Del. Bonita Anthony

Commending the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce.

Constitutional amendment (first reference);qualifications of voters; right to vote; persons not entitled tovote. Provides that every person who meets the qualificationsof voters set forth in the Constitution of Virginia shall have thefundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth and that such rightshall not be abridged by law, except for persons who have been convictedof a felony and persons who have been adjudicated to lack the capacityto understand the act of voting. A person who has been convictedof a felony shall not be entitled to vote during any period of incarcerationfor such felony conviction, but upon release from incarceration forthat felony conviction and without further action required of him,such person shall be invested with all political rights, includingthe right to vote. Currently, in order to be qualified to vote a personconvicted of a felony must have his civil rights restored by theGovernor or other appropriate authority. The amendment also providesthat a person adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction aslacking the capacity to understand the act of voting shall not be entitled to vote during this period of incapacity until his capacityhas been reestablished as prescribed by law. Currently, the Constitutionof Virginia provides that a person who has been adjudicated to bementally incompetent is not qualified to vote until his competencyis reestablished.

Elections; form of ballot; party identificationof candidates; constitutional offices. Provides that any candidatefor a constitutional office who is nominated by a political partyor at a primary election shall be identified on the ballot by thename of his political party. Currently, only candidates for federal,statewide, and General Assembly offices are so identified. The constitutionaloffices are those of the treasurer, sheriff, attorney for the Commonwealth,clerk of court, and commissioner of the revenue.

First-time homebuyer tax credit. Createsa tax credit for taxable years 2024 through 2028 for individualsor married couples filing jointly who sell residential real propertythat is the taxpayer's primary residence and is located in the Commonwealthto a first-time homebuyer, as defined by the bill. Such credit willbe equal to two percent of the sales price of the property, not toexceed $5,000.

Grounds for divorce; cruelty, abuse, desertion,or abandonment; waiting period. Eliminates the one-year waitingperiod for a divorce to be decreed on the grounds of cruelty, reasonableapprehension of bodily hurt, or willful desertion or abandonment.

Board of Education; criteria for initial renewableteacher licensure for certain individuals. Requires the Boardof Education to issue an initial renewable license as a teacher toany applicant who (i) is enrolled in an accredited education preparationprogram at an institution of higher education in the Commonwealth;(ii) is recommended for such licensure by the dean of such educationpreparation program; (iii) has attempted, unsuccessfully, to obtaina qualifying score on the communication and literacy assessment prescribedby the Board; (iv) meets all other requirements for such license;and (v) meets any other criteria for the issuance of such licensein such circumstances as may be established by the Board of Education.

Public school staffing ratios; specializedstudent support positions. Increases the number of specialized student support positions required to be employed by each local schoolboard from at least three to at least four such positions per 1,000students in the local school division. Such specialized student supportpositions include school social workers, school psychologists, schoolnurses, licensed behavior analysts, licensed assistant behavior analysts,and other licensed health and behavioral positions.

Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act;noncompliance with rental agreement; grace period prior to termination.Provides that if a landlord owns more than four rental dwellingunits or more than a 10 percent interest in more than four rentaldwelling units, whether individually or through a business entity,in the Commonwealth, and a tenant named on the rental agreement is65 years of age or older, the landlord may only terminate the rentalagreement and proceed to obtain possession of the premises under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act if such tenant failsto pay rent within 14 days after written notice is served on thetenant. Current law only provides a five-day grace period for suchtermination and applies such grace period to all tenants regardlessof age.

Department of Housing and Community Development;Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; Manufactured Home LotRental Act; notice of tenant screening criteria. Requires landlordsgoverned by the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act or ManufacturedHome Lot Rental Act to provide applicants for tenancy with (i) theamount and purpose of fees to be charged to such applicant, (ii) information that will be used to assess such applicant's eligibilityfor tenancy, and (iii) any criteria that may result in automatic denialof an application. The bill requires such landlords to notify applicantsof certain rights protected by the federal Fair Credit ReportingAct prior to performing any background, credit, or other pre-occupancycheck on such applicants. Finally, the bill requires the Directorof the Department of Housing and Community Development to developa sample notice of tenant screening criteria and a standardized statementregarding an applicant's rights protected by the federal Fair CreditReporting Act and to make such sample notice and statement availableon the Department's website.

Commending Dr. Willis L. Lonzer III.