The Status of School Construction Legislation Post Crossover
Numerous bills have been filed seeking to address the issue of School Construction and Modernization, and on the whole, most have passed the Senate while only one bill has made it through the House of Delegates. In 2021, the Commission on School Construction and Modernization examined the state of K-12 school infrastructure across the Commonwealth. […]
Update on Jail Bills
Two bills that would have provided additional state support to jails for the care of state-responsible inmates failed to survive hearings in the money committees prior to crossover. HB 989 (Runion) would have required the Department of Corrections to compensate local jails for housing state-responsible offenders at a tiered rate that would increase with the […]
Bill Expanding Farm Building Exemption from Building Code Passes Senate
SB 400 (Hanger), in its current form, would greatly expand the farm building code exemption to include existing, as well as new buildings, that are primarily used to host events. Specifically, the legislation defines an “agritourism event building” to mean … a building or structure located on property where farming operations or agritourism takes place, […]
VACo Supports Helpful FOIA, Public Notice and Conflict of Interests Bills
FOIA HB 444 (Bennett-Parker) FOIA; meetings conducted by electronic communication means; situations other than declared states of emergency. Sets out the parameters for public bodies to hold electronic meetings outside of the state of emergency when following the rules written in the bill. VACo, VML, the Press Association and the Coalition for Open Government worked with the […]
Grocery Tax Bills Move Forward in Different Forms
On Thursday evening, February 10, the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee advanced a new substitute for SB 451 (Boysko)., which passed the Senate today by a vote of 37-3. The key provisions of the bill as reported by the Committee are as follows: It would eliminate the 1.5 percent state portion of the sales and […]
Bill Requiring Increased Retirement Contribution for Deputy Sheriffs Passes Senate
SB 507 (Lewis) as originally introduced would have required local governments prospectively electing enhanced retirement benefits to use the 1.85 percent multiplier for determining the annual retirement allowance for local law enforcement officers receiving benefits similar to those provided to State Police officers. Currently, local governments may elect to provide a 1.7 percent multiplier in […]
Local Flexibility in Marcus Alert Implementation Advances in Different Versions
Two companion bills, HB 1191 (Ransone) and SB 361 (Stuart), are moving forward, although the bills are in different postures after action by the House Public Safety Committee and the full Senate, respectively. As introduced, both bills would have made implementation of the Marcus Alert system an option for all localities. Under current law, every […]
Recordation Tax Distribution and Other Legislation Impacting Transportation Funding
As the General Assembly races towards crossover and the release of the House and Senate versions of the biennial budget, legislation seeking to roll back the 2020 reforms to the Commonwealth Transportation Fund is meeting mixed fates. HB 978 (Durant) would reestablish the distribution of $20 million of state recordation tax revenue to counties and […]
Update on Legislation Seeking to Reduce Law Enforcement Involvement in Mental Health Transports
A series of bills were introduced this session that intend to relieve the pressure on law enforcement associated with the emergency custody order and temporary detention order process by allowing for additional usage of alternative transportation and alternative custody arrangements. As the legislature approaches crossover, three Senate bills are on the way to the House. […]
K-12 Staff Salary Bills Tabled for the Year
Two bills that would impact the compensation of K-12 staff positions have been defeated in each body of the legislature. SB 157 (Hashmi) expands on code language added in 2020 that it is the goal of the Commonwealth that public school teachers be compensated at a rate that is competitive in order to attract and […]
Legislation to Change Full Tax Exemption to Partial Tax Exemption for Smaller Utility-Scale Solar Projects Advances
Under current law utility-scale solar facilities with a rated capacity of 5 megawatts (MW) or less, are fully exempt from local taxation. SB 502 (Lewis) and HB 1087 (Leftwich) modify this mandated exemption by providing an 80% exemption for the first 5 years of operation; 70% exemption for years 6-10; and 60% exemption for years […]
Legislation to Plan for Reinvention of Catawba Hospital Moving Forward
HB 105 (Rasoul), which directs a feasibility study for the transformation of Catawba Hospital into a facility that would offer a continuum of substance use disorder treatment and recovery services, has passed the House and awaits action in the Senate. The bill is supported by a large coalition of stakeholders in the region, and VACo […]
Bill Mandating Exclusion of Rooftop Solar from Real Property Assessments Fails on House Floor
A bill mandating that rooftop solar installations be exempt from local taxation failed on the House of Delegates floor last Friday. HB 1185 (Bourne), which would have mandated that any rooftop or ground-mounted solar installations, serving just the energy needs of the property to which they are located (i.e., behind the meter), shall be a […]
Enhanced Retirement Benefit Bills Referred to JLARC
HB 131 (Cherry), HB 854 (Reid), and SB 585 (Reeves), as originally written would have added 911 dispatchers to the list of local employees eligible to receive enhanced retirement benefits for hazardous duty service. Under current law, local governments may provide such benefits to first responders, including firefighters and emergency medical technicians, and certain other […]
Legislation to Authorize Recalls by Referendum Passes Senate; Fate Uncertain in House
SB 495 (McClellan), which would significantly revise the current process for removal of public officers from office, has passed the Senate. A companion measure, HB 972 (Simon), has not been heard in the House and is unlikely to be taken up before crossover. Under current law, office is forfeited for a felony conviction or offense […]
Over 400 Attend Local Government Day
Three Presidents – Kim Callis, VAPDC President; Meg Bohmke, VACo President; Jon Stehle, VML President – prepare for Local Government Day. Thank you to all who participated and attended the VACo/VML/VAPDC Local Government Day on February 3 in Richmond. Attendees heard from Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Bob Mosier, who has served as […]