Sen. Bryce Reeves

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors Jarad Phelps, a retired deputy chief of the Prince William County Police Department, for his 28 years of dedicated service. The bill formally commends his leadership roles, including his time as acting chief and his extensive work in patrol, special operations, and community relations. Upon passage, the Senate Clerk will prepare a copy of the resolution to present to Phelps as a gesture of appreciation for his career.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the State Council of Education for Virginia to allocate $20 million annually from the general fund to support the Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program and related financial aid waivers. The legislation requires the council to work with public higher education institutions to determine how these funds are distributed and mandates that any unspent money be carried forward to the next fiscal year rather than returning to the general fund. Additionally, the bill establishes a reporting requirement where the council must submit a status report on these programs to the General Assembly by November 1 of each year.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program by restoring funding that was previously modified in a special session. It designates $20 million annually from the general fund to support this program and requires the State Council of Education to determine how these funds are allocated among public higher education institutions. Additionally, the legislation mandates that any unspent money be carried forward to future years and requires the Council to submit an annual report by November 1 on the status of the program.

Casino gaming; eligible host cities. Amends the list of cities eligible to host a casino in the Commonwealth by replacing Richmond with Petersburg. The bill also provides that the governing body of any eligible host city that holds a local referendum on the question of whether casino gaming should be permitted in such city that subsequently fails shall be prohibited from holding another local referendum on the same question for a period of three years from the date of the last referendum. The provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by the General Assembly at a subsequent regular or special session.

Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, etc., of fentanyl, heroin, or related controlled substances; Task Force on Fentanyl and Heroin Enforcement established; penalties. Provides that a person is guilty of felony homicide, which constitutes second degree murder and is punishable by confinement of not less than five nor more than 40 years, if the underlying felonious act that resulted in the killing of another involved the manufacture, sale, gift, or distribution of a Schedule I or II controlled substance to another and (i) such other person's death results from his use of the controlled substance and (ii) the controlled substance is the proximate cause of his death. The bill provides that venue for a prosecution of this crime shall lie in the locality where the underlying felony occurred, where the use of the controlled substance occurred, or where death occurred. The bill also provides that if a person gave or distributed a Schedule I or II controlled substance only as an accommodation to another individual who is not an inmate in a community correctional facility, local correctional facility, or state correctional facility, or in the custody of an employee thereof, and not with intent to profit thereby from any consideration received or expected nor to induce the recipient of the controlled substance to use or become addicted to or dependent upon such controlled substance, he is guilty of a Class 5 felony. The bill also requires the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to investigate the cause and manner of a death in any case where the attorney for the Commonwealth or the investigating law-enforcement agency has probable cause to believe that the death resulted from such felony homicide. The bill also adds mandatory minimum fines for manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with the intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, heroin, or carfentanil based on the weight of such mixtures or substances. Additionally, the bill creates the Task Force on Fentanyl and Heroin Enforcement whose purpose is to study ways to enhance the ability of law-enforcement officers throughout the Commonwealth to combat the illegal manufacturing, importation, and distribution of fentanyl, heroin, and other similar controlled substances. The bill requires the Task Force to meet at least annually and to report to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1 of each year regarding its activities and any recommendations.

Constitutional amendment (second reference);real property tax exemption; surviving spouses of soldiers who diedin the line of duty. Expands the current tax exemption for realproperty available to the surviving spouses of soldiers killed inaction to the surviving spouses of soldiers who died in the lineof duty with a Line of Duty determination from the U.S. Departmentof Defense.

Department of real estate assessment; Orange County. Authorizes Orange County to establish a department of real estate assessment and to enter into an agreement with a contiguous county or city to establish a joint department of real estate assessment. Under current law, real estate assessments are made by the commissioner of the revenue, except in Accomack, Goochland, James City, and Powhatan Counties, and among those, only James City and Powhatan Counties may enter into an agreement to establish a joint department of real estate assessment.

Issuance of restricted driver's license for multiple convictions of driving while intoxicated; completion of specialty dockets. Provides that a person whose driver's license has been revoked for multiple convictions of driving while intoxicated may file a petition for the issuance of a restricted driver's license without having to wait for the expiration of three years from the date of his last conviction, regardless of the date of such conviction, when such person's last conviction resulted from a final order being entered by a court after the successful completion of a Veterans Treatment Court Program, behavioral health docket, or other specialty docket. This bill is identical to HB 1324.

Notary public or electronic notary public; applicationfor recommission. Removes the requirement that a person applyingfor recommission as a notary public or electronic notary public includein his application an applicant oath, provided that such person isin good standing as a notary public or electronic notary public,and is not subject to any investigation or proceeding, or has neverbeen removed from office. Under current law, persons applying for recommission are required to include such oath.

Gaming; posting of illegal gaming tip line information. Requires those legally authorized to sell Virginia lottery tickets or conduct charitable gaming, horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering, and casino gaming in the Commonwealth to post in a conspicuous place on their premises a sign that bears the toll-free telephone number and website of the illegal gaming tip line established and administered by the Office of the Gaming Enforcement Coordinator in the Department of State Police for members of the public to report concerns about, or suspected instances of, illegal gaming activities. This bill incorporates SB 348.