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2024 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor

Chair: R. Creigh Deeds

Clerk: Hobie Lehman, Andrew Horton
Staff: Thomas Stevens
Date of Meeting: January 29, 2024
Time and Place: 15 mins after adjournment / Senate Room A, GAB, 3rd Floor
Updated to add SB 578

S.B. 87

Patron: Favola

Health insurance provider panels; incentives for mental health services. Requires a provider panel contract between a carrier and a primary care provider to include provisions that provide incentives or payments to reward a primary care provider for referring patients to mental health services that may be provided on-site, via telehealth on-site, or through an off-site referral.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 38.2-3407.10 of the Code of Virginia, relating to health insurance provider panels; incentives for mental health services.

24101698D

S.B. 118

Patron: Locke

Health insurance; coverage for doula care services. Requires health insurers, corporations providing health care subscription contracts, and health maintenance organizations whose policy, contract, or plan includes coverage for obstetrical services to provide coverage for doula care services provided by a state-certified doula. The bill requires such coverage to include coverage for at least eight visits during the antepartum or postpartum period and support during labor and delivery. The bill provides that health insurance carriers are (i) not required to pay for duplicate services actually rendered by both a state-certified doula and another health care provider and (ii) prohibited from requiring supervision, signature, or referral by any other health care provider as a condition of reimbursement for doula care services, except when those requirements are also applicable to other categories of health care providers. The provisions of the bill apply to policies, contracts, or plans delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in the Commonwealth on and after January 1, 2025.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 38.2-4319 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 38.2-3414.2, relating to health insurance; coverage for doula care services.

24103178D

S.B. 137

Patron: Carroll Foy

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.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 56-581.2, relating to electric utilities; State Corporation Commission; energy policy of the Commonwealth.

24103478D

S.B. 143

Patron: Carroll Foy

Railroad safety; civil penalties. Adds various requirements for railroad companies, including (i) prohibiting placing stationary cars or trains on its track within 1,500 feet on both sides of any crossing of a railroad with a highway; (ii) prohibiting trains that exceed 8,500 feet in length on any mainline or branch line; (iii) requiring a crew of at least two qualified individuals on all trains, locomotives, or light engines used in connection with moving freight; (iv) requiring warning signs or devices for certain track obstructions that could endanger a railroad company employee; and (v) requiring walkways adjacent to yard tracks where employees regularly perform switching service. The bill requires that fines for a violation of the train-length requirement be deposited in the Shortline Railway Preservation and Development Fund for railway safety projects.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 56-412.1 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 7 of Chapter 13 of Title 56 sections numbered 56-425.1, 56-425.2, and 56-425.3, relating to railroad safety; civil penalties.

24101954D

S.B. 152

Patron: Suetterlein

Electric utilities; retail competition; aggregated competitive purchasers. Creates a limited exception to the requirement that the State Corporation Commission must find that a petition for certain competitive purchasers to aggregate their demands to become qualified to purchase retail electric energy is consistent with the public interest in order for the Commission to approve such petition. The bill provides that a customer seeking such approval may remunerate the utility for any adverse effects to the incumbent utility or its remaining utility customers contrary to the public interest as determined by the Commission. The bill also provides that such customers shall not be denied permission to procure retail electric energy from a competitive supplier and that such remuneration fee shall be recalculated by the Commission on a triennial basis from when a customer commences a competitive service agreement.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 56-577 of the Code of Virginia, relating to electric utilities; retail competition; aggregated competitive purchasers.

24102952D

S.B. 185

Patron: Sturtevant

E-Verify program. Requires every employer to enroll in the E-Verify program by January 1, 2025, and to use the program for each newly hired employee who is to perform work within the Commonwealth. Under current law, only state agencies and certain employers with contracts with state agencies are required to use the program. The bill also requires the Attorney General to request the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, once each calendar quarter, to provide a list of agencies and employers that are enrolled and participate in the E-Verify program and to make such list available on the Attorney General's website.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 40.1-11.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to employer participation in the E-Verify program.

