Del. Buddy Fowler

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 684 formally commends Doug Straley, the superintendent of Louisa County Public Schools, for being named the 2024 Virginia Superintendent of the Year. The resolution highlights his leadership in improving academic programs, fostering community connections, and developing a strong career and technical education system within the district. It directs the House Clerk to create a copy of the resolution to present to Straley as a gesture of appreciation from the House of Delegates. This measure is a ceremonial acknowledgment of his achievements rather than a change to laws or policies.

Animal Cruelty Conviction List established.Requires the Superintendent of State Police to establish no laterthan January 1, 2027, and to maintain the Animal Cruelty ConvictionList and to make the List available to the public on the websiteof the Department of State Police. The bill specifies that the Listinclude the names of persons convicted of certain felony animal crueltyoffenses on or after July 1, 2024. The bill requires persons convictedof any such offense to pay a fee of $50 per conviction to fund themaintenance of the List. The bill also requires the Department toremove a person's name and information from the List 15 years afterits listing if he has no additional felony conviction of any such offense.

Issuance of restricted driver's license for multiple convictions of driving while intoxicated; completion of specialty dockets. Provides that a person whose driver's license has been revoked for multiple convictions of driving while intoxicated may file a petition for the issuance of a restricted driver's license without having to wait for the expiration of three years from the date of his last conviction, regardless of the date of such conviction, when such person's last conviction resulted from a final order being entered by a court after the successful completion of a Veterans Treatment Court Program, behavioral health docket, or other specialty docket. This bill is identical to SB 6.

Virginia Business Ready Expedited Permitting Program established; report. Establishes the Virginia Business Ready Expedited Permitting Program and directs the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority to designate up to two sites and four projects for participation in the Program. Sites and projects eligible for the Program shall include only (i) sites eligible for a site development grant under the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program or (ii) projects with significant local, regional, or statewide economic impact that the governing body of the locality in which the project is located has either (a) approved following a public meeting or hearing or (b) submitted, by resolution, for consideration to be included in the Program. No more than two eligible sites or projects shall be designated as part of the Program within any locality annually. The Authority shall complete a review process within 45 days of designating a site to reduce permitting conflicts and provide relevant guidance to applicants. The bill also provides that no project shall be considered eligible to enter the Program after December 31, 2027, and requires annual reporting from the Authority. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025, and expires on June 30, 2028. This bill is identical to SB 217.

Charitable gaming. Amends charitable gaming law to allow, as a condition of receiving a charitable gaming permit or authorization to conduct electronic gaming, certain organizations to use a predetermined percentage of its receipts for expenses related to the rental of real property where such real property is involved in the operation of the organization and used for lawful religious, charitable, community, or educational purposes. The bill prohibits the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services from promulgating electronic gaming regulations that prohibit (i) devices that display spinning, rotating, or rolling reels or animations or flashing lights; (ii) devices that accept vouchers; or (iii) the purchase and play of an electronic pull tab with a single press or touch of a button. The bill also requires qualified organizations and electronic gaming manufacturers to pay one-quarter of one percent of its gross receipts or adjusted gross receipts, as appropriate, to be deposited by the Department into the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund and prohibits any qualified social organization that is subject to Department regulations from conducting electronic gaming in a separately demised premises that has a direct or indirect means of ingress to or egress from any adjacent space unless such space is used exclusively by members or guests of such qualified organization.

Active-duty status for any service member injured while in the line of duty. Provides that the Adjutant General may maintain state active-duty status for any service member injured while in the line of duty during the course of a state active-duty mission who is unable to return to civilian employment for a period of up to 90 days after the date of the service member's injury.

Center for Rural Virginia; name change. Renames the Center for Rural Virginia as the Senator Frank M. Ruff, Jr. Center for Rural Virginia. This bill is identical to SB 704.

Investment of public funds. Allows any qualified public entity of the Commonwealth to invest in asset-backed securities that are guaranteed by the United States or any agency thereof. This bill is identical to SB 510.

Commending the Honorable Kathy J. Byron.

Commending the Honorable L. Kaye Kory.