Maximum number of judges in each judicial circuit. Increases from four to five the maximum number of authorized circuit court judges in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

Emergency medical services regulations; police dogs. Requires the State Board of Health to promulgate regulations, in consultation with the State Veterinarian, to provide emergency treatment to police dogs injured in the line of duty and for the transportation of such police dogs by emergency medical services vehicles to veterinary care facilities equipped to provide emergency treatment to such dogs. Emergency medical services regulations; police dogs. Requires the State Board of Health to promulgate regulations, in consultation with the State Veterinarian, to provide emergency treatment to police dogs injured in the line of duty and for the transportation of such police dogs by emergency medical services vehicles to veterinary care facilities equipped to provide emergency treatment to such dogs.

Prevailing wage rate for underground infrastructure works by public service companies. Directs the Department of Labor and Industry to determine and make available the prevailing wage rate for underground infrastructure work. Under the bill, each public service company shall ensure that its bid specifications or other contracts applicable to underground infrastructure works require payment at the prevailing wage rate. The bill requires contractors and subcontractors to post the prevailing wage rate in a prominent and accessible place at the work site. The bill also requires each public service company, contractor, or subcontractor subject to the provisions of the bill to comply with certain recordkeeping requirements. Provisions of the bill apply to contracts entered into on or after July 1, 2024. Prevailing wage rate for underground infrastructure works by public service companies. Directs the Department of Labor and Industry to determine and make available the prevailing wage rate for underground infrastructure work. Under the bill, each public service company shall ensure that its bid specifications or other contracts applicable to underground infrastructure works require payment at the prevailing wage rate. The bill requires contractors and subcontractors to post the prevailing wage rate in a prominent and accessible place at the work site. The bill also requires each public service company, contractor, or subcontractor subject to the provisions of the bill to comply with certain recordkeeping requirements. Provisions of the bill apply to contracts entered into on or after July 1, 2024.

Firearm locking device required for sale or transfer of firearm; warning against accessibility to children; penalty. Makes it a Class 3 misdemeanor for any licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, or licensed dealer to sell, deliver, or transfer any firearm to any person other than a licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, or licensed dealer unless the transferee is provided with a locking device for that firearm and the firearm is accompanied by a warning, in conspicuous and legible type in capital letters printed on a separate sheet of paper included within the packaging enclosing the firearm, that firearms should be locked and kept away from children and that there may be civil and criminal liability for failing to do so. The bill provides exceptions for law-enforcement and governmental agencies.

Department of Social Services; human trafficking services. Adds to the responsibilities of the Department of Social Services certain duties related to human trafficking prevention and victim support. The bill requires the Department, among other things, to develop a tiered certification system for programs that provide services to victims of human trafficking, which shall consider (i) whether the program is accredited by a nationally recognized credentialing entity; (ii) the program's services, practices, governance, organizational structure, leadership, financial management, and compliance history; and (iii) any other criteria deemed relevant by the Department. The bill also authorizes the Department, subject to regulations of the Board of Social Services and the availability of state or federal funds, to receive state and federal funds for services to victims of human trafficking; disburse funds through matching grants to local public or private nonprofit agencies to provide service programs for the victims of human trafficking; and develop and implement grant mechanisms for funding such local services.

Virginia Teacher Residency Training Corps established. Establishes the Virginia Teacher Residency Training Corps for the purposes of attracting and retaining public elementary and secondary school teachers in school divisions in the Commonwealth by awarding scholarships to students seeking to obtain teaching degrees and certifications at participating institutions and requiring such students upon completion of their degree or certificate to fill teaching positions for one year for each year of scholarship receipt at a high-need school, as defined pursuant to federal law. The bill also creates the Virginia Teacher Residency Training Corps Scholarship Fund and Program for the purpose of funding such scholarships at the participating institutions of Longwood University, Norfolk State University, Radford University, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Finally, the bill establishes the 12-member Virginia Teacher Residency Training Corps Commission to administer the Program and directs the Commission to begin meeting on or after September 1, 2024, and to establish the parameters for the Program and award the first scholarships prior to the beginning of the 2025-2026 academic year.

Department of Veterans Services; Veteran's Fellowship for State Government Pilot Program. Creates, within the Department of Veterans Services, the Veteran's Fellowship for State Government Pilot Program (the Program) through which the Department shall collaborate with Virginia Commonwealth University to recruit veterans to participate in undergraduate-level and graduate-level cohorts to assist such veterans in pursuing educational pathways to employment with the Commonwealth. The Department shall report annually to the General Assembly by November 1 regarding the progress of the participants, the return on investment for the Commonwealth, and recommendations for Program enhancements. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2027.

