Elections; candidates for office; conduct of primaries; declaration of candidacy. Provides that the declaration of candidacy include a statement that if the signer's name appears on the primary ballot and he is not nominated then his name is not to be printed on the ballots for that office in the succeeding general election.

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.

Motor vehicles; improper tinting films, signs, decals, and stickers; issuing citations. Removes the provisions that prohibit a law-enforcement officer from lawfully stopping a motor vehicle for violations related to improper tinting films, signs, decals, and stickers on such motor vehicle's windows. The bill increases from 35 percent to 50 percent the minimum percentage of total light transmittance required for tinting the rear and rear side windows of any motor vehicle. The bill increases from 35 percent to 50 percent the authorized reduction of total light transmittance for tinting the rear and rear side windows of any motor vehicle and maintains exemptions for multipurpose passenger vehicles and pickup trucks.

Tow truck drivers; prohibited acts. Prohibits tow truck drivers from driving by the scene of a wrecked or disabled vehicle for which a law-enforcement tow has been initiated by a law-enforcement agency, initiating contact with the owner or operator of such vehicle by soliciting or offering towing services, and towing such vehicle. Tow truck drivers; prohibited acts. Prohibits tow truck drivers from driving by the scene of a wrecked or disabled vehicle for which a law-enforcement tow has been initiated by a law-enforcement agency, initiating contact with the owner or operator of such vehicle by soliciting or offering towing services, and towing such vehicle.

Department of Medical Assistance Services; Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services Medicaid Waivers; state plan amendments; program rule modifications. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to seek federal authority through the necessary state plan amendments under Titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to modify the program rules for certain 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services Medicaid Waivers to (i) modify the 40-hour-per-week work limit to allow legally responsible individuals with more than one waiver-receiving child to receive reimbursement for 40 hours of work per week per child receiving a waiver; (ii) eliminate the requirement that, in order for a legally responsible individual to receive reimbursement for personal care services, no one else be available to provide services to the member; and (iii) modify the program rules to allow a legally responsible individual or stepparent to be the employer of record. The bill directs DMAS to evaluate the possibility of allowing for respite services under certain 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services Medicaid Waivers and submit its recommendations, cost estimate, and methodology used for obtaining the cost estimate to the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2024.

Protected information in administrative and civil proceedings; newspersons engaged in journalism. Expands the protected information privilege for newspersons to administrative and civil proceedings. Under current law, a newsperson engaged in journalism shall not be compelled by the Commonwealth or a locality to testify about, disclose, or produce protected information, with certain exceptions, in criminal proceedings only. Protected information in administrative and civil proceedings; newspersons engaged in journalism. Expands the protected information privilege for newspersons to administrative and civil proceedings. Under current law, a newsperson engaged in journalism shall not be compelled by the Commonwealth or a locality to testify about, disclose, or produce protected information, with certain exceptions, in criminal proceedings only.

Study; Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council; charges for the production of public records; report. Directs the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council (the FOIA Council) to convene a work group consisting of citizens of the Commonwealth, representatives of state and local government entities, broadcast, print, and electronic media sources, open government organizations, and other interested parties to study whether the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) allowing public bodies to charge requesters for the production of public records should be amended to make access to public records easier for requesters. The resolution further directs the work group to examine the current FOIA provisions on charges and make recommendations on ways to amend such provisions to make the assessment of charges by public bodies for the production of public records more uniform, more transparent, easier to understand, and less costly.

Space Force; extension of certain benefits and privileges for persons serving in a branch of the Armed Forces. Amends several provisions of law related to certain benefits and privileges available to persons serving or having served in a branch of the Armed Forces to include the Space Force as an eligible branch.

Department of Education; establishment of Farm to School Program Task Force. Requires the Department of Education to establish and appoint such members as it deems necessary or appropriate to the Farm to School Program Task Force for the purpose of increasing student access throughout the Commonwealth to high-quality farm to school programs, defined in the bill as programs (i) whereby public schools purchase and feature prominently in school meals locally produced food or (ii) that involve experiential student learning opportunities relating to local food and agriculture, including school and community garden programs and local farm visits. The bill requires the Task Force to collaborate with local school boards, community-based organizations, farmers, relevant state and local agencies, and other relevant stakeholders to (a) assess existing farm to school programs within the Commonwealth to identify and disseminate to each local school board best practices for implementing and sustaining such programs, (b) establish and distribute to each local school board a guidance document for the establishment and operation of school garden programs, (c) provide information and resources to each local school board to assist it in leveraging grant funds to support farm to school programs, and (d) collect such data and make such policy recommendations to local school boards, the Board of Education, and the General Assembly as it deems appropriate.

