Summary: Medical cannabis program; product expiration; confidentiality; penalty. Increases from six months to 12 months the maximum expiration date allowable for a cannabis product after registration absent stability testing. The bill allows pharmaceutical processors to employ as pharmacy technician trainees individuals who have less than one year of experience and allows pharmaceutical processors to employ persons with less than one year of experience to perform certain other supervised duties for which current law requires two years of experience. The bill also provides for the confidentiality of certain records and other information of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, including the exemption of certain information from the mandatory disclosure provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

Summary: Powers of investigators; enforcement of certaintobacco laws. Authorizes investigators with the Office of theAttorney General to seize cigarettes that are unlawfully sold, possessed,distributed, transported, imported, or otherwise held and to accompany and participate with special agents of the Alcoholic Beverage ControlBoard or other law-enforcement officials engaging in an enforcementaction involving counterfeit and unstamped cigarettes.

Summary: Virginia Public Procurement Act; local arbitration agreements. Allows a participating locality, for any procurement solicitation or contract exceeding $10,000 for goods and services,to require the bidder or offeror to disclose certain informationregarding pre-dispute arbitration clauses, defined in the bill, inemployment, civil rights, and certain consumer disputes, and providesthat a locality may consider the policies and practices related toarbitration of each bidder and offeror. The bill also provides thata participating locality shall require the bidder or offeror to providewritten or electronic submissions to allow the locality to ascertain(i) whether the bidder or offeror requires persons with whom it isin a work relationship or prospective work relationship to sign orotherwise enter into a contract containing a pre-dispute arbitrationclause that would cover an employment or civil rights dispute and(ii) whether the bidder or offeror requires consumers to sign orotherwise enter into a contract containing a pre-dispute arbitrationclause as a condition of downloading mobile applications or using websites to pay a school district for goods, services, or fees. Thebill authorizes a participating locality to cancel, terminate, orsuspend, in whole or in part, the contract of any contractor thathas violated a provision of the bill and to declare the contractorineligible for further contracts with such locality for up to fiveyears.

Summary: Virginia Freedom of Information Act; effective date of procedures for conducting meetings held through electronic communication means during declared states of emergency. Provides that the provisions for conducting a meeting by electronic means due to a state of emergency stated in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) are declarative of existing law since March 20, 2020, with respect to the Governor's declared state of emergency due to COVID-19. Under the bill, any meeting by a public body using electronic communication means occurring from that date until July 1, 2021, and any otherwise lawful action taken at it is validated with respect to FOIA if the body provided public notice, public access, and public comment commensurate with the requirements of existing FOIA provisions regarding electronic and closed meetings. The bill is a response to the case Berry v. Bd. of Supervisors (Va. 2023) and is a recommendation of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council. This bill is identical to SB 244.

Summary: Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definitions of meetings and public business. Exempts certain public meetings from the definition of "meeting" under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to clarify that three or more members of a public body may appear and participate in such public meeting without violating the Act, provided that no public business is transacted or discussed. The bill also exempts members of a public body who attend a public meeting of a second public body without violating the Act, provided that no public business is transacted or discussed. Finally, the bill defines "public business" as activity that a public body has undertaken or proposed to undertake on behalf of the people it represents. The bill states that its provisions are declarative of existing law. This bill is identical to SB 36.

Summary: Virginia Public Procurement Act; professionalservices; definition. Adds to the definition of "professionalservices," for use throughout the Virginia Public Procurement Act,services of an investment and financial advisor procured by the Department of the Treasury.

Summary: Virginia Public Procurement Act; methods of procurement; certain construction projects. Allows a public body to establish purchase procedures, if adopted in writing, not requiring competitive sealed bids or competitive negotiation for single or term contracts for non-transportation-related construction projects if the aggregate or the sum of all phases is not expected to exceed $300,000. Current law places the limit at $200,000.

