Establishment of Middle School Mathematics Innovation Zone Program. Establishes the Middle School Mathematics Innovation Zone Program, to be administered by the Department of Education, for the purpose of assisting local school divisions to implement competency-based mathematics education and evidence-based mathematics learning models in grades six, seven, and eight in partnership with technical assistance providers and other approved providers, with preference to be given to public middle schools that demonstrate need based on data from the immediately preceding school year on the grades five, six, and seven mathematics Standards of Learning assessments, rural public middle schools, and public middle schools in economically disadvantaged areas. Establishment of Middle School Mathematics Innovation Zone Program. Establishes the Middle School Mathematics Innovation Zone Program, to be administered by the Department of Education, for the purpose of assisting local school divisions to implement competency-based mathematics education and evidence-based mathematics learning models in grades six, seven, and eight in partnership with technical assistance providers and other approved providers, with preference to be given to public middle schools that demonstrate need based on data from the immediately preceding school year on the grades five, six, and seven mathematics Standards of Learning assessments, rural public middle schools, and public middle schools in economically disadvantaged areas.

Carrying a firearm or explosive material within Capitol Square or building owned or leased by the Commonwealth; exemptions; public institutions of higher education. Limits the exemption from the prohibition on the carrying of any firearm or explosive material within any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or agency thereof or any office where employees of the Commonwealth or any agency thereof are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties that currently applies to any property owned or operated by a public institution of higher education to instead apply to any individual within a building owned or operated by a public institution of higher education who possesses a weapon as part of such public institution of higher education's curriculum or activities or as part of any organization authorized by the public institution of higher education to conduct its programs or activities within such building. Carrying a firearm or explosive material within Capitol Square or building owned or leased by the Commonwealth; exemptions; public institutions of higher education. Limits the exemption from the prohibition on the carrying of any firearm or explosive material within any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth or agency thereof or any office where employees of the Commonwealth or any agency thereof are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties that currently applies to any property owned or operated by a public institution of higher education to instead apply to any individual within a building owned or operated by a public institution of higher education who possesses a weapon as part of such public institution of higher education's curriculum or activities or as part of any organization authorized by the public institution of higher education to conduct its programs or activities within such building.

Commending the James Wood High School girls' volleyball team.

Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services; training; powers and duties of guardian; annual reports by guardians; information required. Directs the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services to develop and provide training for court-appointed guardians by July 1, 2024. The bill requires an appointed guardian and any staff employed by such guardian to perform guardianship duties to complete the initial training developed by the Department within four months of the date of the initial court order of appointment and guardians and such staff appointed prior to July 1, 2024, to complete such training by January 1, 2026. The bill further requires a guardian to include in his annual report to the local department of social services a statement as to whether such training has been completed.

Firearm-free zones designated by the Commonwealth or a locality; waiver of sovereign immunity.

Charitable gaming; Texas Hold'em poker tournaments. Amends the definition of "Texas Hold'em poker tournament" to include an organized competition of players who (i) pay an initial seating fee for entry into the competition and an additional seating fee up to once every 30 minutes, thereby allowing such players to purchase additional poker chips as needed for use in the competition, and (ii) may be seated at no more than 10 tables consisting of 10 players each simultaneously playing Texas Hold'em poker games. The bill prohibits a qualified organization from charging any initial or additional seating fee in excess of $8 for the conduct of any such Texas Hold'em poker tournament and requires qualified organizations to hire an armed security officer that is licensed by the Department of Criminal Justice Services to be present during the times that any tournament is being played. The bill also requires any qualified organization that conducts any Texas Hold'em poker tournament to use at least 30 percent of its gross receipts from the conduct of Texas Hold'em poker tournaments for (a) those lawful religious, charitable, community, or educational purposes for which the organization is specifically chartered or organized or (b) those expenses related to the acquisition, construction, maintenance, or repair of any interest in real property involved in the operation of the organization and used for lawful religious, charitable, community, or educational purposes.

Certificates of election; persons elected by write-in votes; exception for certain localities. Provides that in an election for a local office in a locality with a population of no more than 4,000 persons, if the person having the highest number of votes for the office is elected by write-in votes and is not qualified to hold such office or declines to assume such office, the person having the next highest number of votes shall be deemed to have been elected to such office and shall receive the certificate of election.

Commending Rick Nealis.

Attorney General; White Collar Crime Task Force. Creates in the Department of Law a White Collar Crime Task Force that may investigate and prosecute financially motivated nonviolent felony offenses, including any felony offense related to securities fraud, larceny, receiving stolen goods, embezzlement, fraudulent conversions, bribery, wage theft, or other crimes involving fraud. The Task Force shall consist of at least three assistant Attorneys General, at least one forensic accountant, and at least one investigator. Accordingly, the bill allows the Attorney General to institute or conduct criminal prosecutions for such felony offenses, with the concurrence of the local attorney for the Commonwealth.

Local housing policy; report to the Department of Housing and Community Development. Requires any locality with a population greater than 3,500 to submit an annual report to the Department of Housing and Community Development summarizing the adoption or amendment of any local policies, ordinances, or processes affecting the development and construction of housing during the preceding fiscal year. The bill requires such localities to submit the report annually by September 1 in accordance with any forms developed by the Department and requires the Department to make such reports available on its website. Local housing policy; report to the Department of Housing and Community Development. Requires any locality with a population greater than 3,500 to submit an annual report to the Department of Housing and Community Development summarizing the adoption or amendment of any local policies, ordinances, or processes affecting the development and construction of housing during the preceding fiscal year. The bill requires such localities to submit the report annually by September 1 in accordance with any forms developed by the Department and requires the Department to make such reports available on its website.

Secretary of Health and Human Resources; State Health Commissioner; website; services and programs available to pregnant women. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the State Health Commissioner to establish, maintain, and annually update a website that provides information about public and private agencies, services, and programs available to pregnant women.

Virginia Consumer Protection Act; prohibited practices. Prohibits a seller from imposing any fee or charge as a banking fee or supply chain fee in connection with the sale of a good or service if such fee or charge is not communicated or otherwise disclosed to the consumer prior to providing or entering into an agreement to provide such good or service. Virginia Consumer Protection Act; prohibited practices. Prohibits a seller from imposing any fee or charge as a banking fee or supply chain fee in connection with the sale of a good or service if such fee or charge is not communicated or otherwise disclosed to the consumer prior to providing or entering into an agreement to provide such good or service.

Arrest without warrant authorized in certain cases; powers of arrest; private police officers. Adds private police officers employed by a private police department to the list of officers that have the powers of arrest without a warrant in certain cases.

Receipt of mail at courthouse. Requires every county and city courthouse to accept mail at the physical address where the courthouse is located.

Care Economy Business Council created; powers and duties; membership. Creates the 12-member Care Economy Business Council as an advisory council in the executive branch of state government to advise the Governor on policy and funding priorities to determine and implement equitable practices to support persons employed in the direct care workforce. The bill has an expiration date of June 30, 2026. Care Economy Business Council created; powers and duties; membership. Creates the 12-member Care Economy Business Council as an advisory council in the executive branch of state government to advise the Governor on policy and funding priorities to determine and implement equitable practices to support persons employed in the direct care workforce. The bill has an expiration date of June 30, 2026.