Del. Keith Hodges

Elections; voter identification; identification containing a photograph required. Requires presentation of a form of identification containing a photograph in order to vote. The bill repeals the provisions of law permitting a voter who does not have one of the required forms of identification to vote after signing a statement, subject to felony penalties for false statements, that he is the named registered voter he claims to be. Instead, the bill provides that such voter is entitled to cast a provisional ballot.

Firearms-related offenses; mandatory minimum sentence; penalty. Increases from five to 10 years for a second or subsequent offense the mandatory minimum sentence for use or display of a firearm during the commission of certain felonies.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SJ 319) expressing formal recognition and honor for the King William County Courthouse. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, people, or programs. The resolution was approved by both the Senate and House of Delegates in early 2025 with voice votes. It serves solely as a symbolic tribute to the courthouse's role in the community.

Commercial fishing pier; public fishing pier owned by a political subdivision; exclusion. Excludes a political subdivision that operates a public fishing pier over or upon the subaqueous beds of the Commonwealth from commercial fishing pier licensing fees and permitting requirements.

Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas; acceptance of signed and sealed plan in lieu of local plan review. Authorizes a locality subject to the provisions of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act to accept a set of plans and supporting calculations prepared by a licensed professional, as described in the bill, for any land-disturbing activity that disturbs 2,500 square feet or more but less than one acre in an area of a locality designated as a Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area. The bill provides that such plans and supporting calculations shall satisfy the requirement that the locality retain a certified plan reviewer or conduct a plan review.

Comprehensive plan; data centers; water usage. Requires every locality to incorporate into its comprehensive plan provisions that prioritize and evaluate alternative methods of cooling, such as air cooling, geothermal cooling, or other innovative technologies that minimize water usage, particularly in the context of approving or siting data centers or similar land uses. The bill provides that the comprehensive plan shall include methods of assessing the environmental impact of water-based cooling methods and requires that alternative methods to minimize water usage are thoroughly considered before local approval of data centers or similar land uses that are reliant on significant water resources for cooling purposes.

Research university collaborative; Virginia Institute of Marine Science; reassigning coastal resource management duties. Makes the Commonwealth's research university collaborative the scientific advisor to the Commonwealth on matters of coastal resilience. The bill shifts the duties of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science relating to coastal resource management, including the duty of developing comprehensive coastal resource management guidance for local governments, to the collaborative. The bill requires certain localities to incorporate such guidance developed by the collaborative into the next scheduled review of its comprehensive plan beginning in 2026.

Secretary of Health and Human Resources; Pharmacy Benefits Manager and Third-Party Administrator Oversight Work Group; report. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, in consultation with the Attorney General, to convene the Pharmacy Benefits Manager and Third-Party Administrator Oversight Work Group to examine the impact of Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, 141 S. Ct. 474 (2020), and to formulate legislative recommendations for reducing prescription drug costs, minimizing health care expenses, reducing bureaucratic impediments to affordable health care, enhancing transparency, and improving overall health outcomes for residents of the Commonwealth. The bill requires the Work Group to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by November 1, 2026.

Department of Medical Assistance Services; state pharmacy benefits manager. Requires the Department of Medical Assistance Services by December 31, 2025, to select and contract with a third-party administrator to serve as the state pharmacy benefits manager to administer all pharmacy benefits for Medicaid recipients, including recipients enrolled in a managed care organization. The bill enumerates requirements for the Department's contract with the state pharmacy benefits manager and prevents the state pharmacy benefits manager from having a business conflict of interest with any Medicaid provider or vendor. This bill was incorporated into HB 2610.

Living Shoreline Grant Fund established. Establishes the Living Shoreline Grant Fund to be administered by the Marine Resources Commission for the purpose of awarding grants to a local government or a federally recognized tribe in the Commonwealth to match federal or other matching funds. The bill requires such grants be used for the construction, renovation, or improvement of living shorelines greater than 1.5 miles in any shore angle direction. The bill requires the Commission to give priority to projects that (i) are located on public lands, (ii) demonstrate the ability for the living shoreline to migrate upland over time through documented control of upland properties, or (iii) are identified as priorities in the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan.