Senate committee advances substitutes, carries multiple bills for further review; stillborn tax credit, 9-1-1 benefits and Menhaden research draw debate

The Senate of Virginia convened in Committee Room A305 on Feb. 4 to consider a broad docket that included tax credits, retirement and return-to-work rules, school safety mandates, judicial positions, fisheries research funding and public-safety grant programs.

The committee approved substitutes on multiple bills and voted to carry several items for additional review rather than advancing them this week. Senator Head introduced a substitute for Senate Bill 236, narrowing a proposed tax credit to stillbirths and establishing a $2,000 credit for affected taxpayers in taxable years 2026 through 2030. "This is just to allow people that are going through the tragedy of losing a child through stillbirth to have tax relief to cover expenses that would not necessarily be covered in a live birth," Senator Head said during her presentation. Senate staff said the substitute reduces the estimated fiscal impact to roughly $5 million to the general fund, down from an original projection the sponsor said could have been as high as $120 million. The committee voted to carry the bill over for further consideration.

Public-safety and retirement questions featured prominently. Senator Jordan presented Senate Bill 304 to give localities the option to offer enhanced retirement benefits to 9-1-1 emergency dispatchers as a recruitment and retention tool. The bill’s supporters, including James Turpin of the Virginia chapters of APCO and NENA, described high turnover and vacancy rates in communications centers. "The turnover rate for emergency communications officers is approximately 30%, and the vacancies in individual centers is between 30–50%," Turpin told the committee. After debate and a line amendment, the committee voted to carry SB304 for further review.

The committee dealt with school-safety legislation as well. A substitute version of Senate Bill 695 would require a school resource officer in each high school across the Commonwealth; committee discussion focused on whether that mandate should be a local decision. The committee ultimately passed the bill by indefinitely (a procedural outcome that leaves the bill in committee), with recorded opposition noted during the voice vote.

Several technical and administrative measures advanced or were reported. The committee agreed to substitutes and reported bills including Senate Bill 430 (local authority over incumbent building-service employers) and Senate Bill 362 (a proposal directing Medicaid coverage for donor human milk for certain low-weight infants), both of which were reported out of committee. Senate Bill 41, allowing voluntary contributions at DMV transactions to the Virginia Highway Safety Improvement Program, was reported unanimously.

Fisheries and natural-resources advocates pressed for action on Menhaden research: Senate Bill 474 would create an Atlantic Menhaden Research Fund to support Virginia Institute of Marine Science research and inform harvest limits. Chris Moore of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Brent McKenzie of Virginia Beach urged the committee to move the bill, but a member moved to continue the matter to the next year given longstanding complexity; the committee agreed to continue it.

Where the committee recorded votes, the outcomes were typically voice votes. Several measures were carried over for additional study, substitutes were agreed to on others, and a small set were reported out or left in committee by motion. The meeting concluded after the docket was completed and the chair adjourned the session.

Votes at a glance

- SB154: Motion to continue/continue — voice vote in favor; motion recorded as continued. - SB236 (stillborn tax credit, substitute): Substitute agreed; committee voted to carry the bill over for further review (narrower $2,000 credit; staff-estimated FY impact ~ $5 million). - SB238 (Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind personnel/code revisions): Substitute discussed; motion to pass by indefinitely carried (bill left in committee). - SB113 (VRS return-to-work provision, Chesapeake): Discussion and public comment; motion carried to hold the bill for further review. - SB304 (9-1-1 dispatcher retirement option): Line amendment agreed; committee voted to carry the bill over. - SB695 (mandatory SRO in high schools, substitute): Motion to pass by indefinitely carried; recorded yes/no during vote. - SB41 (DMV voluntary contributions to Highway Safety Fund): Reported out unanimously. - SB362 (Medicaid coverage for donor human milk for specified infants): Reported out unanimously. - SB430 (incumbent building service employers): Committee substitute agreed and reported. - SB474 (Atlantic Menhaden Research Fund): Public comment heard; motion to continue until next year carried. - SB672 (emergency-response exposure grants): Carried over to pursue budget option. - SB675 (EMS special fund permitted uses): Reported and referred from General Laws.

Why it matters

Several bills before this committee would create or expand benefits with budgetary implications, and the committee largely used carryovers and substitutes to narrow exposure and allow staff and sponsors to resolve fiscal and policy questions. Measures touching public safety (9-1-1 retirement options, SRO requirements), maternal and infant health (donor human milk coverage) and fisheries management (Menhaden research) attracted public comment and jurisdictional stakeholders. The committee’s use of carryovers indicates lawmakers want more fiscal detail or broader review before committing to statewide mandates or new recurring funding.

Next steps

Carried-over bills will be subject to further staff analysis, possible budget amendments, or return to committee for reconsideration. Reported bills will move forward in the Senate process per internal referral rules.

Sources: Committee hearing transcript, Senate Committee Room A305, Senate of Virginia broadcast.