Del. Jason Ballard

Voluntary manslaughter; penalty. Increases the penalty for voluntary manslaughter from a Class 5 felony, punishable by between one and ten years' imprisonment in a state correctional facility, to an unclassified felony punishable by imprisonment in a state correctional facility for not less than one year nor more than 20 years or, in the discretion of the jury or court trying the case without a jury, by confinement in jail for a period not exceeding 12 months or a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both.

Concealed handgun permit fees. Lowers the maximum from $35 to $10 the fee that a local law-enforcement agency conducting a background investigation for the purpose of processing an application for a concealed handgun permit may charge to cover the cost of conducting such an investigation and lowers from $50 to $25 the maximum total amount for processing such an application.

Individual income tax; subtractions; military benefits. Removes the cap on military benefits that may be subtracted from Virginia taxable income for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2026, allowing the total amount of such benefits to be subtracted from such income. Under current law, up to $40,000 of military benefits may be subtracted from Virginia taxable income.

Virginia Retirement System; enhanced retirement benefits for animal control officers and 911 dispatchers. Allows local governments to provide enhanced retirement benefits for hazardous duty service to full-time salaried animal control officers and 911 dispatchers. The bill provides that such enhanced retirement benefits apply only to service earned as a full-time salaried animal control officer or 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 animal control officer or 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.

Virginia Consumer Protection Act; prohibited practices; kratom products. Prohibits the selling or offering for sale of (i) any kratom product containing any synthesized material, semi-synthetic alkaloid, or synthetic kratom-like compound; (ii) any kratom product containing 7-hydroxymitragynine in an alkaloid fraction exceeding two percent of total alkaloids in the container or providing more than one milligram of 7-hydroxymitragynine per serving; (iii) any kratom product adulterated with any dangerous, poisonous, or otherwise deleterious non-kratom ingredient, including any substance listed as a controlled substance under state or federal law; (iv) any kratom product that is combustible or intended for vaporization or injection; (v) any kratom product that is manufactured, packaged, or marketed in a manner attractive to children; or (vi) any kratom extract product containing residual solvent levels exceeding applicable statutory or pharmacopeial limits.

State Forester; bicentennial farm program established. Directs the State Forester to establish and administer a bicentennial farm program to honor farm families in the Commonwealth whose property has been in the same family for 200 years or more. In order to be eligible for recognition under the program, a farm shall (i) have been owned by the same family for at least 200 consecutive years; (ii) be lived on, or actually farmed, by a descendant of the original owners; and (iii) gross more than $2,500 annually from the sale of farm products. The bill also repeals a provision of law to reflect the transfer of the Century Farm Program from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to the Department of Forestry's Office of Farmland Preservation as a result of the passage of HB 892 and SB 616 in the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

Virginia Historic Landmarks Register; bicentennial farms. Directs the Department of Historic Resources to include bicentennial farms as a property that can be nominated for listing on the Virginia Historic Landmarks Register to honor farm families in the Commonwealth whose property has been in the same family for 200 years or more. In order to be eligible for such nomination, the bill requires the farm to (i) have been owned by the same family for at least 200 consecutive years; (ii) be lived on, or actually farmed, by a descendant of the original owners; and (iii) comply with any other nomination requirements the Department deems appropriate.

Income tax; real property tax relief credit. Provides a refundable income tax credit in taxable years 2026 through 2030 to eligible taxpayers, defined in the bill, who incur real property taxes in an amount equal to or greater than four percent of their federal adjusted gross income for up to $500 for single individuals and $1000 for married persons filing jointly.

Department of Housing and Community Development; Virginia Rural Housing Infrastructure Fund and Program. Establishes the Virginia Rural Housing Infrastructure Fund and Program, to be administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development, for the purpose of financing infrastructure projects in rural communities associated with increased housing development within such communities. The bill directs the Department to develop criteria and guidelines for awarding grants under the Program.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 24.2 a chapter numbered 6.1, consisting of sections numbered 24.2-684.1 through 24.2-684.17, relating to statewide referendum ballot questions; fairness and transparency requirements; Ballot question fairness Commission; readability standards; language accessibility; public comment; judicial review.