Summary: Virginia Public Procurement Act; Virginia resident preference. Provides preference as it relates to procurement for a bidder who is a resident of Virginia and then a bidder whose goods are produced in the United States. For the procurement of goods by manufacturers, when the lowest responsive and responsible bidder is not a resident of Virginia and the bid of any Virginia resident is within 10 percent of such bid, the bill gives the lowest responsive and responsible bidder that is a Virginia resident the option to match the price of the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Furthermore, if the lowest responsive and responsible bidder is a resident of another state and such state allows a resident a percentage preference or price-matching preference for the procurement of goods, the bill grants a like preference to responsive and responsible bidders who are residents of Virginia. Under the bill, an eligible bidder that is a Virginia resident shall be granted the greater of either preference. The bill exempts a public body from the provisions of the bill if such public body is rendered ineligible to receive federal funding due to the provisions of the bill. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2027. Finally, the bill directs the Department of General Services to report to the General Assembly regarding the bill's efficacy, including any retaliatory action taken by other states, no later than the first day of the 2025 Regular Session.This bill incorporates HB 164, HB 341, and HB 1154.

Summary: Virginia Public Procurement Act; additional public works contract requirements. Provides that public bodies shall require the contractor and its subcontractors for any capital outlay project, as defined in the bill, to complete certain safety training programs, maintain records of compliance with applicable laws, and participate in approved apprenticeship training programs. The bill provides exemptions from such requirements for reasons related to lack of availability of apprentices and high costs. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2025.

Summary: Virginia Human Rights Act; prohibits discriminationon the basis of citizenship or immigration status. Adds citizenshipor immigration status to the classes protected from unlawful discriminationin the Virginia Human Rights Act.

Summary: Board of Housing and Community Development;Uniform Statewide Building Code; local building officials. Requiresthe Board of Housing and Community Development to amend the UniformStatewide Building Code and corresponding regulations to remove anyauthority for local building departments to appoint local buildingofficials for permanent terms. The bill requires the Board to requirelocal building departments to appoint such officials for a term notto exceed 10 years and to only reappoint such officials after holdinga performance evaluation.

Summary: Affordable dwelling unit ordinances; accessibleunits. Provides that any locality that has adopted an affordabledwelling unit ordinance may require under such ordinance that a set percentage of the units built by a developer are compliant withthe appropriate requirements of the American National Standards forBuilding and Facilities for Type A units or with any other standards adopted as part of regulations promulgated by the U.S. Departmentof Housing and Urban Development providing accessibility and usabilityfor persons with a physical disability.

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: Department of General Services and Departmentof Transportation; regulations and requirements; transit and schoolbus shelters; concrete pad construction. Directs the Departmentof General Services and the Department of Transportation to amendand conform the regulations and requirements for localities and transitagencies constructing concrete pad foundations for school bus shelters,public transit shelters, and rideshare stations.

Summary: Uniform Statewide Building Code; bus shelters. Delegates enforcement of the Uniform Statewide Building Code to the local building official for bus shelters that do not exceed 256 square feet that are to be constructed for transit agencies receiving state money. The bill exempts the state from liability for any such bus shelter constructed on state-owned property. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2025.

Summary: Board of Housing and Community Development; stakeholder advisory group; report. Directs the Board of Housing and Community Development (the Board) to convene a stakeholder advisory group including fire code officials to evaluate and recommend revisions to the Uniform Statewide Building Code to permit Group R-2 occupancies to be served by a single exit, provided that the building has not more than six stories above grade plane. The bill requires the stakeholder advisory group to submit its findings and recommendations to the Board and to the Chairmen of the House Committee on General Laws and the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology no later than December 1, 2024. This bill is identical to SB 195. 

Summary: Virginia Human Rights Act; dual-filed civil actions. Clarifies timelines for dual-filing complaints alleging unlawful discrimination under the Virginia Human Rights Act and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The bill allows either the complainant or the respondent for any charge of discrimination to request a notice of the right to file a civil action after the Commission has closed its file on such charge of discrimination.

Summary: Local government ordinances related to fire departments; billing on behalf of volunteer fire departments. Provides that the governing body of any county, city, or town in which a fire department or fire company is established may make such ordinances in relation to the powers and duties of such fire departments or fire companies as it deems proper, including billing on behalf of volunteer fire departments for the provision of emergency medical services.