Income taxes. Creates a new income tax bracket for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2024, for income in excess of $600,000, which is to be taxed at seven percent. The bill also creates two new tax credits: a child and dependent care tax credit and a family caregiver tax credit. Both tax credits would be refundable for Virginia residents and would be available for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2024, but before January 1, 2029. The child and dependent care tax credit would equal 50 percent of the federal tax credit allowed for employment-related expenses for household and dependent care services. A similar income tax deduction for employment-related expenses would be sunsetted by the bill. The family caregiver tax credit would apply to expenses incurred by an individual in caring for an eligible family member, defined in the bill, who requires assistance with one or more activities of daily living, also defined in the bill. The family caregiver tax credit equals 50 percent of eligible expenditures incurred by the caregiver up to $1,000. The family caregiver tax credit shall be available only to taxpayers that have federal adjusted gross income that is no greater than $100,000 for individuals or $200,000 for married persons.

Operation of a motor vehicle upon the highways of the Commonwealth after conviction; petition procedures. States that upon a conviction for involuntary manslaughter as a result of driving under the influence or maiming as a result of driving under the influence, the court shall order the person convicted not to operate a motor vehicle upon the highways of the Commonwealth. The bill provides that after five years have passed from the date of the conviction, the convicted person may petition the court that entered the conviction for the right to operate a motor vehicle upon the highways of the Commonwealth and upon consideration of such petition, the court may restore the right to operate a motor vehicle subject to such terms and conditions as the court deems appropriate, including terms set forth in relevant law. Operation of a motor vehicle upon the highways of the Commonwealth after conviction; petition procedures. States that upon a conviction for involuntary manslaughter as a result of driving under the influence or maiming as a result of driving under the influence, the court shall order the person convicted not to operate a motor vehicle upon the highways of the Commonwealth. The bill provides that after five years have passed from the date of the conviction, the convicted person may petition the court that entered the conviction for the right to operate a motor vehicle upon the highways of the Commonwealth and upon consideration of such petition, the court may restore the right to operate a motor vehicle subject to such terms and conditions as the court deems appropriate, including terms set forth in relevant law. The bill also includes all enumerated violations of driving under the influence for the offense of conduct punishable as involuntary manslaughter. Under current law, the only violations included are driving (i) while such person is under the influence of alcohol; (ii) while such person is under the influence of any narcotic drug or any other self-administered intoxicant or drug of whatsoever nature, or any combination of such drugs, to a degree that impairs his ability to drive or operate any motor vehicle, engine, or train safely; and (iii) while such person is under the combined influence of alcohol and any drug or drugs to a degree that impairs his ability to drive or operate any motor vehicle, engine, or train safely.

Local electoral boards; certification and abstract of results; deadline. Extends the deadline for local electoral boards to meet after an election for the purpose of certifying the election results and submitting the abstract of results to the State Board of Elections from seven days after the date of the election to 10 days after such date. Local electoral boards; certification and abstract of results; deadline. Extends the deadline for local electoral boards to meet after an election for the purpose of certifying the election results and submitting the abstract of results to the State Board of Elections from seven days after the date of the election to 10 days after such date.

Carrying a firearm or explosive material into a building owned or leased by the Commonwealth; exception for highway rest areas. Provides that the prohibition on carrying a firearm or explosive material in any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth shall not apply to any highway rest area.

Department of Housing and Community Development; Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act; notice of tenant screening criteria. Requires landlords governed by the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act or Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act to provide applicants for tenancy with (i) the amount and purpose of fees to be charged to such applicant, (ii) information that will be used to assess such applicant's eligibility for tenancy, and (iii) any criteria that may result in automatic denial of an application. The bill requires such landlords to notify applicants of certain rights protected by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act if the landlord takes an adverse action, as defined in the bill, after reviewing an application. Finally, the bill requires such landlords to refund any funds received in excess of the landlord's actual expenses and damages, after the landlord's rejection of an application or an applicant's failure to rent a unit upon being notified of his eligibility for tenancy. Department of Housing and Community Development; Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act; notice of tenant screening criteria. Requires landlords governed by the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act or Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act to provide applicants for tenancy with (i) the amount and purpose of fees to be charged to such applicant, (ii) information that will be used to assess such applicant's eligibility for tenancy, and (iii) any criteria that may result in automatic denial of an application. The bill requires such landlords to notify applicants of certain rights protected by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act if the landlord takes an adverse action, as defined in the bill, after reviewing an application. Finally, the bill requires such landlords to refund any funds received in excess of the landlord's actual expenses and damages, after the landlord's rejection of an application or an applicant's failure to rent a unit upon being notified of his eligibility for tenancy.

Board of Pharmacy; regulations related to pharmacy outsourcing and pharmacy technician remote database access. Directs the Board of Pharmacy to promulgate regulations related to pharmacy outsourcing and pharmacy technician remote database access. The bill directs the Board to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill. Board of Pharmacy; regulations related to pharmacy outsourcing and pharmacy technician remote database access. Directs the Board of Pharmacy to promulgate regulations related to pharmacy outsourcing and pharmacy technician remote database access. The bill directs the Board to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill.