary: Assistant attorneys for the Commonwealth; Compensation Board. Provides that the Compensation Board shall provide foremploying at least one compensated assistant to the attorney forthe Commonwealth in every county and city where the attorney forthe Commonwealth devotes his full time to his duties and does notengage in the private practice of law. Under current law, the CompensationBoard has discretion in determining if a county or city needs toemploy any compensated assistants to the attorney for the Commonwealth.

Summary: Local historic districts; tax incentives. Allows a locality that establishes a local historic district to provide tax incentives for the conservation and renovation of historic structures in such district. The bill provides that such incentives may include tax rebates to the extent allowed by the Constitution of Virginia.

Summary: Maintenance of vegetative growth on certain property. Provides that a locality may require the owner of property that (i) was formerly used as a golf course but where such use has been discontinued and (ii) abuts an area zoned for residential purposes to maintain the vegetative growth on the former golf course property in a manner that (a) prevents such property from becoming a detriment to the health, safety, or welfare of the residents of the abutting residential area and (b) does not change the character of the former golf course property so as to be incompatible with the surrounding residential area. The bill further provides that whenever the locality deems it necessary, after reasonable notice as determined by the locality, the locality may have its agents or employees cut or maintain the vegetative growth, in which event the cost and expenses thereof shall be chargeable to and paid by the owner of such property and may be collected by the locality as taxes are collected. An enactment clause states that the provisions of the bill are declarative of existing law.

Summary: Charter; Town of Pulaski. Amends the charter for the Town of Pulaski in Pulaski County to reflect the town's shift from May to November municipal elections. The bill clarifies that the town council's membership consists of seven members, including the mayor, and provides that the mayor may vote in the council. The bill also changes the time of the election of the vice-mayor from even-numbered years to odd-numbered years at the first meeting of the council. This bill is identical to SB 475.

Summary: Planning districts; King George County.Moves King George County from Planning District 16 (George WashingtonRegional Commission) to Planning District 17 (Northern Neck PlanningDistrict Commission). The bill requires the Department of Housingand Community Development to assist with this transition.

Summary: Charter; Town of Rocky Mount. Amends thecharter for the Town of Rocky Mount in Franklin County to reflectthe town's transition from May to November for municipal elections.The bill also imposes term limits of three consecutive terms forthe mayor and members of the town council.

Summary: Charter; City of Martinsville. Amends thecharter for the City of Martinsville by (i) allowing notice of specialmeetings to council members to be given by electronic mail, textmessage, or telephone call; (ii) providing for compensation to membersof the city council to be in accordance with general law; (iii) providing for action by resolution of the city council to make appropriationsor contract indebtedness; and (iv) requiring the city manager tobecome a resident of the City or reside within a certain distanceof the City. The bill makes numerous technical changes and repealsseveral outdated sections.

Summary: Local zoning regulations related to mines; Planning District 8. Provides that localities in Planning District 8 (Northern Virginia) may establish standards and adopt zoning regulations related to mines and mineral mines that exceed standards and regulations adopted by the Director of the Department of Energy, including the prohibition of all mining and mineral mining activity in any area of the locality zoned for residential use.

Summary: County manager plan of government; powers.Broadens several powers available to counties that have adopted thecounty manager plan of government by giving such counties the optionof following general law rather than the provisions specified inthis optional form of county government. The bill also allows forthe direct election of the board chairman if approved by referendum,rather than having the board chairman chosen by other members of the county board. Currently, only Arlington County has adopted thecounty manager plan of government.

Summary: Charter; City of Martinsville; town status;referendum. Amends the charter for the City of Martinsville torequire the circuit court for the City of Martinsville, prior tonotifying the Supreme Court of the City's adoption of an ordinanceand petition for an order granting town status to the City, to firstrequire an election to be held on the following question: "Shall theCity of Martinsville become a town?" The bill provides that if amajority of the qualified voters of the City voting on the questionare in favor of the transition from city to town status, the specialcourt shall enter the order granting town status in accordance withthe procedures, requirements, and provisions of general law.