Sen. Mamie Locke

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJ 141) proposes holding a commemorative session at the Colonial Capitol in Williamsburg, Virginia. It would authorize the use of this historic site for a special legislative session to honor local history. The bill is currently referred to the Committee on Rules for further consideration. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new laws or affect policy.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally commends the Hampton Roads Chamber for its contributions to the community. It is a ceremonial resolution with no substantive policy changes or direct impact on constituents or regulations. The bill serves solely to recognize the Chamber's work through a formal Senate expression of appreciation. It was passed by the Senate via voice vote on March 5, 2026.

Virginia Lottery; casinos; internet gaming authorized; penalties. Authorizes internet gaming in the Commonwealth to be regulated by the Virginia Lottery Board. The bill permits the Board to issue an internet gaming operator license to a casino gaming operator that submits an application on forms approved by the Board, meets certain qualifications, and pays an initial licensing fee of $500,000. The tax rate is set at 20 percent of an internet gaming operator's adjusted gross internet gaming revenue with three percent allocated to the Gaming Regulatory Fund, two percent allocated to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund, and 95 percent allocated to the Modern Public Education Fund.

Early childhood care and education; Child Care Subsidy Program; income-based eligibility for assistance; development and implementation of phased reduction model; report. Requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a phased reduction model for the Child Care Subsidy Program (the Program) that provides for an assistance phase-out period during which the assistance for which a given family is eligible is reduced in proportion to increases in such family's income for the purpose of ensuring that no family receiving child care assistance under the Program experiences a sudden loss in eligibility for assistance as a result of an increase in family income. The bill requires the phased reduction model developed and implemented by the Department to consist of incremental income tiers, with each increase in income tier corresponding to a proportional reduction in the percentage of assistance for which a given family is eligible under the Program. The bill directs the Board of Education to (i) promulgate regulations for the development and implementation of the phased reduction model in accordance with the provisions of the bill and (ii) submit to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services any amendments to the current Child Care and Development Fund Plan for Virginia as are necessary to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill requires the Department of Education to provide an interim report to the General Assembly by October 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, and a summative report to the General Assembly by April 1, 2027.

Booker T. Washington Commemorative Commission; reconstituted as a joint commission. Provides for the Booker T. Washington Commemorative Commission, established originally as a Senate commission for the purpose of honoring Booker T. Washington with a statue in the Old Senate Chamber, to be reconstituted as a joint commission consisting of members of both the Senate and the House of Delegates. The commission's purpose is also expanded to study and recommend an appropriate statue to be located on Capitol Square.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates March 14 of each year, starting in 2026, as "Black Midwives Day" in Virginia. It is a ceremonial resolution recognizing the contributions of Black midwives to maternal health in the state, with no new laws or funding created.

The Honorable Yvonne Bond Miller; portrait. Authorizes the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Commission, in consultation with the Clerks of the Senate of Virginia and the House of Delegates, to contract for, have painted, and have appropriately framed and placed in the Capitol a portrait of the Honorable Yvonne Bond Miller. As introduced, this resolution was a recommendation of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Commission.

Income tax credit; braille labeling program. Creates a nonrefundable individual and corporate income tax credit, as applicable, for taxable years 2026 through 2030 for up to $50,000 of expenditures incurred in the development and implementation of a braille labeling program on products, items, or packages sold in or shipped within the Commonwealth. The bill specifies that the aggregate amount of such credits allowed for all taxpayers in a taxable year is $500,000 and that any credit not usable for the taxable year in which it is first allowed shall not be carried over for credit in any succeeding taxable year.

Department of Juvenile Justice; transfer of responsibility from Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to Secretary of Health and Human Resources; stakeholder work group. Directs the Office of the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security and the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to convene a stakeholder work group to create a plan and recommended timeline for transferring responsibility for the Department of Juvenile Justice from the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to the Secretary of Health and Human Resources. The bill requires the work group to be composed of interested parties, including representatives from civil liberty organizations, organizations engaged in the daily work of youth justice and violence prevention, formerly incarcerated persons and their families, and mental health experts. The bill directs the work group to submit its plan and recommended timeline for executing the transfer to the Chairs of the House Committee for Courts of Justice, House Committee on Public Safety, Senate Committee for Courts of Justice, and Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services by November 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJ 129) is a symbolic resolution commending the Virginia Black Restaurant Experience, a cultural initiative celebrating Black-owned restaurants in Virginia. It does not create new laws or affect any legal rights, as it is purely a ceremonial gesture of recognition. The resolution formally honors the contributions of Black restaurateurs and the cultural impact of this experience within the state. It passed both chambers via voice vote but has no binding effect on policy or funding.