Voter identification; identification containing a photograph required. Requires presentation of a form of identification containing a photograph in order to vote. The bill repeals the provisions of law permitting a voter who does not have one of the required forms of identification to vote after signing a statement, subject to felony penalties for false statements, that he is the named registered voter he claims to be. Instead, the bill provides that such voter is entitled to cast a provisional ballot.

Virginia Retirement System; enhanced retirement Virginia Retirement System; enhanced retirement benefits for animal control officers. Adds animal control officers to the list of local employees eligible to receive enhanced retirement benefits for hazardous duty service. Under current law, localities may provide such benefits to first responders, including firefighters and emergency medical technicians, and certain other hazardous duty positions.

Carrying dangerous weapon to place of religious worship; repeal. Repeals the prohibition on the carrying of dangerous weapons in a place of worship without good and sufficient reason while a meeting for religious purposes is being held at such place.

Department of Energy; waste coal piles; report. Directs the Department of Energy, in cooperation with public institutions of higher education serving the coalfield region of the Commonwealth, to identify the approximate volume and number of waste coal piles present in the area and options for cleaning up such waste coal piles, including potential use in electricity generation. The Department of Energy shall report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by December 1, 2022. The bill also directs the Department of Energy to convene a working group to evaluate opportunities for the development of public infrastructure projects at current or proposed sites for the storage of coal ash in the Commonwealth. The working group shall report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by December 1, 2022.

Abuse and neglect; financial exploitation; incapacitated adults; penalties. Changes the term "incapacitated adult" to "vulnerable adult" for the purposes of the crime of abuse and neglect of such adults and defines "vulnerable adult" as any person 18 years of age or older who is impaired by reason of mental illness, intellectual or developmental disability, physical illness or disability, advanced age, or other causes to the extent the adult lacks sufficient understanding or capacity to make, communicate, or carry out reasonable decisions concerning his well-being or has one or more limitations that substantially impair the adult's ability to independently provide for his daily needs or safeguard his person, property, or legal interests. The bill adds the definition of "advanced age" as it is used in the definition of "vulnerable adult" to mean 65 years of age or older. The bill also changes the term "person with mental incapacity" to the same meaning of "vulnerable adult" for the purposes of the crime of financial exploitation.

Killing the fetus of another; manslaughter; penalties. Provides that any person who kills the fetus of another by an intentional act committed while in the sudden heat of passion upon reasonable provocation is guilty of voluntary manslaughter, which is punishable as a Class 5 felony. The bill also provides that any person who kills the fetus of another accidentally, contrary to the intention of the parties and while engaged in conduct so gross, wanton, and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life, is guilty of involuntary manslaughter, which is also punishable as a Class 5 felony.

Correctional facilities; work release programs. Directs the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to convene a work group to study inmate work release programs. The bill provides that the work group shall report its findings and recommendations to the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security and the Chairmen of the House Committee for Courts of Justice, House Committee on Public Safety, Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services, and Senate Committee on the Judiciary by December 1, 2022. Correctional facilities; work release programs. Directs the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to convene a work group to study inmate work release programs. The bill provides that the work group shall report its findings and recommendations to the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security and the Chairmen of the House Committee for Courts of Justice, House Committee on Public Safety, Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services, and Senate Committee on the Judiciary by December 1, 2022.

Discovery in criminal cases; copies of discovery for the accused. Provides that for any discovery materials or evidence that the accused is permitted to inspect and review, the accused may request the Commonwealth to copy or photograph such discovery materials or evidence, and the Commonwealth shall provide such copies or photographs, electronically or otherwise, to the accused or his counsel. Discovery in criminal cases; copies of discovery for the accused. Provides that for any discovery materials or evidence that the accused is permitted to inspect and review, the accused may request the Commonwealth to copy or photograph such discovery materials or evidence, and the Commonwealth shall provide such copies or photographs, electronically or otherwise, to the accused or his counsel.

