Renewable energy certificates; priority of procurement. Requires American Electric Power and Dominion Energy Virginia, for renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS) program compliance years 2023 and 2024, to prioritize procurement of renewable energy certificates (RECs) from renewable energy standard sources (RPS eligible sources) located in the Commonwealth, provided that such RECs are cost-competitive when compared with out-of-state sources at the time of procurement. Additionally, the bill requires each utility to include in its annual filing for RPS program compliance years 2023 and 2024 a plan for prioritizing procurement of RECs from RPS eligible sources that are both (i) cost-competitive and (ii) eligible for the Virginia Brownfield and Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund and Program. Renewable energy certificates; priority of procurement. Requires American Electric Power and Dominion Energy Virginia, for renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS) program compliance years 2023 and 2024, to prioritize procurement of renewable energy certificates (RECs) from renewable energy standard sources (RPS eligible sources) located in the Commonwealth, provided that such RECs are cost-competitive when compared with out-of-state sources at the time of procurement. Additionally, the bill requires each utility to include in its annual filing for RPS program compliance years 2023 and 2024 a plan for prioritizing procurement of RECs from RPS eligible sources that are both (i) cost-competitive and (ii) eligible for the Virginia Brownfield and Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund and Program.

Historic preservation. Provides that the filing of a historic designation application shall stay a locality from issuing any permit to raze or demolish a proposed historic landmark, building, or structure until 30 days after the rendering of the final decision of the governing body of the locality. The bill also specifies that the affected property owner, the applicant, or any resident of the locality who provided public input on the locality's historic district plan may appeal to the circuit court for review of any final decision of the governing body pursuant to such application.

Commending Old Dominion.

Commending the Norfolk State University men's basketball team.

Commending civil servants in Virginia's court system.

Right to unionize. Repeals the provisions of the Code of Virginia that, among other things, prohibit any agreement or combination between an employer and a labor union or labor organization whereby (i) nonmembers of the union or organization are denied the right to work for the employer, (ii) membership in the union or organization is made a condition of employment or continuation of employment by such employer, or (iii) the union or organization acquires an employment monopoly in any such enterprise.

Physical education; personal safety training. Requires any physical education class offered to students in grades seven and eight to include at least one hour of personal safety training per school year in each such grade level that is developed and delivered in partnership with the local law-enforcement agency and consists of situational safety awareness training and social media education. Physical education; personal safety training. Requires any physical education class offered to students in grades seven and eight to include at least one hour of personal safety training per school year in each such grade level that is developed and delivered in partnership with the local law-enforcement agency and consists of situational safety awareness training and social media education.

Housing Authorities Law; powers of legal entity; use of funds and tax credits. Requires any legal entity formed by a local redevelopment and housing authority to expend funds or utilize tax credits only in support of projects within its area of operation. The bill also provides that the books and records of any such legal entity shall be made available, upon request, to the local governing body or its designee. Housing Authorities Law; powers of legal entity; use of funds and tax credits. Requires any legal entity formed by a local redevelopment and housing authority to expend funds or utilize tax credits only in support of projects within its area of operation. The bill also provides that the books and records of any such legal entity shall be made available, upon request, to the local governing body or its designee.

Commending Tiffany McKillip Franks.

Commending Disco Sports.

Local government self-insurance pools. Expands provisions related to local government self-insurance pools by providing that a local government group self-insurance pool may provide all authorized insurance coverages to (i) any separate corporation established by one or more counties, cities, towns, or school boards, as permitted by law, that is supported wholly or principally by local public funds or utilize federal funds for local community housing projects and (ii) other corporations recognized under § 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that are supported wholly or principally by local public funds or utilizes federal funds for local community housing projects and that are recognized by a political subdivision and authorized by law to perform a government function. Local government self-insurance pools. Expands provisions related to local government self-insurance pools by providing that a local government group self-insurance pool may provide all authorized insurance coverages to (i) any separate corporation established by one or more counties, cities, towns, or school boards, as permitted by law, that is supported wholly or principally by local public funds or utilize federal funds for local community housing projects and (ii) other corporations recognized under § 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that are supported wholly or principally by local public funds or utilizes federal funds for local community housing projects and that are recognized by a political subdivision and authorized by law to perform a government function.

Department of Housing and Community Development; broadband affordability plan. Directs the Department of Housing and Community Development to develop a plan, to be known as the Commonwealth Digital Affordability and Cost Effectiveness Plan, to access federal funding under the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The bill requires that the Plan include (i) an overview of options for affordable broadband connectivity in the Commonwealth; (ii) recommendations on how best to leverage federal grants addressing broadband affordability; (iii) best practices for establishing a broadband affordability program, taking into account existing federal funds and programs; and (iv) recommendations for public outreach, with consideration of the report submitted by the Department of Social Services as required in Item 359 L of Chapter 552 of the Acts of Assembly of 2021, Special Session I. The bill requires the Department to report the Plan to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2022.

Preneed funeral contracts; emergency. Removes the requirement that if a life insurance or annuity contract is used to fund a preneed funeral contract, the life insurance or annuity contract must provide either that the face value thereof shall be adjusted annually by a factor equal to the annualized Consumer Price Index as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor, or a benefit payable at death under such contract that will equal or exceed the sum of all premiums paid for such contract plus interest or dividends, which for the first 15 years shall be compounded annually at a rate of at least five percent. The bill also removes the requirement that interest or dividends continue to be paid after 15 years. The bill provides that for any life insurance or annuity contract that is used to fund a preneed funeral contract, the face amount of any life insurance policy shall not be decreased over the life of such policy except for life insurance policies that have lapsed due to the nonpayment of premiums or have gone to a nonforfeiture option that lowers the amount as allowed for in the provisions of the policy. The bill contains an emergency clause. Preneed funeral contracts; emergency. Removes the requirement that if a life insurance or annuity contract is used to fund a preneed funeral contract, the life insurance or annuity contract must provide either that the face value thereof shall be adjusted annually by a factor equal to the annualized Consumer Price Index as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor, or a benefit payable at death under such contract that will equal or exceed the sum of all premiums paid for such contract plus interest or dividends, which for the first 15 years shall be compounded annually at a rate of at least five percent. The bill also removes the requirement that interest or dividends continue to be paid after 15 years. The bill provides that for any life insurance or annuity contract that is used to fund a preneed funeral contract, the face amount of any life insurance policy shall not be decreased over the life of such policy except for life insurance policies that have lapsed due to the nonpayment of premiums or have gone to a nonforfeiture option that lowers the amount as allowed for in the provisions of the policy. The bill contains an emergency clause.

Commending Lynwood Butner. Commending Lynwood Butner.

Recognition of the Wolf Creek Cherokee Tribe of Virginia. Extends state recognition to the Wolf Creek Cherokee Tribe of Virginia within the Commonwealth.