Del. Sam Rasoul

First-time Homebuyer Grant Program. Establishes a First-time Homebuyer Grant Program for the purpose of assisting first-time homebuyers with first-time homebuyer expenses, as those terms are defined in the bill. The bill provides that the Department of Housing and Community Development shall award eligible first-time homebuyers a grant in an amount equal to five percent of such expenses incurred during a calendar year, not to exceed $10,000. Any grant awarded pursuant to the Program shall be repaid to the Commonwealth if the property for which expenses were incurred is sold within three years from the purchase date, unless the sale is made following a natural disaster or other act of God.

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 establishes the Fire Service Cooperation Board to administer its provisions. 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. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2026.

Public secondary schools; interscholastic athletics; certain recruitment policies and practices prohibited. Prohibits any school board employee, including any interscholastic athletics coach or director, from implementing any policy or engaging in any practice whereby the employee (i) designates any secondary school student-athlete as homeless pursuant to the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended, solely for the purpose of recruiting such student-athlete to transfer to the local school division to participate in interscholastic athletics or (ii) receives money or other things of value from any individual or entity, including any institution of higher education or any intercollegiate athletics program at such an institution, solely for the purpose of recruiting a secondary school student-athlete to participate in intercollegiate athletics.

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.

Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act; prohibited practices; penalties. Creates the Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act to regulate the practices of persons seeking to receive compensation for preparing, presenting, prosecuting, advising, consulting, or assisting any individual regarding any veterans' benefits matter, as defined in the bill. The bill provides that a violation of its provisions constitutes a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-208, 2.2-2905, and 23.1-101 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 32 of Title 23.1 an article numbered 8, consisting of sections numbered 23.1-3229 through 23.1-3232, relating to Virginia Museum of Transportation; established; report.

Electric utilities; rate caps; Commission on Electric Utility Regulation; utility rate reviews. Requires the State Corporation Commission to establish capped rates for Appalachian Power. The bill requires the capped rates to be the rates in effect for each Phase I electric utility as of July 1, 2025. The bill authorizes the Commission to adjust such capped rates in connection with the electric utility's recovery of fuel and purchased power costs. The bill's capped rates expire on July 1, 2027. The bill requires the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation (the Commission) to review and make recommendations regarding certain petitions filed by Appalachian Power with the State Corporation Commission. For each such review, the bill requires the Commission to convene a subcommittee that includes one nonlegislative citizen member from each planning district commission within the Phase I Utility's service territory, each of whom is appointed by the relevant planning district commission. The Commission shall submit its recommendation to the State Corporation Commission no later than 90 days following the date such petition is filed. The bill prohibits the Commission from adopting any recommendation if a majority of the members of the subcommittee vote against the recommendation. The bill requires the State Corporation Commission to consider the recommendations of the Commission.

Electric utilities; retail competition; aggregation of load. Provides, for retail competition for the purchase and sale of electric energy, that when two or more individual nonresidential retail customers of electric energy within the Commonwealth petition the State Corporation Commission for permission to aggregate or combine their demands to become qualified to purchase electric energy from a retail supplier, such retail customers shall be able to modify existing site accounts outlined in the petition without penalty or risk of revocation of petition approval, provided the petition continues to adhere to program requirements. Additionally, for a pilot program under which two or more nonresidential customers have filed applications seeking to aggregate their load and purchase electric energy from a supplier, such retail customers shall be able to modify existing site accounts outlined in the petition without penalty or risk of removal from the program, provided the petition continues to adhere to program requirements.

Health insurance; coverage for cancer follow-up testing; report. Requires health insurers and other carriers to provide coverage for cancer follow-up testing, as defined in the bill, and prohibits the imposition of deductibles, coinsurance, or any other cost-sharing requirements specifically on cancer follow-up testing. The bill directs the Bureau of Insurance to annually report to the General Assembly on (i) the number of individuals benefiting from the removal of copayments for cancer follow-up testing, (ii) the financial impact on health insurance premiums as a result of the provisions of the bill, and (iii) recommendations for further policy adjustments.

Access to Housing Task Force; report. Establishes the Access to Housing Task Force for the purpose of evaluating short-term and long-term access to housing in the Commonwealth. The bill directs the Task Force to report its findings and conclusions to the Governor and General Assembly no later than November 1, 2025, regarding its activities and recommendations.