Permanent protective orders; contact between petitioner and respondent. Provides that when issuing a permanent protective order a court may impose certain conditions on the petitioner, including (i) prohibiting acts of violence, force, or threat or criminal offenses that may result in injury to person or property; (ii) prohibiting such contacts by the petitioner with the respondent or family or household members of the respondent as the court deems necessary for the health or safety of such persons; and (iii) any other relief necessary to prevent (a) acts of violence, force, or threat, (b) criminal offenses that may result in injury to person or property, or (c) communication or other contact of any kind by the petitioner.

Surrogacy contracts; provisions requiring or prohibiting abortions or selective reductions unenforceable. Provides that any provision of a surrogacy contract requiring or prohibiting an abortion or selective reduction is against the public policy of the Commonwealth and is void and unenforceable. Surrogacy contracts; provisions requiring or prohibiting abortions or selective reductions unenforceable. Provides that any provision of a surrogacy contract requiring or prohibiting an abortion or selective reduction is against the public policy of the Commonwealth and is void and unenforceable.

Land use valuation for real estate devoted to forest use; creation of Forest Sustainability Fund. Creates the Forest Sustainability Fund, to be administered by the State Forester. Localities that have adopted a use value assessment and taxation program for real estate devoted to forest use are eligible to apply for an allocation from the Fund. Awards are proportionally based upon the amount of revenue forgone in the previous fiscal year by localities due to the use value program.

Child day programs; licensure; accredited private schools. Adds to the list of child day programs not required to be licensed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction to operate in the Commonwealth programs offered by accredited private schools that are in good standing with the Virginia Council for Private Education and operate for no more than four hours per day. The bill provides that, to be exempt from licensure, such accredited private school programs must be staffed by the accredited private school's employees and attended by children who are at least five years of age and are enrolled in the school. The bill requires such programs to be subject to safety and supervisory standards established by the Virginia Council for Private Education.

Public institutions of higher education; debt collection; transcripts and degrees. Prohibits public institutions of higher education from (i) refusing to provide a transcript or degree for a current or former student on the grounds that the student owes a debt; (ii) conditioning the provision of a transcript or degree for a current or former student on the payment of a debt, other than a fee charged to provide the transcript or degree; (iii) charging a higher fee to a current or former student for obtaining a transcript or degree, or providing less favorable treatment of a transcript or degree request because a current or former student owes a debt; or (iv) using transcript or degree issuance as a tool for debt collection. Public institutions of higher education; debt collection; transcripts and degrees. Prohibits public institutions of higher education from (i) refusing to provide a transcript or degree for a current or former student on the grounds that the student owes a debt; (ii) conditioning the provision of a transcript or degree for a current or former student on the payment of a debt, other than a fee charged to provide the transcript or degree; (iii) charging a higher fee to a current or former student for obtaining a transcript or degree, or providing less favorable treatment of a transcript or degree request because a current or former student owes a debt; or (iv) using transcript or degree issuance as a tool for debt collection.

Virginia Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Historic Preservation Fund established. Establishes the Virginia Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Historic Preservation Fund for the purpose of awarding grants to eligible state-recognized and federally recognized Indian tribes, private nonprofit organizations, and localities for the eligible costs of acquiring land or permanent protective interest therein, and of undertaking preservation activities on such land, that is of cultural or historic significance to Black, indigenous, or people of color communities. The bill provides that land or interests acquired with grant funds shall grant the Board of Historic Resources or other holder a perpetual preservation interest in the property.

Department of Regulatory Innovation; Virginia Regulatory Sandbox Program; created. Creates the Department of Regulatory Innovation to oversee the Virginia Regulatory Sandbox Program, also created by the bill, which allows an individual or business to demonstrate a product, production method, or service under a waiver or suspension of one or more state laws or regulations. The bill sets out the process by which an individual or business may apply for participation in the Program, the role of the Department in reviewing such applications for approval or denial, and the requirements for participation in the Program, including provisions related to consumer protection.