Bills & Legislation

Teachers; timeline and process for increasing salaries to at least national average.

Average teacher salary in the Commonwealth; national average. Requires the Governor's introduced budget bills for the 2027 and 2028 Regular Sessions of the General Assembly to propose funding for, and state funding to be provided pursuant to the general appropriation act enacted during any regular or special session of the General Assembly during 2027 or 2028 to fund, the Commonwealth's share of compensation supplement incentives for Standards of Quality-funded instructional and support positions sufficient to increase the average teacher salary in the Commonwealth to at least the national average teacher salary by the end of fiscal year 2029 and establishes a detailed timeline and process for satisfying such requirement.

Lashrecse D. AirdDemocrat

State Police, Department of, Executive Protection Division; security and transportation duties.

Department of State Police; Executive Protection Division; security and transportation duties. Provides that the Executive Protection Division of the Virginia Department of State Police shall have a duty to provide security and transportation to those persons designated by the Constitution of Virginia to succeed to the office of the Governor should a vacancy exist.

Lashrecse D. AirdDemocrat

Va. Retirement System; enhanced retirement benefits for 911 dispatchers, delayed effective date.

Virginia Retirement System; enhanced retirement benefits for 911 dispatchers. Allows local governments to provide enhanced retirement benefits for hazardous duty service to full-time salaried 911 dispatchers. The bill provides that such enhanced retirement benefits apply only to service earned as a full-time salaried 911 dispatcher on or after July 1, 2027, but allows an employer, as that term is defined in relevant law, to provide such enhanced retirement benefits for service earned as a full-time salaried 911 dispatcher before July 1, 2027, in addition to service earned on or after that date. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.

Emily M. JordanRepublican

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; pre-tenancy fees.

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act; pre-tenancy fees. Prohibits a landlord from charging or collecting any fee that is not a pre-tenancy fee as described in the bill and limits the charging or collection of such pre-tenancy fees to either prior to or upon the execution of a rental agreement. The bill requires a landlord to, prior to requesting or collecting any payment or information about a prospective tenant and prior to exhibiting the dwelling unit to a prospective tenant, notify the prospective tenant of any pre-tenancy fees in writing or by posting in a manner accessible to a prospective tenant. The bill provides that no landlord shall charge any fee to a prospective tenant prior to exhibiting the dwelling unit to the prospective tenant, unless the prospective tenant agrees to waive such requirement.The bill allows a landlord to collect a pet deposit, defined in the bill as separate from a security deposit, from a tenant if a pet is occupying the dwelling unit. The bill provides that no security deposit or pet deposit may be applied by the landlord toward (i) the cost of professional services or (ii) the cost of materials and labor performed by the landlord or an employee of the landlord, unless such costs are (a) reasonably necessary to return the premises to the same condition as the condition of the premises at the start of the rental agreement, less reasonable wear and tear, and (b) the landlord provides a receipt reflecting such costs to the tenant. The bill also reduces from two months of rent to one month of rent the maximum security deposit amount and decreases from 45 days to 30 days the amount of time after the termination date of the tenancy or the date the tenant vacates the dwelling unit, whichever occurs last, that the landlord shall provide a written notice to the tenant of the itemized charges deducted from the security deposit and applies the same provisions to pet deposits.The bill also provides that nothing shall be construed to allow an owner, manager, or operator of a residential building to charge a tenant for water, sewer, electrical, natural gas, oil, or other utilities if the utility is supplied directly to the tenant.Finally, the bill applies the provisions of law relating to the rental application process and administrative or renewal fees, as amended by this bill, to the Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act.

Schuyler T. VanValkenburgDemocrat

Consultation with federally recognized tribes; permits and reviews, etc.

