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RICHMOND, VA — Governor Glenn Youngkin solemnly signed 23 bills outlining priorities for Virginia’s military and veteran community. After delivering remarks, Governor Youngkin also signed a proclamation to honor Armed Forces Day, which will be observed on May 21, 2022.

“Making Virginia the best place to live for military service members and their families and the number one state for retired service members has been a priority of mine since day one. Our service members make sacrifices daily, and the Commonwealth owes them great gratitude and support for them and their families,” Governor Youngkin said. “I am proud of the significant bipartisan effort around the 23 bills we are here to celebrate today, But that’s just the beginning.When the time comes for the military to retire…to turn the page on the next chapter of their lives…we want them to make Virginia their permanent home. possible, we are working diligently to eliminate taxes on the first $40,000 of military retirement pay. Our message is simple: when you return safely to our shores and take your possible n your retirement, we want you to retire here in the great Commonwealth of Virginia. »

“As a Navy veteran, it is heartening to see the many pieces of legislation passed to encourage veterans to call Virginia home – for job reciprocity for spouses and for their children to have educational choices. Promises made, promises kept,” said Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears.

“Freedom is not free. Virginia’s veterans and military community have dedicated their lives to preserving America’s freedom,” said Attorney General Jason Miyares. “Having grown up and living in a military community, I ‘have the greatest respect and admiration for the brave men and women who have served and those who are now serving in the armed forces. There is no braver or more selfless group than the United States military, and Virginia is dedicated to support them.

“I am pleased with this package of bills and the services it provides to our National Guardsmen, Veterans and their families and I look forward to continuing this work in future sessions,” the Secretary said. Craig Crenshaw, Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Defense.

Additionally, reflecting on Armed Forces Day, Governor Youngkin added, “This is a great opportunity to honor these brave men and women who keep our nation safe every day. It is because of them that we have the privilege of calling our Commonwealth and our nation safe and free. As Governor, I am honored to recognize our heroes by signing this Armed Forces Day Proclamation.

A copy of the Armed Forces Day Proclamation can be found here.

Watch the full event here.

Governor Youngkin solemnly signed four Day One Game Plan Bills, including:

HB 358, sponsored by Delegate John McGuire, R-Goochland, and SB 572, sponsored by Sen. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia Beach, who leads the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Defense Affairs and the Secretary of Commerce and commerce, in conjunction with the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity, to explore the waiver of fees associated with permits needed to start a small business for veteran-owned small businesses.

HB 994, sponsored by Delegate Emily Brewer, R-Isle of Wight, and SB 529, sponsored by Senator Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, who is leading the Board of Education to determine the feasibility of changing its regulations to allow all active duty members of the United States Armed Forces who serve as caregivers to dependents applying for the Child Care Subsidy Program.

Governor Youngkin solemnly signed 19 additional bills, including:

HB 17, sponsored by Delegate Buddy Fowler, R-Hanover, and SB 618, sponsored by Senator Richard Stewart, R-King George, exempts members of a military color guard, honor guard, or ‘a similar legally recognized organization and members of a veterans service organization chartered by Congress or officially recognized by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, when such member is participating in training or educational exercise, to funeral or public ceremony on behalf of such military guard, honor guard or similar organization or veterans service organization, of the crime of unlawful paramilitary activity unless such member engages in such activity with malicious intent.

HB 40, sponsored by Delegate Phillip Scott, R-Spotsylvania, allows the disabled veteran’s special license plate issued to a disabled veteran to be transferred, upon his death, to his surviving spouse who has not remarried.

HB 120, sponsored by Delegate Scott Wyatt, R-Hanover, entitles resident veterans who have a service-related disability of at least 30 percent to receive from the Department of Wildlife Resources at no charge or at a reduced cost based on Veteran’s Disability Status, a lifetime license to hunt and fish in fresh water.

HB 210, sponsored by Delegate Emily Brewer, R-Isle of Wight, and SB 256, sponsored by Senator John Bell, D-Loudon, which authorizes the Department of Military Affairs to use grants to recruit qualified candidates for service in the Virginia National Guard.

HB 230, sponsored by Delegate Carrie Coyner, R-Chesterfield, and SB 154, sponsored by Senator Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, requires Board of Education licensing regulations to provide reciprocal licensing for any spouse serving or reserve member of the United States Armed Forces or a member of the Virginia National Guard who has obtained a valid out-of-state license, with full credentials and without gaps, that is current in when the Virginia license application is received by the Department of Education.

HB 231, sponsored by Delegate Bobby Orrock, R-Caroline, increases, from 15 to 21 days, the number of days a member of the Armed Forces, Reserves, National Guard, Virginia Defense Force or of the National Defense Executive Reserve is entitled to leave with pay for military duties.

HB 354, sponsored by Delegate Anne Ferrell Tata, R-Virginia Beach, and SB 315, sponsored by Senator Lionell Spruill, D-Northern Chesapeake, which establishes the Virginia Military Community Infrastructure Grant Fund to support Commonwealth military communities by granting grants to assist in the planning and design, construction, or completion of infrastructure projects that improve military readiness, facility resilience, or the quality of life of military communities.

HB 642, sponsored by Delegate Betsy Carr, D-Richmond City, and SB 719, sponsored by Sen. John Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake, provide that the Department of Military Affairs will have the authority to pay the employer’s share of premiums health care benefits for any member of the Virginia National Guard or Virginia Defense Force when certain circumstances exist.

HB 857, sponsored by Delegate David Reid, D-Loudon, and SB 71, sponsored by Sen. Frank Ruff, R-Mecklenburg, add parameters around grants distributed by the Department of Military Affairs to members of the Virginia National Guard who are enrolled in any course or program at a public higher education institution or an accredited non-profit private higher education institution.

HB 957, sponsored by Delegate Kathy Tran, D-Fairfax County, provides that beginning with the 2022 tax year, any locality may report real estate owned by a surviving spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States deceased in the line of duty with a line of duty determined by the United States Department of Defense, when such death is not the result of criminal conduct and the spouse occupies the real property as a place principal residence and does not remarry, a separate class of property for local taxation of buildings which may be taxed at a different rate than that imposed on the general class of buildings, provided the tax rate is greater than zero and does not exceed the tax rate for the general property category.

HB 1203, sponsored by Delegate Anne Ferrell Tata, R-Virginia Beach, creates the position of Suicide Prevention Coordinator within the Department of Veterans Services to closely support and coordinate effective mental health care services for military and veterans and their families.

SB 212, sponsored by Sen. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia Beach, authorizes the issuance of special revenue-sharing license plates with a design incorporating the U.S. Navy emblem to serving members and certain Navy veterans American.

SB 768, sponsored by Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, changes the definition of “qualified survivors and dependents” under the Virginia Military Survivor and Dependent Education Program to include that a child who is a son-in-law of a deceased military service member will receive full benefits from the program if the military service member has claimed the son-in-law on their tax return or on their Enlistment Eligibility Reporting System. defense while on active duty.

Governor Glenn Youngkin and attendees after signing the Armed Forces Day Proclamation at the Virginia War Memorial Friday, May 20, 2022. Official photo by Christian Martinez, Office of Governor Glenn Youngkin.