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2014 Changes To Virginia's Laws
Effective Today, July 1st
Dear Friends,
I wanted to make sure you that you are aware of new laws that take effect today, July 1st, 2014. Click here to review 2014 Changes to Virginia's Laws.
"All laws enacted at a regular session, . . .excluding a general appropriation law, shall take effect on the first day of July following the adjournment of the session of the General Assembly at which it has been enacted."
Constitution of Virginia, Article IV, Section 13
Here is a list of some of the bills I patroned/co-patroned this session which passed the General Assembly and take effect today:
House Bill 331- First Time Home Buyer Savings Accounts(Co-Patron): This bill establishes tax-preferred accounts to allow Virginians to save up for the down payment and closing costs on their first home.
House Bill 387- Critical congenital heart defect screening for newborns (Patron): This bill requires every hospital in the Commonwealth to perform a critical congenital heart defect screening test, a simple, non-invasive procedure, on every newborn prior to discharge from the hospital.
House Bill 660- Human trafficking (Co-Patron): This bill increases the penalties to individuals convicted of crimes related to human trafficking. Such individuals would be subject to forfeit certain assets that were used in committing these crimes.
House Bill 975- Annual license tax on hybrid electric motor vehicles (Chief Co-Patron): This bill removes the $64 annual license tax imposed on hybrid electric motor vehicles. If an individual paid in advance for any registration before or after July 1, 2014 they may apply for a refund from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
House Bill 1044- Banks; director ownership of shares(Patron): This bill allows bank directors to be the sole owner of shares of stock held through a brokerage account, living trust, profit-sharing plan or retirement plan.
House Bill 1220- R&D; Tax Expense Credit Bill (Patron): This bill expands the state's research and development tax credit to promote research and development, primarily in technology companies.
House Bill 1232- Mental Health Reform (Co-Patron): This bill requires a digital registry of available acute care beds be maintained so that individuals subject to a temporary detention order are never released simply because there's nowhere to send them, and a related budget amendment provides additional funding for thirty new acute care beds, ten each at three hospitals across the Commonwealth.
If I may be of any assistance to you or your family in the future please don't hesitate to contact me. I can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 703-772-7168.
Best,
Barbara Comstock
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