Charter; City of Martinsville; town status; referendum. Amends the charter for the City of Martinsville to require the circuit court for the City of Martinsville, prior to notifying the Supreme Court of the City's adoption of an ordinance and petition for an order granting town status to the City, to first require an election to be held on the following question: "Shall the City of Martinsville become a town?" The bill provides that if a majority of the qualified voters of the City voting on the question are in favor of the transition from city to town status, the special court shall enter the order granting town status in accordance with the procedures, requirements, and provisions of general law.

Casino gaming; cruise ships. Authorizes the conduct of cruise ship casino gaming in the offshore waters of the Commonwealth by a cruise ship operator that applies for and receives a permit from the Virginia Lottery. The bill sets an annual permit fee of $50,000 for any cruise ship that uses a port or other point of anchorage in the offshore waters of the Commonwealth for the purpose of embarkation or disembarkation of cruise ship passengers and an annual permit fee of $125,000 for any cruise ship that transits the offshore waters of the Commonwealth without making a stop in the Commonwealth and conducts casino gaming activities while in such waters.

Department of Juvenile Justice; work group to study Length of Stay Guidelines and Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center; report. Directs the Department of Juvenile Justice to convene a work group to study issues related to the Department's Length of Stay Guidelines and the Department's direct care capacity in response to the Department's report on the 2023 Length of Stay Guidelines. The work group is directed to study (i) the evidence and research relied upon by the Department as identified in the Department's report, including adjusting for changes in risk profiles for committed juveniles over time; (ii) best practices on staffing ratios, the current actual staffing ratios at Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center (BAJCC), and the projected population forecast; (iii) the ability of BAJCC to operate the community treatment model without single coverage on units and maintain consistent staffing on each residential unit and unit population not to exceed 14 residents; (iv) the ability of BAJCC to maintain all therapeutic, vocational, and educational programming; (v) a detailed comparison of youth by age, risk level, and offense level and their projected length of stay under the 2015 Length of Stay Guidelines and the 2023 Length of Stay Guidelines; (vi) trends in determinate commitments, including the percentage of such commitments in circuit court and with an active Department of Corrections sentence; and (vii) how the Department will maintain current programming and the continuum of services for youth when direct care capacity exceeds actual capacity. The work group is also directed to study the rates of serious incidents and contributing factors at BAJCC since January 2022. The bill requires the work group to submit a report with its recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee for Courts of Justice and the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice by November 1, 2024. Such report shall include evidence or research relating to the 2023 changes to the Length of Stay Guidelines and whether such evidence or research supports the changes. Department of Juvenile Justice; work group to study Length of Stay Guidelines and Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center; report. Directs the Department of Juvenile Justice to convene a work group to study issues related to the Department's Length of Stay Guidelines and the Department's direct care capacity in response to the Department's report on the 2023 Length of Stay Guidelines. The work group is directed to study (i) the evidence and research relied upon by the Department as identified in the Department's report, including adjusting for changes in risk profiles for committed juveniles over time; (ii) best practices on staffing ratios, the current actual staffing ratios at Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center (BAJCC), and the projected population forecast; (iii) the ability of BAJCC to operate the community treatment model without single coverage on units and maintain consistent staffing on each residential unit and unit population not to exceed 14 residents; (iv) the ability of BAJCC to maintain all therapeutic, vocational, and educational programming; (v) a detailed comparison of youth by age, risk level, and offense level and their projected length of stay under the 2015 Length of Stay Guidelines and the 2023 Length of Stay Guidelines; (vi) trends in determinate commitments, including the percentage of such commitments in circuit court and with an active Department of Corrections sentence; and (vii) how the Department will maintain current programming and the continuum of services for youth when direct care capacity exceeds actual capacity. The work group is also directed to study the rates of serious incidents and contributing factors at BAJCC since January 2022. The bill requires the work group to submit a report with its recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee for Courts of Justice and the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice by November 1, 2024. Such report shall include evidence or research relating to the 2023 changes to the Length of Stay Guidelines and whether such evidence or research supports the changes.