Department of Education; development of education materials relating to risks of opioids. Requires the Department of Education, in consultation with such stakeholders and experts as it deems necessary or appropriate, to develop and submit to the Chairs of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by November 1, 2024, (i) age-appropriate and evidence-based education materials concerning the risks to health and safety that are posed by opioids and (ii) guidelines for school boards for incorporating such education materials into instructional programs for students enrolled in the local school division. Department of Education; development of education materials relating to risks of opioids. Requires the Department of Education, in consultation with such stakeholders and experts as it deems necessary or appropriate, to develop and submit to the Chairs of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by November 1, 2024, (i) age-appropriate and evidence-based education materials concerning the risks to health and safety that are posed by opioids and (ii) guidelines for school boards for incorporating such education materials into instructional programs for students enrolled in the local school division.

Change in speed limits; notification. Requires Change in speed limits; notification. Requires the Department of Transportation, if the Commissioner of Highways increases or decreases a speed limit, to notify the primary liaison with the Department in each locality within which such speed limit change will occur. The bill also requires the locality to notify the governing body of any property owners' association or condominium association if any such speed limit change will occur in a community subject to such association.

Exemptions from jury service upon request; age. Increases from 70 to 73 the age at which a person is exempt from jury service upon request.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; applications. Prohibits the Board of Social Services from requiring persons applying to participate or renewing their participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to appear in person. The bill also codifies the Department of Health's authority to implement a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC Program), which is currently authorized by regulation. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; applications. Prohibits the Board of Social Services from requiring persons applying to participate or renewing their participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to appear in person. The bill also codifies the Department of Health's authority to implement a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC Program), which is currently authorized by regulation.

Land preservation tax credit. Increases from $1 million to $1.5 million the threshold credit amount that triggers verification by the Department of Conservation and Recreation of the conservation value of a land donation. The bill exempts certain state agencies from the verification requirement unless the value of the credit claimed is greater than $2 million. Land preservation tax credit. Increases from $1 million to $1.5 million the threshold credit amount that triggers verification by the Department of Conservation and Recreation of the conservation value of a land donation. The bill exempts certain state agencies from the verification requirement unless the value of the credit claimed is greater than $2 million.

Employee protections; medicinal use of cannabis oil. Amends the provision that prohibits an employer from discriminating against an employee for such employee's lawful use of medical cannabis oil, with certain exceptions, by specifying that such use must conform to the laws of the Commonwealth and by including the employees, other than law-enforcement officers, of the Commonwealth and other public bodies in such protections.

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome Awareness Day. Designates October 25, in 2024 and in each succeeding year, as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome Awareness Day in Virginia.

Arrest, prosecution, and disciplinary or administrative procedures and penalties for individuals experiencing or reporting overdoses while incarcerated. Provides that no individual incarcerated in a local, regional, or state correctional facility shall be subject to arrest or prosecution for or disciplinary or administrative procedures or penalties related to the unlawful purchase, possession, or consumption of alcohol; possession of a controlled substance; possession of marijuana; procurement, sale, secretion, or possession of any chemical compound not lawfully received; intoxication in public; or possession of controlled paraphernalia if such individual seeks or obtains emergency medical attention for himself or another individual experiencing an overdose or is experiencing an overdose and another individual seeks or obtains emergency medical attention for him. The bill also provides that no correctional officer, deputy sheriff, or jail officer acting in good faith shall be found liable for false arrest if it is later determined that the person arrested was immune from prosecution or disciplinary procedures or penalties. Arrest, prosecution, and disciplinary or administrative procedures and penalties for individuals experiencing or reporting overdoses while incarcerated. Provides that no individual incarcerated in a local, regional, or state correctional facility shall be subject to arrest or prosecution for or disciplinary or administrative procedures or penalties related to the unlawful purchase, possession, or consumption of alcohol; possession of a controlled substance; possession of marijuana; procurement, sale, secretion, or possession of any chemical compound not lawfully received; intoxication in public; or possession of controlled paraphernalia if such individual seeks or obtains emergency medical attention for himself or another individual experiencing an overdose or is experiencing an overdose and another individual seeks or obtains emergency medical attention for him. The bill also provides that no correctional officer, deputy sheriff, or jail officer acting in good faith shall be found liable for false arrest if it is later determined that the person arrested was immune from prosecution or disciplinary procedures or penalties.