Del. Scott Wyatt

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Resolution that honors the memory of James P. McLaughlin, a retired law enforcement officer from Hanover County who passed away in June 2024. The resolution acknowledges his nearly 40-year career, which included service in the Army National Guard and various roles within the Hanover County Sheriff's Office, such as crisis negotiation and crime prevention. It recognizes his receipt of numerous awards and commendations for his dedication to public service and community safety. Finally, the resolution directs the Clerk of the House to provide a copy of the document to McLaughlin's family as a formal expression of respect.

Public service companies; pole attachments;cable television systems and telecommunications service providers. Requires a public utility, as defined in the bill, to establish and adhere to pole attachment practices and procedures that comply with certain requirements, including determining whether an attachment request is complete before reviewing such request on its merits, complying with certain timelines, and providing notice of a rearrangement to affected existing attachers. The bill provides that a public utility shall not apportion to a telecommunications service provider or cable television system the cost of replacing a red-tagged pole, as defined in the bill, provided that such utility may apportion to such provider or system the incremental cost of a taller or stronger pole that is necessitated solely by the new facilities of such provider or system. The bill authorizes the State Corporation Commission to enforce its provisions and requires the Commission to resolve disputes involving pole access within 90 days and concerning certain other matters within 120 days. This bill is identical to SB 713.

Toll facilities; vehicle owner. Providesthat, in the context of automated toll enforcement, the exemptionfrom the definition of "owner" for vehicle rental or vehicle leasingcompanies applies only if such companies meet existing requirementsrelated to handling toll invoices on rented or leased vehicles.

Virginia Employment Commission; provision ofcertain confidential information to the Virginia Port Authority.Requires the Virginia Employment Commission to provide certain employmentinformation to the Virginia Port Authority as may be necessary tofacilitate the administration and enforcement by the Authority ofperformance agreements with businesses that have received incentiveawards. The bill provides that any information provided to the Authorityis confidential, requires that the information only be disclosedto members of the Authority who are public officials or employeesof the Authority for the performance of their official duties, andprohibits redisclosure of any such confidential information to nonlegislativecitizen members of the Authority or to the public.

Auto recyclers; database search. Clarifies the databases to be searched by the Department of Motor Vehicles upon notification by an auto recycler that he possesses a motor vehicle to be demolished but does not possess a certificate of title, salvage certificate, or nonrepairable certificate for such motor vehicle. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2025, and is identical to SB 545.

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.

Motor Vehicle Dealer Board; examination costs. Authorizes the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board to establish the cost ofan examination of licensee records, which existing law requires thelicensee to pay if such examination shows a violation of law or orderof the Board. The bill removes the authority of the Board to recoversuch costs in a court of competent jurisdiction and provides thatfailure to pay such examination costs may be grounds for denying,suspending, or revoking a license or certificate of dealer registrationor qualification.

Toll invoices; mail. Authorizes the use of a trackable correspondence equivalent to certified mail for sending invoices for unpaid tolls to a vehicle owner prior to the Department of Motor Vehicles placing a registration stop on such vehicle due to unpaid tolls. Current law requires such invoices to be mailed by certified mail. This bill is identical to SB 205.

Motor vehicle dealers; independent dealer-operator recertification; exam. Permits the recertification of independent dealer-operators by passing an examination administered by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Current law provides that such recertification requires completing one live instructor-led course and passing an examination administered by the course provider. The bill also directs the Department to collect the $50 exam fee at the time the exam is administered, transmit $48 from that fee to the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board within 15 days, and retain the remaining $2. This bill is identical to SB 452.