Virginia Bills

Absentee voting in person; available beginning 14 days prior to primary election. Limits the availability of absentee voting in person for primary elections to beginning 14 days prior to such election. Under current law, absentee voting in person is available beginning 45 days prior to any election.

Unlawful detainer actions; no rental agreement between owner and occupant; immediate execution of writ of possession. Provides that, at an emergency hearing on a summons for unlawful detainer filed by an owner of a residential single family dwelling unit where there is no rental agreement between an owner and occupant, if the court enters judgment in favor of such owner, and a writ of possession is issued, the owner may request that the 72-hour waiting period for execution of such writ be waived and that the sheriff immediately execute such writ.

Wills, trusts, and fiduciaries; Consumer Price Index adjustments. Increases various dollar amounts relating to wills, estates, trusts, fiduciaries, guardianships of minors, and guardianships of incapacitated persons to reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. This bill was incorporated into HB 1912.

Fire Programs Fund; aid to localities; requirement for emergency incidents reporting. Requires that, in order to remain eligible for funding from the Fire Programs Fund, a locality must report all emergency incidents through the National Fire Response Information System while sharing such emergency incident data with the Department of Fire Programs. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

Assault and battery; Virginia Marine Police officers; penalty. Adds Virginia Marine Police officers to the definition of "law-enforcement officer" as such definition relates to the Class 6 felony for any person who commits an assault or assault and battery against another knowing or having reason to know that such other person is a law-enforcement officer.

Firearms-related offenses; mandatory minimum sentences; penalty. Increases from five to 10 years for a second or subsequent offense the mandatory minimum sentences for use or display of a firearm during the commission of certain felonies.

Reckless, aggressive, and improper driving; prohibited altered suspension system; penalties. Creates additional penalties for causing serious bodily injury to or the death of another person while recklessly, aggressively, or improperly driving a motor vehicle with certain prohibited alterations made to the vehicle's suspension system. The bill directs the court, in addition to penalties imposed under current law, to suspend the driver's license of such offender for 90 days and order the completion of 150 hours of community service for a first conviction and suspend the driver's license of such offender for one year and impose a penalty of $1,500 for any second or subsequent conviction.

Local sales and use tax; capital projects for schools; Pulaski County. Adds Pulaski County to the list of localities that are authorized to levy an additional general retail sales and use tax at a rate not to exceed one percent to provide revenue solely for capital projects for the construction or renovation of schools within such locality. This bill was incorporated into SB 1307.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 8.01-217, 16.1-331, 18.2-308.04, 18.2-308.06, 18.2-308.2:2, 18.2-308.2:4, 19.2-13, 20-88.54, 22.1-287.1, 23.1-405, 23.1-407, 24.2-418, 24.2-444, 30-394, 32.1-261, 32.1-267, 32.1-269.1, 32.1-292.2, 40.1-96, 40.1-102, 46.2-323, 46.2-341.12, 46.2-345, 46.2-345.2, 46.2-2906, 54.1-3319, 54.1-4108, 59.1-118, and 65.2-900 of the Code of Virginia, relating to undesignated sex or gender designation option.

Reduction of local law enforcement budget prohibited; exception. Provides that no local governing body shall approve a budget that will reduce the total funds appropriated for local law-enforcement purposes from the preceding fiscal year except by unanimous vote of all members elected to the governing body.

Employment of school protection officers in public schools. Permits any local law-enforcement agency to employ in any public elementary or secondary school in the local school division, pursuant to an agreement with the local school board, a school protection officer, defined in the bill as a retired law-enforcement officer hired by the local law-enforcement agency on a part-time basis to provide limited law-enforcement and security services to public elementary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth. The bill requires each such school board and local law-enforcement agency to enter into a memorandum of understanding that sets forth the powers and duties of school protection officers. The bill requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to establish compulsory training standards for school protection officers and requires the collection of certain data relating to the activities of such officers.

A BILL to authorize the Adjutant General to facilitate and coordinate efforts to promote participation in the state-sponsored group term life insurance program offered to members of the Virginia National Guard. 24105179D