Consultation with federally recognized tribes; permits and reviews with potential impacts on environmental, cultural, and historic resources. Adds to the duties of the Ombudsman for Tribal Consultation requirements to (i) facilitate communication between federally recognized tribes and relevant state agencies and local governments to ensure an opportunity for meaningful and timely consultation on environmental, cultural, and historical permits and reviews; (ii) assist the Department of Transportation in developing consultation policies; (iii) make recommendations to the Governor on the basis of communications with federally recognized tribes about (a) circumstances under which tribal consent should be required for issuance of certain permits and (b) additional agencies that should develop policies and procedures to ensure meaningful, timely, and appropriate consultation with federally recognized tribes; (iv) provide training at least once a year to certain state agency personnel on issues of concern to the federally recognized tribes to support effective communication, collaboration, and positive government-to-government relations between the Commonwealth and the federally recognized tribes; and (v) submit an annual report to the Secretary of the Commonwealth on the activities undertaken to implement such provisions and the issues that have arisen in that pursuit. The bill also requires the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Historic Resources, Department of Transportation, and Marine Resources Commission to engage in consultation with federally recognized tribes on certain issues. During such consultation, the burden is on the agency to show that it has made a good faith effort to elicit meaningful and timely feedback, including formal communication between agency employees and the federally recognized tribe. When a burial permit will result in the disturbance of a burial site of an individual that has a cultural affiliation with a particular federally recognized tribe, the bill requires the Department of Historic Resources to acquire the consent of such federally recognized tribe before issuing a permit for the archaeological excavation of human remains. This bill is a recommendation of the Commission on Updating Virginia Law to Reflect Federal Recognition of Virginia Tribes.

Ryan T. McDougleRepublican

Local anti-rent gouging authority; civil penalty.

Local anti-rent gouging authority; civil penalty. Provides that any locality may by ordinance adopt anti-rent gouging provisions. The bill provides for notice and a public hearing prior to the adoption of such ordinance and specifies that all landlords who are under the ordinance may be required to give at least 90 days' written notice of a rent increase and cannot increase the rent by more than the locality's calculated allowance, not to exceed three percent, and states that such allowance is effective for a 12-month period beginning July 1 each year. The bill requires the locality to publish such allowance on its website by June 1 of each year. Certain facilities, as outlined in the bill, are exempt from such ordinance. The bill also requires a locality adopting an anti-rent gouging ordinance to establish an anti-rent gouging board to establish rules and procedures by which landlords may apply for and be granted exemptions from the rent increase limits set by the ordinance or delegate such duties and functions to an existing local board, department, or agency. The bill also requires the anti-rent gouging board to establish a fair return on investment rent increase exemption to the annual anti-rent gouging allowance where necessary to offset increased operating expenses. Finally, the bill provides that a locality shall establish a civil penalty for failure to comply with the requirements set out in its ordinance.

Jennifer B. BoyskoDemocrat

American Indians, Virginia and federally recognized tribes; establishes definitions, sovereignty.

Definitions; American Indians; Virginia recognized tribes; federally recognized tribes; sovereignty. Provides that the Commonwealth acknowledges the inherent sovereignty of federally recognized tribes within the present-day external boundaries of the Commonwealth. The bill also establishes definitions for "American Indian," "federally recognized tribe," and "Virginia recognized tribe" and amends various sections throughout the Code for the purpose of uniformity in terminology. This bill is a recommendation of the Commission on Updating Virginia Law to Reflect Federal Recognition of Virginia Tribes.

Ryan T. McDougleRepublican

License plates, special; recognition of those lost or injured in military service, fees.

Special license plates in recognition of those lost or injured in military service; fees. Eliminates the annual registration fee and annual fee for one special license plate for any veteran who has been certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as having a service-connected disability. Existing law authorizes the waiver of such fees for one special license plate for any disabled veteran who has either lost, or lost the use of, a leg, arm, or hand, is blind, or is permanently and totally disabled as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or his unremarried surviving spouse. The bill also exempts special license plates for immediate family members of persons who have died in military service to their country from the annual fee assessed for special license plates.

Ryan T. McDougleRepublican

Fostering Access, Innovation, and Responsibility in Artificial Intelligence Act; established.

Fostering Access, Innovation, and Responsibility in Artificial Intelligence Act established. Establishes the Fostering Access, Innovation, and Responsibility in Artificial Intelligence Act (FAIR AI Act) that requires a developer of a base artificial intelligence model, as defined in the bill, to clearly and conspicuously disclose, in a manner that is appropriate for the medium of the content and is easily accessible to the user of such model, in the terms of service governing the use of such model, certain elements related to the artificial intelligence system. The bill creates the FAIR AI Enforcement Fund for the purpose of supporting agency enforcement of artificial intelligence system misuse, bias, and workforce disruption. Finally, the bill limits the defenses available in any criminal or civil action against a defendant that is alleged to have developed, modified, or deployed an artificial intelligence system that caused harm to a plaintiff. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.

