An Act to amend and reenact § 2.2-2001.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Veterans Services; Virginia War Memorial division.
HB1047 amends the Code of Virginia section governing the Virginia War Memorial division within the Department of Veterans Services. The bill restates the Memorial’s status as a Commonwealth property and confirms the Commissioner’s administrative and financial control, including authority to adopt regulations for use and visitation that are exempt from the Administrative Process Act. It also reiterates the Memorial’s mission to honor Virginia veterans, preserve military history, educate the public, and inspire patriotism.
The bill also preserves and clarifies the rules for who is honored on the Shrine of Memory. It requires the names and homes of record of Virginians killed in action under specified wartime and terrorism-related circumstances to be added within one year of confirmed death, and it excludes anyone who does not meet those criteria from that shrine. Other Virginians who were missing in action in Vietnam, as well as other honorably serving Virginians who do not meet the shrine criteria, are to be honored elsewhere at the Memorial. In addition, the bill authorizes the Memorial division to take possession of unclaimed military medals, ribbons, or certificates that come into the Commonwealth’s possession, make reasonable efforts to identify the rightful owner, and return the items when possible. It also confirms the Commissioner’s supervisory role over the Virginia War Memorial Foundation and related fundraising nonprofits.
HB1047 primarily affects § 2.2-2001.3 of the Code of Virginia by reaffirming the organizational structure, authority, and responsibilities of the Virginia War Memorial division. It preserves the Commissioner’s control over regulations, visitation, programming, and fees, while maintaining the Memorial’s exemption from the Administrative Process Act. The bill also continues statutory direction on memorialization criteria, the handling of military memorabilia, and oversight of affiliated nonprofit fundraising entities.
The available record shows no committee transcript, recorded votes, or other debate, so there is no documented controversy or opposition in the materials provided. Based on the bill’s content, the measure appears to have been treated as a commemorative and administrative update supporting veterans’ remembrance and Memorial operations, with an overall positive or neutral legislative posture.
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. The only provisions that could potentially draw scrutiny are the Memorial’s exemption from the Administrative Process Act, the Commissioner’s broad authority over visitation and fees, and the bill’s restrictive criteria for who may be honored on the Shrine of Memory. However, there is no evidence in the supplied context that any of these issues were actively disputed.