Del. Betsy Carr

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 651 formally commends Helen Page Warriner-Burke, Ph.D., for her two decades of volunteer service with the Southside Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The resolution recognizes her extensive background as an educator, including her long tenure directing foreign language education in Virginia and her leadership roles in various academic and community organizations. As a procedural measure, the bill directs the Clerk of the House to prepare and present a copy of the resolution to Dr. Warriner-Burke as an official expression of appreciation from the House of Delegates.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution formally commends The Valentine museum on the occasion of its 125th anniversary. The document highlights the institution's history, its collection of Richmond artifacts, and its educational programs that serve thousands of students and visitors annually. As a ceremonial measure, the resolution directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the text for presentation to the museum's director.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution honors the memory of Walter Williams Scott, a Richmond resident who passed away in December 2023 after a career in banking and extensive community service. The document acknowledges his contributions to local organizations, including his leadership in the Boy Scouts of America and his work with various foundations and churches. As a formal expression of respect, the resolution directs the Clerk of the House of Delegates to send a copy of the text to Scott's family.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Resolution that formally commends Patsy Pettus for her philanthropic work and historical preservation efforts in Richmond. It recognizes her contributions to restoring architectural landmarks, such as the Patsy K. and Hunter R. Pettus, Jr. Staircase at VCU's Institute of Contemporary Art, and her support for renovations at sites like The Valentine and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The resolution does not change laws or allocate new funds; instead, it directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the document to present to Pettus as a gesture of appreciation on the occasion of her 95th birthday.

MEI Project Approval Commission; board-levelgender and diversity requirements. Requires that the MEI ProjectApproval Commission considers, prior to recommending approval ofany major employment and investment (MEI) project, (i) whether abusiness has and commits to maintaining a balanced board of directorsbased upon gender and racial diversity, such that at least 30 percentof such board of directors consists of women and historically underrepresentedgroups, and (ii) whether a business seeking approval of a projectsubmits a board diversity disclosure and commits to updating such disclosure annually, specifying the number and percentage of diversedirectors on the board of such business who self-identify as femaleor represent a national, racial, ethnic, indigenous, or culturalminority in the country of the business's principal executive offices.

Purchase of firearms; waiting period; penalty. Provides that no person shall sell a firearm unless at least five days have elapsed from the time the prospective purchaser completes the written consent form to have a licensed dealer obtain criminal history record information, with exceptions enumerated in relevant law. This bill is identical to SB 273.

Teacher and support staff compensation; at orabove national average. Requires that public school teachersbe compensated at a rate that is at or above the national averageteacher salary. Under current law, compensation at such rate is aspirational.The bill also requires that public school instructional and noninstructionalsupport staff be compensated at a rate that is at or above the nationalaverage salary for such staff. The bill requires state funding tobe provided pursuant to the general appropriation act in a sum sufficientto fund an annual increase for public school teacher and instructionaland noninstructional support staff salaries such that, no later thanthe 2028-2029 school year, such individuals are compensated at arate that is at or above the respective national average salary.

Additional local sales and use tax to support schools; referendum. Authorizes all counties and cities to impose an additional local sales and use tax at a rate not to exceed one percent with the revenue used only for capital projects for the construction or renovation of schools if such levy is approved in a voter referendum. The bill removes the requirement that such a tax must have an expiration date on either (i) the date of the repayment of any bonds or loans used for such capital projects or (ii) a date chosen by the governing body. Under current law, only Charlotte, Gloucester, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Northampton, Patrick, and Pittsylvania Counties and the City of Danville are authorized to impose such a tax. This bill is identical to HB 805.

Cannabis control; retail market; penalties. Establishes a framework for the creation of a retail marijuana market in the Commonwealth, to be administered by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (the Authority). The bill allows the Authority to begin issuing all marijuana licenses on July 1, 2025; however, the bill (i) allows certain micro business to begin operations, other than retail sales, on July 1, 2024, or the date on which the Board of Directors of the Authority (the Board) provides notice to the Division of Legislative Services (the Division) that it is prepared to provide oversight of such operations, whichever is later, and (ii) allows pharmaceutical processors, certain micro businesses, and five industrial hemp processors to fully operate, including engaging in retail sales, on January 1, 2025, or the date on which the Board provides notice to the Division that it is prepared to provide oversight of such operations and sales, whichever is later.

Public elementary and secondary schools; student discipline; evidence-based restorative disciplinary practices. Prohibits, except in certain cases involving specific offenses enumerated in applicable law or in cases in which the division superintendent or his designee finds that aggravating circumstances, as defined by the Department of Education, exist, any public elementary or secondary school student from being suspended, expelled, or excluded from attendance at school without first considering at least one evidence-based restorative disciplinary practice such as community conferencing, community service, mentoring, a peer jury, peer mediation, positive behavioral interventions and supports, a restorative circle, or the Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports. The bill also requires the Department to add as part of the student behavior and administrative response collection required pursuant to relevant law the use of evidence-based restorative disciplinary practices as a behavioral intervention in order to evaluate the use and effectiveness of such practices. This bill is identical to SB 586.