MEI Project Approval Commission; incentives requiring review. Adds to the incentive packages for economic development, film, and episodic television projects that require MEI Project Approval Commission (the Commission) review and approval any incentive package in which one of the incentives being sought includes a cash payment of more than $3.5 million from any fund prior to any performance metrics being met by the proposed project. The bill clarifies that in calculating whether the value of proposed incentives exceeds $10 million and thus requires review under current law, the value of applicable existing tax credits and incentives shall not be considered, with the exception of the sales tax exemption for data centers and the motion picture tax credit. Finally, the bill provides that economic development projects that propose to relocate or expand operations in one area of the Commonwealth while closing or reducing operations in another area of the Commonwealth shall be subject to Commission review only if the value of the proposed incentives exceeds $2.5 million.

Parking of vehicles; electric vehicle charging spots; civil penalties. Prohibits a person from parking a vehicle not capable of receiving an electric charge or not in the process of charging in a space clearly marked as reserved for charging electric vehicles. A violation is subject to a civil penalty of no more than $25. Parking of vehicles; electric vehicle charging spots; civil penalties. Prohibits a person from parking a vehicle not capable of receiving an electric charge or not in the process of charging in a space clearly marked as reserved for charging electric vehicles. A violation is subject to a civil penalty of no more than $25.

Facilities for civilly committed sexually violent predators; reports to the Commonwealth's designated protection and advocacy system. Adds persons who are civilly committed sexually violent predators to the categories of persons for whom the Commonwealth's designated advocacy and protection system provides oversight, provided that funding for such purpose is provided by the General Assembly. The bill also requires state facilities to which sexually violent predators are civilly committed to notify in writing the Director of the Commonwealth's designated protection and advocacy system within 48 hours of critical incidents or deaths of individuals receiving services in the state facility, and requires the Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to provide to the Director a written report setting forth the known facts of critical incidents or deaths of individuals receiving services in facilities to which sexually violent predators are civilly committed within 15 working days of such critical incident or death. Facilities for civilly committed sexually violent predators; reports to the Commonwealth's designated protection and advocacy system. Adds persons who are civilly committed sexually violent predators to the categories of persons for whom the Commonwealth's designated advocacy and protection system provides oversight, provided that funding for such purpose is provided by the General Assembly. The bill also requires state facilities to which sexually violent predators are civilly committed to notify in writing the Director of the Commonwealth's designated protection and advocacy system within 48 hours of critical incidents or deaths of individuals receiving services in the state facility, and requires the Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to provide to the Director a written report setting forth the known facts of critical incidents or deaths of individuals receiving services in facilities to which sexually violent predators are civilly committed within 15 working days of such critical incident or death.