Stella G. PekarskyDemocrat

Income tax, corporate and state; subtraction for broadband grant fund awards.

Income tax subtraction; broadband grant fund awards. Establishes an individual and corporate income tax subtraction for any amount of public grant awards received in the taxable year for the exclusive purpose of planning, constructing, expanding, or improving upon broadband infrastructure and services in the Commonwealth beginning in taxable year 2026.

Jennifer B. BoyskoDemocrat

Va. State Bar, et al.; use of nondisclosure/confidentiality prov. in certain settlement agreements.

Virginia State Bar; work group to study the use of nondisclosure or confidentiality provisions in certain settlement agreements; report. Directs the Virginia State Bar to convene a work group of relevant stakeholders to study and make recommendations relating to the use of nondisclosure or confidentiality provisions or agreements pursuant to or contained in settlement agreements reached in civil actions for personal injury arising from an unlawful act that would constitute criminal sexual assault, commercial sex trafficking, or other sexual offense that occurred during the infancy or incapacity of the injured person. The bill directs the work group to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice by November 1, 2026.

Jennifer B. BoyskoDemocrat

Court appearance of a person not free on bail; changes to provisions regarding hearings.

Court appearance of a person not free on bail. Makes various changes to provisions regarding bail hearings, including (i) the appointment of counsel for the accused; (ii) the information provided to counsel for the accused; (iii) a requirement that counsel for the accused, when practicable, be provided with adequate time to confer with the accused prior to any bail hearing; and (iv) the compensation of counsel for the accused. The bill provides that, effective in due course, the chief judge in each circuit shall create a plan to be completed by November 1, 2026, that establishes the means by which the jurisdiction will meet such provisions. The remaining provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.

Jennifer B. BoyskoDemocrat

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Compact; withdrawal from compact.

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Compact; withdrawal. Removes authorization for the Commonwealth's membership in the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Compact. The bill directs the Marine Resources Commission, on or after February 1, 2027, to take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the Commonwealth's renunciation of and withdrawal from the Compact and to complete such actions no later than July 1, 2027. The bill also directs the Commission, no later than July 31, 2026, to provide written notice to all states that are a party to the Compact that the Commonwealth intends to renounce and withdraw from the Compact. Finally, the bill removes from the Menhaden Management Advisory Committee the Virginia appointee to the Atlantic Menhaden Technical Committee of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

Richard H. StuartRepublican

Va. Brownfield & Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund; increases kilowatt of nameplate capacity.

Virginia Brownfield and Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund. Increases from $100 per kilowatt of nameplate capacity from renewable energy sources that are located on brownfields to $200 per kilowatt of nameplate capacity from renewable energy sources that are located on brownfields the grant amount a project developer can receive from the Virginia Brownfield and Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund. This bill is a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation.

Mark J. PeakeRepublican

Cloud Computing Cluster Infrastructure Grant Fund; reclaimed water usage, definitions.

Cloud Computing Cluster Infrastructure Grant Fund; reclaimed water usage. Requires data center operators applying for grant payments from the Cloud Computing Cluster Infrastructure Grant Fund to utilize reclaimed water, defined in the bill, for water-dependent cooling processes at data center and cloud computing cluster operations facilities. The bill gradually increases the reclaimed water utilization requirement at such facilities from 60 percent of all water-dependent cooling processes beginning on July 1, 2027, to 100 percent on and after July 1, 2031.

Richard H. StuartRepublican

Retirement systems; one additional year creditable service for certain individuals.

Retirement systems and creditable service. Awards an individual who has reached normal retirement age under the State Police Officers' Retirement System (SPORS) or Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System (VaLORS), as determined by relevant law, one additional year of creditable service for every five full years of creditable service earned (i) as a member of SPORS, (ii) as a member of VaLORS, or (iii) while employed by a locality that has elected to provide SPORS-benefits to its employees. This bill only affects those retirements that take place on or after July 1, 2027.

Christie New CraigRepublican

Virginia Conservation Easement Act; definition of federally recognized tribe.

Virginia Conservation Easement Act; definitions; federally recognized tribes. Provides that a federally recognized tribe, as defined in the bill, can be a conservation easement holder and that such a tribe is not bound by the same restrictions on the location of a principal office or the duration of existence that are placed on other types of easement holders. This bill is a recommendation of the Commission on Updating Virginia Law to Reflect Federal Recognition of Virginia Tribes.

