Conditional release of geriatric prisoners. Expands the list of offenses that prohibit a person from petitioning the Parole Board for conditional release as a geriatric prisoner.
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 23.1-204.1 and 23.1-409 of the Code of Virginia, relating to State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; publishing of certain institution-level data on website required.
Maddy summaryHB 2673 would have allowed dealers to receive a discount on retail sales and use tax payments. The bill aimed to directly affect businesses that collect sales tax, potentially reducing their tax burden. However, the Finance Subcommittee voted unanimously (8-0) on January 27, 2025, to strike the bill from the committee docket, effectively killing it without further consideration. The bill did not advance beyond the subcommittee stage.
Release of developer performance guarantees. Clarifies that existing provisions related to the periodic partial and final release of developer performance guarantees also applies to performance guarantees for erosion and sediment control measures, stormwater management facilities, and fill and borrow areas.
Zoning; traffic studies. Provides that no locality shall require a traffic study as a condition for approval of a rezoning application that involves either a single-family or multifamily residential use of fewer than 50 residential units. The bill further provides that in any instance in which a locality requires a rezoning applicant to submit a traffic study as part of the application, the applicant shall be reimbursed by the locality for the costs of the traffic study if the locality does not accept the results of the traffic study or if the locality requires the applicant to make additional traffic-related improvements that are not required by the traffic study.
Centralized local government reporting system; unfunded mandates on localities. Requires the Department of Planning and Budget to establish a centralized electronic reporting system for all locality reporting requirements, including those required by state agencies. The bill also creates the Unfunded Mandate Review Task Force (the Task Force) consisting of four members of the General Assembly and five members appointed by the Governor. The bill states that localities may submit proposals to the Task Force for alternative approaches to implementing any unfunded mandate, defined in the bill, and provides that the Task Force shall: (i) meet quarterly to review proposals from localities regarding alternative approaches to implementing unfunded mandates; (ii) establish criteria for evaluating local proposals, including cost-effectiveness, achievement of mandate objectives, impact on public health and safety, and administrative feasibility; (iii) approve or deny local proposals within 90 days of submission; (iv) monitor implementation of approved alternatives; (v) maintain records of all decisions and the rationale behind such decisions; and (vi) submit annual reports to the General Assembly by November 1 of each year detailing its activities, decisions, and recommendations.The bill further provides that any bill that includes an unfunded mandate approved by the General Assembly shall have an implementation delay beginning at the end of the session in which the mandate was passed and ending at the adjournment of the following session; however, a bill containing an unfunded mandate that includes an emergency declaration shall not be subject to these requirements and shall be implemented immediately or on the date of implementation described in the bill containing the emergency mandate.
Comprehensive plan; subdivision ordinance; local approvals; work group. Provides that a locality's comprehensive plan shall not constitute the basis, in whole or in part, whether directly or through incorporation into any zoning ordinance, subdivision ordinance, or other ordinance or manual, for the disapproval of a site plan, subdivision plat, or other administrative approval that is otherwise in conformity with duly adopted standards, ordinances, and statutes. The bill also shortens the timeframes for various local government approvals of subdivision plats and site plans. Additionally, the bill calls on the Virginia Code Commission to convene a work group consisting of various stakeholders to review existing provisions related to the submission, review, and approval of subdivision plats and site plans. The work group shall develop recommendations to (i) organize procedural steps in a clear, logical, and sequential order to enhance ease of reference; (ii) clarify the processes, requirements, and timelines applicable to each type of plat or plan; (iii) standardize terminology to ensure consistency, reduce ambiguity, and minimize misinterpretation; and (iv) identify and eliminate redundant or duplicative provisions to streamline the Code and improve its usability and shall submit a report by November 1, 2025.
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.
Public utilities; rate increases during certain months prohibited. Prohibits the regulated operating revenues of certain public utilities from being increased in the months of November, December, January, or February. The bill's limitation does not apply to certain increases, which are the same exceptions as allowed for the existing prohibition on multiple rate increases during a 12-month period. This bill was incorporated into HB 2621.
Possession of retail tobacco products and hemp products intended for smoking by a person younger than 21 years of age prohibited; penalty. Prohibits any person younger than 21 years of age from possessing any retail tobacco product or hemp product intended for smoking, as those terms are defined in relevant law. A violation of such prohibition is punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed $100 for a first violation and a civil penalty not to exceed $250 for a second or subsequent violation. The bill also provides that a court may, as an alternative to the civil penalty, and upon motion of the defendant, prescribe the performance of up to 20 hours of community service for a first violation and up to 40 hours of community service for a second or subsequent violation, but if the defendant fails or refuses to complete the community service as prescribed, the court may impose the civil penalty. Additionally, upon such violation, the judge may enter an order suspending the motor vehicle and driver's license of such person pursuant relevant law.
