Rep. Jed Arnold

Admission to bail; rebuttable presumptions against bail. Creates a rebuttable presumption against bail for certain criminal offenses enumerated in the bill. The bill also requires the court to consider specified factors when determining whether the presumption against bail has been rebutted and whether there are appropriate conditions of release.

Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, etc., of fentanyl; weight-based and pill-based penalties. Creates a penalty structure for manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with the intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute fentanyl based on the weight of the fentanyl, its salts, isomers, or salts of its isomers; the weight of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, its salts, isomers, or salts of its isomers; or the number of pills containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, its salts, isomers, or salts of its isomers.

Department of Juvenile Justice; inquiry and report of immigration status; juvenile or adult adjudicated delinquent or convicted of violent juvenile felony. Requires the Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice or other person in charge of a secure facility where a juvenile or adult has been committed upon an adjudication of delinquency or a finding of guilt for a violent juvenile felony to ascertain whether such juvenile or adult is in the United States illegally and, if such juvenile or adult is found to be in the United States illegally, to communicate such information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Under current law, such immigration inquiries are required of jail officers or correctional officers in charge of state, local, or regional correctional facilities.

Unlawful picketing or parading to obstruct or influence justice; penalty. Provides that any person who, with the intent of interfering with, obstructing, or impeding the administration of justice, or with the intent of influencing or intimidating in the discharge of his duty any judge, juror, witness, court officer, or court employee, pickets or parades in or near a residence occupied or used by such judge, juror, witness, court officer, or court employee is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also provides that the provisions regarding the issuance and service of summons in place of a warrant do not apply to such violations.

Consumer Data Protection Act; social media; parental consent. Requires any social media platform, defined in the bill, that is subject to the provisions of the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act to obtain verifiable parental consent prior to permitting any minor to create an account with such social media platform and, with such account, use such social media platform. The bill requires such social media platform to give the parent or legal guardian of such minor the option to consent to the collection and use of the minor's personal data without consenting to the disclosure of such minor's personal data to third parties.

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.

Threats to bomb or damage; false information as to danger; public, private, or religious elementary or secondary school; penalty. Provides that for any person who (i) makes and communicates to another by any means any threat to bomb, burn, destroy, or in any manner damage a public, private, or religious elementary or secondary school, as defined in relevant law, or (ii) communicates to another, by any means, information, knowing the same to be false, as to the existence of any peril of bombing, burning, destruction, or damage to a public, private, or religious elementary or secondary school, the punishment includes a term of confinement of at least six months, 30 days of which is a mandatory minimum. Under current law, a person who is 15 years of age or older is guilty of a Class 5 felony and a person who is under 15 years of age is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor for such violation, but no minimum term or mandatory minimum term of confinement is provided in current law.

Certain government and civics courses; civics diploma seal of excellence; instruction on local government. Requires the Board of Education to include in the Standards of Learning for Virginia and United States Government for grade 12 and requires each school board to provide as a part of any Virginia and United States Government course or civic education course offered to students in grade 12 an explanation of the purpose, role, responsibility, and identity of local constitutional officers and local governing bodies, including city councils, town councils, boards of supervisors, and school boards. The bill also requires the Board of Education to consider in its criteria for awarding a diploma seal for excellence in civics education and understanding of the state and federal constitutions and the democratic model of government the successful completion of government or civics courses that include instruction on the structures and functions of local government.

Virginia taxable income; standard deduction; sunset. Removes the sunset on elevated standard deduction amounts for single individuals and married persons that is scheduled to expire for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2026.

Definition of "family or household member." Clarifies that, for the purposes of the definition of "family or household member," an individual does not have to currently be or previously have been in a romantic, dating, or sexual relationship with another person for such individual to be considered a family or household member of such other person if such individual cohabits or, within the previous 12 months, cohabited with such other person and any children of either of them then residing in the same home with such other person.