Virginia is home to around one million veterans and their families. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the Commonwealth ranks second in the highest proportion of veterans in the general population at 10.8 percent.
As veterans still face challenges when returning from service, lawmakers in the Virginia General Assembly worked this year to make life a little easier for those who serve their country.
H.B. 2551, sponsored by Delegate Bob Thomas (R-Stafford), would make it easier for current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL). The bill requires the commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to waive certain knowledge and skills tests required for obtaining a CDL.
An applicant’s driving record in combination with certain driving experience for the skills test would serve as a substitute, providing that one’s driver’s license has remained in good standing for at least two years, among other provisions.
The bill passed unanimously through the House of Delegates and the State Senate, now awaiting the governor’s signature.
Also patroned by Delegate Thomas, H.B. 2169 would authorize the Virginia Board of Medicine to issue a license by endorsement to an applicant for licensure as a physician assistant who is the spouse of an active duty member of the U.S. military or the Virginia National Guard. Potential recipients may also hold a current certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and a physician assistant license, which is in good standing or is eligible for reinstatement, from another state, the district of Columbia, or a U.S. territory.
This would allow spouses of service members that are relocated to Virginia to continue their occupation uninhibited by superfluous licensure requirements.
The bill also passed unanimously through both houses in the state legislature.
H.B. 1655, introduced by Delegate Jason Miyares (R-Virginia Beach), provides that a spouse of a disabled veteran may be exempt from paying property tax on their primary home. This would be allowed even if the spouse moves to a different home from that of where they were living when the disability occurred.
The bill is identical to S.B. 1270, patroned by State Senator Richard Stuart (R-Westmoreland).
The GOP-led bill came forth from a proposed amendment that over 84 percent of Virginians supported on Election Day 2018.
Governor Ralph Northam (D) signed the bill into law two weeks ago, which also has a retroactive enactment date of January 1, 2019.