Sen. Richard Stuart

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SJ 340) is a ceremonial measure honoring Benjamin "Rod" Rodriguez. It does not create new laws or affect any individuals, groups, or policies. The bill passed both the Senate (Feb 6) and House (Feb 10) without substantive changes, as is standard for commemorative resolutions. It serves only to formally recognize Rodriguez's life through legislative acknowledgment.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SJ 336) honoring Dr. Peter John Kemp's life. It does not create legal obligations or affect any policies or individuals. The resolution formally expresses the legislature's commemoration of Dr. Kemp's contributions, as passed by both the Senate and House on February 6-11, 2025. It is a non-binding gesture of respect with no substantive impact.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution honoring the late state legislator Frank Miller Ruff, Jr. It does not create new laws or affect any policies or people. The resolution formally commemorates his service and life through a symbolic tribute. As a non-binding resolution, it has no practical impact beyond recognition.

Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund; Virginia Natural Resources Commitment Fund. Directs the Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation to establish a reserve fund within the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund (the Fund) to be used when annual general fund revenue collections do not exceed the official revenue estimates contained in the general appropriation act and requires 15 percent of any amounts appropriated to the Fund due to annual general fund revenue collections in excess of the official estimates contained in the general appropriation act to be withheld from appropriation and held in the reserve fund unless otherwise specified. The bill also changes the formula for allocating moneys in the Virginia Natural Resources Commitment Fund and provides that, in any fiscal year, any funds distributed to the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program for the purpose of matching grants for agricultural best management practices on lands in the Commonwealth that cannot be obligated or are not used due to a cancelled contract by a grant recipient during such fiscal year, regardless of whether such lands are within or outside of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, may be reappropriated by the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board to any soil and water conservation district with pending documented requests.

Retail sales and use tax; data center exemption expiration; distribution of revenues. Provides for a sunset on the data center retail sales and use tax exemption, and any extensions thereof, on and after July 1, 2025. The bill requires that the revenues generated by the expiration of the exemption be distributed for school construction and road and bridge construction.

Virginia Institute of Marine Science; study of the cumulative impacts of surface water intakes on aquatic fauna and water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and its major Virginia tributaries; report. Directs the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) to study the cumulative impacts of surface water intakes on aquatic fauna and water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and its major Virginia tributaries. The bill requires VIMS to submit a report of its findings and any recommendations to the Governor, the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources, the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality, and the Chairs of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources, and the House Committee on Appropriations no later than October 1, 2028.

Virginia Water Protection Permit; interbasin transfers of water prohibited. Prohibits the Department of Environmental Quality from issuing a Virginia Water Protection Permit for a surface water withdrawal if more than five percent of the nonconsumptive volume of such withdrawal will be returned to a different major river basin, as defined in the bill. The bill clarifies that such prohibition does not apply to any lawful withdrawal in existence on July 1, 2025.

Permitting requirements for resource intensive facilities, Resource Intensive Facility Fee Fund established; report. Directs the Department of Environmental Quality (the Department) to develop a required permitting process for the construction and operation of resource intensive facilities (RIF), as defined in the bill, to protect the Commonwealth's natural resources environment and the public health. The bill requires the Department to consult with certain state agencies and relevant stakeholders to assist in the development of any conditions and standards for such permit and establishes the Resource Intensive Facility Fee Fund sourced by fees collected by the owner or operator of an RIF to help with the cost to the Department of administering the permit. The bill requires the Department to prepare an annual report explaining the permit status of each RIF and make such report publicly available on its website by October 1 of each year. Prior to the effective date of the required permitting process, the bill requires the Department to establish an advisory panel consisting of representatives of the Department of Forestry, the State Corporation Commission, the Department of Energy, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority, and other relevant stakeholders to assist in developing the initial criteria for the permit and to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committees on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and Labor and Commerce and the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and Commerce and Labor no later than December 1, 2025. The required permitting portion of the bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.

State Police Officers' Retirement System; membership for Department of Wildlife Resources conservation police officers. Provides membership in the State Police Officers' Retirement System (SPORS) to conservation police officers in the Department of Wildlife Resources for service earned on or after July 1, 2026. The bill directs the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) to assess the administrative and financial impacts of the bill and provide recommendations for implementing the bill to the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2025. Except for the assessment and recommendations to be made by VRS, the provisions of the bill have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJ 267) is a ceremonial resolution commending the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), a nonpartisan organization that supports state legislators. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, people, or programs. The resolution simply expresses formal recognition and appreciation for NCSL's work in strengthening state legislative governance. As a procedural resolution, it has no binding effect and serves only as a symbolic gesture.