JLARC Recommendation Legislation Consolidated and Clears Crossover
Following the eye-opening report on Virginia’s K-12 Funding Formula released in July 2023 by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), several pieces of legislation were introduced by legislators seeking to codify many of the report’s recommendations. From the Senate, most of the bills originating in that chamber related to the JLARC report have […]
Areas of Concern in January Revenue Report Ahead of “Budget Sunday”
Secretary of Finance Stephen E. Cummings briefed members of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee on state revenues on Wednesday, February 14. In contrast to the cautiously upbeat tone of previous presentations, Secretary Cummings expressed concern about the performance of state revenues in January. Although overall general fund revenues are up 5.3 percent on a […]
Counties’ Opposition Heard – SCC Authority Bills Fail
At the request of the patrons, and in the face of strong opposition from Virginia counties, HB 636 (Sullivan) and SB 567 (Deeds) were carried over to the 2025 legislative session. The bills proposed giving the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) the authority to override local comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances for the siting of […]
Bills and Budget Amendments Under Consideration to Implement Behavioral Health Commission Recommendations
Members of the Behavioral Health Commission adopted a series of recommendations in December, with proposals emerging from the Commission’s review of the implementation of the STEP-VA initiative, its study of school-based mental health services, and its review of proposals to create an expedited court diversion process, as well as a 2022 JLARC study of the […]
Unpaved Road Flexibility Bills Make it to Crossover
SB 644 (Perry) and HB 74 (Reid) would clarify that the improvement of nonsurface treated secondary highways includes modifications other than paving. These improvements include but aren’t limited to drainage upgrades, enhanced design of the highway profile, or any positive changes to increase safety, reduce maintenance cost or enhance the historic qualities of the road […]
School Construction Financing Bill Passes House of Delegates
On Tuesday, February 13, the full House of Delegates passed HB 805 (Rasoul) by a vote of 69-28. As previously reported, this bill permits any county or city to impose an additional local sales and use tax of up to 1 percent, if initiated by a resolution of the local governing body and approved by […]
VACo Requests Feedback on Concerning Revenue Sharing Program Budget Amendment
Item 438 #1h (McQuinn) and Item 438 #2s (Marsden) are budget amendments that seek to rewrite the current Revenue Sharing Program prioritization process that would adversely affect county governments. VACo seeks member feedback on how the proposed budget amendments may affect your locality and the impacts this could have on county-wide infrastructure. The Revenue Sharing […]
Legislation Addressing Local Fiscal Distress Moves Forward in the Senate, Fails in House
HB 655 (Coyner) and SB 645 (Aird) build on existing budget language that creates a process for state review of local fiscal distress, but also go beyond this language in enabling the state to appoint an emergency fiscal manager in situations where a locality is “unwilling or unable to comply with the conditions necessary to […]
Senate Approves Bill Preempting Local Authority on Siting Solar and Battery Storage Facilities
By a vote of 21-18, the Senate of Virginia passed SB 697 (Van Valkenburg). The legislation mandates that any local ordinance adopted pursuant § 15.2-2288.7 of the Code of Virginia (local regulation of solar facilities) shall not “… include limits on the total amount, density, or size of any ground mounted solar facility or energy […]
Senate Passes Bill to Make ADUs a By-Right Use
The Senate of Virginia passed SB 304 (Salim) by a vote of 22 to 18. The legislation mandates all localities permit accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as an accessory use in residential zoning districts. The legislation also prohibits a locality from requiring rear or side setbacks for the ADU that are greater than the setback required […]
Bill to Make Short-Term Rentals a By-Right Use Passes Senate
The Senate of Virginia passed SB 544 (Bagby) by a vote of 25-15. The legislation prohibits a locality from adopting a local ordinance that requires a special exception, special use, or conditional use permit be obtained for the use of a residential dwelling as a short-term rental where the dwelling unit is also legally occupied […]
VACo has Concerns over Sovereign Immunity Provisions of Bill Amending the Virginia Human Rights Act
SB 570 (Ebbin) proposes several changes to Code, including expanding the definition of “employer” under the Virginia Human Rights Act, to include any government or political subdivision, or agent of such government or political subdivision, employing more than five employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current […]
Local Speed Limit Authority Bill Passes House
HB 1071 (Carr) seeks to achieve a long sought-after transportation safety policy goal of localities across the Commonwealth. This bill would allow the governing body of any locality to reduce to less than 25 miles per hour, but not less than 15 miles per hour, the speed limit of highways that are part of the state highway system. The […]
Elections Roundup
HB 1149 (Cordoza) would have made a significant change to the process of removing an elected officer or officer who has been appointed to fill an elective office. Under current law, the removal process for most elected officials begins with a petition to a circuit court signed by registered voters within the jurisdiction equating to […]
Bills Allowing Local Governments to Offer Enhanced Retirement Benefits for 911 Dispatchers and Others Continued to 2025
Legislation that would allow have local governments to provide enhanced retirement benefits for hazardous duty service to full-time salaried 911 dispatchers will be continued to 2025, thus ending any chances for the enactment of this legislation for the year. HB 38 (Clark), HB 300 (Ballard), and HB 630 (Cherry) would have provided that such enhanced […]
Electric Vehicle Charging Bills Update
As previously reported, VACo supports HB 107 (Sullivan) as this bill would create the Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund. The Program and Fund would make available up to $25 million each fiscal year and assist developers by offsetting up to 70 percent of the non-utility cost of electric vehicle charging stations. According to the provisions […]