Sexual assault of a child; mandatory minimum sentence; penalty. Increases the penalty for the sexual assault of a child younger than 18 years of age to a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Authority of Attorney General; criminal cases; criminal sexual assault and commercial sex trafficking committed against children. Authorizes the Attorney General to institute or conduct criminal prosecutions in cases involving a violation of criminal sexual assault or commercial sex trafficking when such crimes are committed against children.
Claims to unclaimed property; authority of administrator. Authorizes the State Treasurer or his designee to make payments relating to unclaimed property without receiving a claim if the property is cash property, the apparent owner is a natural person and such apparent owner has been identified by the State Treasurer or his designee, and the amount to be paid does not exceed $5,000. This bill was incorporated into SB 996.
Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SJ 266) that formally expresses appreciation for Debbie Rountree's contributions. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or affect any policies or individuals beyond the symbolic recognition. The bill passed both the Senate and House by voice vote in early January 2025. As a procedural resolution, it has no substantive impact on legislation or constituents.
Income tax; subtraction; retirement income of certain federal employees. Establishes, beginning in taxable year 2025, an individual income tax subtraction for 20 percent of the retirement income of retirees covered under the federal Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS).
Elections; voter identification; identification containing a photograph required. Requires presentation of a form of identification containing a photograph in order to vote. The bill repeals the provisions of law permitting a voter who does not have one of the required forms of identification to vote after signing a statement, subject to felony penalties for false statements, that he is the named registered voter he claims to be. Instead, the bill provides that such voter is entitled to cast a provisional ballot.
State Air Pollution Control Board; regulations; low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle standards. Repeals the State Air Pollution Control Board's authority to implement low-emissions and zero-emissions vehicle standards that apply to vehicles with a model year of 2025 and later.
Income tax; alternative schooling and public school tax credits. Creates an alternative schooling tax credit as a refundable income tax credit for taxable years 2025 through 2029, for up to $5,000 in qualifying expenses, defined in the bill, incurred by the parent or legal guardian of an eligible student in home education or attending a private school. If the taxpayer's family Virginia adjusted gross income does not exceed 300 percent of federal poverty guidelines, the taxpayer may claim an additional $2,500 refundable tax credit. The bill also creates a public school tax credit as a refundable individual tax credit for taxable years 2025 through 2029, for up to $1,500 in qualifying expenses, defined in the bill, incurred by the parent or legal guardian of a student in public school. If the taxpayer's family Virginia adjusted gross income does not exceed 300 percent of federal poverty guidelines, the taxpayer may claim an additional $2,500 refundable tax credit. The bill allows the taxpayer one credit per eligible student per year and requires the taxpayer to submit purchase receipts to verify qualifying expenses for each credit. The aggregate amount of credits allowable for each credit is limited to $25 million per taxable year and will be allocated by the Department of Taxation on a first-come, first-served basis. In the event that the aggregate amount of credits claimed in a single taxable year is greater than 90 percent of such amount, then such aggregate credit cap amount shall be increased in the immediately succeeding taxable year by 10 percent.
Workers' compensation benefits; post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, or depressive disorder incurred by law-enforcement officers and firefighters. Increases from 52 weeks to 500 weeks the maximum duration after the date of diagnosis that workers' compensation benefits are payable for post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, or depressive disorder incurred by law-enforcement officers and firefighters acting in the line of duty. The bill also removes the prohibition on medical treatment, temporary total incapacity benefits, or temporary partial incapacity benefits from being awarded beyond four years from the date of the qualifying event that was the primary cause of the post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, or depressive disorder. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of law-enforcement officer to include any civilian employed by a county, city, or town police department or by a sheriff's office as a crime scene investigator for the purposes of worker's compensation claims related to post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, or depressive disorder.
Maintenance of vegetative growth on certain property. Authorizes a locality to require an owner of property that (i) was formerly used as a golf course but where such use has been discontinued and (ii) abuts an area zoned for residential purposes to cut or maintain the vegetative growth in a manner that (a) is consistent with the character of the former golf course property and compatible with the surrounding residential area and (b) prevents such property from becoming a detriment to the health, safety, or welfare of the residents of the abutting residential area. The bill allows the locality to have its agents or employees cut or maintain the vegetative growth on such property, as the locality deems necessary, at the owner's expense after providing reasonable notice to the owner of record of such property. The costs for cutting or maintaining the vegetative growth on such property may be collected by the locality as taxes are collected. The bill states that its provisions are declarative of existing law.