Virginia Sports and Entertainment Authority and Financing Fund established; report. Establishes the Virginia Sports and Entertainment Authority as a political subdivision charged with financing the construction of a sports and entertainment campus. The Authority is composed of nine members, six of whom are appointed by the Governor and three of whom are appointed by the governing body of the City of Alexandria. Each appointed member is subject to specific criteria for appointment. The bill authorizes the Authority to hire independent contractors, enter contracts, acquire property, borrow money, and exercise other similar powers and exempts it from the Personnel Act and the Public Procurement Act. Under the bill, the Authority may issue bonds with a maximum maturity date of 40 years. Virginia Sports and Entertainment Authority and Financing Fund established; report. Establishes the Virginia Sports and Entertainment Authority as a political subdivision charged with financing the construction of a sports and entertainment campus. The Authority is composed of nine members, six of whom are appointed by the Governor and three of whom are appointed by the governing body of the City of Alexandria. Each appointed member is subject to specific criteria for appointment. The bill authorizes the Authority to hire independent contractors, enter contracts, acquire property, borrow money, and exercise other similar powers and exempts it from the Personnel Act and the Public Procurement Act. Under the bill, the Authority may issue bonds with a maximum maturity date of 40 years. The bill entitles the Authority to the following revenues: (i) sales tax revenues from construction and transactions on the campus, defined in the bill, but certain revenues that current law dedicates to transportation and education are excluded; (ii) all pass-through entity tax revenues and corporate income tax revenues from income generated by the company, defined in the bill, or any professional sports team or any affiliates as well as in the development and construction of the campus; and (iii) all personal income tax revenues from income generated through employment and business activity on the campus. It also authorizes the City of Alexandria to appropriate tax revenues to the Authority. The revenues shall be deposited in the Virginia Sports and Entertainment Authority Financing Fund, created in the bill, from which the Authority will deposit revenues into priority accounts for Authority revenues, debt service, subordinate debt service, reserves, and capital expenditures and maintenance. If the Authority determines that all such accounts are sufficiently funded, the bill directs the Authority to issue the excess to the Commonwealth and the City of Alexandria if so provided for in any bond or financing agreements.

Health insurance; denial of referral by direct primary care provider prohibited. Prohibits a health insurance carrier from (i) denying payment for any health care service covered under an enrollee's health benefit plan based solely on the basis that such enrollee's referral was made by a direct primary care provider or (ii) imposing a cost-sharing requirement greater than the applicable cost-sharing requirement that would apply to the same health care service if the service was referred by a participating provider. The bill provides that a health insurance carrier may require a direct primary care provider to provide information demonstrating that such provider has entered into a direct primary care agreement with the enrollee.

Campaign finance; independent expenditure reports, electronic filing required. Requires independent expenditure reports to be filed electronically. Current law allows such reports to be filed either electronically or in writing. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2025.

Visitation; petition of grandparent. Removes Visitation; petition of grandparent. Removes the provision providing that, in any case or proceeding in which a grandparent has petitioned the court for visitation with a minor grandchild, and a natural or adoptive parent of the minor grandchild is deceased or incapacitated, the grandparent who is related to such deceased or incapacitated parent shall be permitted to introduce evidence of such parent's consent to visitation with the grandparent, in accordance with the rules of evidence and that, if the parent's consent is proven by a preponderance of the evidence, the court may then determine if grandparent visitation is in the best interest of the minor grandchild.

Abortion or other reproductive health care services; prohibitions on extradition for certain crimes; prohibited practices under Virginia Consumer Protection Act. Provides that no demand for extradition of a person charged with a criminal violation of the law of another state shall be recognized by the Governor if such alleged violation involves the receipt of or assistance with reproductive health care services, defined in the bill, within the Commonwealth unless the alleged criminal violation would also constitute a criminal offense under the laws of the Commonwealth. The bill also provides that such limit on extradition shall not apply when the person who is subject to such demand for extradition by another state was physically present in the demanding state at the time of the commission of the alleged offense and thereafter fled from such state. The bill adds obtaining, disclosing, selling, or disseminating certain enumerated personal reproductive or sexual health information without the consent of the consumer as a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.

Intercollegiate athletics; student-athletes; compensation for name, image, or likeness. Makes several changes to existing provisions of law relating to compensation of a student-athlete at a public or private institution of higher education in the Commonwealth (institution) for the use of the name, image, or likeness of such student-athlete, including (i) prohibiting any athletic association, athletic conference, or other organization with authority over intercollegiate athletics from preventing an institution, its supporting foundations, or an entity acting on its behalf from identifying, creating, negotiating, facilitating, supporting, engaging with, assisting with, or otherwise enabling a name, image, or likeness opportunity for a student-athlete; (ii) requiring each institution to develop and submit to the institution's governing board or similar governing body for approval institutional policies or procedures that govern the compensation of a student-athlete for the use of his name, image, or likeness; and (iii) permitting any institution to provide assets, resources, or benefits as an incentive to individuals, companies, or other entities to provide money, benefits, opportunities, or services to an outside entity that supports name, image, or likeness opportunities for the institution's student-athletes. The bill also requires the Intercollegiate Athletics Review Commission to review plans and implementation considerations for the provisions of the bill and provide a report on its review to the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2024. Intercollegiate athletics; student-athletes; compensation for name, image, or likeness. Makes several changes to existing provisions of law relating to compensation of a student-athlete at a public or private institution of higher education in the Commonwealth (institution) for the use of the name, image, or likeness of such student-athlete, including (i) prohibiting any athletic association, athletic conference, or other organization with authority over intercollegiate athletics from preventing an institution, its supporting foundations, or an entity acting on its behalf from identifying, creating, negotiating, facilitating, supporting, engaging with, assisting with, or otherwise enabling a name, image, or likeness opportunity for a student-athlete; (ii) requiring each institution to develop and submit to the institution's governing board or similar governing body for approval institutional policies or procedures that govern the compensation of a student-athlete for the use of his name, image, or likeness; and (iii) permitting any institution to provide assets, resources, or benefits as an incentive to individuals, companies, or other entities to provide money, benefits, opportunities, or services to an outside entity that supports name, image, or likeness opportunities for the institution's student-athletes. The bill also requires the Intercollegiate Athletics Review Commission to review plans and implementation considerations for the provisions of the bill and provide a report on its review to the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2024.

