Sen. Saddam Salim

Public institutions of higher education; undergraduate Virginia student tuition and mandatory fees; two-year freeze. Requires the tuition and mandatory fees charged to undergraduate Virginia students at each public institution of higher education to be capped at the rate charged to such students for the first academic term of the 2025-2026 academic year. The provisions of the bill expire on July 1, 2028.

Health insurance; coverage for speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering. Requires health insurance carriers whose health care plans include coverage for habilitative services and rehabilitative services, as such terms are defined in the bill, to provide coverage for habilitative speech therapy and rehabilitative speech therapy, as such terms are defined in the bill, as a treatment for stuttering. The bill provides that such coverage is not (i) subject to any maximum annual benefit limit, including any limits on the number of visits an insured may make to a speech-language pathologist; (ii) limited based on the type of disease, injury, disorder, or other medical condition that resulted in the stuttering; or (iii) subject to utilization review or utilization management requirements, including prior authorization or a determination that the habilitative or rehabilitative speech therapy services are medically necessary. The bill applies to health care plans delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on and after January 1, 2027.

Law-enforcement officers; restrictions on wearing of facial coverings; exceptions; civil liability; penalty. Prohibits certain state and federal law-enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings, defined in the bill, while engaged in the performance of their official duties. The bill sets out several exceptions to such prohibition, including protective facial coverings to protect against disease, infection, and exposure to toxic substances and facial coverings worn by any law-enforcement officer assigned to a special weapons and tactics team while engaged in the performance of his official duties with such team. The bill subjects the law-enforcement officer to disciplinary action, including dismissal, demotion, suspension, transfer, or decertification, and creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for any law-enforcement officer who wears a facial covering in violation of the provisions of the bill unless the law-enforcement agency that employs such law-enforcement officer has adopted and established a written policy for and restrictions on the use of facial coverings. The bill also directs the Department of Criminal Justice Services to develop a model policy for and restrictions on the use of facial coverings by law-enforcement officers. Finally, the bill creates a civil cause of action for any person injured as a result of tortious conduct by a law-enforcement officer who knowingly and intentionally wears a facial covering in violation of the provisions of the bill. The bill provides that sovereign immunity shall not be a defense to civil liability for such tortious conduct.

Maddy summarySJ 83 is a ceremonial resolution commending the Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work for its contributions to mental health services in the region. It has no policy provisions or direct impact on laws, regulations, or constituents - its purpose is solely to express legislative recognition. The bill passed unanimously in both the Senate and House via voice vote in February 2026 and was sent to the Governor. As a non-binding resolution, it does not alter any existing laws or create new obligations. This type of bill is common for honoring organizations but has no practical effect beyond symbolic acknowledgment.

Maddy summarySJ 97 is a ceremonial resolution commending the Fairfax Bar Association for its contributions to the legal community and public service. It does not create new laws or affect any individuals or policies, as it is purely a symbolic gesture of recognition. The resolution passed unanimously in both the Senate and House via voice vote in February 2026. This type of bill typically honors an organization without implementing concrete policy changes.

Maddy summarySJ 90 is a ceremonial resolution commending Penney S. Azcarate for her service, with no policy or legal impact. It does not create new laws, alter regulations, or affect any individuals or groups. The bill serves solely as a symbolic gesture of recognition, passing unanimously in both chambers as a formal honor.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally honors the Officer Down Memorial Page, a nonprofit organization that commemorates law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty. It serves as a symbolic gesture of recognition without creating new laws, altering policies, or affecting any individuals or entities. The bill does not impose obligations or provide funding, as it is purely a ceremonial expression of support. It was unanimously approved by the Senate in February 2026.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SR 36) honoring Rebecca Michelle Sherrill. It does not create new laws or affect policies; it simply expresses the Senate's recognition of her contributions. The resolution was passed unanimously by the Senate on February 12, 2026, and is purely symbolic. It has no direct impact on constituents or legislation.

Absentee voting in person; voter satellite offices; days and hours of operation. Authorizes the governing body of any county or city establishing voter satellite offices for absentee voting in person to prescribe, by ordinance, the dates and hours of operation for such offices. The bill requires the governing body to provide notice to the general registrar of the county or city at least two weeks prior to the enactment of any such ordinance.

Public schools; right to free public elementary and secondary education; discrimination based on immigration status prohibited; requirements; civil cause of action. Prohibits any child in the Commonwealth from being denied a free public education through secondary school on the basis of the actual or perceived immigration or citizenship status of the child or the child's parents, in accordance with the Constitution of Virginia and consistent with the requirements of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The bill prohibits any school board or public elementary or secondary school from engaging in certain enumerated actions and practices that involve or result in the denial of a free public education, or denial of the benefits or exclusion from participation in any program or activity thereof, of a child on the basis of the actual or perceived immigration or citizenship status of the child or the child's parents. The bill also requires each public elementary and secondary school to develop and implement procedures for reviewing and authorizing requests from law enforcement agents to enter a public school or public school facility. The bill establishes a civil cause of action for any party aggrieved by conduct that violates the provisions of the bill, in accordance with the provisions of the bill. Finally, the bill directs (i) the Department of Education to develop and make available to each school board by August 1, 2026, guidance for school personnel on the requirements of the bill and training guidelines and materials for the training of all public school principals and administrators on compliance with the provisions of the bill, and (ii) each school board to (a) develop and implement by August 1, 2026, policies and procedures in accordance with the provisions of the bill and (b) require each public school principal and administrator to complete training on compliance with the provisions of the bill by the beginning of the 2026–2027 school year. This bill was incorporated into HB 836.