Constitutional amendment (first reference);qualifications of voters; right to vote; persons not entitled tovote. Provides that every person who meets the qualificationsof voters set forth in the Constitution of Virginia shall have thefundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth and that such rightshall not be abridged by law, except for persons who have been convictedof a felony and persons who have been adjudicated to lack the capacityto understand the act of voting. A person who has been convictedof a felony shall not be entitled to vote during any period of incarcerationfor such felony conviction, but upon release from incarceration forthat felony conviction and without further action required of him,such person shall be invested with all political rights, includingthe right to vote. Currently, in order to be qualified to vote a personconvicted of a felony must have his civil rights restored by theGovernor or other appropriate authority. The amendment also providesthat a person adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction aslacking the capacity to understand the act of voting shall not be entitled to vote during this period of incapacity until his capacityhas been reestablished as prescribed by law. Currently, the Constitutionof Virginia provides that a person who has been adjudicated to bementally incompetent is not qualified to vote until his competencyis reestablished.
Sponsored bills
Constitutional amendment (first reference); marriage between two individuals; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative right to marry. Repeals the constitutional provision defining marriage as only a union between one man and one woman as well as the related provisions that are no longer valid as a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015). The amendment provides that the right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of persons and prohibits the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions from denying the issuance of a marriage license to two parties contemplating a lawful marriage on the basis of the sex, gender, or race of such parties. The Commonwealth and its political subdivisions are required to recognize any lawful marriage between two parties and to treat such marriages equally under the law, regardless of the sex, gender, or race of such parties. The amendment provides that religious organizations and clergy acting in their religious capacity have the right to refuse to perform any marriage.
Income tax credit; adaptive repurposing of underutilized structures. Creates a nonrefundable income tax credit in taxableyears 2024 through 2028 for eligible expenses, defined in the bill,incurred in converting office buildings to residential uses. Thecredit may be claimed only in the year during which a qualified convertedbuilding, defined in the bill, is placed into service and is equalto (i) 20 percent or (ii) 30 percent in an at-risk locality, definedin the bill, of the amount of eligible expenses incurred. No singletaxpayer may claim more than $2.5 million in credits in any singletaxable year and the credit is subject to an aggregate annual capof $30 million.
Board of Education; criteria for initial renewableteacher licensure for certain individuals. Requires the Boardof Education to issue an initial renewable license as a teacher toany applicant who (i) is enrolled in an accredited education preparationprogram at an institution of higher education in the Commonwealth;(ii) is recommended for such licensure by the dean of such educationpreparation program; (iii) has attempted, unsuccessfully, to obtaina qualifying score on the communication and literacy assessment prescribedby the Board; (iv) meets all other requirements for such license;and (v) meets any other criteria for the issuance of such licensein such circumstances as may be established by the Board of Education.
Income tax; contributions to Virginia College Savings Planaccounts; report. Increases the maximum individual income tax deduction foramounts paid or contributed to a prepaid tuition contract or college savingstrust account entered into with the Virginia College Savings Plan from $4,000to $7,500 in taxable year 2024, $11,000 in taxable year 2025, and $15,000 fortaxable year 2026 and thereafter. Such amount shall be adjusted for changes inthe Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) beginning in taxableyear 2024. The deduction is limited to $4,000 for taxpayers with federaladjusted gross income that is greater than $100,000 for an individual or$200,000 for married persons filing a joint return.The bill also creates an individual or corporate deduction, asapplicable, of up to $4,000 for the amount a child day center or child dayprogram paid or contributed to a customer's or client's prepaid tuitioncontract or college savings trust account entered into with the Virginia CollegeSavings Plan.The bill also provides a nonrefundable income tax credit fortaxable years 2024 through 2028 for 35 percent of expenses incurred by abusiness during the taxable year for contributions into a Virginia CollegeSavings Plan account owned by an employee of the business. If the employeereceiving the contribution is a qualified employee, as defined in the bill, thebill specifies that the credit shall not exceed $500 annually for each suchemployee. If the employee receiving the contribution is a qualified employeewho is not highly compensated, as defined in the bill, the bill specifies thatthe credit shall not exceed $1,000 annually for each such employee. The billprovides that the total amount of tax credits available for a calendar year shallnot exceed $5 million and that any unused tax credit may be carried over forfive years.
Income tax subtraction; professional firefighterpension. Establishes an income tax subtraction for up to $20,000of firefighter benefits in taxable year 2024, up to $30,000 in taxableyear 2025, and up to $40,000 in taxable year 2026 and each year thereafter.The bill defines firefighter benefits to include retirement incomerelated to firefighting services and benefits paid to the survivingspouse of a firefighter whose death occurred in the line of duty.
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act;noncompliance with rental agreement; grace period prior to termination.Provides that if a landlord owns more than four rental dwellingunits or more than a 10 percent interest in more than four rentaldwelling units, whether individually or through a business entity,in the Commonwealth, and a tenant named on the rental agreement is65 years of age or older, the landlord may only terminate the rentalagreement and proceed to obtain possession of the premises under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act if such tenant failsto pay rent within 14 days after written notice is served on thetenant. Current law only provides a five-day grace period for suchtermination and applies such grace period to all tenants regardlessof age.
Celebrating the life of Janet Marie Brooking.
Commending Peter A. Blake.
Commending Scott McGeary.