24104930D

S.B. 230

Patron: Hashmi


Electric utilities; energy efficiency programs; duty to implement the Energy Policy of the Commonwealth; RPS program requirements; competitive procurement. Provides that "in the public interest" for the purpose of assessing energy efficiency programs means that the State Corporation Commission determines that the program is cost-effective and directs the Commission to initiate a proceeding no later than December 31, 2025, to establish a single, consistent cost-effectiveness test for use in evaluating proposed energy efficiency programs.

The bill provides (i) that "total electric energy" for purposes of the RPS Program requirements does not include energy sold to certain customers purchasing 100 percent renewable energy and (ii) that in any RPS program compliance year, any electric energy that was generated in the previous calendar year from certain nuclear generating plants, or any zero-carbon electric generating facilities, including small modular nuclear reactors and green hydrogen facilities, will reduce the utility's RPS Program requirements by an equivalent amount.

The bill provides that the Commission and its staff have the affirmative duty to ensure the Commonwealth implements the Energy Policy of the Commonwealth 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 to which each incumbent electric utility has joined.

The bill requires that for certain required petitions by Appalachian Power and Dominion Energy Virginia for approvals to construct, acquire, or purchase the generating capacity using energy derived from sunlight or onshore wind, at least 35 percent of such generating capacity is from the purchases of energy from solar or onshore wind facilities owned by persons other than such utilities. Current law requires 35 percent of such generating capacity to be from the purchases of energy from solar or onshore wind facilities owned by persons other than such utilities.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 56-576 and 56-585.5 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 56-581.2, relating to electric utilities; energy efficiency programs; duty to implement the Energy Policy of the Commonwealth; RPS program requirements; competitive procurement.

24104990D

S.B. 234

Patron: Hashmi


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.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 17 of Title 45.2 an article numbered 10, consisting of a section numbered 45.2-1735, relating to Parking Lot Solar Development Pilot Program and Fund; report.

24101891D

S.B. 253

Patron: Surovell


Shared solar programs; Dominion Energy Virginia; minimum bill; capacity. Amends existing shared solar program provisions to apply to Dominion Energy Virginia (Phase II Utility). The bill provides that a customer's net bill for participation in the shared solar program means the resulting amount a customer must pay the utility after the bill credit, defined in relevant law, is deducted from the customer's monthly gross utility bill. The bill requires the State Corporation Commission to establish a minimum bill, below which a subscriber's net bill cannot go, that is calculated based on the amount of kilowatt-hours billed by the utility. The bill also changes the shared solar program capacity to 450 megawatts and requires the Commission's regulations to allow for program participation by all jurisdictional and nonjurisdictional customer classes.

Under the bill, co-location of two or more shared solar facilities is permitted for shared solar program participation if the facilities are located on a single parcel of land. The bill requires the Commission to (i) establish regulations that prohibit early termination fees and credit reporting for low-income customers, (ii) require net financial savings for subscribers relative to the subscription fee, (iii) require a customer's affirmative consent before providing customer billing and usage data to a subscriber organization, and (iv) establish customer engagement rules. Under the bill, any net crediting fee imposed by the shared solar program shall not exceed one percent of the bill credit value and shall be charged to the subscriber organization. The bill also provides that a utility is permitted to seek recovery of bill credit costs in its triennial base review only if such costs would result in the utility being unable to meet its revenue requirement after accounting for all avoided costs that can be realized by ratepayers.

The bill specifies that the Commission shall update its shared solar program consistent with the requirements of the bill by January 1, 2025, and shall require each utility to file any associated tariffs, agreements, or forms necessary for implementing the program by July 1, 2025. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Energy to convene a stakeholder work group to determine the amounts and forms of project incentives for (a) projects located on rooftops, brownfields, or landfills; (b) projects that are dual-use agricultural facilities; or (c) projects that satisfy another category as established by the Department and to submit a written report to the Chairs of the House Committee on Commerce and Energy and the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor no later than November 30, 2024.

