Sen. Stella Pekarsky

Surplus line broker taxes. Provides thatany surplus lines broker or any person required to be licensed asone shall not be subject to the annual taxes, license taxes, or penaltiesunder current law for any policy of insurance procured during thepreceding calendar year on behalf of a commuter rail system jointlyoperated by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and thePotomac and Rappahannock Transportation District.

Commending Major General Timothy P. Williams,VNG.

Constitutional amendment (first reference); marriage between two individuals; 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provision defining marriage as only a union between one man and one woman as well as the related provisions that are no longer valid as a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015).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 provides that the right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of persons and prohibits the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions from denying the issuance of a marriage license to two parties contemplating a lawful marriage on the basis of the sex, gender, or race of such parties. The Commonwealth and its political subdivisions are required to recognize any lawful marriage between two parties and to treat such marriages equally under the law, regardless of the sex, gender, or race of such parties. The amendment provides that religious organizations and clergy acting in their religious capacity have the right to refuse to perform any marriage.

Commending John Ray Grisham, Jr.

Public elementary and secondary schools; studentathletes; pre-participation mental health assessment required. Providesthat no public elementary or secondary school student is permittedto be a participant on or try out for any school athletic team orsquad with a predetermined roster, regular practices, and scheduledcompetitions with other elementary or secondary schools unless suchstudent has submitted to the school principal a signed report froma licensed physician, licensed advanced practice registered nurse,or licensed physician assistant acting under the supervision of a licensed physician attesting that such student has, within the preceding365 days, received both a physical examination and a mental healthassessment. Current law only requires that the signed report attestthat any such student has received a physical examination within thepreceding 12 months. The bill prohibits any public elementary orsecondary school from becoming a member of any organization or entitythat regulates or governs interscholastic programs that does notdeem eligible for participation any student who has satisfied therequirements for eligibility in accordance with the provisions ofthe bill. The provisions of the bill other than the requirement forthe Board of Education to convene a work group have a delayed effectivedate of July 1, 2025.

Commending the Honorable Dr. Luke E. Torian.

Commending Margaret L. Sanner.

Sales tax exemption; certain baby products.Creates a retail sales and use tax exemption for certain baby products,including (i) children's diapers, (ii) therapeutic or preventativecreams and wipes marketed primarily for use on the skin of children,(iii) child restraint devices or booster seats, (iv) cribs, and (v)strollers meant for transporting children, usually from infancy to36 months of age.

Study; Board of Education; work group on theuse of artificial intelligence technology in education; report. Requiresthe Board of Education, in collaboration with the State Council ofHigher Education for Virginia, to convene a work group to study andmake recommendations on guidelines for the use and integration ofAI technology in education in public elementary and secondary schoolsand public institutions of higher education. The bill requires thework group to submit a report on its findings and recommendationsto the Department of Education, the Governor, the Senate Committeeon Education and Health, and the House Committee on Education by November 1, 2024.

Commending Sandra Gioia Treadway.