In the 2024 General Assembly session, the VBA has a robust agenda of 21 items in its legislative package. These advance the VBA goals of promoting access to justice and elevating the practice of law in Virginia.

The group the proposals came from and brief titles of the bills follow.

Criminal Law Section

Raise compensation for court-appointed counsel

Labor and Employment Law Section

Align state and federal processes for handling employment discrimination claims

Real Estate Section (two proposals)

• Clarify the handling of residential leases when a property is sold
• Uniform fees for recording commercial deeds

Taxation Section (two proposals)

• Clarify tax exemption for energy storage systems
• Streamline motor vehicle sales tax exemption for certain transfers

Wills, Trusts & Estates Section (three proposals)

• Clean up issues with "rule against perpetuities" with respect to certain trusts
• Clarify power of attorney issues related to deeds
• Better align and harmonize wills and trusts

Virginia Family Law Coalition (three proposals)

• Add Space Force personnel to laws protecting military parents
• Require calculation of over- and underpayments with respect to spousal or child support
• Make certain adoption laws gender neutral in their language

Boyd-Graves Conference (nine proposals)

• Require electronic service rather than mail
• Revised procedures for post-judgment discovery
• Allow LLCs to appear without counsel in small claims courts
• Changes to rules around endorsement of orders by counsel
• Requiring a bond by a nonresident plaintiff
• Clarify procedures for release of a witness subpoenaed by a clerk
• Changes to venue for appointing an administrator of an estate
• Award of expenses in real property actions
• Adjustment of language around service on the DMV Commissioner or Secretary of the Commonwealth