Income tax; standard deduction. Increases the standard deduction, starting with taxable year 2022, from $4,500 to $9,000 for single filers and from $9,000 to $18,000 for married filers (one-half of such amount in the case of a married individual filing a separate return). The increase would remain in effect for taxable years 2026 and after, when, under current law, the standard deduction is scheduled to be reduced to $3,000 for single filers and to $6,000 for married filers.

Casino gaming; sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in casino gaming establishments; casino employees; wagers, accounting, and games. Authorizes the Board of Directors of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (the Board) to issue a mixed beverage casino license. The issuance of such license is limited to a mixed beverage casino licensee owned by a casino operator licensed under Virginia law. The bill provides for the sale and service of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption in areas designated by the Board during all hours of operation of the mixed beverage casino licensee and authorizes the licensee to provide gifts of alcoholic beverages to patrons and establish loyalty or reward credit programs under certain conditions. In addition, the bill provides that a mixed beverage restaurant licensee located on the premises of a casino gaming establishment may sell alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption on the licensed premises of the restaurant during all hours of operation of the mixed beverage restaurant licensee and that any alcoholic beverages purchased from a restaurant on the premises of a casino gaming establishment may be taken onto the premises of the mixed beverage casino licensee and possessed and consumed in areas of the establishment as designated by the Board. Under the bill, a mixed beverage restaurant licensee that is located on the premises of and operated by a casino gaming establishment and holds a valid mixed beverage restaurant license issued by the Board prior to July 1, 2022, is authorized to operate with the privileges of a mixed beverage casino license as created by the bill until the casino gaming establishment at which the restaurant is located is issued a mixed beverage casino license or July 1, 2023, whichever occurs first. The Board may promulgate any regulations that it deems necessary for implementing the provisions of the bill no later than October 1, 2022. The initial adoption of regulations is exempt from the Administrative Process Act, except that the Board shall provide an opportunity for public comment on the regulations prior to adoption. The bill also (i) revises the definition of "gross receipts" to include electronic credits and electronic cash and to exclude the cash value of promotions or credits under certain conditions and uncollectable counter checks; (ii) defines and authorizes the use of counter checks and prepaid access instruments; (iii) authorizes wagers to be conducted using electronic credits and electronic cash; and (iv) excludes conviction of misdemeanor possession of marijuana as a disqualifier for the issuance of a service permit by the Virginia Lottery.

Local taxation for solar photovoltaic projects five megawatts or less. Provides that generating equipment of solar photovoltaic projects five megawatts or less shall be taxable by a locality, at a rate determined by such locality, but shall not exceed the real estate rate applicable in that locality, and that the exemption shall be as follows: 80 percent of the assessed value in the first five years in service after commencement of commercial operation, 70 percent of the assessed value in the second five years in service, and 60 percent of the assessed value for all remaining years in service. The bill also provides that (i) solar photovoltaic projects five megawatts or less shall not be exempt from the assessment of a revenue share by ordinance of that locality and (ii) nothing in the bill shall be construed to authorize local taxation of generating or storage equipment of solar photovoltaic projects that serve the electricity needs of that property upon which such solar facilities are located. If a locality assesses a revenue share on such projects, the amount of the exemption shall be 100 percent of the assessed value. The bill does not apply to projects five megawatts or less that were approved by a locality prior to July 1, 2022. Local taxation for solar photovoltaic projects five megawatts or less. Provides that generating equipment of solar photovoltaic projects five megawatts or less shall be taxable by a locality, at a rate determined by such locality, but shall not exceed the real estate rate applicable in that locality, and that the exemption shall be as follows: 80 percent of the assessed value in the first five years in service after commencement of commercial operation, 70 percent of the assessed value in the second five years in service, and 60 percent of the assessed value for all remaining years in service. The bill also provides that (i) solar photovoltaic projects five megawatts or less shall not be exempt from the assessment of a revenue share by ordinance of that locality and (ii) nothing in the bill shall be construed to authorize local taxation of generating or storage equipment of solar photovoltaic projects that serve the electricity needs of that property upon which such solar facilities are located. If a locality assesses a revenue share on such projects, the amount of the exemption shall be 100 percent of the assessed value. The bill does not apply to projects five megawatts or less that were approved by a locality prior to July 1, 2022.

Judge; Second Judicial Circuit; resident judge in Counties of Accomack and Northampton. Requires that one judge from the Second Judicial Circuit be a resident and domiciliary of the County of Accomack or Northampton and preside regularly in the Counties of Accomack and Northampton. Judge; Second Judicial Circuit; resident judge in Counties of Accomack and Northampton. Requires that one judge from the Second Judicial Circuit be a resident and domiciliary of the County of Accomack or Northampton and preside regularly in the Counties of Accomack and Northampton.

Absentee voting; excuse required to vote absentee by mail; signature match. Requires a registered voter to provide a reason for being absent or unable to vote at his polling place on election day in order to receive an absentee ballot to vote by mail. The bill requires a voter voting absentee by mail to open his ballot in the presence of a notary who must sign the ballot return envelope. The bill requires that the general registrar match the signature of the voter on an absentee return envelope to a signature that the general registrar has on file before processing the ballot. If the signature doesn't match, the absentee ballot is to be treated as a provisional vote subject to approval by the electoral board. The bill also repeals the permanent absentee voter list and limits the special annual application to those voters with an illness or disability.

Registered lobbyists; information on disseminated documents; civil penalty. Requires a lobbyist registered with the Secretary of the Commonwealth to include in or attach to any document disseminated by such lobbyist to any member of the General Assembly or agent thereof the lobbyist's full legal name, email address, and telephone number. The bill provides that any such registered lobbyist that violates the provisions of the bill shall be subject to a civil penalty of $25 per document disseminated. Registered lobbyists; information on disseminated documents; civil penalty. Requires a lobbyist registered with the Secretary of the Commonwealth to include in or attach to any document disseminated by such lobbyist to any member of the General Assembly or agent thereof the lobbyist's full legal name, email address, and telephone number. The bill provides that any such registered lobbyist that violates the provisions of the bill shall be subject to a civil penalty of $25 per document disseminated.

Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act. Repeals the Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act and directs the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality to take all steps necessary to suspend the Commonwealth's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative market-based trading program.

Life cycle of renewable energy facilities; report. Directs the State Corporation Commission, in consultation with the Department of Energy and the Department of Environmental Quality, to create a task force to analyze the life cycle of renewable energy facilities in the Commonwealth. The State Corporation Commission shall report the findings of the task force to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources no later than May 1, 2023.

Teacher Training Corps; report. Establishes the Teacher Training Corps for the purpose of attracting and retaining public elementary and secondary school teachers in school divisions in the Commonwealth by awarding scholarships to students who obtain teaching degrees and certifications at participating institutions and requiring such students to fill teacher positions for specified periods of time at high-needs schools, as defined in the bill, and meet other requirements. The bill also establishes the Teacher Training Corps Scholarship Fund and Program for the purpose of funding such scholarships at the participating institutions of Longwood University, Norfolk State University, Radford University, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Finally, the bill establishes the 12-member Teacher Training Corps Commission to administer the Teacher Training Corps Scholarship Program and directs the Commission to begin meeting on or after September 1, 2022, establish the parameters for the Program, and award the first scholarships pursuant to the Program prior to the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year.

Breeding of dogs and cats for research; reporting. Requires any person who or entity that breeds dogs and cats for animal testing facilities to report certain information to the State Veterinarian on a monthly basis. The report shall include information regarding the birth, acquisition, death, sale, transfer, or other disposition of a dog or cat in the prior month. Breeding of dogs and cats for research; reporting. Requires any person who or entity that breeds dogs and cats for animal testing facilities to report certain information to the State Veterinarian on a monthly basis. The report shall include information regarding the birth, acquisition, death, sale, transfer, or other disposition of a dog or cat in the prior month.

Celebrating the life of Thomas Michael Simcoe. Celebrating the life of Thomas Michael Simcoe.

Literary Fund; loans; application process; maximum loan amounts; rates of interest; closing costs; waiting lists. Requires the Board of Education (the Board) to establish an annual open application process for Literary Fund loans to finance the construction and renovation of public elementary and secondary school buildings in the Commonwealth to occur during the period that the Board deems most suitable and requires the Board to prioritize applications on the basis of the composite index of local ability-to-pay. The bill increases from $7.5 million to $25 million the maximum Literary Fund loan amount and requires the Board to offer a loan add-on not to exceed $5 million per loan for projects that result in school consolidation and the net reduction of at least one existing school. The bill further requires the Board, in consultation with the Department of Treasury, to establish loan interest rates that are benchmarked to a market index on an annual basis, not to exceed two percent per year for the localities with a school division composite index of local ability-to-pay between 0.0 and 0.299 and requires the Board to utilize a sliding scale based on the local school division's composite index of local ability-to-pay to determine the interest rate on each such loan. Under current law, such rates are required to be set between two and six percent per year. The bill requires the Board to establish a competitive program for the award of up to $25,000 to a school division that receives a Literary Fund loan for the purpose of subsidizing all or a portion of the closing costs for such loan. In addition, the bill permits the Board to remove any project that has been inactive for at least five years from any Literary Fund loan project waiting list that it maintains. As introduced, this bill is a recommendation of the Commission on School Construction and Modernization. Literary Fund; loans; application process; maximum loan amounts; rates of interest; closing costs; waiting lists. Requires the Board of Education (the Board) to establish an annual open application process for Literary Fund loans to finance the construction and renovation of public elementary and secondary school buildings in the Commonwealth to occur during the period that the Board deems most suitable and requires the Board to prioritize applications on the basis of the composite index of local ability-to-pay. The bill increases from $7.5 million to $25 million the maximum Literary Fund loan amount and requires the Board to offer a loan add-on not to exceed $5 million per loan for projects that result in school consolidation and the net reduction of at least one existing school. The bill further requires the Board, in consultation with the Department of Treasury, to establish loan interest rates that are benchmarked to a market index on an annual basis, not to exceed two percent per year for the localities with a school division composite index of local ability-to-pay between 0.0 and 0.299 and requires the Board to utilize a sliding scale based on the local school division's composite index of local ability-to-pay to determine the interest rate on each such loan. Under current law, such rates are required to be set between two and six percent per year. The bill requires the Board to establish a competitive program for the award of up to $25,000 to a school division that receives a Literary Fund loan for the purpose of subsidizing all or a portion of the closing costs for such loan. In addition, the bill permits the Board to remove any project that has been inactive for at least five years from any Literary Fund loan project waiting list that it maintains. As introduced, this bill is a recommendation of the Commission on School Construction and Modernization.

Broadband service; new residential and commercial development; stakeholder advisory group. Provides that the Department of Housing and Community Development shall convene a stakeholder advisory group for the purpose of evaluating local and state policies, procedures, or ordinances to facilitate the expansion of high-speed broadband service and associated infrastructure in new residential and commercial development. The stakeholder advisory group shall be composed of representatives from the commercial and residential land development and construction industry, local government, high-speed broadband providers, and other stakeholders as determined by the Department and shall report its findings and recommendations to the Broadband Advisory Council no later than September 30, 2022.

Right to aquaculture. Provides that the right to use and occupy the ground for the terms of a lease in Chesapeake Bay waters includes the right to propagate shellfish by whatever legal means necessary.

Commending Antioch Baptist Church.