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2023 SESSION

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23103990D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 539 Offered January 11, 2023 Prefiled January 11, 2023 Requesting the Department of Transportation to study the feasibility and impact of exempting persons with disabled veteran license plates from paying tolls and review the total amount of monthly tolls collected in the Commonwealth. Report. ----------
Patrons-- Mundon King, Adams, D.M., Bennett-Parker, Clark, Guzman, Jenkins, McQuinn, Price, Scott, D.L., Shin, Simon and Williams Graves
---------- Referred to Committee on Rules ----------

WHEREAS, Virginia is attractive to military veterans because it has built many unique assets, including the Virginia Values Veterans program, the supportive services led by the Department of Veteran Services' Virginia Veteran and Family Support service line, and a Commonwealth-wide appreciation for our military and the valuable leadership skills and abilities they bring to our communities; and

WHEREAS, unfortunately, tolls are a pervasive issue for all Virginia residents, especially for those in the Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads regions who suffer high tolls on various integral roadways; and

WHEREAS, the Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads regions contain the largest populations of veterans in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Virginia should strive to maintain its reputation as a veteran-friendly state and, more importantly, strive to reward veterans for their service to Virginia and the United States by exempting certain disabled veterans from paying tolls; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Department of Transportation be requested to study the feasibility and impact of exempting persons with disabled veteran license plates from paying tolls and review the total amount of monthly tolls collected in the Commonwealth.

In conducting its study, the Department of Transportation (the Department) shall (i) review the total amount of tolls charged and collected in the Commonwealth on a monthly basis; (ii) calculate an estimate of tolls paid by individuals with disabled veteran license plates; (iii) determine the benefits, both financial and symbolic, to those with disabled veterans license plates of being exempt from paying tolls; (iv) evaluate the costs to the Commonwealth of any such exemption, including any payments or potential arrangements with any private toll operators; and (v) evaluate the potential impact on the Department of Motor Vehicles of a potential increase in demand for disabled veteran license plates.

The Department of Veterans Services shall assist the Department in conducting this study. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Department for this study, upon request.

The Department shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2023, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.