Citizen Portal
Sign In

Subcommittee adopts substitute for braille‑labeling tax credit after testimony by blind constituent

Senate of Virginia Tax Subcommittee · January 21, 2026

Loading...

AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Sen. Roem’s SB 96, as substituted, would create an individual and corporate income tax credit to incentivize braille labeling; the committee substitute caps credits at $500,000, removes carryforward and limits eligibility to Virginia businesses. Blind constituent Tate Jordan testified in favor and tax staff cautioned about finite one‑time administrative costs; the subcommittee adopted the substitute and voted to report the bill.

Senator Roem presented a committee substitute for SB 96 to establish a tax credit for businesses that develop and implement braille labeling programs. Staff summarized the substitute as capping the credit at $500,000, removing carryforward provisions for the nonrefundable credit, limiting eligibility to Virginia businesses, and including a sunset consistent with committee policy.

Tate Jordan, a constituent who identified himself as blind, testified in support and described braille labeling as fundamental to accessibility and independence: “Braille labeling is not simply convenience, but is a fundamental right to accessibility, autonomy, and independence,” Jordan said, urging committee members to support the legislation so blind Virginians can “read a package, read their own mail, [and] read the products they buy at the grocery store.”

Tax staff told the committee the substitute would require one‑time administrative setup costs estimated at roughly $250,000 (administrative estimate cited verbally as a quarter of $1,000,000), largely to create forms, reprogram systems and track compliance. Members asked whether limiting eligibility to Virginia businesses would reduce administrative burden; staff said they would check how the substitute changes costs. Senator Roem said she was comfortable with the substitute as drafted and explained that companies (for example, Amazon’s Northern Virginia operations) that voluntarily implemented braille labeling programs could qualify if they met the substitute’s terms.

The subcommittee adopted the committee substitute by voice vote and agreed to report the substitute out of committee.

What’s next: The committee will report the substitute and staff will continue to refine administrative estimates before further action.