Immunity of persons; tort actions; assertion of immunity; attorney fees and costs. Provides that a person shall be immune from tort liability if the tort claim is based solely on statements (i) regarding matters of public concern that would be protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States made by that person that are communicated to a third party; (ii) made at a public hearing before the governing body of any locality or other political subdivision, or the boards, commissions, agencies, and authorities thereof, and other governing bodies of any local governmental entity concerning matters properly before such body; or (iii) made by an employee against his employer and where retaliatory action against an employee by such employer is otherwise prohibited by law. The bill also provides that any person who prevails in such a legal action may be awarded reasonable attorney fees and costs.

Drivers stopping for pedestrians; certain signs; stops. Requires the driver of a vehicle on a highway approaching a pedestrian who is crossing such highway to stop when such pedestrian is within the driver's lane or within an adjacent lane and approaching the driver's lane. Currently, a driver is required to yield the right-of-way to such pedestrian by stopping and remaining stopped. The bill also provides that localities that are already authorized to install signs directing motor vehicles to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing or attempting to cross a highway may also install signs directing motor vehicles to stop for such pedestrians. Drivers stopping for pedestrians; certain signs; stops. Requires the driver of a vehicle on a highway approaching a pedestrian who is crossing such highway to stop when such pedestrian is within the driver's lane or within an adjacent lane and approaching the driver's lane. Currently, a driver is required to yield the right-of-way to such pedestrian by stopping and remaining stopped. The bill also provides that localities that are already authorized to install signs directing motor vehicles to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing or attempting to cross a highway may also install signs directing motor vehicles to stop for such pedestrians.

Workers' compensation; injuries caused by repetitive and sustained physical stressors. Provides that, for the purposes of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act, "occupational disease" includes injuries or diseases from conditions resulting from repetitive and sustained physical stressors, including repetitive and sustained motions, exertions, posture stresses, contact stresses, vibrations, or noises. The bill provides that such injuries or diseases are covered under the Act and that such coverage does not require that the injuries or diseases occurred over a particular time period, provided that such time period can be reasonably identified.

Student Appreciation Week. Designates the week of March 20, in 2023 and in each succeeding year, as Student Appreciation Week in Virginia.

Health insurance; ensuring fairness in cost-sharing. Amends provisions related to rebates provided by carriers and health benefit plans to health plan enrollees by defining defined cost-sharing, price protection rebates, and pharmacy benefits management services. The bill requires that an enrollee's defined cost-sharing for each prescription drug shall be calculated at the point of sale based on a price that is reduced by an amount equal to at least 80 percent of all rebates received or expected to be received in connection with the dispensing or administration of the prescription drug.

Tax credit for electric vehicle charging equipment. Creates a tax credit for taxable years 2023 through 2027 for expenses incurred in connection with installing qualified electric vehicle charging equipment in the Commonwealth in an amount equal to 30 percent of the cost of purchasing and installing such equipment during the taxable year. The bill provides that the tax credit shall not exceed $1,000 for such equipment purchased for nonfarm use and $3,000 for such equipment purchased for use on a farm or ranch. The bill specifies that in order to qualify for the credit, a taxpayer must be (i) an owner and operator of a farm or ranch, as defined by § 3.2-6400, that is engaged in the commercial production of agricultural products or (ii) an individual.

