Del. Terry Kilgore

Income tax; standard deduction. Removes the sunset from and makes permanent the enhanced standard deduction amounts of $8,750 for single individuals and $17,500 for married individuals filing jointly. Under current law, the standard deduction is scheduled to revert to $3,000 for single individuals and $6,000 for married individuals filing jointly after taxable year 2026.

State correctional facilities; required education or vocational training; earned sentence credits classification levels. Requires a prisoner in a state correctional facility, as a part of his reentry plan developed and implemented by the Department of Corrections, to complete a high school equivalency test or vocational, technical, or other certification prior to such prisoner's release. The bill also provides that the annual review of a prisoner's classification level for earned sentence credits shall include such prisoner's quantifiable or measurable progress, as available, in any programs, job assignments, and educational curricula in which he is participating, such as test scores achieved or completion of a high school equivalency test or other trade or vocational certification.

Sales and use tax; food purchased for human consumption and essential personal hygiene products. Eliminates the remaining one percent local sales and use tax that is imposed on food purchased for human consumption and essential personal hygiene products. Under current law, no other sales and use tax is applied to such products. The bill requires an equivalent amount of revenue to be distributed to cities and counties on a monthly basis in compensation for the lost tax revenue. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.

Sales and use tax; food purchased for human consumption and essential personal hygiene products. Eliminates the remaining one percent local sales and use tax that is imposed on food purchased for human consumption and essential personal hygiene products beginning on July 1, 2026. Under current law, no other sales and use tax is applied to such products. The bill requires an equivalent amount of revenue to be distributed to cities and counties on a monthly basis in compensation for the lost tax revenue.

Commission on Electric Utility Regulation; scope and name change. Renames the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation as the Energy Commission of Virginia and amends the purpose of the Commission to monitoring the State Corporation Commission's regulation of electric utilities and natural gas utilities and examining issues related to the production, transmission, distribution, storage, and use of energy in the Commonwealth. The powers and duties are similarly amended by adding the authority to (i) act in an advisory capacity to the General Assembly on energy-related matters, (ii) consult with applicable state agencies on matters regarding energy efficiency and conservation, and (iii) coordinate its efforts with other existing boards and authorities relating to energy research and development. The bill also eliminates the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission. This bill is a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation.

Electric utilities; pilot programs for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. Amends annual funding commitments for the purposes of the annual pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for low-income, elderly, and disabled individuals conducted by Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power Company. Under the bill, Dominion Energy shall conduct its pilot program at no less than $13 million and no greater than $17 million annually, and Appalachian Power Company shall conduct its pilot program at no less than $1 million and no greater than $1.5 million annually. The bill extends the sunset date of such pilot programs from July 1, 2028 to July 1, 2038. The bill also provides that Dominion Energy may recover costs associated with certain electrical facilities that have been approved by the State Corporation Commission as of December 1, 2038, notwithstanding any time limitations on such cost recovery in current law. This bill is a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation.

Department of Medical Assistance Services; state pharmacy benefits manager; independent evaluation. Requires the Department of Medical Assistance Services, by July 1, 2026, to select and contract with a third-party administrator to serve as the state pharmacy benefits manager to administer all pharmacy benefits for Medicaid recipients, including recipients enrolled in a managed care organization. The bill enumerates requirements for the Department's contract with the state pharmacy benefits manager. In addition, the bill directs the Department to engage an independent consultant to evaluate the implementation of a contract with a third-party pharmacy benefits manager pursuant to the bill. This bill incorporates HB 2209 and is identical to SB 875.

Corporations; decentralized autonomous organizations. Creates a regulatory framework for decentralized autonomous organizations, defined in the bill as a distinct legal entity that operates through blockchain-based governance frameworks, incorporating self-executing smart contracts and decentralized decision-making mechanisms. The bill provides that an entity seeking to become a decentralized autonomous organization must file its articles of organization with the State Corporation Commission in order to seek a certificate of organization and requires such articles of organization to designate an operator of record. The bill permits a limited liability company to elect to become a decentralized autonomous organization with management vested in its members or smart contracts and contains requirements for its articles of organization and operating agreements. The bill also contains provisions governing the relationships and rights of members of a decentralized autonomous organization and for the dissolution of a decentralized autonomous organization. The provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2026 Session of the General Assembly.

Maddy summaryHR 853 is a ceremonial resolution commending Khadijeh Aslankhani for her contributions, with no substantive policy changes or direct impact on legislation. It serves solely as a formal expression of appreciation from the House of Representatives. The bill was passed by voice vote and engrossed without debate, reflecting standard procedural steps for such resolutions. As a commemorative measure, it does not allocate funds, alter laws, or affect any specific group or policy.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (HR 861) that formally commends Dr. McKinley L. Price, D.D.S., for his contributions. It does not create any new laws, obligations, or direct impacts on policies or constituents. The resolution serves as a non-binding expression of appreciation from the House of Representatives. It passed the House by voice vote on February 21, 2025.