Rep. Hillary Pugh Kent

Maddy summaryHJ 95 is a ceremonial resolution commending the Rappahannock High School football team for their achievements. It does not create new laws, change policies, or affect any individuals or groups beyond expressing formal recognition. The resolution was adopted by both the House and Senate via voice vote in February 2026. As a symbolic gesture, it has no binding effect or practical impact on education, sports, or funding.

Maddy summaryHJ 96 is a ceremonial joint resolution honoring Robert Bernard Keyser, Jr., a community member. It does not create new laws or affect policy; instead, it formally commemorates his life and contributions. The resolution was passed unanimously by both the House and Senate in February 2026. As a symbolic gesture, it has no direct impact on legislation or constituents.

Maddy summaryHJ 91 is a joint resolution celebrating the life of Gladys Mae West. It does not create new laws or affect specific policies, but formally honors her contributions through a legislative resolution. The resolution was unanimously passed by the Senate on January 30, 2026, with no recorded opposition.

Virginia Land Conservation Foundation. Allows the Virginia Land Conservation Board of Trustees to waive the requirement for a holder of a conservation easement to have such easement jointly held with a public body whenever such holder acquires any interest in land other than a fee simple interest from a grant or transfer from the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation, provided that such holder is accredited by the national Land Trust Accreditation Commission or meets a similar set of standards and practices adopted by the Board of Trustees and the easement contains a third party right of enforcement, as defined in relevant law, in favor of the Department of Conservation and Recreation or another public body.

Department of Environmental Quality; special orders; Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program; civil penalties. Increases the maximum civil penalty amount that the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality may assess for any special order to a person to comply with certain related laws, regulations, permits, and certifications from $10,000 to $32,500. The bill increases from $1,000 to $32,500 the maximum civil penalty that a locality authorized to administer a Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program is able to collect for any one violation of certain regulations, orders, ordinances, program provisions, conditions of land-disturbance approvals, and provisions of state law. The bill also provides, however, that for a land-disturbing activity that (i) disturbs an area measuring at least 10,000 square feet but less than one acre in an area not designated as a Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area and (ii) is not part of a larger common plan of development or sale that disturbs one or more acres of land, the civil penalty shall not exceed $5,000 for each violation, and a series of violations arising from the same set of facts shall not exceed $50,000.

Marine Resources Commission; license tags and identification numbers; marking of commercial fishing boats, nets, and other devices. Provides that license tags or identification numbers for commercial fishing boats, nets, and other devices shall be attached and displayed in a manner prescribed by the Marine Resources Commission and repeals a provision that requires a licensee to apply for a new tag within 24 hours after the discovery of the destruction or loss of the original tag. Currently, the requirements for attaching and displaying license tags or identification numbers are set forth in state law.

Misbranded food; manufactured-protein food products; civil penalty. Provides that a food is misbranded if it purports to be or is represented as a meat food product or poultry product and such food product (i) bears or contains a manufactured-protein food product, as defined in the bill; (ii) is offered for sale; and (iii) has a label that is part of or placed on the food product package or other container storing such product that identifies the food as a meat food product or poultry product, unless such label bears a conspicuous and prominent qualifying term and is in close proximity to an identifying meat term, as such terms are defined in the bill. The bill exempts a meat food product that the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services determines contains a trace amount of a manufactured-protein food product, prohibits the sale or offering for sale of a food product that is misbranded pursuant to the provisions of the bill, and makes doing so a violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The bill provides that a person who violates the provisions of the bill is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $500 and allows the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services to adopt increased civil penalties not to exceed $500 for first, second, and subsequent violations of the bill. This bill is identical to SB 186.

Distributing nitrous oxide prohibited; penalties. Prohibits the sale or distribution of (i) a device that is designed or intended to deliver a gas containing nitrous oxide through direct inhalation, with exceptions defined in the bill; (ii) nitrous oxide that has, or is marketed as having, the taste or smell of any food or beverage that is distinguishable by an ordinary consumer either prior to or during consumption or use of such nitrous oxide to any person not exempted in the bill; and (iii) a container of nitrous oxide that exceeds eight grams, with exceptions defined in the bill. A violation of such prohibitions is a Class 1 misdemeanor. This bill is identical to SB 360.

Excused student absences for visitation of immediate family members in connection with deployment. Allots five excused absences to any student whose immediate family member is active duty military and has received orders for, is on leave from, or has recently returned from deployment outside the United States for the purpose of visitation with such family member, provided that the student provides written documentation verifying such leave or deployment if requested by the local school division.

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; exemption for records of minors participating in certain programs run by state bodies. Exempts from the mandatory disclosure requirements of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act the personal contact information of minors who are participating in a program, such as an apprenticeship or unpaid internship or externship, run by a state public body. The bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council.