Presidential electors; National Popular VoteCompact. Enters Virginia into an interstate compact known asthe Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by NationalPopular Vote. Article II of the Constitution of the United Statesgives the states exclusive and plenary authority to decide the mannerof awarding their electoral votes. Under the compact, Virginia agreesto award its electoral votes to the presidential ticket that receivesthe most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.The compact goes into effect when states cumulatively possessinga majority of the electoral votes have joined the compact. A statemay withdraw from the compact; however, a withdrawal occurring withinsix months of the end of a President's term shall not become effectiveuntil a President or Vice President has qualified to serve the next term.
Sponsored bills
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provision defining marriage as only a union between one man and one woman as well as the related provisions that are no longer valid as a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015).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.
Department of Education; plan to revise specialeducation staffing requirements; report. Directs the Departmentof Education, in collaboration with the Department of BehavioralHealth and Developmental Services and any other individuals withexpertise in special education as the Department of Education deemsappropriate, to develop a plan for revised special education staffingrequirements that addresses staffing needs of individual school divisionsand the needs of students who receive special education and aimsto improve special education teacher recruitment and retention. Thebill requires the Department of Education to submit a report on suchplan to the Governor, the Senate Committee on Education and Health,and the House Committee on Education by November 1, 2024. This bill was incorporated into SB 105.
Commending John Ray Grisham, Jr.
Celebrating the life of Shawn Soares.
Commending the Honorable Dr. Luke E. Torian.
Commending Margaret L. Sanner.
Commending Travis G. Hill.
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act;noncompliance with rental agreement; emergency eviction process. Reduces from 15 to seven the number of days, after the date uponwhich a tenant is served a landlord's intent to terminate the tenancydue to certain illegal activities by the tenant, within which theinitial hearing on the landlord's action for immediate possessionof the premises shall be held. The bill also reorganizes certainprovisions of the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act toconsolidate language and organize the structure of certain provisionsof the Act.
Commending Stuart S. Malawer.