Del. Amy Laufer

Constitutional amendment (first reference); marriage between two individuals; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative right to marry. Repeals the constitutional provision defining marriage as only a union between one man and one woman as well as the related provisions that are no longer valid as a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015). The amendment provides that the right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of persons and prohibits the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions from denying the issuance of a marriage license to two parties contemplating a lawful marriage on the basis of the sex, gender, or race of such parties. The Commonwealth and its political subdivisions are required to recognize any lawful marriage between two parties and to treat such marriages equally under the law, regardless of the sex, gender, or race of such parties. The amendment provides that religious organizations and clergy acting in their religious capacity have the right to refuse to perform any marriage.

Department of Medical Assistance Services; remote patient monitoring; high-risk pregnant patients. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to amend its regulations, guidance, and provider manuals to clarify that remote patient monitoring services for high-risk pregnant patients include pregnant patients with maternal diabetes and maternal hypertension. The bill requires the Department to submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 1, 2025, on the number of persons receiving remote patient monitoring services for maternal diabetes and maternal hypertension and the cost of providing such services.

Trespass with an unmanned aircraft system; contracted defense facility; penalty. Creates a Class 4 felony for any person who knowingly, intentionally, and without authorization causes an unmanned aircraft system to enter the property of and obtains or attempts to obtain any videographic or still image that contains or reveals any controlled technical information located within a contracted defense facility, as those terms are defined in the bill. The bill also provides that the owner or operator of a contracted defense facility and its employees shall be immune from criminal prosecution and civil liability as a result of preventing, stopping, deterring, interrupting, or repelling, or attempting to prevent, stop, deter, interrupt, or repel, an unmanned aircraft system from entering the property of such contracted defense facility or from stopping, interrupting, or repelling, or attempting to stop, interrupt, or repel, an unmanned aircraft system that has entered such property, provided that such action does not result in injury to any person. This bill is identical to SB 757.

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; Department of Veterans Services; Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program; enrollment and eligibility data; report. Directs the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, in coordination with the Department of Veterans Services, to submit to the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations and the House Committee on Appropriations by November 1 of each year a report on (i) the number of individuals who are qualified survivors and dependents, as that term is defined in applicable law, and have been certified as eligible to participate in the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program but are not yet admitted to a public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth and (ii) the best available estimate of the total number of qualified survivors and dependents who are participating in the Program and enrolled in the fall semester at each public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth. This bill incorporates HB 1613.

Voter registration; time period for closing registration records before certain elections. Reduces from 21 to 10 days the number of days during which registration records are closed before primary and general elections and from 13 to 10 days the number of days during which registration records are closed before special elections that are not called by the Governor, Speaker of the House of Delegates, or President pro tempore of the Senate. This bill is identical to SB 991.

Department of Medical Assistance Services; state plan for medical assistance services; dental care services for pregnant women; report. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to amend the state plan for medical assistance services to include a provision for payment for comprehensive dental care services for pregnant women. The bill requires the Department to report to the Governor and General Assembly annually on the implementation and outcomes of the provision, and requires the first such report to be submitted by November 1, 2026.

Portable changeable message signs; certain vehicles. Authorizes certain towing, traffic management, and highway maintenance vehicles to be equipped with a portable changeable message sign that may be used without prior authorization from the Department of Transportation, provided that certain conditions are met.

Constitutional amendment; fundamental right to reproductive freedom (first reference). Provides that every individual has the fundamental right to reproductive freedom and that such right shall not be, directly or indirectly, denied, burdened, or infringed upon unless justified by a compelling state interest, as defined in the amendment, and achieved by the least restrictive means. The amendment specifies that, notwithstanding the other provisions of amendment, the Commonwealth may regulate the provision of abortion care in the third trimester, provided that in no circumstance shall the Commonwealth prohibit an abortion (i) that in the professional judgment of a physician is medically indicated to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant individual or (ii) when in the professional judgment of a physician the fetus is not viable.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial joint resolution honoring Matthew Robert Chiaverotti. It has no policy provisions or direct impact on legislation, citizens, or government operations. The resolution formally celebrates his life and legacy through a symbolic gesture by the legislature. As a commemorative measure, it does not create new laws or alter existing policies.

Public institutions of higher education; intercollegiate athletics program coaches; Mental Health First Aid or similar training required. Requires each coach of an intercollegiate athletics program at a public institution of higher education to participate in Mental Health First Aid training or a similar program within one year of the commencement of his duties.