Del. Paul Krizek

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution honoring the late state legislator Frank Miller Ruff, Jr. It does not create new laws or affect any policies or people. The resolution formally commemorates his service and life through a symbolic tribute. As a non-binding resolution, it has no practical impact beyond recognition.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-203.3, 2.2-401.01, 2.2-3705.3, 2.2-3705.6, 2.2-3705.7, 2.2-3711, 2.2-3802, 2.2-4002, 2.2-4346, 3.2-102, 3.2-6201, 4.1-100, 4.1-206.3, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 8.01-216.3, 8.01-534, 11-16.1, 11-16.2, 15.2-912.2, 15.2-2825, 18.2-325, 18.2-326, 18.2-334.2 through 18.2-334.5, 19.2-66, 19.2-215.1, 19.2-389, 19.2-390, 22.1-140.1, 37.2-314.2, 52-53, 52-54, 58.1-3, 58.1-439, 58.1-460, 58.1-3510, 58.1-3732.1, and 59.1-542.1 of the Code of Virginia; to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a title numbered 29.5, containing a subtitle numbered I, containing chapters numbered 1 through 6, consisting of sections numbered 29.5-100 through 29.5-648, and a subtitle numbered II, containing chapters numbered 7 and 8, consisting of sections numbered 29.5-700 through 29.5-814; and to repeal §§ 2.2-2455 and 2.2-2456, Article 1.1:1 (§§ 18.2-340.15 through 18.2-340.37) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2, Chapter 40 (§§ 58.1-4000 through 58.1-4048) of Title 58.1, Chapter 41 (§§ 58.1-4100 through 58.1-4141) of Title 58.1, Chapter 29 (§§ 59.1-364 through 59.1-405) of Title 59.1, and Chapter 51 (§§ 59.1-556 through 59.1-570) of Title 59.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Gaming Commission; established; penalties.

Department of Social Services; foster care; new luggage; report. Directs the Department of Social Services (the Department) to establish and maintain a decentralized supply of new luggage to be used to transport the personal belongings of a child in foster care. The bill requires the Department to provide new luggage to a child who is entering or exiting foster care or moving from one foster care placement to another and prohibits the Department from using disposable bags or trash bags to transport any items for a child in foster care. The bill requires the Commissioner of the Department to report certain information related to new luggage to the General Assembly by no later than December 1 of each year.

Maddy summaryHB 1843 would replace Columbus Day, observed on the second Monday in October, with Indigenous Peoples' Day as an official state holiday. This change directly affects state employees, public schools, and government offices that observe the holiday, altering the designated day for closures and observances. The bill maintains the same date (the second Monday in October) but changes the holiday's name and historical reference. It does not alter other holiday schedules or create new state obligations beyond the holiday designation.

Workers' compensation; injuries caused by repetitive and sustained physical stressors. Provides that, for the purposes of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act, "occupational disease" includes injuries or diseases from conditions resulting from repetitive and sustained physical stressors, including repetitive and sustained motions, exertions, posture stresses, contact stresses, vibrations, or noises. The bill provides that such injuries or diseases are covered under the Act and that such coverage does not require that such repetitive or sustained physical stress occurred over a particular time period, provided that the time period over which such physical stress occurred can be reasonably identified.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-203.3, 2.2-401.01, 2.2-3705.3, 2.2-3705.6, 2.2-3705.7, 2.2-3711, 2.2-3802, 2.2-4002, 2.2-4346, 3.2-102, 3.2-6201, 4.1-100, 4.1-206.3, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 8.01-216.3, 8.01-534, 11-16.1, 11-16.2, 15.2-912.2, 15.2-2825, 18.2-325, 18.2-326, 18.2-334.2 through 18.2-334.5, 19.2-66, 19.2-215.1, 19.2-389, 19.2-390, 22.1-140.1, 37.2-314.2, 52-53, 52-54, 58.1-3, 58.1-439, 58.1-460, 58.1-3510, 58.1-3732.1, and 59.1-542.1 of the Code of Virginia; to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a title numbered 29.5, containing a subtitle numbered I, containing chapters numbered 1 through 6, consisting of sections numbered 29.5-100 through 29.5-648, and a subtitle numbered II, containing chapters numbered 7 and 8, consisting of sections numbered 29.5-700 through 29.5-814; and to repeal §§ 2.2-2455 and 2.2-2456, Article 1.1:1 (§§ 18.2-340.15 through 18.2-340.37) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2, Chapter 40 (§§ 58.1-4000 through 58.1-4048) of Title 58.1, Chapter 41 (§§ 58.1-4100 through 58.1-4141) of Title 58.1, Chapter 29 (§§ 59.1-364 through 59.1-405) of Title 59.1, and Chapter 51 (§§ 59.1-556 through 59.1-570) of Title 59.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Gaming Commission; established; penalties.

Virginia's Great Outdoors Act; land preservation distributions and appropriations. Provides that beginning July 1, 2026, (i) after required distributions for transportation and localities under current law, no less than $200 million of the remaining recordation tax revenues shall be distributed for specified land protection and preservation purposes and (ii) no less than $30 million of the proceeds of bonds issued by the Virginia Public Building Authority shall be made available for infrastructure improvements and other capital projects for state parks each year The bill also repeals provisions requiring the Governor to include in the budget bill or in his amendments to the general appropriation act a recommended appropriation from the general fund, up to $20 million, for land preservation as follows: (i) 80 percent of the unissued credits to the Virginia Land Conservation Fund, of which at least 50 percent must be used for acquisitions with public access; (ii) 10 percent to the Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fund; and (iii) 10 percent to the Virginia Farmland Preservation Fund.

Wildlife corridors or crossings; action plan and programs; Virginia Flood Protection Master Plan; Wildlife Corridor Action Plan; wildlife carcass removal tracking; report. Requires the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan created by the Department of Wildlife Resources to address the financial needs of the Plan and implement certain additional initiatives. The bill directs the Department of Conservation and Recreation to include in the Virginia Flood Protection Master Plan a directive to encourage opportunities to incorporate wildlife-friendly design in flood resilience infrastructure where flood risk priorities align with priorities of the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan. The bill requires the Department of Transportation to (i) establish and administer a program for the implementation of wildlife crossings of highways in the Commonwealth, (ii) incorporate the recommendations of the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan established by the Department of Wildlife Resources pursuant to existing law in the policies and procedures of the Department, and (iii) submit a report to the General Assembly in each even-numbered year regarding such program. The bill requires the Department of Transportation and the Commonwealth Transportation Board to include in all highway maintenance contracts a requirement for such contractor to identify certain data related to wildlife carcass removal and provides that such requirement may be accomplished by using the Department of Transportation's Wildlife Carcass Removal Tracking application.

Horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering; breakage. Amends the definition of "breakage" for the purposes of horse racing other than historical horse racing to mean the odd cents by which the amount payable on each dollar wagered exceeds one cent ($0.01). The bill also provides that 100 percent of the legitimate breakage from each pari-mutuel pool for historical horse racing shall be distributed to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund.

Charitable Sports Raffle Act established; penalties. Establishes the Charitable Sports Raffles Act for the purpose of authorizing athletic event drawings, defined in the bill, to be conducted by affiliated nonprofit organizations that conduct such drawings in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The bill places limits on when and where an athletic event drawing may be held and requires the prize amount of any such drawing to be 50 percent of the total amount collected from the sale of the tickets. The bill requires the organization to donate a certain percentage of the remaining funds in accordance with Department regulations and imposes certain civil and criminal penalties for violations of the provisions of the bill.