Richard H. StuartRepublican

Uniform Statewide Building Code; regulations superseded, exceptions, interpretations, report.

Uniform Statewide Building Code; regulations superseded; exceptions; interpretations; report. Removes existing exceptions to the Uniform Statewide Building Code and establishes a process by which counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions may petition the State Building Code Technical Review Board (the Review Board) to grant single project exceptions. The bill requires the Review Board, in granting approval for an exception, to identify other counties, municipalities, and political subdivisions of the Commonwealth in which the conditions are substantially similar and to which such exception shall therefore apply. The bill additionally requires the Review Board to report to the General Assembly annually no later than November 1 regarding the number of petitions received, the disposition of such petitions, technical findings supporting approvals and denials, and the cost and safety impacts of any approved exception. The bill requires any interpretation issued by the Review Board to apply statewide. Finally, the bill directs the Board of Housing and Community Development, in consultation with the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, to establish a training program for local plan reviewers and inspectors to ensure enforcement of the Uniform Statewide Building Code is uniform across the Commonwealth.

Eric PhillipsRepublican

Local approval of data centers; temporary moratorium.

Local approval of data centers; temporary moratorium. Prohibits final approval of any application for a rezoning, special exception, special use permit, site plan, or plan of development for the siting of a new data center by a locality until the earlier of (i) the fulfillment of all pending requests for interconnection to distribution service by an electric utility customer that is a data center or (ii) July 1, 2028.

Irene ShinDemocrat

Spouse of an eligible service member; employment and economic opportunities.

Military - spouse employment and economic opportunities.

Madison WhittleRepublican

Digital innovation & infrastructure; establishing rights in digital property & technology resources.

Digital innovation and infrastructure; establishing rights in digital property and technology resources; requiring risk management policies for critical infrastructure facilities controlled by critical artificial intelligence systems; providing safe harbors; preempting local regulation; and providing for enforcement and remedies.

Wren M. WilliamsRepublican

Constitutional amendment; tax exemption for motor vehicles owned for personal, noncommercial use.

Constitutional amendment (first reference); personal property tax; exemption for motor vehicles owned for personal, noncommercial use. Exempts one motor vehicle used for personal, noncommercial purposes from state and local taxes. The amendment specifies that such exemption is only applicable (i) for automobiles, motorcycles, and pickup trucks and (ii) on and after the date the motor vehicle is acquired or the effective date of the amendment, whichever is later, and is not applicable for any period of time prior to the effective date of the amendment.

Timothy P. GriffinRepublican

Income tax, state; Department of Taxation, et al., to study impact of repealing individual tax.

Study; Department of Taxation; impact of repealing the individual income tax; report. Requests the Department of Taxation, in cooperation with the Secretary of Finance, to study the impact of repealing the individual income tax. In conducting its study, the Department shall consider and assess potential reforms to the Commonwealth's tax structure which would be necessary to eliminate individual income tax liability in the Commonwealth. The Department shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2026, and submit a report of its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly for publication as a House or Senate Document no later than the first day of the 2027 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

Timothy P. GriffinRepublican

Wolf Creek Cherokee Tribe of Virginia; General Assembly to extend state recognition.

Recognition of the Wolf Creek Cherokee Tribe of Virginia. Extends state recognition to the Wolf Creek Cherokee Tribe of Virginia within the Commonwealth.

Delores L. McQuinnDemocrat

Legacy property managed retreat studies; JLARC to study, non-federal sponsor contributions.

Study; JLARC; non-federal sponsor contributions to conduct legacy property managed retreat studies; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to study the methodology for determining the monetary contributions by localities or other non-federal sponsors to the total cost of legacy property managed retreat studies, as those terms are defined in the resolution. The study also directs JLARC to determine whether a stand-alone fund shall be established to support and manage cost-share requests from non-federal sponsors to provide relief to legacy property owners threatened by sea level rise.

Jackie H. GlassDemocrat

Birthplace of American Cuisine Day; designates as April 27, 2026, & each succeeding year thereafter.

Birthplace of American Cuisine Day. Designates April 27, in 2026 and in each succeeding year, as Birthplace of American Cuisine Day in Virginia.

Anne Ferrell TataRepublican

Higher education; JLARC to study options to improve affordability for students.

Study; JLARC; public institutions of higher education; options to improve affordability for students; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study options and provide updated recommendations to improve the affordability of higher education for students in the Commonwealth.