 

A BILL to amend and reenact § 56-594.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to shared solar programs; Phase II Utility; minimum bill; capacity.

24102098D

S.B. 255

Patron: Surovell


Shared solar programs; American Electric Power; minimum bill; capacity. Requires the State Corporation Commission to establish by regulation a shared solar program, defined in the bill, that allows customers of American Electric Power (Phase I Utility) the opportunity to purchase electric power through a subscription in a shared solar facility, defined in the bill. The bill provides that a customer's net bill for participation in the shared solar program means the resulting amount a customer must pay the utility after the bill credit, defined in the bill, is deducted from the customer's monthly gross utility bill. The bill also requires the Commission to establish a minimum bill, below which a subscriber's net bill cannot go, that is calculated based on the amount of kilowatt-hours billed by the utility and specifies that low-income customers are exempt from such minimum bill.

Under the bill, co-location of two or more shared solar facilities is permitted for shared solar program participation if the facilities are located on a single parcel of land. The bill requires the Commission to (i) establish regulations that prohibit early termination fees and credit reporting for low-income customers, (ii) require net financial savings for subscribers relative to the subscription fee, (iii) require a customer's affirmative consent before providing customer billing and usage data to a subscriber organization, and (iv) establish customer engagement rules. Under the bill, any net crediting fee imposed by the shared solar program shall not exceed one percent of the bill credit value and shall be charged to the subscriber organization. The bill also provides that a utility is permitted to seek recovery of bill credit costs in its triennial base review only if such costs would result in the utility being unable to meet its revenue requirement after accounting for all avoided costs that can be realized by ratepayers.

The bill specifies that the Commission shall update its shared solar program consistent with the requirements of the bill by January 1, 2025, and shall require each utility to file any associated tariffs, agreements, or forms necessary for implementing the program by July 1, 2025. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Energy to convene a stakeholder work group to determine the amounts and forms of project incentives for (a) projects located on rooftops, brownfields, or landfills; (b) projects that are dual-use agricultural facilities; or (c) projects that satisfy another category as established by the Department and to submit a written report to the Chairs of the House Committee on Commerce and Energy and the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor no later than November 30, 2024.

 

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 56-594.4, relating to shared solar programs; Phase I Utility; minimum bill; capacity.

24102100D

S.B. 256

Patron: Surovell


Motor vehicle insurance claims; bad faith. Provides that if an insurance company denies, refuses, or fails to pay its insured, or refuses a reasonable settlement demand within the policy's coverage limits, for a claim for uninsured or underinsured motorist benefits within a reasonable time after being presented with a demand for such benefits and it is subsequently found that such denial, refusal, or failure was not in good faith, then the insurance company is liable to the insured in an amount double the amount of the judgment, together with reasonable attorney fees, expenses, and interest.

The bill also provides that when an insurance company denies, refuses, or fails to pay to its insured a claim under the provisions of a policy of motor vehicle insurance issued by such company to the insured and it is subsequently found that such denial, refusal, or failure was not made in good faith, then the insurance company is liable to the insured in an amount double the amount of the judgment, together with reasonable attorney fees and expenses, and plus interest for claims of more than $3,500 in excess of the deductible.

The bill also provides that when an uninsured person denies, refuses, or fails to pay a claimant a claim of $3,500 or less and it is subsequently found that such denial, refusal, or failure was not made in good faith, then such person is liable to the insured in an amount double the amount of the judgment, together with reasonable attorney fees and expenses.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 8.01-66.1, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, and 38.2-2206 of the Code of Virginia, relating to remedies for bad faith refusal of motor vehicle insurance claims.