Employment of teachers; English as a Second Language Incentive Reward Program and Fund; established. Provides that each local school board shall adopt employment policies and practices designed to promote the employment of highly qualified teachers to effectively serve the educational needs of students who are English language learners, including providing financial support for teachers seeking and obtaining an endorsement in English as a second language pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The bill also establishes the English as a Second Language Incentive Reward Program and Fund for the purpose of awarding incentive grants to public school teachers in the Commonwealth who obtain an endorsement in English as a second language pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The bill provides that the Board of Education shall award to any teacher who obtains such endorsement an initial incentive grant of $5,000 and a subsequent incentive grant of $2,500 each year for the life of the endorsement, with such incentive grants to resume upon renewal of the endorsement. Finally, the bill directs the Board to establish such guidelines as it deems necessary for the administration of the Program and to establish procedures for the award of such incentive grants in the event that the moneys in the Fund are not sufficient to award each eligible teacher the appropriate award amount. Employment of teachers; English as a Second Language Incentive Reward Program and Fund; established. Provides that each local school board shall adopt employment policies and practices designed to promote the employment of highly qualified teachers to effectively serve the educational needs of students who are English language learners, including providing financial support for teachers seeking and obtaining an endorsement in English as a second language pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The bill also establishes the English as a Second Language Incentive Reward Program and Fund for the purpose of awarding incentive grants to public school teachers in the Commonwealth who obtain an endorsement in English as a second language pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The bill provides that the Board of Education shall award to any teacher who obtains such endorsement an initial incentive grant of $5,000 and a subsequent incentive grant of $2,500 each year for the life of the endorsement, with such incentive grants to resume upon renewal of the endorsement. Finally, the bill directs the Board to establish such guidelines as it deems necessary for the administration of the Program and to establish procedures for the award of such incentive grants in the event that the moneys in the Fund are not sufficient to award each eligible teacher the appropriate award amount.

Stormwater management and erosion and sediment control; agreement in lieu of plan; farm buildings and agritourism activities; small construction activity. Includes farm buildings, any building or structure used for agritourism activity, and any related impervious surface, including roads, driveways, and parking areas, in the respective definitions of an agreement in lieu of a plan in the stormwater management and erosion and sediment control laws. Current laws define an agreement in lieu of a plan to cover only single-family residences. The bill also requires the State Water Control Board to establish by regulation a procedure by which a registration statement shall not be required for coverage under the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities for a small construction activity, defined in the bill, involving a single-family detached residential structure.

Voter registration through the Department of Motor Vehicles; optional transmission of information. Provides that customers of the Department of Motor Vehicles shall be presented with the option to have their relevant information transmitted to the Department of Elections for voter registration purposes in accordance with federal law. Currently, this information is transmitted unless the DMV customer specifically declines to have such information transmitted.

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.

Consumer Protection Act; PFAS chemicals in children's products. Prohibits the sale, offering for sale, or manufacturing for sale of a children's product that the supplier knows or has reason to know contains perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS is defined in the bill as substances that include any member of the class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom. The bill exempts children's products that are used, secondhand, or "seconds" from the prohibition.

Vehicle safety inspection; commercial vehicles; exemption. Provides that a commercial vehicle operating in interstate commerce is exempt from the vehicle safety inspection requirement if, in addition to other criteria, such vehicle is inspected in accordance with the federal requirements for annual inspection by complying with federal periodic inspection requirements. Current law requires annual inspection through self-inspection, a third-party inspection, a Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance inspection, or a periodic inspection performed by any state with a program in order for the vehicle to be exempt.

Constitutional amendment (first reference); marriage. Proposes the repeal of the constitutional amendment dealing with marriage that was approved by referendum at the November 2006 election. That amendment to the Bill of Rights (i) defines marriage as "only a union between one man and one woman"; (ii) prohibits the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions from creating or recognizing "a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage"; and (iii) prohibits the Commonwealth or its political subdivisions from creating or recognizing "another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage." The provisions of this section of the Constitution of Virginia are no longer valid as a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015).

South Central Wastewater Authority; watershed general permit for nutrients. Directs the South Central Wastewater Authority (SCWWA) to submit a phased construction program to the Department of Environmental Quality (the Department) by August 1, 2023, which the Department shall approve by September 1, 2023, or as soon as possible thereafter. Such phased upgrade construction program for the SCWWA shall be completed as soon as possible on a schedule approved by the Department but no later than January 1, 2030. The bill requires the SCWWA to begin the initial phase of construction by December 31, 2023, or within 150 days of approval by the Department of the phased construction program, whichever is later. The bill requires the SCWWA to comply with certain requirements regarding its progress toward completing the phased construction program. The bill also directs the Department to amend certain water quality improvement agreements and the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for the SCWWA wastewater treatment facility to conform to the provisions of the bill.

Celebrating the life of Vincent Edward Scully.