Maddy summaryThis resolution commends Halley Elementary School for its contributions to education. It has no legal effect, policy changes, or direct impact on individuals or programs. As a symbolic gesture, it formally recognizes the school's work without altering laws or providing funding.
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fee disclosure statement. Requires landlords subject to the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to include on the first page of a written rental agreement an itemization of all charges to the tenant that comprises (i) the security deposit, (ii) the amount of rent due per payment period pursuant to the lease period, and (iii) any additional one-time charges due prior to the commencement date of the rental agreement or that will be included in the first rental payment. Current law requires such landlords to provide a description of any rent and fees to be charged to the tenant in addition to the periodic rent. The bill also requires that such rental agreement contain the following statement immediately above such itemized list: "No additional security deposits or rent shall be charged unless they are listed below or incorporated into this agreement by way of a separate addendum after execution of this rental agreement." The bill applies to rental agreements that are entered into, extended, or renewed on or after July 1, 2025.
Virginia Health Benefit Exchange; special enrollment period for pregnancy. Requires the Virginia Health Benefit Exchange to establish by January 1, 2026, a special enrollment period for a pregnant qualified individual to enroll in a qualified health plan at any time after the commencement of the pregnancy.
Replacement of trees during development process in localities; tree canopy fund. Allows localities by ordinance to establish a tree canopy fund to collect, maintain, and distribute fees collected from developers that cannot provide for full tree canopy requirements where the development project is situated. The bill requires the ordinance to establish cost units that are based on average costs of two-inch caliper nursery stock trees. The bill allows a locality to use moneys from the fund to (i) plant and maintain trees on public or private property or (ii) make disbursements to a community-based organization that is exempt from income tax pursuant to § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is operated for tree planting, stewardship, or community-beautification missions that benefit the community at large. The bill requires any funds collected by localities to be spent within five years of the collection date.
Information Technology Access Act; digital accessibility. Makes numerous organizational changes to the Information Technology Access Act. The bill defines "information and communications technology" as it relates to digital accessibility, defined in the bill, for all persons with disabilities. The bill permits the head of each covered entity, defined in the bill, to designate an employee to serve as such covered entity's digital accessibility coordinator and provides that such digital accessibility coordinator is responsible for developing and implementing such covered entity's digital accessibility policy. The bill has delayed effective dates of April 24, 2026, and April 26, 2027, for specific covered entities according to population size.
Constitutional amendment (first reference); qualifications of voters; right to vote; persons not entitled to vote. Provides that every person who meets the qualifications of voters set forth in the Constitution of Virginia shall have the fundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth and that such right shall not be abridged by law, except for persons who have been convicted of a felony and persons who have been adjudicated to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting. A person who has been convicted of a felony shall not be entitled to vote during any period of incarceration for such felony conviction, but upon release from incarceration for that felony conviction and without further action required of him, such person shall be invested with all political rights, including the right to vote. Currently, in order to be qualified to vote a person convicted of a felony must have his civil rights restored by the Governor or other appropriate authority. The amendment also provides that a person adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction as lacking the capacity to understand the act of voting shall not be entitled to vote during this period of incapacity until his capacity has been reestablished as prescribed by law. Currently, the Constitution of Virginia provides that a person who has been adjudicated to be mentally incompetent is not qualified to vote until his competency is reestablished.
Maddy summaryHJ 659 is a ceremonial resolution commending Mekhi Becton, Sr., for his contributions to the community. It does not create new laws, alter policies, or directly affect any individuals or groups beyond expressing legislative recognition. The resolution passed unanimously in the Senate via voice vote after being introduced and quickly advanced through procedural steps. As a non-binding resolution, it serves only to honor an individual and has no legal or practical impact on governance or public policy.
Campaign finance; prohibited personal use of campaign funds; complaints, hearings, civil penalty, and advisory opinions. Prohibits any person from converting contributions to a candidate or his campaign committee for personal use. Current law only prohibits such conversion of contributions with regard to disbursement of surplus funds at the dissolution of a campaign or political committee. The bill provides that a contribution is considered to have been converted to personal use if the contribution, in whole or in part, is used to fulfill any commitment, obligation, or expense that would exist irrespective of the person's seeking, holding, or maintaining public office but allows a contribution to be used for the ordinary and accepted expenses related to campaigning for or holding elective office, including the use of campaign funds to pay for the candidate's dependent care expenses that are incurred as a direct result of campaign activity. The bill provides that any person subject to the personal use ban may request an advisory opinion from the State Board of Elections on such matters. The foregoing provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026. The bill directs the State Board of Elections to adopt emergency regulations similar to those promulgated by the Federal Election Commission to implement the provisions of the bill and to publish an updated summary of Virginia campaign finance law that reflects the State Board of Elections' and Attorney General's guidance on the provisions of such law that prohibit the personal use of campaign funds and any new regulations promulgated by the State Board of Elections. This bill incorporates HB 1686 and is identical to SB 1002.
Health insurance; cost sharing for breast examinations. Prohibits health insurance carriers from imposing cost sharing for diagnostic breast examinations and supplemental breast examinations, as those terms are defined in the bill, under certain insurance policies, subscription contracts, and health care plans delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in the Commonwealth on and after January 1, 2026. The bill provides that such examinations include examinations using diagnostic mammography, breast magnetic resonance imaging, or breast ultrasound. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Health Insurance Reform Commission. This bill incorporates HB 2133 and is identical to SB 1436.
Virginia State Crime Commission; review panel; cases involving Mary Jane Burton; report. Directs the Virginia State Crime Commission (the Crime Commission) to designate a panel, consisting of members outlined in the bill, to review the following types of cases at the Virginia Department of Forensic Science where testing or analysis was performed by Mary Jane Burton: (i) cases resulting in convictions of persons who are currently incarcerated, or who were executed or exonerated, and (ii) cases where Burton testified, regardless of the final disposition of the case. However, the panel shall prioritize the review of such cases resulting in convictions of persons who are currently incarcerated. The bill provides that the Crime Commission shall provide staff support to the panel, and may request and shall receive support from other state or local government agencies. The bill provides that the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act do not apply to this panel or its review, or to any information received by or disseminated to any state or local government agency, private organization, or other entity for purposes of this review. The bill directs the panel to report on its work to the Crime Commission by the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly until completion of this review. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia State Crime Commission. This bill is identical to SB 1465.