Electric utilities; clean energy mandates; transitioning Electric utilities; clean energy mandates; transitioning workers; New Virginia Economy Act. Establishes a moratorium, effective January 1, 2023, on approval by any state agency or political subdivision of any approval required for (i) electric generating facilities that generate fossil fuel energy through the combustion of a fossil fuel resource; (ii) import or export terminals for fossil fuel resources; (iii) certain maintenance activities relating to an import or export terminal for a fossil fuel resource; (iv) gathering lines or pipelines for the transport of any fossil fuel resource that require the use of eminent domain on private property; (v) certain maintenance activities relating to such gathering lines or pipelines; (vi) refineries of a fossil fuel resource; and (vii) exploration for any type of fossil fuel, unless preempted by applicable federal law. The measure also requires that at least 80 percent of the electricity sold by a retail electric supplier in calendar years 2030 through 2034 be generated from clean energy resources. In calendar year 2035 and every calendar year thereafter, 100 percent of the electricity sold by a retail electric supplier is required to be generated from clean energy resources. The clean energy mandates apply to a public utility or other person that sells not less than 1,000 megawatt hours of electric energy to retail customers or generates not less than 1,000 megawatt hours of electric energy for use by the person. The Director of the Department of Energy (the Department) is authorized to bring actions for injunctions to enforce these requirements. The measure requires the Department to adopt a Climate Action Plan that addresses all aspects of climate change, including mitigation, adaptation, resiliency, and assistance in the transition from current energy sources to clean renewable energy. The measure provides that any retail electric supplier that fails to meet any goal or benchmark is liable for a civil penalty equal to twice the cost of the financial investment necessary to meet such goal or mandate that was not achieved, or three times the cost of the financial investment necessary to meet such goal or benchmark that was not achieved if not met in an environmental justice community. The measure further states that the Department shall appoint and convene a state Environmental and Climate Justice Task Force (the Task Force) to provide recommendations about the implementation of the Climate Action Plan. The measure provides that it is the goal of the Commonwealth to achieve a 36 percent reduction in electric energy consumption in buildings by 2036. The measure requires the Department, in coordination with the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice (the Council) to establish performance benchmarks for environmental justice communities and to establish programs for jobs for people in environmental justice communities. The measure requires the Council to develop and make available to each state agency training modules designed to facilitate the promotion of environmental justice. The measure requires the Department to establish the Just Transition Fund (the Fund) to be used for state programs, grants and loans, job training and placement programs that support renewable and clean energy development and energy efficiency, and for funding the Transitioning Workers Program, which provides support for workers in the fossil fuel industry and affected communities and provides such workers with job training, relocation support, income and benefit support, and early retirement benefits. The measure prohibits the State Corporation Commission from approving construction of any new utility-owned generating facilities that emit carbon dioxide as a by-product of combusting fuel to generate electricity. The measure requires that all utility costs associated with the construction of, acquisition of, or agreements to purchase the energy, capacity, and environmental attributes of certain required generation and storage facilities be recovered through the utility's rates for generation and distribution services. The measure requires that under the renewable energy portfolio standard program, Dominion Energy Virginia and American Electric Power be required to produce their electricity from 80 percent renewable sources by 2030 and 100 percent by 2035. The measure increases the incremental energy efficiency savings that each investor-owned incumbent electric utility is required to achieve that start in 2023 at 2.4 percent for American Electric Power and Dominion Energy Virginia of the average annual energy retail sales by that utility in 2021 and increases those savings annually.

Seafood industry workforce liaison. Directs the Governor or the Secretary of Labor to designate a liaison to address seafood industry workforce needs by (i) promoting the interests of seafood industry employees and employers; (ii) assisting employees and employers in understanding the rights and processes available to them, including those related to temporary worker visas; (iii) answering inquiries; (iv) providing referrals to public and private agencies upon request; and (v) reporting annually on the liaison's activities to the House Committees on Commerce and Energy and Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committees on Commerce and Labor and Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources. The bill requires the liaison to carry out his duties with impartiality and provides that he is immune from civil liability in the performance of his duties. The bill also provides that certain records and communications are exempt from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The bill directs the Governor or the Secretary of Labor to designate a current employee of the executive branch to serve in this capacity in lieu of hiring a new employee. Seafood industry workforce liaison. Directs the Governor or the Secretary of Labor to designate a liaison to address seafood industry workforce needs by (i) promoting the interests of seafood industry employees and employers; (ii) assisting employees and employers in understanding the rights and processes available to them, including those related to temporary worker visas; (iii) answering inquiries; (iv) providing referrals to public and private agencies upon request; and (v) reporting annually on the liaison's activities to the House Committees on Commerce and Energy and Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committees on Commerce and Labor and Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources. The bill requires the liaison to carry out his duties with impartiality and provides that he is immune from civil liability in the performance of his duties. The bill also provides that certain records and communications are exempt from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The bill directs the Governor or the Secretary of Labor to designate a current employee of the executive branch to serve in this capacity in lieu of hiring a new employee.

