Voter registration; political party affiliation;closed primary elections. Adds political party affiliation tothe information that an applicant is asked to provide when registeringto vote. The political party affiliation or independent status selectedby the voter is included in his registration record, and the billpermits voters to change political party affiliation by providingnotice in writing or through electronic means authorized by the StateBoard of Election. The bill provides that only voters who are registeredas affiliated with a political party, or who are designated as independent,are permitted to vote in that political party's primary election.Voters who are registered on or before January 1, 2022, will be designated as independent, and the general registrars are required to notifythe voters of such fact and include instructions on how the votermay change his affiliation beginning January 1, 2022. The bill hasa delayed effective date of January 1, 2022.
Sponsored bills
Absentee voting; signature match; provisionalballot status. Requires the signature on the voter affirmationstatement on an absentee ballot return envelope to match the signatureof the voter on the application for the absentee ballot or the signatureof the voter on file in his registration record. The general registrarsare required to review the affirmation statement upon receipt ofan absentee ballot returned by mail and to compare the signatures.An absentee ballot that is missing the signature or has a signaturethat does not match shall be handled as a provisional ballot. Thevoter is entitled to submit a cure affidavit, affirming that the ballotwas submitted by him, is his ballot, and that he is registered andqualified to vote in such election, and a copy of a form of identificationcontaining his name, signature, and photograph, until noon on thethird day following the election. If, at the electoral board meetingfor determining the validity of provisional votes, a majority ofthe board finds that the signature on the cure affidavit matchesthe signature on the absentee ballot, the vote shall be counted.Notice to the voter is required by email, text message, or telephone call, and if the absentee ballot is received on or before the seventhday preceding the election, by first-class mail as well.
Immunity from civil claims related to the transmissionof or exposure to the COVID-19 virus and uses of personal protectiveequipment; emergency. Provides immunity to persons, as defined in the bill, from civil causes of action arising from any act oromission alleged to have resulted in the contraction of or exposureto the COVID-19 virus, provided such person has complied with applicablefederal, state, and local policies, procedures, and guidance regardingCOVID-19. The bill further provides immunity to persons who design,manufacture, label, or distribute any personal protective equipmentin response to the COVID-19 virus from any civil cause of actionarising out of the use of such equipment. The bill contains an emergency clause, and the immunities provided by such bill expire two yearsafter the expiration or revocation of all states of emergency declaredby the Governor related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Carrying a concealed handgun; permit not required. Allows any person who is otherwise eligible to obtain a concealedhandgun permit to carry a concealed handgun without a permit anywherehe may lawfully carry a handgun openly within the Commonwealth.
Collective bargaining; prohibited considerationsduring negotiations. Prohibits any local ordinance or resolutiongranting or permitting collective bargaining from permitting considerationduring collective bargaining negotiations of any action or discussionregarding the hiring, firing, or disciplining of a local employee.All such actions and discussions shall be exempt from all collectivebargaining negotiations.
Absentee ballots; witness requirement; printedname and residence address. Requires that a witness to a voter's absentee ballot provide, in addition to his signature, his printedname and residence address.
Use of transportation funds. States thatit is the policy of the Commonwealth that revenues dedicated to transportationpurposes shall not be used or redirected for any nontransportation-relatedpurpose. Any attempt to repurpose funds dedicated to transportationas of July 1, 2020, shall be deemed invalid and shall not be effectuated.
Home instruction and private school tax credit.Creates an individual, nonrefundable income tax credit for taxableyears beginning on or after January 1, 2021, but before January 1,2026, for amounts paid by the parent or legal guardian of a childfor the child's home instruction expenses or tuition for attendingan accredited private school in Virginia. The credit shall equalthe lesser of the amount actually paid in the taxable year for suchcosts or half of the average state standards of quality funding perstudent per year. The credit may be taken for instruction-relatedmaterials, courses, or programs used in home instruction or for privateschool tuition. The credit is available only to the parents and legalguardians of children who did not attend private school or were nothome schooled in the previous year in Virginia. The credit is availablefor two years per child and can be carried forward for five taxableyears.
Firearm-free zones designated by the Commonwealthor a locality; waiver of sovereign immunity. Provides that if(i) the Commonwealth designates any property owned by it as a firearm-freezone or (ii) any locality designates such locality or any part ofsuch locality as a firearm-free zone, the Commonwealth or such localitywaives its sovereign immunity as it relates to any injuries sustainedby persons lawfully present in such firearm-free zone.
Same-day voter registration; repeal. RepealsChapter 1153 of the Acts of Assembly of 2020, which provided thatany person who is qualified to register to vote would be permittedto do so up to and including on the day of the election, regardlessof the close of the registration records provided elsewhere in law.