Governor Youngkin signs twenty bipartisan bills supporting Virginia’s military and veteran communities

Richmond, Virginia – Governor Glenn Youngkin has recently enacted 20 bipartisan legislative measures aimed at enhancing the support network for Virginia’s military and veteran communities, along with their families. This significant legislative package is set to transform service accessibility ranging from early childhood education to housing solutions, thereby cementing Virginia’s status as a top state for military families and veterans.

Key Legislation to Support Virginia’s Heroes

Governor Youngkin, expressing gratitude and acknowledgment of the military community’s sacrifices, emphasized the collective efforts to improve their living standards. “Every day our military families make incredible sacrifices, and while we can never repay them, we remain committed to ensuring Virginia is the best state for military families and for veterans to retire,” he stated. The governor highlighted several pivotal areas of the new laws, including enhanced access to childcare, streamlined access to vital resources, the creation of military-centered community zones, and the removal of housing barriers which collectively aim to deliver substantial benefits to military families.

Secretary of Veteran and Defense Affairs, Craig Crenshaw, also praised the legislative efforts, noting, “I am proud that this package of bills will continue to improve the quality of life for our veterans, servicemembers, and their families and I appreciate the continued bipartisan effort to make Virginia the very best state for veterans.”

The newly signed bills cover a broad spectrum of benefits and protections:

• HB 160 and HB 194 focus on providing information about veteran benefits and equal protections for Space Force members.
• HB 279 and SB 401 introduce military leaves of absence for professional firefighters and other Commonwealth employees.
• HB 299, HB 322, and HB 324 exempt retired military dogs from license tax, establish a Cosmetology Compact, and authorize Virginia to join the PA Licensure Compact.
• HB 352 and SB 213 facilitate early lease terminations for military personnel under stop movement orders.
• HB 380 allows for the issuance of special license plates to certain Air Force members, veterans, and retirees.
• HB 589 and HB 619 enhance veteran-specific data governance and enable the establishment of military-centered community zones.
• HB 649 and SB 325, along with HB 738 and HB 739, simplify processes concerning vital records and extend certain benefits to Space Force personnel.
• HB 1401 includes firefighters in the Virginia Law Officers’ Retirement System.
• HB 1513 recognizes active-duty status for service members injured in the line of duty.

These measures collectively aim not just to honor the service and sacrifice of military personnel but also to actively improve their everyday lives and integrate them more fully into the community fabric of Virginia. With these initiatives, the state continues to lead in providing a supportive and inclusive environment for those who have served the nation.