Rep. Tom Garrett

Maddy summaryThis bill is a procedural resolution that formally commends the Honorable Carrie Emerson Coyner. It does not create new laws or affect any specific groups of people, but rather serves as an official expression of recognition. The legislation follows standard committee referral procedures and awaits further action in the Rules Committee. No substantive policy changes or funding allocations are included in this measure.

Maddy summaryThis bill formally recognizes and commends Daniel Webster Marshall III, a member of the House of Representatives. It does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves as an official acknowledgment of his service. The measure was passed by the House through a voice vote and is now awaiting further legislative steps.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SJ 130) honors the life and legacy of Eddie L. Radden, Jr., a specific individual. It is a non-binding commemorative measure passed by both the Senate and House in 2026, expressing collective recognition for his contributions. The resolution does not create new laws or affect any policies or groups.

Real property tax exemption; surviving spouses of members of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty. Authorizes localities by ordinance to provide a total exemption from real property taxes regardless of assessed value beginning in taxable year 2026 for surviving spouses of members of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty. Under current law, a total exemption is only allowed for such surviving spouses for those dwellings in the locality with assessed values in the most recently ended tax year that are not in excess of the average assessed value for such year of a dwelling situated on property that is zoned as single family residential.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJ 84) is a ceremonial resolution commending the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police and its Foundation for their service. It does not create new laws, alter policies, or affect any individuals or organizations through concrete measures. The resolution formally recognizes the group's contributions, as is typical for such non-binding acknowledgments. It passed both the Senate and House via voice vote in February 2026.

Electric utilities; suspension of certain requirements. Provides that the renewable energy portfolio standard requirements and any associated construction, procurement, or retirement mandates are suspended for the applicable compliance year if the State Corporation Commission determines that compliance has resulted in, or will result in, any of the following: (i) an increase in the average residential customer’s total monthly electric bill of more than five percent in any calendar year that is attributable to compliance with the renewable energy portfolio standard or associated zero-carbon generation or energy storage requirements; (ii) an increase in any rate adjustment clause, rider, or non-bypassable charge associated with compliance with this section that exceeds $50 per month for the average residential customer; (iii) a determination that compliance poses a material risk to electric system reliability or resource adequacy in the Commonwealth; or (iv) a determination that the cost of renewable energy certificates necessary for compliance exceeds the applicable alternative compliance payment or deficiency payment for two consecutive compliance years.

Public schools; mathematics and reading in kindergarten through grade eight; certain initiatives. Establishes several requirements relating to mathematics and reading proficiency in kindergarten through grade eight, including (i) requiring the Department of Education to establish and administer the math teacher and specialist corps to provide grants on a competitive basis to school divisions in which the mathematics proficiency of students in kindergarten through grade eight indicates a high need for intervention and improvement in order for such school divisions to offer annual stipends to effective educators with endorsements in mathematics or as mathematics specialists and deploy such individuals to the schools with the highest need; (ii) requiring each student in kindergarten through grade three to participate in a mathematics screener approved by the Department and requiring any student whose results on such screener indicate the need for further assessment to participate in a diagnostic mathematics assessment approved by the Department and to receive a mathematics improvement plan if the results on such assessment indicate the need for accelerated interventions to progress toward proficient performance in mathematics; and (iii) prohibiting any student in grade three who receives reading intervention services and whose performance on the statewide literacy screener or the grade-level reading Standards of Learning assessment at the end of the school year demonstrates substantial deficiencies from being promoted to grade four except in certain enumerated cases.

Sexual abuse of certain children; penalty. Increases from a Class 1 misdemeanor to a Class 6 felony the penalty for sexual abuse of a child who is 13 or 14 years of age.

Virginia taxable income; subtractions; volunteer firefighters and volunteer emergency medical services personnel. Provides, beginning in taxable year 2027, a state income tax subtraction of $2,000 for individuals who rendered qualifying services as bona fide volunteers, defined in the bill. The bill defines "qualifying services" as volunteer firefighting and fire prevention services, emergency medical services, auxiliary police officer services, and emergency rescue services performed for nonprofit organizations that operate exclusively for the benefit of the general public. Such services include all training and training-related activities required by law to perform such services.

Study; joint committee of the House and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections to study the costs and benefits of 45 days of early voting. Establishes a joint committee of the House and Senate Committees on Privileges and Elections to study the costs and benefits of 45 days of early voting. In conducting its study, the joint committee shall survey several localities within the Commonwealth with different demographics, both urban and rural, to evaluate the fiscal impact on the locality and the ability of the locality to meet the burden imposed by the need to increase staffing and maintain adequate facilities for early voting and to examine trends in voter turnout. The joint committee shall gather data sufficient to allow it to determine if a shorter period of in-person voting could accomplish most of the benefits of early in-person voting while reducing the burden on localities.