Unemployment compensation; maximum duration of benefits. Provides that the maximum duration for which a claimant may receive unemployment compensation benefits shall be calculated based on the average, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the Commonwealth for the three months preceding the month in which such claimant files his first claim in a benefit year.

Advisory Council on Breakthrough Therapies for Veteran Suicide Prevention; established; report. Establishes the Advisory Council on Breakthrough Therapies for Veteran Suicide Prevention to advise the State Health Commissioner on the regulations and infrastructure necessary to support clinical access to and training for medication-assisted U.S. Food and Drug Administration breakthrough therapies for veteran suicide prevention. The bill requires the Commissioner of Health to report annually by December 1 to the Governor and the General Assembly regarding its activities and recommendations. The Council has a sunset date of July 1, 2027.

Foreman of grand jury; oaths of jurors and witnesses. Clarifies the oath of the foreman and other grand jurors. This bill is a recommendation of the Judicial Council of Virginia.

Public schools; fire drills; timing and frequency. Public schools; fire drills; timing and frequency. Requires every public school to hold fire drills during the school session in accordance with the requirements of the Statewide Fire Prevention Code. Current law requires such fire drills to be conducted at least twice during the first 20 school days of each school session and at least twice more during the remainder of the school session.

Search warrants, subpoenas, court orders, or other process; menstrual health data prohibited. Prohibits the issuance of a search warrant, subpoena, court order, or other process for the purpose of the search and seizure or production of menstrual health data, as defined in the bill, including data stored on a computer, computer network, or other device containing electronic or digital information.

Combined sewer overflow outfalls; compliance with regulations; Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Extends from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026, the date by which certain combined sewer overflow (CSO) outfalls that discharge into the Chesapeake Bay Watershed must be in compliance with Virginia law, the federal Clean Water Act, and the Presumption Approach described in the EPA CSO Control Policy, unless a higher level of control is necessary to comply with a total maximum daily load.

Vacancies in elected local offices; interim appointments; notice requirement. Requires the local governing body or elected school board making an interim appointment to fill a vacancy in the membership of such body or board to hold a public meeting at least seven days prior to making such appointment. The bill specifies that at such meeting, the body or board shall announce the names of all persons being proposed for the interim appointment and shall make available for inspection each person's resume and any other materials required by the body or board.

Unlawful detainer; expungement; entering of an order without further petition or hearing. Provides that in unlawful detainer actions filed in the general district court, if the 30-day period following the dismissal of such an action has passed or if a voluntary nonsuit is taken and the six-month period following such nonsuit has passed, the court shall, without further petition or hearing, enter an order requiring the expungement of such action, provided that no order of possession has been entered. The bill provides that if a judgment is entered in favor of the defendant, such defendant may petition the court for an expungement pursuant to the petition process under current law. Additionally, the bill retains the petition process existing under current law for unlawful detainer actions commenced prior to July 1, 2024, for which the court still has records. Unlawful detainer; expungement; entering of an order without further petition or hearing. Provides that in unlawful detainer actions filed in the general district court, if the 30-day period following the dismissal of such an action has passed or if a voluntary nonsuit is taken and the six-month period following such nonsuit has passed, the court shall, without further petition or hearing, enter an order requiring the expungement of such action, provided that no order of possession has been entered. The bill provides that if a judgment is entered in favor of the defendant, such defendant may petition the court for an expungement pursuant to the petition process under current law. Additionally, the bill retains the petition process existing under current law for unlawful detainer actions commenced prior to July 1, 2024, for which the court still has records.

Local animal cruelty registries. Allows any locality to establish an animal cruelty registry for public access on the website of such locality or its local police department. The bill provides that such registry may include the names and relevant information of persons convicted of certain felony offenses for animal cruelty and that a person on such registry may request removal of his name after 15 years, provided that he has no additional felony convictions of an animal cruelty offense. The bill directs that all costs relating to a locality's animal cruelty registry shall be borne by such locality.

Public schools; threat assessment teams; duties; annual meeting with chief law-enforcement officer of locality or a designee from the local law-enforcement agency. Requires the threat assessment team established by the division superintendent for each public elementary or secondary school to meet at least annually on school grounds with the chief law-enforcement officer of the locality or a designee from the local law-enforcement agency to determine potential safety hazards or points of vulnerability on such grounds or in the school building and to discuss and promote active shooter prevention and natural disaster preparedness.

Unpaved secondary highway funds. Clarifies that the improvement of nonsurface treated secondary highways includes improvements other than paving, as described in the bill. The bill also clarifies that the local governing body of the county receiving funds for such improvements will select the highways or highway segments to be improved, after consulting with the Department of Transportation.

State Board of Social Services; regulations; application for and use of foster care benefits. Directs the State Board of Social Services to amend its regulations by January 1, 2025, to (i) require local departments of social services to apply for federal benefits on behalf of children in foster care that they may be eligible for, (ii) prohibit the use of federal benefits to pay for the care and support of children in foster care that the Commonwealth is otherwise obligated to pay for, and (iii) require local departments of social services that are representative payees for children in foster care to conserve such federal benefits in an appropriate trust instrument or protected account that is exempt from federal asset and resource limits.

Town of Leesburg Parking Authority. Authorizes the creation of the Town of Leesburg Parking Authority. The bill grants to the Authority various powers, including the authority to construct, operate, and lease parking facilities, contract with outside entities, issue revenue bonds and revenue refunding bonds, and acquire property. The bill also exempts the Authority from taxation.

Minimum wage. Increases the minimum wage from the current rate of $12.00 per hour to $13.50 per hour effective January 1, 2025, and to $15.00 per hour effective January 1, 2026. The bill satisfies a reenactment clause included in Chapters 1204 and 1242 of the Acts of Assembly of 2020.

Plastic bag tax; distribution to towns. Provides that any town located within a county that has imposed a disposable plastic bag tax shall receive a distribution of revenues collected by the county based on the local sales tax distribution formula for appropriations to towns. The bill requires that towns use such revenues for the same purposes allowable for a county or city.