Court Date Reminder Program established. Establishes a Court Date Reminder Program, to be developed or procured by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, for the purpose of reminding criminal defendants to appear at each of their scheduled court appearances. The bill directs the Program to send a text message notification to any defendant with a criminal case in general district court or circuit court for whom the court has a telephone number prior to any scheduled hearing that requires his appearance and allows a defendant to opt out of participating in the Program. The Program has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.The bill also directs the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court to convene a Court Date Reminder Program work group to advise on the implementation and expansion of the Program and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice by December 1, 2026.
Sponsored bills
Equity in public school funding and staffing; special education students; at-risk students; annual report. Establishes in Standard of Quality 2 the At-Risk Program and a state-supported add-on for special education students and requires corresponding formulas for the funding of such initiatives to be established in the general appropriation act. The bill also requires the Department of Education to report annually to the House Committees on Education and Appropriations and the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and on Education and Health the total and per pupil annual operating expenditures from local, state, and federal sources in each school division and the change in expenditures from each such source over the immediately preceding two-year, three-year, and five-year timeframes, expressed in both dollar amounts and percentages.
Public schools; indoor air quality; industry-recognized uniform inspection and evaluation. Adds several items that are required to be included in the industry-recognized uniform inspection and evaluation of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system that is required at least every four years for each public elementary and secondary school building, including measurement of radon levels in the air and testing for moisture incursion. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; prohibited provisions in rental agreements; landlord's maintenance responsibilities. Prohibits a rental agreement from containing any provision stating that the tenant agrees to pay (i) any fee for the maintenance of the premises, including the maintenance or provision of heating and cooling systems, pest control, trash disposal, common area utilities, and mail or package delivery; (ii) a fee for internet, cable, or any other utilities or services that amount to more than the cost paid by the landlord; or (iii) for the maintenance or security of the common areas. The bill also repeals the provision allowing the landlord and tenant to agree in writing that the tenant may perform certain duties typically assigned to the landlord and also specified repairs, maintenance tasks, alterations, and remodeling, but only if the transaction is entered into in good faith and not for the purpose of evading the obligations of the landlord and if the agreement does not diminish or affect the obligation of the landlord to other tenants in the premises.
Public elementary and secondary student textbooks; print as primary curriculum basis. Requires, unless otherwise indicated in a student's individualized education program, print textbooks and other high-quality instructional materials to serve as the primary curriculum basis for a grade-level subject or course but permits digital textbooks and other high-quality instructional materials to serve as the secondary curriculum basis for a grade-level subject or course.
Small claims court; jurisdictional limit. Allows a plaintiff to file a small claims civil warrant when the amount claimed does not exceed $25,000, exclusive of interest, up to two times in the Commonwealth in a calendar year. Under current law, the small claims court has jurisdiction when the amount claimed does not exceed $5,000, exclusive of interest.
Military leaves of absence for employees of the Commonwealth or political subdivisions; law-enforcement officers. Provides that any person who is employed by the Commonwealth or a political subdivision of the Commonwealth as a law-enforcement officer shall receive paid leaves of absence for up to 388 hours for which a leave of absence is required, during which such person is engaged in federally funded military duty, to include training duty, or is called forth by the Governor for military duty.
Maddy summaryThis bill formally commends the Hopewell High School girls' basketball team for their achievements. It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or change any government policies. The measure serves solely as a symbolic gesture of recognition and praise for the team.
Maddy summaryThis bill formally commends Colonel James T. O'Kelley, a retired member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, for his service. It is a ceremonial measure that does not create new laws, allocate funds, or change existing policies. The legislation simply expresses appreciation for his contributions to the military.
Maddy summaryThis bill formally commends the Central Virginia Transportation Authority for its work. It does not change any laws, allocate funds, or alter the authority's operations. The measure serves as a symbolic recognition passed by the House of Representatives.