24104903D

S.B. 271

Patron: Subramanyam

Net energy metering; eligible customer-generators and eligible agricultural customer-generators. Provides that no contract, lease, or arrangement by which a third party owns, maintains, or operates an electrical generating facility on an eligible-customer generator's property shall constitute the sale of electricity or cause the customer-generator or the third party to be considered an electric utility by virtue of participating in net energy metering. The bill prohibits an eligible customer-generator or eligible agricultural customer-generator from being required to provide proof of liability insurance or to purchase additional liability insurance as a condition of interconnection. The bill exempts eligible customer-generators and eligible agricultural customer-generators that operate a battery storage device of capacity commensurate with and equal to or greater than that of the electrical generating facility and in conjunction with the electrical generating facility from standby charges. The bill provides that any eligible customer-generator or eligible agricultural customer-generator may participate in demand response, energy efficiency, or peak reduction from dispatch of onsite battery service, provided that the compensation received is in exchange for a distinct service that is not already compensated by net metering credits for electricity exported to the electric distribution system or compensated by any other utility program or tariff.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 56-594 and 56-594.02 of the Code of Virginia, relating to net energy metering; eligible customer-generators and eligible agricultural customer-generators.

24102701D

S.B. 274

Patron: Deeds


Prescription Drug Affordability Board established; drug cost affordability review. Establishes the Prescription Drug Affordability Board for the purpose of protecting the citizens of the Commonwealth and other stakeholders within the health care system from the high costs of prescription drug products. The bill directs the Governor to appoint the members and alternate members of the Board and requires the Board to meet in open session at least four times annually, with certain exceptions and requirements enumerated in the bill. Members of the Board are required to disclose any conflicts of interest, as described in the bill. The bill also creates a stakeholder council for the purpose of assisting the Board in making decisions related to drug cost affordability. The bill tasks the Board with identifying prescription, generic, and other drugs, as defined in the bill, that are offered for sale in the Commonwealth and, at the Board's discretion, conducting an affordability review of any prescription drug product. The bill lists factors for the Board to consider that indicate an affordability challenge for the health care system in the Commonwealth or high out-of-pocket costs for patients. The bill also provides that any person aggrieved by a decision of the Board may request an appeal of the Board's decision and that the Attorney General shall have authority to enforce the provisions of the bill.

The bill requires the Board to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly twice annually, beginning on July 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025. Provisions of the bill shall apply to state-sponsored and state-regulated health plans and health programs and obligate such policies to limit drug payment amounts and reimbursements to an upper payment limit amount set by the Board, if applicable, following an affordability review. The bill specifies that Medicare Part D plans shall not be bound by such decisions of the Board.

The bill also requires manufacturers of prescription drugs to report information annually by April 1 to the Board instead of a nonprofit organization contracted by the Department of Health. Finally, the bill contains a severability clause and has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025.

 

A BILL to amend and reenact § 54.1-3442.02 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 32.1 a chapter numbered 7.3, consisting of sections numbered 32.1-276.12 through 32.1-276.21, relating to Prescription Drug Affordability Board established; drug cost affordability review.

24101144D

S.B. 276

Patron: Hashmi


Energy upgrade programs; implementation plans; capital investment requirements; cost recovery. Requires Dominion Energy Virginia (Phase II Utility) and American Electric Power (Phase I Utility) to implement an energy upgrade program by January 1, 2025. The bill states that such program shall allow a program operator, as defined in the bill, to implement an energy upgrade project at a customer's location and recover the costs of such project by imposing a special rate charge that is payable directly through the customer's utility bill. The bill contains provisions related to setting a special rate charge, notifying eligible customers, and marketing such program. The bill directs the State Corporation Commission to establish program guidelines and set the required amount of capital investment with incremental increases required by each utility. The bill also outlines the duties of program operators and requires each utility to hire a program operator by January 1, 2025, and to file an implementation plan once the Commission has promulgated rules establishing such program.

The bill requires the Commission to convene a stakeholder process for interested parties to evaluate issues related to energy projects within 180 days of the effective date of the bill. The bill states a number of factors for the Commission to consider and include in its rules to implement such program. In promulgating the rules, the Commission shall determine how best to include access to such program for customers who need emergency upgrades. Additionally, the Commission shall consider in promulgating rules how best to serve residents of environmental justice communities through the implementation of such program.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 23 of Title 56 sections numbered 56-596.5 through 56-596.8, relating to energy upgrade programs; implementation plans; capital investment requirements; cost recovery.