Destiny LeVere BollingDemocrat

Housing projects; JLARC to study zoning restrictions and permitting and approval processes.

Study; JLARC; housing projects; zoning restrictions and permitting and approval processes; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study local zoning ordinances and permitting and approval processes for housing projects. The resolution additionally directs JLARC to provide recommendations to address regulations, ordinances, and processes that inhibit the approval and construction of multi-family or smaller square-footage housing projects in order to improve access to more affordable housing for residents of the Commonwealth.

JJ SinghDemocrat

Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters, 16-year-olds permitted to vote.

Constitutional amendment (first reference); qualifications of voters; 16-year-olds permitted to vote. Provides that, notwithstanding the requirement that a voter shall be 18 years of age, any person who is 16 years of age or older and is otherwise qualified to vote shall be permitted to register to vote and to vote in local elections.

Jackie H. GlassDemocrat

Winter Salt Week; designating week of fourth Monday in January 2027 and each succeeding year.

Winter Salt Week. Designates the week of the fourth Monday in January, in 2027 and in each succeeding year, as Winter Salt Week in Virginia.

Kathy K.L. TranDemocrat

599 funding; effects of revising distribution to distressed localities with high crime rates, etc.

Study; JLARC; potential effects of revising the distribution of 599 funding to distressed localities with high crime and poverty rates; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the potential effects of revising the distribution of 599 funding to distressed localities with high crime and poverty rates.

Kimberly Pope AdamsDemocrat

Christian Heritage Week; designating as April 24-April 30, 2026, and each succeeding yr. thereafter.

Christian Heritage Week. Designates April 24 to April 30, in 2026 and in each succeeding year, as Christian Heritage Week in Virginia.

Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.Republican

Med. assistance serv.; supplemental payment for ground emerg. medical serv. vehicle transportation.

Medical assistance services; volunteer emergency medical services agencies; supplemental payment for ground emergency medical services vehicle transportation. Directs the State Board of Health to include a provision in the state plan for medical assistance services to implement a supplemental payment program for qualified volunteer emergency medical services agencies to cover the difference between the agency's costs for ground emergency medical services vehicle transport services and the reimbursement amount received from the Department of Medical Assistance Services.

William M. Stanley, Jr.Republican

School boards; high school courses or dual enrollment programs for certain certifications.

School boards; courses of instruction; high school courses or dual enrollment programs for certification as a certified nurse aide, emergency medical technician, or firefighter; establishment permitted; requirements. Permits any school board to provide to high school students, either on school premises or through a dual enrollment program or other partnership with a comprehensive community college, courses of instruction that prepare students for and lead to (i) certification as a certified nurse aide, provided that such course is approved by and meets the requirements of the Board of Nursing and is taught by a qualified individual, consistent with the requirements of the Board of Nursing; (ii) certification as an emergency medical technician, provided that such course is consistent with the requirements established by the Office of Emergency Medical Services and taught by an emergency medical technician instructor who meets the requirements set forth in the bill; or (iii) firefighting level 1 certification, as defined by the bill, provided that such course is consistent with the National Fire Protection Association 1001, level one, firefighter standards as administered by the Department of Fire Programs and taught by an individual qualified to provided such instruction. The bill also requires any school board that provides any such course of instruction on school premises to high school students to ensure that any individual employed, contracted, or permitted to volunteer to provide instruction in such course meets the requirements set forth in applicable law relating to data on convictions for certain crimes and child abuse and neglect, fingerprinting, and criminal history records checks.

William M. Stanley, Jr.Republican

Full-time deputy sheriffs, certain; salary increase.

Salaries of certain full-time deputy sheriffs. Provides that, beginning on and after July 1, 2026, the salary of certain full-time deputy sheriffs shall be increased by an amount equal to $100 for each full year of service.

William M. Stanley, Jr.Republican

Certified school library specialists; Superintendent of Public Instruction to employ in DOE.

Superintendent of Public Instruction; employment of certified school library specialists. Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to employ in the Department of Education at least one certified school library specialist who shall have several duties enumerated in the bill, including (i) providing leadership and technical assistance with the implementation and use of information literacy skills to school divisions, Department staff, and other stakeholders to support student achievement; (ii) directing the implementation of state and national school library standards and consulting with and providing technical assistance to local school divisions relating to such standards; (iii) collaborating on various grants and other initiatives that promote student literacy through school library programs throughout the Commonwealth; (iv) supporting student learning through instructional programs in which students are required to demonstrate information literacy, digital literacy and fluency, and effective use of technology and instructional programs that incorporate science, technology, engineering, and math learning; and (v) providing the Department, the Board of Education, the General Assembly, and school boards with support relating to student learning through the use of school library standards and library resources.

Stella G. PekarskyDemocrat

Virginia Retirement System; service retirement allowance, return to work.

Virginia Retirement System; service retirement allowance; return to work. Allows a retired law-enforcement officer to continue to receive his service retirement allowance during a subsequent period of employment by a local law-enforcement agency in a civilian role that does not require law-enforcement certification as a fingerprint examiner, forensics specialist, property and evidence technician, background investigator, or firearms instructor, so long as he has a break in service of at least six calendar months between retirement and reemployment, did not retire under an early retirement program, did not retire under the Workforce Transition Act of 1995, and retired in good standing from his sworn law-enforcement officer position.

Christie New CraigRepublican

Medicaid waivers; consumer-directed services, employer of record.

Department of Medical Assistance Services; Medicaid waivers; consumer-directed services; employer of record. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to modify the program rules for consumer-directed services available through certain Medicaid waivers to allow an individual receiving services to serve as the employer of record (EOR) for his own service delivery and designate another individual to perform all or a portion of the duties of the EOR on the individual's behalf when the individual receiving services is unable to perform such duties or direct his own care. The bill specifies that when an individual (i) has not yet reached the age of majority, (ii) is ineligible to use his existing employer identification number (EIN) to facilitate the taxation of benefits, or (iii) is otherwise determined to be ineligible by DMAS by administrative rule, the EIN shall be assigned to the individual receiving services and shall not be transferred to another individual. Under the bill, DMAS has the authority to limit such amendments to specify that an individual receiving services may make such designation no more than twice per calendar year.

Tara A. DurantRepublican

Income tax, state; subtraction for long-term capital gains from sale of principal residence.

Individual income tax subtraction; long-term capital gains from sale of principal residence. Provides an individual income tax subtraction in taxable years 2025 through 2029 for income that is (i) taxed as a long-term capital gain for federal income tax purposes, (ii) attributable to the sale of property that served as the taxpayer's principal residence for at least two of the five years preceding such sale, and (iii) in excess of federal limitations only allowing an exclusion from gross income for up to $250,000, or $500,000, for joint filers, of gain from such a sale.

Jeremy S. McPikeDemocrat

Income tax, state; subtractions for income attributable to overtime.

Individual income tax subtractions; overtime. Establishes an individual income tax subtraction for income attributable to overtime in an amount equal to (i) 25 percent of the federal overtime deduction for taxable year 2026 and (ii) 50 percent of the federal overtime deduction for taxable year 2027 and thereafter.

Ryan T. McDougleRepublican

Marijuana field test; testimony as to the results; consuming, etc., while in a motor vehicle.

Marijuana field test; testimony as to the results; consuming or possessing marijuana or marijuana products while in a motor vehicle or on public school grounds. Allows a law-enforcement officer to testify as to the results of any marijuana field test approved as accurate and reliable by the Department of Forensic Science regarding whether or not any plant material at issue is marijuana in a trial for a violation of using or consuming marijuana or marijuana products while in a motor vehicle being driven upon a public highway or consuming or possessing marijuana or marijuana products in or on public school grounds, provided the defendant has been given written notice of his right to request a full chemical analysis. Current law allows a law-enforcement officer to testify as to the results of a marijuana field test in a trial for underage possession or consumption of marijuana.

Ryan T. McDougleRepublican

Alternative graduation pathways to earn Standard Diploma; development, approval, and implementation,

