Maddy summaryHJ 728 is a ceremonial resolution commending Heman Bekele for his contributions. It does not create new laws or affect policies, as it is a symbolic gesture of recognition. The bill passed both the House and Senate by voice vote in February 2025, with no substantive provisions or mechanisms beyond the formal expression of praise.
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.
Maddy summaryHJ 721 is a ceremonial resolution commending Norfolk State University for its contributions to education and the community. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or affect any policies or individuals. The bill serves only as a formal expression of recognition from the legislature. As a procedural resolution, it has no practical impact beyond the symbolic gesture.
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.
Student health and safety; responsibility to contact parent of student at imminent risk of suicide; provision of suicide prevention materials required. Requires any person licensed as administrative or instructional personnel by the Board of Education (the Board) and employed by a local school board who in the scope of his employment has reason to believe, as a result of direct communication from a student, that such student is at imminent risk of suicide to, in addition to contacting at least one of such student's parents to provide notice of the student's mental state, provide to the parent materials on suicide prevention that (i) shall include information on the requirements set forth in current law relating to the safe storage of firearms in the presence of minors and (ii) may include guidance on best practices and strategies for limiting a student's access to lethal means, including firearms and medications. The bill requires any such materials on suicide prevention to be selected in accordance with the guidelines developed by the Board pursuant to applicable law and to include materials that have been pre-approved for such use by the Board.
Virginia Public Procurement Act; discrimination prohibited; military family-owned businesses. Prohibits any public body from discriminating against a bidder or offeror in the solicitation or awarding of contracts on the basis of status as a military family, defined in the bill. The bill provides that all public bodies shall establish programs to facilitate the participation of military family-owned businesses, as defined in the bill, in procurement transactions.
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.
Department of Human Resource Management; hiring on the basis of direct experience. Prohibits any state agency from requiring as a condition of eligibility for hire to a position in state employment that an applicant have a baccalaureate degree. The bill provides an exception to such prohibition if the knowledge, skills, or abilities required for the position for which an applicant is applying can only reasonably be obtained, as determined by the appointing authority, through a course of study in pursuit of, and culminating in the award of, a baccalaureate degree. This bill is identical to SB 1014.
State Board of Health to adopt regulations related to emergency medical vehicle restrictions and specifications. Directs the State Board of Health to adopt a regulation allowing certain Emergency Medical Services (EMS) vehicles belonging to a combination fire and EMS agency to have the fire department logo and lettering appear larger than the lettering identifying the EMS agency.