24104918D

S.B. 286

Patron: Roem

Electric utilities; underground transmission lines. Provides that the construction and reconstruction of any underground, in whole or in part, electrical transmission lines of at least 69 kilovolts and less than 500 kilovolts along a highway right-of-way under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation in Planning District 8 where a data center proposal is under construction in an area located within a half mile of a National Battlefield Park and within one mile of a state forest is in the public interest.

A BILL to provide that certain underground transmission lines are in the public interest.

24101540D

S.B. 313

Patron: VanValkenburg

Commissioner of Agricultural and Consumer Services; regulations regarding mandatory solar disclosures for solar energy facilities; report. Requires the Commissioner of Agricultural and Consumer Services to promulgate regulations for mandatory disclosures, outlined in the bill, to be included in any marketing materials that promote the sale, lease, or installation of any solar energy facility and to be included in any contract between a seller and consumer involving the sale, lease, or installation of any solar energy facility. The bill requires the Commissioner to develop a standardized form for any required disclosures. Additionally, the bill requires the Commissioner to convene a work group to develop recommendations for any additional consumer protections regarding the sale, lease, or installation of a solar energy facility that generates 25 kWh or less. The Commissioner is required to submit a written report of the work group's recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committees on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and Commerce and Energy and the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and Commerce and Labor by November 30, 2024.

A BILL to direct the Commissioner of Agricultural and Consumer Services to promulgate regulations regarding mandatory disclosures to be included in any marketing materials and contracts for the sale, lease, or installation of a solar energy facility; report.

24103160D

S.B. 346

Patron: Subramanyam

Net energy metering; solar interconnection; cost recovery. Provides that an electric distribution company shall pay $1 per kilowatt per day for the costs of lost electricity production for any and all delays beyond the regulatory notice period required by State Corporation Commission related to net energy metering. The bill requires that, for the purposes of net energy metering, an eligible customer-generator shall bear all reasonable costs of equipment required at the eligible customer-generator's side of the meter for the interconnection to the supplier's electric distribution system, including reasonable and prudent costs of additional controls, tests, or liability insurance. Additionally, the bill allows for cost recovery by Phase I and Phase II Utilities for electric distribution grid transformation projects that support the interconnection of generating facilities using energy derived from sunlight that are owned or contracted by eligible customer-generators, subject to the Commission finding those costs to be reasonable and prudent in accordance with existing law.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 56-585.1 and 56-594 of the Code of Virginia, relating to net energy metering; solar interconnection; cost recovery.

24104922D

S.B. 361

Patron: VanValkenburg

Consumer Data Protection Act; protections for children. Prohibits operators, defined in the bill, of websites, online services, or online or mobile applications from collecting or using the personal data of users they know are younger than the age of 18 without consent and prohibits the sale or disclosure of the personal data of such users.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 59.1-575 and 59.1-578 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 59.1-577.1, relating to Consumer Data Protection Act; protections for children.

24102711D

S.B. 373

Patron: Boysko

Paid family and medical leave insurance program; notice requirements; civil action. Requires the Virginia Employment Commission to establish and administer a paid family and medical leave insurance program with benefits beginning January 1, 2027. Under the program, benefits are paid to covered individuals, as defined in the bill, for family and medical leave. Funding for the program is provided through premiums assessed to employers and employees beginning January 1, 2026. The bill provides that the amount of a benefit is 80 percent of the employee's average weekly wage, not to exceed 80 percent of the state weekly wage, which amount is required to be adjusted annually to reflect changes in the statewide average weekly wage. The bill caps the duration of paid leave at 12 weeks in any application year and provides self-employed individuals the option of participating in the program.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 60.2 a chapter numbered 8, consisting of sections numbered 60.2-800 through 60.2-821, relating to paid family and medical leave insurance program; notice requirements; civil action.

