Del. David Reid

General Assembly Military and Veterans Commission established. Establishes the General Assembly Military and Veterans Commission as a standing commission for the purpose of reviewing legislation related to veterans, military service members, and their families and advising on how such legislation aligns with the 2024 Veterans Strategic Plan. The Commission shall consist of 16 legislators, eight from each house of the General Assembly, all of whom must either (i) be a veteran or military service member or the spouse of a veteran or military service member or (ii) represent a district with a significant military or veteran population relative to the rest of the Commonwealth. The Commission is directed to meet weekly during any regular session of the General Assembly and quarterly in the interim, to review and analyze proposed legislation and budget amendments to ensure alignment with the priorities outlined in the 2024 Veterans Strategic Plan, to revise and update the goals and priorities outlined in the 2024 Veterans Strategic Plan, and to host an annual Military Appreciation Night.

Venison donation tax credit. Creates a nonrefundable income tax credit for taxable years 2025 through 2029 for expenses incurred by a taxpayer to butcher and process an antlerless deer for human consumption. A taxpayer may claim this credit provided that (i) the hunting and harvesting of the deer complies with the Commonwealth's hunting laws and regulations and (ii) the taxpayer donates the processed deer meat to a venison donation program administered by a nonprofit organization. The amount of the credit that may be claimed in any single taxable year cannot exceed (a) $200, if the taxpayer did not harvest each deer for which the credits are claimed in accordance with a deer management permit, or (b) the taxpayer's liability in that taxable year, if the taxpayer harvested each deer for which the credits are claimed in accordance with a deer management permit. Finally, the bill provides for an exemption from civil liability arising from injury or death resulting from the nature, age, condition, or packaging of the donated food.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJ 305) is a ceremonial resolution commending Colonel James B. Cogbill, USA, Ret., for his military service. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, programs, or individuals beyond this formal recognition. The resolution passed both the Senate and House by voice vote in early February 2025 and is now pending final action. It serves solely to honor an individual's service, with no substantive policy impact.

Virginia Commission on Lynching Sites Memorialization established; report. Establishes the Virginia Commission on Lynching Sites Memorialization as an advisory commission in the executive branch of state government. The purpose of the 15-member Commission is to acknowledge the history of racial violence in Virginia through the placement of historical markers at the sites of lynchings. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2028.

Public School Security Equipment Grant Act of 2013; eligible security equipment; School Safety Firearm Detection Software Pilot Program established. Establishes the School Safety Firearm Detection Software Pilot Program (the Pilot Program), to be administered as a part of the Public School Security Equipment Grant Act of 2013, for the purpose of enhancing security and firearm violence prevention measures in public schools in the Commonwealth by awarding grants to eligible school divisions for the purchase, installation or integration, maintenance, and operation of firearm detection software into security cameras in two Title 1 schools in each congressional district in the Commonwealth. The bill defines "firearm detection software" as any technology software or system provided by a vendor that (i) is headquartered in the Commonwealth, has at least 10 years of experience in providing school safety technology to educational institutions, and is a small business consisting of fewer than 100 employees and (ii) uses artificial intelligence to analyze video streams from surveillance cameras in real time for the detection of firearms and, upon detecting a firearm, immediately notifies local law enforcement, school security personnel, the school administration, and other appropriate public safety authorities. The bill amends provisions of the Public School Security Equipment Grant Act of 2013 as necessary for the integration of the Pilot Program, including by (a) expanding the definition of "security equipment" to include firearm detection software; (b) exempting from the match requirement, in addition to the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind as set forth in current law, any school division receiving a grant pursuant to the Pilot Program; (c) requiring the Department to give priority to eligible school divisions applying on behalf of Title 1 schools for grants under the Pilot Program such that grants are first awarded to school divisions and in an amount sufficient to support the purchase, installation or integration, maintenance, and operation of firearm detection software in two Title 1 schools in each congressional district; and (d) modifying and expanding application requirements, reporting requirements, and requirements relating to the development of certain guidelines, policies, and procedures to include the Pilot Program. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2028.

Motion picture production tax credit. Increases the aggregate cap on the motion picture production tax credit allocated in each fiscal year from $6.5 million to $8.5 million beginning in fiscal year 2025.

Superintendent of Public Instruction; duties; fixed and actual school staffing ratios. Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to biennially calculate, compare, and report to the Board of Education and the General Assembly the differences between the fixed staffing ratios in the Standards of Quality funding formula and the actual staffing ratios in local school divisions in the Commonwealth so that such fixed staffing ratios can be regularly adjusted as needed to more closely approximate such actual staffing ratios.

Collective bargaining by firefighters and emergency medical services providers. Authorizes firefighters and emergency medical services providers employed by a political subdivision of the Commonwealth to engage in collective bargaining through labor organizations or other designated representatives. The bill provides for the appointment of a three-member board of arbitration regarding any dispute arising between an employer and firefighters or emergency medical services providers. Under the bill, determinations made by such board of arbitration are final on a disputed issue and are binding on the parties involved.

Department of Veterans Services; Veteran's Fellowship for State Government Pilot Program. Creates, within the Department of Veterans Services, the Veteran's Fellowship for State Government Pilot Program (the Program) through which the Department shall collaborate with Virginia Commonwealth University to recruit veterans to participate in undergraduate-level and graduate-level cohorts to assist such veterans in pursuing educational pathways to employment with the Commonwealth. The Department shall report annually to the General Assembly by November 1 regarding the progress of the participants, the return on investment for the Commonwealth, and recommendations for Program enhancements. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2027.

Institutions of higher education; tuition grants; Virginia National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program. Makes several changes to the Virginia National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program, including (i) making the provisions relating to the requirements and conditions for eligibility for and award of grants under the Program subject to regulations as prescribed by the Adjutant General, (ii) eliminating the requirement to satisfy financial obligations with the institution of higher education at the beginning of each semester, (iii) simplifying the requirements relating to academic performance and good standing, and (iv) providing that upon acceptance, grant funds shall be disbursed to the applicable institution of higher education for credit against the recipient's student account.