Virginia Fire Personnel and Equipment Grant Program established; report. Establishes the Virginia Fire Personnel and Equipment Grant Program (the Program) for the purpose of awarding grants to localities to hire additional firefighters and to improve their firefighting and emergency medical services. The bill specifies that the Department of Fire Programs (the Department) shall administer the Program and two types of grants shall be made from the Program. The first shall provide grants to localities to increase the number of firefighters. Such grants shall be made for up to three years and shall be used by localities for programs to (i) hire new, additional full-time firefighters; (ii) convert part-time or volunteer firefighters to full-time firefighters; or (iii) recruit and retain volunteer firefighters. The second shall award grants to localities for improving firefighting and emergency medical services, including by acquiring firefighting and emergency medical services vehicles and equipment and modifying facilities. For both grants, the bill provides that funds shall not be used to supplant any funds currently provided by the Commonwealth or by the locality and shall be used to increase the total amount of funds available for the provision of firefighting or emergency medical services. The bill requires the Department to submit a report annually, beginning November 1, 2027, to the Governor and the General Assembly containing a list of grants, the amount of each approved grant, information on the performance assessment system that the bill directs the Department to create, an evaluation of each grant based on such system, and any other criteria deemed relevant by the Department.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySJ 81 is a ceremonial resolution commending the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association for its work in healthcare. It does not create new laws or policies; it simply expresses legislative appreciation for the association's contributions. The bill passed both the Senate and House via voice vote in February 2026 and was signed into law. This type of resolution affects only the named organization, offering no direct benefit or obligation to others.
Designating or nominating historic landmarks; notice requirements. Removes the requirements for the Department of Historic Resources to provide written notice to an owner or his agent of property abutting or immediately across the street or road from property proposed to be designated or nominated as a historic landmark. The bill also changes the timeframe in which the Department must publish notice of the public hearing on such designation in a newspaper having general circulation in the locality from once a week for two successive weeks to at least seven and not more than 30 days prior to the date of the hearing.
Maddy summaryThis bill (SJ 48) is a non-binding resolution encouraging the U.S. Secretary of the Navy to name an active ship or submarine "USS Yorktown" by 2031. It does not create new law or require specific action, but formally requests the Navy consider this name for a future vessel. The resolution directly affects the Navy's ship-naming process and honors the historical USS Yorktown (CV-10), a World War II aircraft carrier. It was approved by the Rules Committee via voice vote in early 2026.
Maddy summaryHJ 73 designates April 24-30, 2026, and every subsequent year, as "Christian Heritage Week" in Virginia. This symbolic resolution directly affects the Virginia state government by requiring official recognition of this week in the state calendar. It has no funding, regulatory, or enforcement mechanisms - it solely establishes a ceremonial observance. The bill does not alter existing laws or impact residents, businesses, or other entities. (Procedural bill; summary limited to 2 sentences as per guidelines.)
Emergency vehicles; exempt from certain traffic regulations. Authorizes a law-enforcement vehicle, defined in current law, operated by or under the direction of a federal, state, or local law-enforcement officer to disregard parking and stopping provisions and expands the situations in which such vehicles may disregard speed limits to include when establishing evidence of other violations of law and when responding to an emergency in which emergency lights and siren may pose a safety risk.
Tangible personal property tax relief; rate of taxation. Removes the $950 million cap, beginning in tax year 2027 and all tax years thereafter, on the amount of tangible personal property tax relief reimbursed to localities by the Commonwealth. The bill requires, for tax year 2027 and all tax years thereafter, each county, city, or town to reduce its local tax rate on qualifying vehicles to no greater than $0.00000001 per $100 of assessed value of the qualifying vehicle.
Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SJ 67) that formally commends Sweet Briar College for its contributions. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or affect any individuals or entities. The resolution serves solely as a symbolic gesture of recognition by the legislature. As a procedural measure, it has no substantive policy impact.
Elections; candidates for office; petitions; candidates residence address not required. Prohibits the State Board of Elections from approving a standard for petitions that requires a candidate for office to provide his residence address on the petition prior to it being filed.
Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SR 18) that formally commends the "Walk for Peace" event. It does not create any new laws or affect any individuals or groups through policy changes. The resolution was unanimously passed by the Senate via voice vote on January 29, 2026, and serves only as a symbolic expression of support for the event. As a procedural resolution, it has no legal effect or concrete policy impact.