Board of Education; development, approval, and implementation of alternative graduation pathways to earn a Standard Diploma; report. Directs the Board of Education to develop, approve, and implement alternative graduation pathways to earn a Standard Diploma that are designed to expand opportunities for students to complete the verified credit requirements for the Standard Diploma that do not require achieving a passing score on applicable Standards of Learning assessments. In developing, approving, and implementing such alternative graduation pathways, the bill directs the Board to (i) consult with and integrate the perspectives of a broad range of relevant stakeholders; (ii) consider alignment with the competencies articulated in the Profile of the Virginia Graduation; (iii) consider certain elements for incorporation into such alternative pathways, including nonassessment demonstrations of competence, alternative assessments that could be used in lieu of or alongside Standards of Learning assessments, and pathway structures or elements designed to encourage hands-on learning and civic engagement; (iv) ensure that any such alternative graduation pathways do not impact or replace the current requirements for earning a Standard Diploma or an Advanced Studies Diploma; (v) ensure at least one alternative pathway is approved that includes a nonassessment demonstration of competence; and (vi) consider potential timelines for implementation of such alternative graduation pathways. Finally, the bill directs the Board to submit to the Governor and Chairs of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by January 1, 2027, a report detailing the Board's progress in developing, approving, and implementing alternative graduation pathways to earn a Standard Diploma, in accordance with the provisions of the bill.

Stella G. PekarskyDemocrat

Income tax, state; subtraction for tax, military retirement benefits, uniformed services.

Income tax subtraction; military retirement benefits; uniformed services. Expands the military benefits income tax subtraction to include retirement income received for service in the uniformed services of the United States, which includes the United States Armed Forces, the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the commissioned corps of the United States Public Health Service. Under current law, the subtraction is only allowed for military retirement income received for service in the United States Armed Forces.

Jeremy S. McPikeDemocrat

Virginia Retirement System; enhanced retirement benefits for animal control officers.

Virginia Retirement System; enhanced retirement benefits for animal control officers. Adds full-time animal control officers to the list of local employees eligible to receive enhanced retirement benefits for hazardous duty service for service earned in such positions on or after July 1, 2027. Under current law, localities may provide such benefits to first responders, including firefighters and emergency medical technicians, and certain other hazardous duty positions. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.

T. Travis HackworthRepublican

Pari-mutuel wagering; historical horse racing, percentage retained for distribution.

Pari-mutuel wagering; historical horse racing; percentage retained for distribution. Provides that with respect to all authorized historical horse racing terminals, of the amount that a horse racing licensee retains from wagering on historical horse racing pools and in addition to the current distribution required under law, 0.025 percent each shall be distributed to the Shenandoah County Agricultural Foundation and the Great Meadow Foundation to support the promotion, education, maintenance, and safety of horse racing at such facilities. The bill also increases the distribution percentage provided from the amount that a horse racing licensee retains from wagering on historical horse racing pools to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund from 0.01 percent to 0.025 percent.

Russet PerryDemocrat

Virginia Student Teacher Scholarship Program; established, report.

Virginia Student Teacher Scholarship Program established; report. Establishes the Virginia Student Teacher Scholarship Program, to be administered by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia in coordination with the Department of Education, whereby a student teacher who (i) is completing a required supervised clinical practice through a traditional educator preparation program in the Commonwealth, (ii) is assigned to complete such supervised clinical practice at a public elementary or secondary school in the Commonwealth without pay, and (iii) applies and meets certain eligibility criteria shall be awarded a scholarship in an amount not to exceed $7,500 per each supervised clinical practice experience to assist with expenses incurred during the supervised clinical practice. The bill contains provisions relating to Program administration and requires the Council to submit and publish an annual report containing certain Program data.

Stella G. PekarskyDemocrat

Retail Sales and Use Tax; exemption for vital baby products.

Sales tax exemption; vital baby products. Creates a retail sales and use tax exemption for vital baby products, including (i) children's diapers, (ii) therapeutic or preventative creams and wipes marketed primarily for use on the skin of children, (iii) child restraint devices or booster seats, (iv) cribs, (v) strollers meant for transporting children from infancy to 36 months of age, and (vi) food represented for dietary use solely as a food for infants.

Angelia Williams GravesDemocrat

School breakfasts; availability at no cost to students.

School breakfast; availability at no cost to students. Requires each school board to require each public elementary and secondary school in the local school division to participate in the federal National School Lunch Program and the federal School Breakfast Program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and to make breakfast available to any student who requests such a meal at no cost to the student, unless the student's parent has provided written permission to the school board to withhold such a meal from the student. The bill requires the Department of Education to reimburse each public elementary and secondary school for each school breakfast served to a student, with a maximum of one breakfast per student per school day, and provides the formula for determining the state reimbursement rate for such meals. Finally, the bill repeals a provision of law relating to the federal School Breakfast Program that is rendered obsolete by the provisions of the bill.

Danica A. RoemDemocrat