Stay of debt collection activities by health care providers; prohibited practice under Virginia Consumer Protection Act. Provides that any health care provider that undertakes any debt collection activities prior to either the issuance of an award from or the determination that a claim is noncompensable by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund has committed a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. Stay of debt collection activities by health care providers; prohibited practice under Virginia Consumer Protection Act. Provides that any health care provider that undertakes any debt collection activities prior to either the issuance of an award from or the determination that a claim is noncompensable by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund has committed a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.

Food and drink law; permitting requirements. Requires any food manufacturer, food storage warehouse, and retail food establishment to obtain a permit from the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services prior to operating. Any such entity issued a permit is exempt from any other license, permit, or inspection required for the sale, preparation, or handling of food. The bill requires the Commissioner to notify such entities of the reason for denial of a permit and requires that any denial, suspension, or revocation of a permit be carried out in accordance with the Administrative Process Act. The provisions of the bill do not become effective until January 1, 2023, for those localities that currently have a local food inspection or permitting ordinance in place. Food and drink law; permitting requirements. Requires any food manufacturer, food storage warehouse, and retail food establishment to obtain a permit from the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services prior to operating. Any such entity issued a permit is exempt from any other license, permit, or inspection required for the sale, preparation, or handling of food. The bill requires the Commissioner to notify such entities of the reason for denial of a permit and requires that any denial, suspension, or revocation of a permit be carried out in accordance with the Administrative Process Act. The provisions of the bill do not become effective until January 1, 2023, for those localities that currently have a local food inspection or permitting ordinance in place.

Driver's license; extension of validity. Extends (i) from three years to six years the period for which a driver's license extension may be granted to certain persons in service to the United States government and (ii) from one year to two years the period for which a driver's license extension may be granted for good cause shown.

Public elementary and secondary schools; student citizenship skills; certain instructional policies prohibited; parental rights; disclosures; penalties; other remedies. Requires the Board of Education to incorporate into each relevant Standard of Learning and associated curriculum framework a requirement that each student demonstrate the understanding of, among other concepts, the fundamental moral, political, and intellectual foundations of the American experiment in self-government, as well as the history, qualities, traditions, and features of civic engagement in the United States. The bill prohibits any public school teacher or other instructional staff member from being required to discuss any current event or widely debated and currently controversial issue of public policy or social affairs and provides that any such employee who chooses to discuss any such event or issue in the scope of his instructional duties shall, to the best of his ability, strive to explore such issues from diverse and contending perspectives, without giving deference to any one perspective. The bill prohibits the Board and Department of Education and each local school board from teaching, instructing, or training certain individuals and groups, including teachers and students, to support, believe, endorse, embrace, confess, act upon, or otherwise assent to a divisive concept, as defined in the bill, or penalizing or discriminating against any such individual or group for refusing to do so. The bill also prohibits any school board or employee thereof from teaching or incorporating into any course or class any such divisive concept or creating a position or hiring a consultant with the job title of equity director or diversity director or a substantially similar title and with a job description that includes any activity that would result in a violation of a provision of the bill. The bill further declares that the parent of each student enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school has the right to be aware of all curricula, instructional materials, lessons, and other forms of instruction provided to his child and may request that the student's teacher provide any such item for review. Finally, the bill provides that in the event that a local school board finds that a school board employee has persistently, knowingly, and intentionally violated any of the bill's provisions, the parent of any student affected by such violations may request and the local school board shall provide a voucher in an amount equal to all sums from any source that the local school board received for the education of such student and the parent shall use such voucher to provide for the education of his child in any setting set forth in relevant law. Public elementary and secondary schools; student citizenship skills; certain instructional policies prohibited; parental rights; disclosures; penalties; other remedies. Requires the Board of Education to incorporate into each relevant Standard of Learning and associated curriculum framework a requirement that each student demonstrate the understanding of, among other concepts, the fundamental moral, political, and intellectual foundations of the American experiment in self-government, as well as the history, qualities, traditions, and features of civic engagement in the United States. The bill prohibits any public school teacher or other instructional staff member from being required to discuss any current event or widely debated and currently controversial issue of public policy or social affairs and provides that any such employee who chooses to discuss any such event or issue in the scope of his instructional duties shall, to the best of his ability, strive to explore such issues from diverse and contending perspectives, without giving deference to any one perspective. The bill prohibits the Board and Department of Education and each local school board from teaching, instructing, or training certain individuals and groups, including teachers and students, to support, believe, endorse, embrace, confess, act upon, or otherwise assent to a divisive concept, as defined in the bill, or penalizing or discriminating against any such individual or group for refusing to do so. The bill also prohibits any school board or employee thereof from teaching or incorporating into any course or class any such divisive concept or creating a position or hiring a consultant with the job title of equity director or diversity director or a substantially similar title and with a job description that includes any activity that would result in a violation of a provision of the bill. The bill further declares that the parent of each student enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school has the right to be aware of all curricula, instructional materials, lessons, and other forms of instruction provided to his child and may request that the student's teacher provide any such item for review. Finally, the bill provides that in the event that a local school board finds that a school board employee has persistently, knowingly, and intentionally violated any of the bill's provisions, the parent of any student affected by such violations may request and the local school board shall provide a voucher in an amount equal to all sums from any source that the local school board received for the education of such student and the parent shall use such voucher to provide for the education of his child in any setting set forth in relevant law.

