Sen. Tara Durant

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.

Charitable gaming; common interest communities; bingo. Allows common interest communities that qualify for deductions pursuant to § 277 of the Internal Revenue Code and that are solely available to residents age 55 or older to become qualified organizations, subject to certain registration requirements, for the purposes of conducting bingo in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Virginia encroachment grant; incompatible uses. Expands the application of grants to address the encroachment of incompatible uses to include localities in which any Virginia military installation with missions that produce noise, smoke, vibration, or explosive hazards and that is vulnerable to electromagnetic spectrum, light pollution, and other mission-limiting hazards is located. The bill also removes the required initial allocation to the locality in which the Master Jet Base and the auxiliary field for the Master Jet Base is located.

Directing the Virginia Department of Taxation to prepare a report on local taxation of the craft beer industry in the Commonwealth and report its findings.

Department of Medical Assistance Services; Medicaid waivers; consumer-directed services; employer of record. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to modify the program rules for consumer-directed services available through certain Medicaid waivers to allow an individual receiving services to serve as the employer of record (EOR) for his own service delivery and designate another individual to perform all or a portion of the duties of the EOR on the individual's behalf when the individual receiving services is unable to perform such duties or direct his own care. The bill specifies that when an individual (i) has not yet reached the age of majority, (ii) is ineligible to use his existing employer identification number (EIN) to facilitate the taxation of benefits, or (iii) is otherwise determined to be ineligible by DMAS by administrative rule, the EIN shall be assigned to the individual receiving services and shall not be transferred to another individual. Under the bill, DMAS has the authority to limit such amendments to specify that an individual receiving services may make such designation no more than twice per calendar year.

Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Program authority; right of entry; performance bond. Removes the requirement for a Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Program (VESMP) authority to have a performance bond with surety, cash escrow, letter of credit, any combination thereof, or such other legal arrangement in order to enter any establishment or upon any property, public or private, for the purpose of initiating or maintaining appropriate actions that are required by conditions imposed by the VESMP authority on a land-disturbing activity when an owner, after proper notice, has failed to take acceptable action within the time specified.

Department of Planning and Budget; Regulatory Budget Program established; report. Directs the Department of Planning and Budget to establish a Regulatory Budget Program under which each executive branch agency subject to the Administrative Process Act shall reduce overall regulatory requirements by 25 percent by January 1, 2029. The bill requires the Department to report to the Speaker of the House of Delegates and the Chair of the Senate Committee on Rules on the status of the Program no later than October 1 of each year, beginning October 1, 2026. Finally, the bill provides that the Department, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the Registrar of Regulations, shall issue guidance for agencies regarding the Program and how an agency can comply with the requirements of the Program. The bill has an expiration date of January 1, 2029.

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.

Possession of fentanyl in presence of minor prohibited; enhanced penalty. Makes it a Class 3 felony for any person 18 years of age or older to knowingly possess any substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, including its derivatives, isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, in the presence of a minor younger than 15 years of age, unless such substance was obtained directly from, or pursuant to, a valid prescription or order of a practitioner while acting in the course of his professional practice, or except as otherwise authorized by the Drug Control Act.