Del. Phil Hernandez

Study; JLARC; non-federal sponsor contributions by localities to conduct coastal storm risk management studies; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to study the methodology for determining the monetary contributions by localities or other non-federal sponsors to the total cost of coastal storm risk management studies. The study also directs JLARC to determine whether a separate fund should be established to support and manage cost-share requests from non-federal sponsors for such studies.

Maddy summaryHR 481 is a House resolution commending Lawrence Douglas Wilder, Virginia's first Black governor and former lieutenant governor. It serves as a formal, symbolic recognition of his contributions to public service and leadership. The bill does not create any policy changes or affect specific groups; it is purely a ceremonial gesture. The resolution passed unanimously by the House on January 16, 2025, and was engrossed for final passage.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution honoring Matthew Charles Obenshain. It does not create any new laws or affect policies; it simply expresses legislative recognition of his life. The resolution was passed unanimously by both the Senate and House on February 20-21, 2025. It has no binding effect beyond ceremonial acknowledgment.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SJ 434), not a policy bill. It formally commends Dr. William Ferguson Reid for his service, with no legal effect or impact on any individuals or policies. The resolution passed both the Senate and House by voice vote in February 2025. As a symbolic gesture, it expresses legislative recognition but does not create any new requirements or change existing law.

Maddy summarySJ 363 is a ceremonial resolution commending the Virginia Spaceport Authority for its work in advancing space exploration and economic development in Virginia. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, as it is purely symbolic recognition. The bill passed both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly with unanimous voice votes in February 2025. It honors the Authority's contributions but has no binding effect or direct impact on residents, businesses, or regulations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SJ 366) formally commends Leanne Eyler for her contributions, without imposing any legal requirements or altering policies. It directly affects no individuals or entities beyond expressing legislative recognition. The bill passed both the Senate and House by voice vote in February 2025 and is now enrolled as a formal commendation. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no substantive policy impact.

Poor debtor's exemption; depository institution account exemption. Allows a householder to hold exempt from creditor process up to $500 held in a depository institution. The bill provides that a depository institution shall, upon receipt of an order of garnishment, attachment, or other levy, answer such order and, if the householder maintains a deposit account or accounts with such depository institution, state that (i) the total amount in such account or accounts does not exceed $500 or (ii) the total amount in such account or accounts does exceed $500 and that the amount of funds in excess of $500 is being held by such institution pending further order of the court. The bill further provides that, beginning on April 1, 2027, any increases in exempt amounts shall be adjusted at three-year intervals to reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (CPI-U), as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. The bill provides that such adjustments shall be calculated by the Department of Planning and Budget.

Department of Medical Assistance Services; presumptive eligibility for pregnant individuals; qualified entities; performance standards for qualified entities. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to seek federal authority to implement presumptive eligibility for pregnant individuals, in addition to the existing hospital presumptive eligibility program and, if the Department receives such authority, allows the Department to authorize qualified entities to make determinations of presumptive eligibility for pregnant individuals. The bill directs qualified entities to provide (i) the necessary applications for medical assistance on the day in which the presumptive eligibility decision is made and (ii) assistance with completing such applications through available modalities. Under the bill, qualified entities are authorized to make determinations of presumptive eligibility for pregnant individuals who meet eligibility criteria for certain medical assistance programs and have not had a presumptive eligibility period during the current pregnancy. The bill also sets forth certain performance standards that qualified entities must meet to remain a qualified entity, described in the bill.

Employment health and safety standards; heat illness prevention. Requires the Safety and Health Codes Board to adopt regulations establishing reasonable standards designed to protect employees from heat illness and establish a list of high-hazard industries, as defined in the bill. The bill authorizes a person aggrieved by a violation of its provisions or the regulations promulgated thereunder to seek to obtain injunctive relief, to recover statutory damages of $1000, or both, in an action commenced within one year of the cause of action. The bill requires the Safety and Health Codes Board, in consultation with the Department of Labor and Industry, to develop a list of high-hazard industries by January 1, 2026, and to develop and adopt regulations requiring employers in high-hazard industries to implement standards for heat illness prevention by May 1, 2026.

Board of Education; Standards of Learning assessments; availability in commonly spoken languages other than English. Requires the Board of Education to prioritize the incorporation of Standards of Learning assessments in commonly spoken languages in the Commonwealth other than English into its statewide student assessment system, and in any contract that it enters into with a third party for the development, establishment, and maintenance of such system.