24104606D

S.B. 374

Patron: Boysko

Collective bargaining by public employees; labor organization representation. Repeals the existing prohibition on collective bargaining by public employees. The bill creates the Public Employee Relations Board, which shall determine appropriate bargaining units and provide for certification and decertification elections for exclusive bargaining representatives of state employees and local government employees. The bill requires public employers and employee organizations that are exclusive bargaining representatives to meet at reasonable times to negotiate in good faith with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. The bill repeals a provision that declares that, in any procedure providing for the designation, selection, or authorization of a labor organization to represent employees, the right of an individual employee to vote by secret ballot is a fundamental right that shall be guaranteed from infringement.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 40.1-55 of the Code of Virginia; to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 4 of Title 40.1 an article numbered 2.2, consisting of sections numbered 40.1-57.4 through 40.1-57.23; and to repeal § 40.1-54.3 and Article 2.1 (§§ 40.1-57.2 and 40.1-57.3) of Chapter 4 of Title 40.1, relating to collective bargaining by public employees; labor organization representation.

24105023D

S.B. 381

Patron: Ebbin


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.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 60.2-528.1 and 60.2-619 of the Code of Virginia, relating to unemployment compensation; employer failure to respond to requests for information; determinations and decisions by deputy.

24103689D

S.B. 409

Patron: Boysko

Energy efficiency and climate standards; more stringent energy efficiency and climate requirements. Allows a locality by ordinance to adopt and require compliance with stretch codes, as defined in the bill, for the construction or rehabilitation of buildings within the locality that are in addition to or more stringent than those in the Uniform Statewide Building Code, and use them as an alternative means of compliance with a locality's building requirements. The bill requires periodic review of the codes and allows the locality to make amendments.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 5 of Chapter 9 of Title 15.2 a section numbered 15.2-987, relating to energy efficiency and climate standards; more stringent energy efficiency and climate requirements.

24103185D

S.B. 450

Patron: Marsden

Regulation of towing fees; State Corporation Commission; report. Directs the State Corporation Commission to examine the existing regulation of fees charged for the removal of vehicles and identify policy options for the Commission to assume all or part of such regulation. The bill requires the Commission to report its findings to the General Assembly by November 30, 2024.

A BILL to direct the State Corporation Commission to examine the regulation of fees charged for the removal of vehicles and identify policy options to assume all or part of such regulation; report.

24100181D

S.B. 454

Patron: Marsden

Electric utilities; recovery of development costs associated with small modular reactor. Permits American Electric Power (Phase I Utility) and Dominion Energy Virginia (Phase II Utility) to petition the State Corporation Commission at any time for the approval of a rate adjustment clause for the recovery of small modular reactor project development costs. The bill also permits the utility to petition the Commission for project development cost recovery along separate development phases.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 56-585.1:14, relating to electric utilities; recovery of development costs associated with small modular reactor.

24104921D

S.B. 480

Patron: Aird

Public utilities; municipal utilities; disconnection of service; limitations; report; consumer protections. Suspends electric, gas, water, and wastewater utilities subject to the regulation of the State Corporation Commission from disconnecting service to a residential customer for nonpayment of bills or fees during a state of emergency declared by the Governor and provides that such suspension lasts for 30 days after such declaration of the state of emergency. The bill suspends such electric and gas utilities from disconnecting service to a residential customer for nonpayment of bills or fees when the forecasted temperature low is at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit and suspends electric utilities from disconnecting any such customer from service when the forecasted temperature high is at or above 95 degrees Fahrenheit within the 24 hours following the scheduled disconnection. The bill further suspends electric, gas, water, and wastewater utilities from disconnecting residential customers from service on Fridays, weekends, state holidays, and the day immediately preceding a state holiday. The bill also creates similar requirements for utilities owned or operated by a locality of the Commonwealth and provides customers a civil cause of action if the municipally owned or municipally operated utility fails to comply with the requirements of the bill.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 21 of Title 15.2 an article numbered 2.1, consisting of sections numbered 15.2-2121.1 through 15.2-2121.6, by adding in Chapter 3.2 of Title 44 a section numbered 44-146.29:4, and by adding in Article 2 of Chapter 10 of Title 56 sections numbered 56-245.1:3 through 56-245.1:6, relating to public utilities; municipal utilities; disconnection of service; limitations; report; consumer protections.