Virginia Port Authority; Waterway Maintenance Grant Program; qualifications of recipient. Authorizes the Virginia Port Authority, in awarding grants through the Waterway Maintenance Grant Program, to award a grant to a political subdivision or governing body for the dredging of a waterway channel with a bottom that is privately owned if such political subdivision or governing body holds a lease of such bottom with a term of 25 years or more.

Historical horse racing; electronic gaming terminals; age requirement; penalty. Prohibits any person under 21 years of age from using any electronic gaming terminal or other electronic device in a satellite facility to wager on or conduct any wagering on historical horse racing.

Beverage container deposit and redemption program; established; civil and criminal penalties. Establishes a beverage container deposit, refund, and redemption program involving distributors, retailers, and consumers. The program would be run by a Producer Responsibility Organization under the Department of Environmental Quality. The bill creates an advisory committee, requires reporting, and imposes civil and criminal penalties for violation.

Public charter schools; applications; review and approval. Permits the Board of Education (the Board) to receive, review, and rule upon applications for public charter schools and enter into agreements for the establishment of public charter schools. Under current law, the power to grant or deny a public charter school application and enter into an agreement for the establishment of a public charter school rests solely with local school boards. The bill also provides that the decision of the Board or a local school board to grant or deny a public charter school application or to revoke or fail to renew a public charter school agreement is final and is not subject to appeal. Current law contains an appeal process for such decisions.

Study; Joint Commission on Health Care to study eating disorders in the Commonwealth; report. Directs the Joint Commission on Health Care to study eating disorders in the Commonwealth. In conducting its study, the Joint Commission on Health Care shall (i) determine the incidence of diagnosed eating disorders in Virginia; (ii) assess the adequacy of eating disorder training provided to public school educators; (iii) evaluate the adequacy of the curriculum relating to eating disorders in Virginia's medical and nursing schools and continuing education requirements for Virginia medical professionals; (iv) determine strategies by which Virginia can increase awareness of eating disorders, including their symptoms, effects, and preventive interventions; (v) assess the cost of treatment incurred by patients with eating disorders borne by the Commonwealth's Medicaid program as well as by private health plans and employers; (vi) assess issues concerning access to care for eating disorders within the Commonwealth; (vii) generate recommendations for improving education, prevention, early detection, and treatment of eating disorders in Virginia and estimate the fiscal impact on the Commonwealth and private payers for the implementation of such strategies; and (viii) consider, as the Commission may identify, such other issues related to the objectives of this study. The Commission must submit its findings and recommendations to the 2023 Session of the General Assembly.

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.