Confederate organizations will see their tax-exempt status stripped away thanks to a bill passed by the Virginia Senate.
“With the Senate passing House Bill 568 on Tuesday, its similar companion, Senate Bill 517, is pending review in the House,” the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.
If Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signs the measure, it would affect organizations such as the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
“The bills involve sections of state code that concern real estate taxes where UDC is the only specific-interest group to be exempted from deed recordation taxes. These breaks typically apply to broader organizations like churches, government buildings, and nonprofit hospitals. UDC — headquartered in Richmond — is also exempt from real estate and property taxes. If the bills become law, the organization would lose these exemptions,” the Times-Dispatch reported.
The outlet noted that members of the United Daughters of the Confederacy “did not speak during committee meetings where the bills were presented.”
Senate says–with a bipartisan vote–no more tax breaks for the Daughters of the Confederacy. pic.twitter.com/lyCX3Q2Zwb
— VAPLAN (@vaplan2018) February 20, 2024
The nonprofit organization commemorates any who served the Confederacy in the Civil War and helps their descendants as well as collecting and preserving artifacts and documents.
Delegate Alex Askew (D-Virginia Beach), who sponsored the bill, declared, “Our code should reflect our values and what we want the Commonwealth to be now,” according to WRIC.
“It doesn’t mention historic organizations like NAACP and other groups that are really moving things and have had connections within our community in pushing what we believe forward,” Askew added.
Today, HB568 has passed on the Senate floor 23Y 17N. HB568 aims to end the tax exemption for the United Daughters of the Confederacy. This bill unlocks revenue for the Commonwealth to fund schools, workforce development, and mental health programs. pic.twitter.com/RB4IfL8dJp
— Delegate Alex Q. Askew (@AlexAskew757) February 20, 2024
Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution have denounced the measure which would make the organizations pay property taxes.
“I have done a lot of work in the Civil War, the war between the states,” one member said. “We would all do well to learn and really not punish the soldiers and the families of those who lose ones in that struggle.”
But Askew essentially dismissed arguments against the bill.
“It’s about who we are giving special privileges to and what they stood for,” he said. “We know that the United Daughters of the Confederacy has continued to push the narrative of the lost cause and we don’t need to continue to support that in our tax code.”
Social media users again voiced their outrage over the “hate campaign” against the historical groups.
That is so mis-guided. The UDC has no official position on any sort of history. Its core mission is patriotism. Folks are talking about the Daughters without doing any actual research. It legislation based on stereotypes.
— Thomas J. Crane (@tomjcrane) February 21, 2024
This is a hate campaign. Nothing more. Nothing less.
— Jefferson Davis (@Jeff_Davis1808) February 21, 2024
I believe that this is unconstitutional. It’s a very bad place in history when we go around renaming streets, libraries, change flags and tear down monuments. Now, the few organizations that are trying to save pieces of history are in danger of losing their tax-exempt status?
— Film ♔ Soaps ♔ Royalty (@LadyFilmFatale) February 21, 2024
If Youngkin signs this bill all organizations like the UDC should take their collections of historical material and close up shop in VA. Let tourists glaze upon the urban beauty of weeds and trash that used to be Monument Avenue. Don’t leave anything for the state to make $ off.
— Jagdpanthercat (@meanassdevilcat) February 21, 2024
The Old Dominion legislature is operating like a third world dictatorship, apparently full of petty bigots.
— ⸸ ZC ⸸ (@ZSC1982) February 21, 2024
More than ridiculous. It’s disgusting. The do a lot for veterans and communities across the South. Media just made them out to be a boogieman when it’s literally just grandma.
— ☩ (@DKaiserjager) February 21, 2024
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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