24104314D

S.B. 494

Patron: Aird

Overtime for certain employees; live-in domestic workers. Adds individuals who are employed in domestic service in a household and reside in such household to provisions related to overtime pay.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 40.1-29.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to overtime for certain employees; live-in domestic workers.

24103660D

S.B. 495

Patron: Carroll Foy

RPS eligible sources; hydroelectricity generation facilities. Provides that, notwithstanding contrary provisions of law, any hydroelectricity generation facility located in the Commonwealth and commencing commercial operations prior to July 1, 2024, shall be considered a renewable energy portfolio standard eligible source.

A BILL to classify certain hydroelectricity generation facilities as RPS eligible sources.

24104452D

S.B. 500

Patron: Carroll Foy

Electric utilities; integrated resource plans; grid-enhancing technologies and advanced conductors. Requires an electric utility to include in an integrated resource plan a comprehensive assessment of the application of grid-enhancing technologies and advanced conductors, as those terms are defined in the bill, and, if applicable, to include in such plan a detailed explanation of why such technologies or conductors are not included in such plan.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 56-46.1, 56-597, and 56-599 of the Code of Virginia, relating to electric utilities; integrated resource plans; grid-enhancing technologies and advanced conductors.

24105072D

S.B. 543

Patron: Bagby

Health insurance; emergency services; mobile crisis response services. Provides that emergency services, with respect to an emergency medical condition, include (i) a screening examination, including ancillary services, that is within the capability of a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services as a behavioral health crisis service provider and (ii) such further examination and treatment as is required to stabilize the patient. The bill also adds crisis receiving centers to locations where mobile crisis response services and support may be provided and thereby be covered by health insurance.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 38.2-3412.1 and 38.2-3438 of the Code of Virginia, relating to health insurance; emergency services; mobile crisis response services.

24103447D

S.B. 565

Patron: Deeds

Energy efficiency programs; incremental annual savings. Provides that it is in the public interest and the policy of the Commonwealth to deploy demand-side management programs and energy efficiency measures throughout the Commonwealth to achieve the greatest possible reductions in energy consumption. The bill permits the State Corporation Commission to increase or decrease an investor-owned electric utility's combined rate of return based on the utility's success in complying with energy efficiency program targets in existing law. Additionally, the bill states that "in the public interest," for the purpose of assessing energy efficiency programs, means that the Commission determines that the program is cost-effective. The bill directs the Commission to promulgate regulations no later than December 31, 2024, establishing a single, consistent cost-effectiveness test for use in evaluating proposed energy efficiency programs. Finally, the bill requires the Commission to consider, as a factor in establishing performance based adjustments to the combined rate of return for an electric utility, the utility's compliance with energy efficiency standards and to update ongoing proceedings to consider this factor no later than December 31, 2024. The provisions of the bill apply to any Commission proceeding that commenced on or after January 1, 2024.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 56-576, 56-585.1, and 56-596.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to energy efficiency programs; incremental annual savings.

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S.B. 578

Patron: Deeds

Electric utilities; offshore wind generation facilities; competitive procurement process; Department of Energy. Provides that the purchase by a public utility of energy, capacity, and environmental attributes from offshore wind generation facilities owned by persons other than a public utility and located off the Commonwealth's Atlantic shoreline or in federal waters and interconnected directly into the Commonwealth is in the public interest. The bill states that, except for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project, the purchase or development of offshore wind facilities or the purchase by a public utility of energy, capacity, and environmental attributes from such facilities shall include a competitive procurement process held by the Department of Energy. The bill specifies that Dominion Energy Virginia may submit a bid but shall not participate in evaluating bids or making selections in such process.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 56-585.1:11 and 56-585.5 of the Code of Virginia, relating to electric utilities; offshore wind generation facilities; competitive procurement process; Department of Energy.

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