Possession or transportation of firearms, firearms ammunition, stun weapons, or explosives or carrying of concealed weapons by persons convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime prohibited; penalty. Prohibits any person who, on or after July 1, 2026, commits assault or assault and battery against a person he intentionally selected because of his race, religious conviction, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, color, or ethnic or national origin and is subsequently adjudicated delinquent or convicted of such offense from knowingly and intentionally possessing or transporting any firearm or ammunition for a firearm, any stun weapon, or any explosive material or carrying a concealed weapon, a violation of which is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill formally recognizes Sergeant Dianne M. Dowdy with a commendation for her service. It is a non-binding resolution that does not alter laws or require funding. The measure was approved by a voice vote in the Senate and does not create any new legal obligations or policy changes.
Maddy summaryThis bill, HJ 268, is a commemorative resolution honoring the life of Irene Cuda Rosenbaum. It does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves to formally recognize her contributions and legacy. The measure was passed by both the House and Senate in March 2026 and is a procedural document rather than a substantive legislative change.
Maddy summaryThis bill formally recognizes and honors the veterans who served in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. It does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of their military service. The legislation was passed by both the House and Senate through voice votes, indicating broad bipartisan support for the commendation.
Maddy summaryThis bill honors the life of the Honorable Gerald Edward Connolly, a former state official. It serves as a commemorative resolution to recognize his contributions and legacy within the state government. The measure does not create new laws or policies but instead formally acknowledges his service. It was passed by both the House and Senate and is now awaiting final action.
Maddy summaryThis bill formally recognizes and commends schools in Virginia that participate in the Community Eligibility Provision, a federal program that provides free breakfast and lunch to all students in qualifying schools. The legislation does not create new funding or policy changes but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of these schools' achievements in serving their student populations. It directly affects school administrators, staff, and students in Virginia who benefit from the Community Eligibility Provision by highlighting their contributions to school nutrition programs. The bill is a ceremonial measure intended to honor rather than alter existing educational policies or funding structures.
Maddy summaryThis bill formally recognizes the Virginia Youth Poet Laureate through a commendation resolution. It does not create new laws or alter existing policies but serves as an official acknowledgment of the program's contribution to youth arts and culture. The measure passed both the House and Senate by voice vote without requiring further legislative action.
Affordable housing; religious organizations and other nonprofit tax-exempt properties. Allows for the administrative approval of development and construction of housing on land owned by property tax-exempt religious organizations or certain property tax-exempt nonprofit organizations and provides that zoning ordinances shall allow the by-right development and construction of housing on real property owned by such organizations, subject to various conditions and limitations. The bill provides that the review of such developments be completed pursuant to general law and states that localities shall not require a special exception, special use permit, conditional use permit, rezoning, or any discretionary review or approval process. The bill requires that at least 60 percent of the housing development's total units be for affordable housing and that the housing development remain affordable for at least 30 years. The bill also provides that all such housing is subject to local real property taxation following completion, unless explicitly exempted by the locality. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027, and expires on January 1, 2031. This bill incorporates SB 367 and is identical to HB 1279.
Private companies providing public transportation services; employee protections; report. Requires the governing body of any county or city that contracts with a private company to provide transportation services to (i) require such company to provide any employee of such company providing such services compensation and benefits that are, at a minimum, equivalent to the compensation and benefits provided to a public employee, as defined in the bill, with a position requiring equivalent qualifications and years of service; (ii) provide transportation services through such company's own employees; and (iii) if such county or city subsequently elects to provide its own system of public transportation, adopt an ordinance or resolution providing for collective bargaining and ensure all employees of such private company are offered employment with such subsequent public transportation system without loss of compensation or benefits. The bill clarifies that the bill only applies to actions occurring on or after the effective date and excludes any action taken, contract signed, liability incurred, or right accrued prior to July 1, 2026, from the requirements. Finally, the bill directs the Director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to convene a work group to develop recommendations on how to implement the provisions of the bill and requires the work group to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce and Senate Committee on Local Government by November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 547.
Zoning; development and use of accessory dwelling units. Requires a locality to include in its zoning ordinances for single-family residential zoning districts accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, as defined in the bill, as a permitted accessory use. The bill requires a person to seek a permit for an ADU from the locality, requires the locality to issue such permit if the person meets certain requirements enumerated in the bill, and restricts the fee for such permit to $500 or less. The bill prohibits the locality from requiring (i) setbacks for the ADU that are greater than the setback required for the primary dwelling or the setback required for accessory structures on the residential lot, whichever is less; (ii) conditions for ADUs that are more restrictive than those for single-family dwellings within the same zoning area with regard to height, rear, or side setbacks, lot size or coverage, or building frontage; or (iii) consanguinity or affinity between the occupants of the ADU and the primary dwelling. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.