Del. Alex Askew

Maddy summaryHJ 735 is a ceremonial resolution commending Aslin Beer Company for its contributions to the community. It does not create any new laws or affect any policies, as it is a symbolic gesture of recognition. The resolution passed unanimously in both the House and Senate via voice vote in February 2025. This type of bill has no direct impact on citizens, businesses, or government operations beyond expressing formal appreciation.

Maddy summaryHJ 684 is a commemorative resolution honoring Loudoun County residents who were among the passengers aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which crashed in 2023. It formally recognizes and celebrates the lives of these community members without creating any new laws or policy changes. The resolution passed both the House and Senate in February 2025 and was signed into law. This is a symbolic gesture, not a substantive legislative measure.

Real property tax; assessment of affordable rental housing. Directs the Department of Taxation to develop a uniform income and expense reporting form that may be provided by duly authorized assessors and completed by the owners of affordable rental housing properties prior to assessment of such affordable rental housing properties. The bill provides that the duly authorized real estate assessor charged with determining the fair market value of affordable rental housing shall use the income approach when such housing generates income unless certain information is not provided by the property owner. The bill specifies that the foregoing provisions shall become effective for assessments beginning on or after January 1, 2026. Finally, the bill directs the Department to develop, in consultation with a stakeholder group, the uniform income and expense reporting form no later than September 1, 2025, and directs the Department to provide by November 1, 2025, a letter to the Chairs of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations and the House Committee on Finance with an update on the development of such form and implementation of training for assessing officials and contracted assessors on the assessment of affordable rental housing.

Higher education; financial assistance; Virginia National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program; eligibility criteria. Makes several changes to the Virginia National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program, including (i) making the provisions relating to the requirements and conditions for eligibility for and award of grants under the Program subject to regulations as prescribed by the Adjutant General, (ii) eliminating the requirement to satisfy financial obligations with the institution of higher education at the beginning of each semester, (iii) simplifying the requirements relating to academic performance and good standing, and (iv) providing that, upon acceptance of an application for a grant, grant funds are to be disbursed to the applicable institution of higher education for credit against the recipient student's account. This bill is identical to SB 1106.

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

Maddy summaryHJ 659 is a ceremonial resolution commending Mekhi Becton, Sr., for his contributions to the community. It does not create new laws, alter policies, or directly affect any individuals or groups beyond expressing legislative recognition. The resolution passed unanimously in the Senate via voice vote after being introduced and quickly advanced through procedural steps. As a non-binding resolution, it serves only to honor an individual and has no legal or practical impact on governance or public policy.

Public elementary and secondary schools; cardiac emergency response or emergency action plans required. Requires each public elementary or secondary school to develop a cardiac emergency response plan (CERP) or an athletic emergency action plan (EAP), as those terms are defined in the bill, that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual who is experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while on school grounds and, in the event that such school has an athletic department or organized athletic program, while attending or participating in an athletic practice or event. The bill requires each such CERP or athletic EAP to integrate nationally recognized evidence-based core elements and nationally recognized evidence-based guidelines and to integrate certain additional provisions and guidelines, including those relating to establishing a cardiac emergency response team, activating such team in response to a sudden cardiac event, and integrating the CERP or athletic EAP into the local community's emergency medical services response protocols. This bill is identical to SB 817.

Health insurance; cost sharing for breast examinations. Prohibits health insurance carriers from imposing cost sharing for diagnostic breast examinations and supplemental breast examinations, as those terms are defined in the bill, under certain insurance policies, subscription contracts, and health care plans delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in the Commonwealth on and after January 1, 2026. The bill provides that such examinations include examinations using diagnostic mammography, breast magnetic resonance imaging, or breast ultrasound. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Health Insurance Reform Commission. This bill incorporates HB 2133 and is identical to SB 1436.

Florence Neal Cooper Smith Sickle Cell Research Endowment Fund established. Establishes the Florence Neal Cooper Smith Sickle Cell Research Endowment Fund to support medical and biomedical sickle cell disease research conducted in institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth that relates to the causes and potential cures of sickle cell disease. The Fund shall be administered by the Commonwealth Health Research Board.

Certified nurse midwives; licensed certified midwives; independent practice; organized medical staff. Permits licensed certified midwives who have completed 1,000 hours of practice under a practice agreement to practice without a practice agreement upon receipt of an attestation from the licensed physician or midwife with whom they entered into a practice agreement. The bill also permits certified nurse midwives and licensed certified midwives to enter into practice agreements with certified nurse midwives or licensed certified midwives who are authorized to practice independently. The bill directs the Department of Health to amend its regulations to clarify that an organized medical staff may include other practitioners, including independent practice midwives, in addition to physicians and dentists. This bill is identical to SB 1352.