Summary: Virginia Consumer Protection Act; prohibited practices; ignition interlock system. Provides that advertising for any ignition interlock system by a vendor not approved by the Commission on the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program to operate in Virginia; targeted advertising to a person before a determination of guilt; and any advertising, before or after a determination of guilt, without a conspicuous statement that such advertisement is not affiliated with any government agency is an unlawful consumer transaction in violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The bill exempts advertisements approved by the Commission and provided at a Commission-approved location. 

Summary: Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; inclusive housing plan; individuals with disabilities. Directs the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (the Commissioner) to work with stakeholders to develop a plan to ensure that people with disabilities across the Commonwealth, including individuals affected by the Settlement Agreement entered into on August 23, 2012, pursuant to U.S. of America v. Commonwealth of Virginia, have an opportunity to access affordable and inclusive housing, as defined in the bill. The bill requires the Commissioner to present the plan to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Health and Human Services and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by November 1, 2025.

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: Uniform Statewide Building Code; violations; fines. Increases from $2,500 to $5,000 the minimum amount and from $5,000 to $10,000 the maximum amount that any person, firm, or corporation shall be fined when convicted of a third or subsequent offense of violating the provisions of the Uniform Statewide Building Code committed within 10 years of another such offense after having been at least twice previously convicted of such an offense. The bill also adds penalties for similar violations committed by owners of a blighted multifamily property. This bill is identical to SB 538.

Summary: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; Department of Housing and Community Development; summary of rental agreement provisions. Requires landlords to include, upon request, a summary page with any written rental agreement offered to a prospective tenant that includes the duration of the lease, the amount of rent and the date upon which such rent shall be due, an explanation of any deposits and late fees that may be charged, and any termination provisions. The bill also directs the Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development to develop a sample summary page to be used by landlords to summarize the provisions of the lease agreement and to maintain such sample summary page on the Department's website in English and any language for which any locality in the Commonwealth regularly provides official government communications. The bill also requires any landlord who owns or manages more than four rental dwelling units or more than a 10 percent interest in more than four rental dwelling units, whether individually or through a business entity, in any locality in the Commonwealth that regularly provides official government communications in languages other than English to provide, upon request of a prospective tenant, such summary page in any of such languages using the sample summary page developed by the Director.

Summary: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; tenant's remedies for exclusion from dwelling unit due to condemnation. Provides that the landlord shall be liable to the tenant for actual damages and reasonable attorney fees if the tenant gave notice to the landlord during the tenancy that his dwelling unit was in violation of an applicable building code, such violation posed a substantial risk to the health, safety, and welfare of a tenant, and such violation resulted in the tenant being excluded from his dwelling unit due to such unit being condemned. The bill includes exceptions to such liability, including negligence by the tenant, an act of God, and termination due to certain fire damage.

Summary: Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act; manufactured home park; notice of sale and relocation expenses. Requires a manufactured home park owner to provide notice to the Department of Housing and Community Development and each manufactured home park tenant 90 days prior to unconditionally accepting an offer to purchase a manufactured home park. The bill grants a right of first refusal for localities located in Planning District 8. The bill provides for $5,000 in relocation expenses for a manufactured home owner if a rental agreement is terminated due to the sale of the manufactured home park to a buyer that is going to redevelop the park and change its use. 

Summary: Short-term rental property; locality's ability to prohibit lessee or sublessee operator. Prohibits a locality from barring an operator, as defined in existing law, from offering such property as a short-term rental solely on the basis that the operator is a lessee or sublessee of such property, provided that the property owner has granted permission for its use as a short-term rental. The bill adds an attestation that the property owner has granted such permission if the operator is a lessee or sublessee to the information that an operator must provide to annually register such short-term rental. The bill permits a locality to limit a lessee or sublessee to one short-term rental. 

Summary: Board of Housing and Community Development; Uniform Statewide Building Code; building owners and operators to supply cooling by April 1 and heating by October 1. Directs the Board of Housing and Community Development to evaluate revisions to the Uniform Statewide Building Code to require that owners and operators of certain apartment buildings begin to supply cooling by April 1 and heat by October 1 of each year to maintain certain temperatures. Under the current regulations, such cooling period begins May 15 and such heating period begins October 15.

