Deputy Hunter D. Reedy Memorial Bridge. Designates the bridge on Adwolfe Road and U.S. Route 11/State Route 660 over Interstate 81 in Smyth County the "Deputy Hunter D. Reedy Memorial Bridge." This bill is identical to HB 1853.
Trespass with an unmanned aircraft system; contracted defense facility; penalty. Creates a Class 4 felony for any person who knowingly, intentionally, and without authorization causes an unmanned aircraft system to enter the property of and obtains or attempts to obtain any videographic or still image that contains or reveals any controlled technical information located within a contracted defense facility, as those terms are defined in the bill. The bill also provides that the owner or operator of a contracted defense facility and its employees shall be immune from criminal prosecution and civil liability as a result of preventing, stopping, deterring, interrupting, or repelling, or attempting to prevent, stop, deter, interrupt, or repel, an unmanned aircraft system from entering the property of such contracted defense facility or from stopping, interrupting, or repelling, or attempting to stop, interrupt, or repel, an unmanned aircraft system that has entered such property, provided that such action does not result in injury to any person. This bill is identical to HB 1726.
Constitutional amendment (first reference); qualifications of voters; right to vote; persons not entitled to vote. Provides that every person who meets the qualifications of voters set forth in the Constitution of Virginia shall have the fundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth and that such right shall not be abridged by law, except for persons who have been convicted of a felony and persons who have been adjudicated to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting. The amendment provides that a person who has been convicted of a felony shall not be entitled to vote during any period of incarceration for such felony conviction, but upon release from incarceration for that felony conviction and without further action required of him, such person shall be invested with all political rights, including the right to vote. Currently, in order to be qualified to vote a person convicted of a felony must have his civil rights restored by the Governor or other appropriate authority. The amendment also provides that a person adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction as lacking the capacity to understand the act of voting shall not be entitled to vote during this period of incapacity until his capacity has been reestablished as prescribed by law. Currently, the Constitution of Virginia provides that a person who has been adjudicated to be mentally incompetent is not qualified to vote until his competency is reestablished.
Threats of death or bodily injury or discharge of a firearm on school property; penalties. Clarifies that for crimes involving communicating in writing a threat to kill or do bodily injury, regardless of whether the person who is the object of such threat actually receives such threat, an electronically transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic message includes an email, a text message, or a message or post on any social media platform. The bill also clarifies that any person who communicates an oral threat of discharging a firearm within or on school property, at any school-sponsored event, or on a school bus and the threat would place the person who is the object of the threat, or is included in the threat, in reasonable apprehension of death or bodily harm is guilty of a Class 6 felony.
Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute a controlled substance or an imitation controlled substance prohibited; penalties. Removes the distinction between cocaine, which refers to powder cocaine, its salts, optical and geometric isomers, and salts of isomers and a mixture or substance that contains cocaine base, which refers to crack cocaine, for the offense of manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute a controlled substance or an imitation controlled substance. This bill is identical to HB 1955.
Constitutional amendment (first reference); marriage between two adult persons; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative right to marry. Repeals the constitutional provision defining marriage as only a union between one man and one woman as well as the related provisions that are no longer valid as a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015). The amendment prohibits the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions from denying the issuance of a marriage license to two adult persons seeking a lawful marriage on the basis of the sex, gender, or race of such persons. The Commonwealth and its political subdivisions are required to recognize any lawful marriage between two adult persons and to treat such marriages equally under the law, regardless of the sex, gender, or race of such persons.
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; early termination of rental agreement; victims of family abuse, sexual abuse or criminal sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking. Provides that a tenant who is a victim of family abuse, sexual abuse or other criminal sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking may terminate such tenant's obligations under an active and current rental agreement if the tenant has obtained a preliminary protective order or a magistrate, law-enforcement agency, grand jury, special grand jury, or court has issued a warrant, summons, information, or indictment charging any such crime. Under current law, there must be a permanent protective order or a conviction before the tenant may terminate such obligations under a rental agreement. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia Housing Commission.
Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial joint resolution honoring Matthew Robert Chiaverotti. It has no policy provisions or direct impact on legislation, citizens, or government operations. The resolution formally celebrates his life and legacy through a symbolic gesture by the legislature. As a commemorative measure, it does not create new laws or alter existing policies.
Maddy summaryHJ 616 is a ceremonial resolution commending Colonel Gary T. Settle for his service. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, programs, or individuals financially or operationally. The resolution formally recognizes his contributions through a non-binding expression of appreciation from the legislature. This procedural bill was passed unanimously by both chambers with no substantive impact beyond the symbolic commendation.
Minor witnesses; appointment of guardian ad litem in circuit court. Authorizes a circuit court to appoint a discreet and competent attorney-at-law as guardian ad litem for a minor witness called to testify in a matter before the circuit court involving certain sex offenses. Under current law, a general district court may appoint a guardian ad litem for a minor witness called to testify in any proceeding and the circuit court may continue the appointment or appoint a new guardian ad litem for such matter on appeal.
