Delegate Betsy B. Carr’s recently introduced bill seeks to clarify how the Virginia War Memorial is governed and to enhance veteran recognition through updated policies, according to the Virginia State House.
The measure, filed as HB1047 on Jan. 14, 2026, during the 2026 regular session, is formally described as: “Va. War Memorial Foundation; Commissioner of Dept. of Veterans Services shall provide supervision.”
The following summary is based on the actual bill text and may include some clarification for reader understanding.
Fundamentally, the bill reasserts that the Virginia War Memorial operates as part of the Department of Veterans Services, states that all memorial assets remain under state ownership, and confirms that the regulations governing memorial use are exempt from the Administrative Process Act. The measure affirms the memorial’s core mission to honor and educate the public on Virginia veterans, directs the department and the Board of Veterans Services to set visitation policies and program fees, and mandates the inclusion and commemoration at the memorial of all Virginians killed or missing in qualifying conflicts since July 1, 2019, with their names and home-of-records. It permits the memorial to receive custody of unclaimed military medals, make reasonable efforts to locate owners, and manage related nonprofit fundraising operations.
The bill lists Rep. Betsy B. Carr (Democrat-78th District), Rep. Hyland F. “Buddy” Fowler, Jr. (Republican-59th District), and Rep. Virgil Thornton (Democrat-86th District) as sponsors.
Since the start of the session, Carr has also introduced 14 additional bills.
Carr earned a BA from Hollins College in 1968.
Carr, a Democratic representative, was elected in 2024 to serve the 78th House district in the Virginia State House, succeeding former Rep. Jay Leftwich.
In Virginia, the legislative process starts with a bill’s introduction in either legislative chamber, followed by committee assignment for review and potential amendments. Committee approval moves the bill to the chamber’s floor for debate and voting, and if passed in both the House and Senate, the bill is sent to the governor to be signed, vetoed, or enacted without a signature. The Virginia General Assembly meets annually in regular session starting the second Monday in January. Lawmakers put forth hundreds of bills, but only some become law each session.
| Patron(s) | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betsy B. Carr, Hyland F. “Buddy” Fowler, Jr., and Virgil Thornton | HB1047 | 01/14/2026 | Va. War Memorial Foundation; Commissioner of Dept. of Veterans Services shall provide supervision. |
| Betsy B. Carr | HB802 | 01/14/2026 | Vacant buildings; registration by registered agents, etc., annually. |
| Betsy B. Carr | HB803 | 01/14/2026 | Repairs or maintenance of property; entering adjoining property, petition for entry. |
| Betsy B. Carr and Eric Phillips | HB806 | 01/14/2026 | Industrial development authorities; promoting safe and affordable housing. |
| Betsy B. Carr | HB811 | 01/14/2026 | License plates, spec.; issuance to supporters of Richmond SPCA bearing legend SAVING LIVES TOGETHER. |
| Betsy B. Carr, Rodney T. Willett, and Holly M. Seibold | HB812 | 01/14/2026 | Traffic regulation; bicycles, and certain other devices, bicycle signals. |
| Betsy B. Carr and Rodney T. Willett | HB819 | 01/14/2026 | Pedestrians; walking on roadways that are part of divided highways. |
| Betsy B. Carr, Amy J. Laufer, Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Irene Shin, Jackie H. Glass, Kathy K.L. Tran, Michelle Lopes Maldonado, Nicole Cole, and Richard C. “Rip” Sullivan, Jr. | HB1037 | 01/14/2026 | Instructional materials on climate change & environtl. literacy; model pol. & proced. for selection. |
| Betsy B. Carr | HB1039 | 01/14/2026 | College and Career Ready Virginia Program; advisory committee and work group composition. |
| Betsy B. Carr | HB1040 | 01/14/2026 | VCU Health System Authority; changes relating to board of directors and chief executive officer. |
| Betsy B. Carr, Jackie H. Glass, Marcia S. “Cia” Price, Marcus B. Simon, Rae Cousins, and Virgil Thornton | HB1041 | 01/14/2026 | DOC; powers and duties of Director, Virginia Prison Education Task Force established, report. |
| Betsy B. Carr and Virgil Thornton | HB1043 | 01/14/2026 | Affordable and Special Needs Housing program, etc.; applicant notification of awards and denials. |
| Betsy B. Carr | HB1044 | 01/14/2026 | Virginia Public Procurement Act; cooperative procurement, re-roofing. |
| Betsy B. Carr | HB1045 | 01/14/2026 | Va. Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority; annual mixed beverage performing arts facility license. |
| Betsy B. Carr and Stacey Annie Carroll | HB1046 | 01/14/2026 | Virginia Public Procurement Act; additional public works contract requirements. |
Information in this article was obtained from the Virginia State House. The source data can be found here.
