Del. David Reid

Enterprise Zone Housing Availability Grant Program. Establishes the Enterprise Zone Housing Availability Grant Program. The bill provides that, to be eligible to receive a grant under the Program, a qualified zone developer, as defined by the bill, must rent or sell, subject to certain affordability restrictions, any residential property for which costs were incurred to construct, expand, or rehabilitate such property to a household that earns 80 percent or more of the area median income (AMI) of the locality in which the property is located, but less than 120 percent of such AMI. The bill further requires that such affordability restrictions remain in force for 10 years following the original execution of the lease or deed of sale for the property for which such costs were incurred. The bill authorizes grant awards based on a percentage of costs incurred to construct, expand, or rehabilitate the property. The bill directs the Board of Housing and Community Development to determine guidelines for the allocation of grants awarded, which must include a process for (i) certifying the income of the households renting or purchasing the residential property and (ii) monitoring compliance with ongoing affordability restrictions.

Automated driving systems; civil penalties; work group; report. Provides requirements for the operation of fully autonomous vehicles and motor vehicles operated with an automated driving system engaged. The bill requires fully autonomous vehicles and automated driving systems operated in the Commonwealth to receive autonomous operation licenses prior to being operated in the Commonwealth. The bill provides requirements regarding geofences and requirements for providers, as those terms are defined in the bill. The bill also prohibits localities from prohibiting the operation of fully autonomous vehicles or motor vehicles operated with an automated driving system. The bill establishes civil penalties for violations of the provisions of the bill. The bill directs the Department of Motor Vehicles to convene a work group to make recommendations regarding the regulation of fully autonomous vehicles and automated driving systems and the requirements created by the bill and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Transportation no later than November 1, 2026.

Virginia Retirement System; enhanced retirement benefits for 911 dispatchers. Allows local governments to provide enhanced retirement benefits for hazardous duty service, other than a hazardous duty supplement, 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.

Vested rights. Alters the criteria for determining when a landowner's rights shall be deemed vested in a land use. Under current law, such vesting occurs when the landowner (i) obtains or is the beneficiary of a significant affirmative governmental act that remains in effect allowing development of a specific project, (ii) relies in good faith on the significant affirmative governmental act, and (iii) incurs extensive obligations or substantial expenses in diligent pursuit of the specific project in reliance on the significant affirmative governmental act. The bill provides that vesting in a land use includes the development of a specific project as contemplated by and consistent with a significant affirmative governmental act and any related approvals, conditions, plans, or application materials accepted or approved by the locality, including the right to make minor modifications to such approvals that substantially conform and do not materially alter the character of the development contemplated by the significant affirmative governmental act. The bill further provides that a zoning administrator shall issue a written determination as to whether a proposed change is material or nonmaterial and that if a zoning administrator determines that a proposed change is material, an applicant may appeal the decision pursuant to general law. Finally, the bill narrows the circumstances by which a locality may treat a use as a valid nonconforming use by providing that if a landowner's rights are vested in a land use, that use shall not be rendered nonconforming by subsequent ordinance changes, except where the General Assembly explicitly authorizes retroactive application of new standards to protect public health and safety.

Department of Medical Assistance Services; sickle cell disease; feasibility of Medicaid benefit and Medicaid Health Homes; report. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to determine the feasibility of participating in an optional Medicaid benefit for sickle cell disease and establishing Medicaid Health Homes to coordinate care and provide treatment for individuals with sickle cell disease. The bill requires the Department to report its findings in its annual review of sickle cell disease treatment and submit such review to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Health and Human Services and the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the Joint Commission on Health Care by November 15, 2026.

Potomac River Ferry Restoration of Service Working Group; report. Requires the Commissioner of Highways to convene the Potomac River Ferry Restoration of Service Working Group (the Working Group) to identify and implement a solution to resume ferry service for any ferry service that ceased operations on or after December 1, 2020, between Point of Rocks and the American Legion Bridge along the Potomac River. The bill authorizes the Office of the Attorney General, Secretary of Transportation, and Commissioner of Highways to enter into any agreement proposed by the Working Group, provided that each such official determines that the agreement is necessary, prudent, and in the public interest, and the agreement places no additional financial burden on the Commonwealth. The bill requires the Working Group to submit a report on its findings and recommendations by December 1, 2026.

Virginia High School League; evaluation; feasibility of adding cricket as a sanctioned high school sport in Planning District 8; report. Encourages the Virginia High School League (VHSL) to conduct an evaluation of the feasibility of adding cricket as a sanctioned high school sport in Planning District 8 and, in conducting such evaluation, to (i) consult with local school divisions, athletic directors, principals, students, community organizations, and youth sports leagues in Planning District 8 to determine interest, costs, facility needs, and other relevant considerations; (ii) take into consideration any legal implications of such a change pursuant to relevant law; and (iii) submit a written report of its findings and recommendations, including a framework with which interested school divisions may petition VHSL to sanction cricket as a high school sport, to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Education, the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Education and Health, and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations and each local school division in Planning District 8 no later than December 1, 2026.

Department of Health; suicide prevention; at-risk populations; work group; report. Directs the Department of Health to convene a work group to develop a statewide strategic plan to reduce suicides among at-risk populations in the Commonwealth. The bill requires the work group to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Joint Commission on Health Care, the Chair of the House Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Chair of the Senate Committee on Education and Health by November 1, 2026.

Income tax subtractions; uniformed services and foreign service retirement benefits. Provides that, for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2027, (i) the military retirement income tax subtraction allowed under current law shall include retirement income of uniformed service members and (ii) up to $40,000 of United States Foreign Service member retirement benefits shall be subtracted in computing Virginia taxable income.

Maddy summarySJ 83 is a ceremonial resolution commending the Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work for its contributions to mental health services in the region. It has no policy provisions or direct impact on laws, regulations, or constituents - its purpose is solely to express legislative recognition. The bill passed unanimously in both the Senate and House via voice vote in February 2026 and was sent to the Governor. As a non-binding resolution, it does not alter any existing laws or create new obligations. This type of bill is common for honoring organizations but has no practical effect beyond symbolic acknowledgment.