Fees for electronic fund transfers; prohibited. Provides that charging any transaction or processing fee or similar surcharge for the purchase of a good or service through the use of an electronic fund transfer is a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The bill also prohibits landlords subject to the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act from charging a transaction or processing fee for the payment of a security deposit, rent, or any other amounts payable. Fees for electronic fund transfers; prohibited. Provides that charging any transaction or processing fee or similar surcharge for the purchase of a good or service through the use of an electronic fund transfer is a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The bill also prohibits landlords subject to the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act from charging a transaction or processing fee for the payment of a security deposit, rent, or any other amounts payable.

General registrars; term of office and exception from general early retirement provisions. Extends the term of office of general registrars from four years to eight years beginning on July 1, 2029, and extends the term of any general registrar serving on the effective date of the bill until June 30, 2029. The bill also provides that, in making an appointment of a general registrar, there shall be a presumption that an incumbent general registrar seeks to continue in office unless such general registrar notifies the electoral board in writing to the contrary. The bill adds general registrars to the list of officers who are exempted from general early retirement provisions and may obtain normal retirement benefits when they are involuntarily separated from service and have 20 or more years of creditable service.

Drug Treatment Court Act; eligibility. Replaces the restriction that renders persons convicted of certain violent felonies or acts of violence within the preceding 10 years ineligible to participate in a drug treatment court with a restriction on participation if any of the following conditions apply: (i) the offender is presently charged with a felony offense or is convicted of a felony offense while participating in any drug treatment court where (a) the offender carried, possessed, or used a firearm or any dangerous weapon during such offense; (b) the death or serious bodily injury of any person occurred during such offense; or (c) the use of force against any other person besides the offender occurred during such offense or (ii) the offender was previously convicted as an adult of any felony offense that involved the use of force or attempted use of force against any person with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Criminal Justice Conference.

Civil cases; payment of jurors. Provides that Civil cases; payment of jurors. Provides that jurors in all civil cases shall be paid by one or both of the parties at the discretion of the presiding judge. Under current law, such payment is made by the political subdivision in which the summons is issued.

Virginia investment performance grants; Virginia economic development incentive grants. Requires, for any Virginia investment performance grant award determination that includes a job creation requirement, an eligible manufacturer or research and development service to pay an average wage, excluding fringe benefits, that is no less than the prevailing average wage for such new jobs. Under the bill, beginning July 1, 2024, (i) the aggregate amount of Virginia investment performance grants payable to all grant recipients in any fiscal year shall not exceed $7 million and (ii) grants shall be payable in amounts up to $5 million per eligible manufacturer or research and development service in five equal, annual installments of up to $1 million, beginning in the first year after verification of capital investment and pledged employment. The bill also provides that eligible companies shall be eligible to receive Virginia economic development incentive grants in the first year after verification that requirements applicable to such grant are satisfied. The bill contains an enactment clause clarifying that no existing agreement entered into prior to the effective date of the bill shall be impacted by the bill. Virginia investment performance grants; Virginia economic development incentive grants. Requires, for any Virginia investment performance grant award determination that includes a job creation requirement, an eligible manufacturer or research and development service to pay an average wage, excluding fringe benefits, that is no less than the prevailing average wage for such new jobs. Under the bill, beginning July 1, 2024, (i) the aggregate amount of Virginia investment performance grants payable to all grant recipients in any fiscal year shall not exceed $7 million and (ii) grants shall be payable in amounts up to $5 million per eligible manufacturer or research and development service in five equal, annual installments of up to $1 million, beginning in the first year after verification of capital investment and pledged employment. The bill also provides that eligible companies shall be eligible to receive Virginia economic development incentive grants in the first year after verification that requirements applicable to such grant are satisfied. The bill contains an enactment clause clarifying that no existing agreement entered into prior to the effective date of the bill shall be impacted by the bill.

Phase I Utility; recovery of development costs associated with small modular nuclear facility. Permits American Electric Power, prior to the filing of an application for a certificate to construct a small modular nuclear facility, to request the State Corporation Commission to review such utility's decision to incur project development costs, as defined in the bill. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2034. Phase I Utility; recovery of development costs associated with small modular nuclear facility. Permits American Electric Power, prior to the filing of an application for a certificate to construct a small modular nuclear facility, to request the State Corporation Commission to review such utility's decision to incur project development costs, as defined in the bill. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2034.