Del. Chris Obenshain

Maddy summarySJ 309 is a ceremonial resolution commending Carlos Del Toro, former U.S. Secretary of the Navy. It does not create any new laws or affect policy; it is a non-binding expression of appreciation. The resolution passed unanimously in both the Senate (January 30) and House (February 3) by voice vote. It was formally adopted on February 4 and now resides on the Speaker's table. This type of resolution typically honors individuals for service or contributions without altering legal obligations or funding.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (SJ 308) honoring Garland Nuckols, a recognized individual in the community. It does not create new laws or affect policies; it is a symbolic gesture of recognition. The resolution passed unanimously in both the Senate and House, and is now awaiting final processing as a ceremonial measure. No substantive changes or direct impacts on constituents or legislation are involved.

Kill permits for deer, elk, or bear; local authority. Clarifies that the Director of the Department of Wildlife Resources or his designee has the exclusive authority to provide written authorization to kill deer, elk, or bear and prohibits a locality from amending, abridging, or limiting such authorization.

Department of Education; statewide mobile application for student reporting of suspicious activity. Requires the Department of Education, with such funds as may be appropriated for such purpose pursuant to the general appropriation act or provided from any other source, and alone or in partnership with another state agency or a nonprofit organization, or a combination thereof, to develop or procure a multiplatform compatible mobile application that is made available at no cost to each public elementary and secondary school student and that permits each such student to report suspicious activity, including by attaching screenshots, other photographs, and videos, to the appropriate school and local law-enforcement officials for analysis and potential response. The bill requires the Department to assist each school board to coordinate student awareness of and access to such mobile application but provides that no school board shall bear any cost or additional administrative burden relating to such mobile application.

Authority of Attorney General; criminal cases; human and sex trafficking. Authorizes the Attorney General to prosecute violations of criminal law relating to human and sex trafficking offenses in connection with racketeering.

School boards; employment of school resource officers in each public elementary and secondary school. Requires each school board to enter into a collaborative agreement with the local law-enforcement agency to employ at least one school resource officer in each public elementary and secondary school in the local school division and provides that no school board shall be granted any full or partial waiver from such staffing requirements. The bill contains a contingent effective date that states that the foregoing requirement shall become effective beginning with the fiscal year in which funding has been provided pursuant to the general appropriation act to fully fund such requirement.

Virginia Retirement System; enhanced retirement benefits for 911 dispatchers. Allows local governments to provide enhanced retirement benefits for hazardous duty service 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, 2026, 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, 2026, in addition to service earned on or after that date. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

Placing swastika on certain property with intent to intimidate; penalty. Makes it a Class 6 felony for any person or persons, with the intent of intimidating another person or group of persons, to place or cause to be placed a swastika on (i) the private property of another without permission or (ii) a highway or other public place in a manner having a direct tendency to place another person in reasonable fear or apprehension of death or bodily injury.

Violations of protective orders; child protective order; penalties. Changes the punishment and sentencing requirements for a violation of a preliminary child protective order and a protective order entered in a dispositional order related to abused, neglected, or abandoned children or children without parental care to the same penalties as violations of preliminary, emergency, and permanent family abuse protective orders, including enhanced penalties for certain violations. Under current law, (i) the maximum penalty for violations of child protective orders constitutes contempt of court; however, if the violation involves an act or acts of commission or omission that endanger the child's life or health, or results in bodily injury to the child, it is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor and (ii) the court is not required to enter a permanent family abuse protective order (i.e., a protective order with a maximum duration of two years) upon a conviction of a violation of a preliminary child protective order.

Income tax deductions; in vitro fertilization. Allows an income tax deduction for taxable years 2025 through 2029 for an individual or married couple filing jointly for expenses incurred for in vitro fertilization, as defined in the bill.