Sen. Travis Hackworth

Maddy summaryHJ 615 is a resolution passed by both the House and Senate to formally commemorate the life of William H. Brown, Sr. It does not create new laws, alter policies, or affect any individuals or groups. The resolution serves as a ceremonial expression of respect for William H. Brown, Sr., without implementing any concrete policy changes or obligations. This type of resolution is standard legislative practice for honoring individuals and has no binding effect.

State Veterinarian; large animal veterinary grant program; report. Directs the State Veterinarian to establish a large animal veterinary grant program no later than July 1, 2026, to provide grants to increase or stabilize the number of large animal veterinarians, as defined in the bill, practicing in areas of the Commonwealth that have been identified by the State Veterinarian as having a shortage of such veterinarians. The bill directs the State Veterinarian to annually select from a pool of applicants no more than four large animal veterinarians to participate in the program and to develop, in consultation with the Board of Veterinary Medicine and relevant stakeholders, selection criteria for applicants to participate in the program. The bill also requires the State Veterinarian to submit a report evaluating the extent to which the program has helped to address the shortage of large animal veterinarians in the Commonwealth to the Board and the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources no later than July 1, 2030. This bill is identical to HB 2303.

Virginia Housing Development Authority; technical advisory group; report. Directs the Virginia Housing Development Authority to convene a technical advisory group to (i) evaluate the prevalence of deed fraud, including notary fraud, seller impersonation, owner impersonation, and fraudulent lien filing; (ii) develop recommendations for the prevention of deed fraud; and (iii) develop measures to enhance protections for property owners from such crimes. The bill also requires the technical advisory group to give consideration to certain policy proposals stated in the bill. The bill requires the technical advisory group to submit its findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on General Laws and the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology no later than November 1, 2025. This bill is identical to HB 2396.

Fire Prevention Code; prohibition on permit fees for fire departments and emergency medical services agencies in certain localities. Prohibits the State Fire Marshal from charging a fee for the approval and administration of certain permits issued to fire departments and emergency medical services agencies in localities with a total population of less than 10,000 as determined by the most recent federal decennial census by the United States Census Bureau.

Line of Duty Act; campus police officers; private police officers. Provides employees of contributing nonprofit private institutions of higher education and contributing private police departments, as those terms are defined in the bill, with the benefits granted to employees of participating employers under the Line of Duty Act. The bill clarifies that the Line of Duty Act shall not apply to any (i) private institution of higher education that is not a contributing nonprofit private institution of higher education or (ii) private police department that is not a contributing private police department. The bill requires each contributing nonprofit private institution of higher education and contributing private police department to pay its pro rata share of the initial costs to implement the bill, as determined by the Virginia Retirement System. This bill is identical to HB 1815.

Maddy summaryHJ 564 is a non-binding resolution honoring the late Honorable Henry Levander Marsh, III, recognizing his contributions to the state. It does not create new laws or affect any specific group, as it is purely commemorative. The resolution passed unanimously in both the House and Senate and was formally adopted by the legislature. This type of resolution serves to acknowledge an individual's legacy without implementing policy changes.

Maddy summaryHJ 596 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Dr. Terry E. Arbogast II. It has no policy impact or effect on any individuals or laws, as it solely serves to recognize his contributions through a formal commendation by the legislature. The bill passed both chambers with voice votes and was signed into law as a symbolic gesture.

Maddy summaryHJ 584 is a commemorative resolution honoring Dr. Golden Bethune-Hill, recognizing her contributions to the community. It does not create new policies or affect any specific group through legislative action. The resolution was passed unanimously by the Senate on February 12, 2025, and formally adopted by the legislature. As a ceremonial measure, it has no substantive policy impact.

Virginia Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund; claim limits; license threshold amounts. Increases from $20,000 to $30,000 per claim the individual limit of claims against the Virginia Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund based upon an unpaid judgment arising out of the improper or dishonest conduct of a licensed contractor in connection with a single transaction involving contracting and increases from $40,000 to $100,000 during any biennium the aggregate claim limit against a single licensed contractor. The bill also raises the thresholds for the value of single contracts or projects and the total value of all construction, removal, repair, or improvements undertaken by a contractor in a 12-month period that govern each class of contractor's licenses. This bill is identical to HB 1707.

Maddy summaryHJ 519 is a ceremonial resolution commending Pat B. Huber for their contributions. It does not create any new laws, policies, or obligations, nor does it affect any individuals or groups through legislative action. The bill simply expresses formal recognition and appreciation through a symbolic gesture by the legislature. As a non-binding resolution, it has no legal effect or practical impact beyond the ceremonial acknowledgment.