Summary: Department of Professional and OccupationalRegulation; autonomous agent. Authorizes regulatory boards topromulgate regulations for an applicant requesting licensure of anautonomous agent that is owned or operated by such applicant. Autonomous agent is defined in the bill as software or hardware that operatesindependently, without real-time human intervention, and is capableof performing tasks that, when executed by a human, would requirelicensure by a regulatory board.

Summary: State debt collection; statute of limitations. Establishes a seven-year statute of limitations on the commencement of any action by a state agency or institution to collect past due accounts receivable due to the Commonwealth.

Summary: Department of Human Resource Management; disclosureof certain information. Requires the Department of Human ResourceManagement to provide any recognized public employee association,upon the request of such association, a list containing the nameand work address of each current state employee. The bill requiressuch association to ensure that the information contained in suchlist remains confidential and prohibits any mailing sent by suchassociation to a state employee from containing (i) political or partisan content, (ii) commercial advertising, or (iii) the personal informationof any state employee.

Summary: Department of Professional and OccupationalRegulation; application review timelines. Requires each regulatoryboard within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulationto adopt a timeline of each stage that a completed application forlicensure, certification, or registration will undergo as it is reviewedby such board. The bill also requires that such regulatory boardapprove any completed application within 30 days of its receipt unless such board has reasonable certainty that such applicationincludes grounds for denial.

Summary: Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation; Board for Professional Soil Scientists, Wetland Professionals, and Geologists; professional wetland delineator certification requirements. Replaces the requirement that an applicant with a bachelor's degree in a relevant field have four years of relevant experience to be certified as a professional wetland delineator with three years of such experience. For applicants seeking certification through experience, the bill reduces to three years the required experience that the applicant must have in wetland science research or as a teacher of wetlands curriculum in an accredited institution of higher education in order to be certified.

Summary: Board of Accountancy; powers and duties. Repeals the requirement for an annual audit of the Board of Accountancy and amends several Code provisions relating to the Board. The bill changes the Secretariat of the Board from the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to the Secretary of Finance. The bill authorizes the Board to initiate complaints against (i) individuals or firms claiming to hold a Virginia license, as defined in the bill, and (ii) unlicensed individuals or firms using the certified public accountant title in Virginia, as defined in the bill. The bill also grants the Executive Director of the Board the power to request and receive reports from the Central Criminal Records Exchange in conjunction with the Executive Director's investigative and enforcement powers. Finally, the bill directs the Board to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill. This bill is identical to SB 463. 

Summary: 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.

Summary: Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Potato Board; membership. Reduces from seven to five the number of members that serve on the Potato Board. The bill provides that the terms of persons serving as members of the Potato Board prior to the effective date of the bill shall expire on the effective date of the bill and that five members shall be appointed in accordance with the staggered terms set out in the bill.

Summary: Local library boards; King and Queen County.Adds King and Queen County to the list of localities that arenot required to establish a library board.

Summary: Board for Contractors; required regulations and disclosures. Requires the Board for Contractors to adopt regulations requiring all Class A, B, and C residential contractors, excluding subcontractors to the contracting parties and those who engage in routine maintenance or service contracts, to use legible written contracts that include certain terms and conditions. The bill directs the Board to require a statement of protections be provided by the contractor to the homeowner, consumer, or buyer in transactions involving door-to-door solicitations or any residential rooftop solar installation. The bill requires the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation to review by July 1, 2025, its licensing exam for alternative energy system contracting to ensure such exam includes questions related to the physical installation of alternative energy systems on preexisting structures. The bill also requires the Board for Contractors to create a disclosure form to be provided in any transaction involving a residential rooftop solar installation to include specific disclosures regarding the risks associated with residential rooftop solar installation. Finally, the bill requires the State Corporation Commission to convene a work group of relevant stakeholders to develop recommendations for any additional consumer protections regarding the sale, lease, or installation of a solar energy facility with a generating capacity of 25 kilowatts or less and report the work group's recommendations to certain committees of the General Assembly by November 30, 2024. The bill is identical to SB 313 and has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2025.

Summary: Duties of agencies and their appointing authorities; diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic plans. Requires each state agency to submit its annual report assessing the impact of its diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic plans on the populations served by the agency and on the agency's workforce and budget to the General Assembly, in addition to the Governor, by July 1 of each year.