Stormwater fee exemption bill dries up, stricken for the year
A troubling stormwater bill that has been defeated numerous times in previous years has once again been killed in the General Assembly. SB 1067 (Kiggans) requires that localities shall provide for full waivers of certain stormwater charges for public use airport runways and taxiways. As with similar bills in recent years, VACo opposed SB 1067 for several […]
Troubling animal shelter bills fixed
Three problematic and potentially expensive bills pertaining to animal shelter practices and policies have been effectively fixed for the year. SB 304 (Stanley) requires any public or private animal shelter or releasing agency to report on an annual basis the euthanasia rate for animals at such shelter or agency to the State Veterinarian. As originally […]
Drug court legislation continued to 2021
Legislation seeking to expand the use of drug treatment courts (or simply drug courts, for short) has been continued to 2021 at the request of the patron. SB 819 (Morrissey) had two key provisions. First, it provided that any jurisdiction or jurisdictions intending or proposing to establish a drug treatment court shall not be denied […]
Helpful clean energy financing bill receives green light from House
The House of Delegates has advanced a bill that could help localities more easily take advantage of creative clean energy financing mechanisms. HB 654 (Mugler) authorizes the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) to sponsor a statewide clean energy financing program. More specifically, this legislation would enable DMME to engage with a private entity in […]
Bills threatening sovereign immunity for localities defeated
Three bills seeking waivers of sovereign immunity for localities have been defeated for the year. HB 162 (McGuire), HB 1382 (Campbell), and SB 1009 (Chase) sought to waive sovereign immunity for any locality that adopts an ordinance or policy pertaining to limitations on firearms. Both HB 162 and HB 1382 were heard by the Firearms […]
Visit Giles County and the Link Farm Covered Bridge
The Link Farm Covered Bridge was built in 1912 and spans Sinking Creek. The 50-foot span is one of three covered bridges remaining in Giles County. This bridge is not open to vehicle traffic and is located on private property.
Chesterfield Attorney Julie A.C. Seyfarth Named a 2020 Influential Woman of Law
Julie A.C. Seyfarth, a Deputy County Attorney with the Chesterfield Attorney’s Office, was recently named a 2020 Influential Woman of Law by the Virginia Lawyers Weekly publication. The awards program honors women attorneys and judges across the state for their excellent work on behalf of the justice system and for their continued commitment to their […]
Become a Certified Supervisor
The Virginia Association of Counties, in partnership with Virginia Tech, offers the Virginia Certified County Supervisors’ Program: an opportunity for county supervisors to learn how to more effectively and efficiently lead in their communities. Since its inception in 2005, 70 supervisors representing more than 40 counties have completed this training program, earning credentials as a […]
Former Clarke County Administrator David Ash honored
During its January 21 meeting, the Clarke County Board of Supervisors recognized David L. Ash and congratulated him for his service and dedication to the Board, county employees, and Clarke County residents. Chair David Weiss read a “Resolution of Appreciation” that read in part: David L. Ash assumed the duties and responsibilities of County Administrator […]
Positive changes made to Public Employee Collective Bargaining bills
On February 3, the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee made significant changes to the Collective Bargaining bills under review in that chamber. SB 1022 (Boysko) was incorporated into SB 939 (Saslaw), which was reported and referred to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, 11-3, with a substitute that preserves local choice for local governing bodies. […]
VACo supports County authority to determine local tax incentives for large solar projects
SB 800 (Lewis) advances the expiration date of the state-mandated 80 percent tax exemption from Machinery and Tool Tax (M&T) for utility-scale solar projects greater than 20 megawatts (MW) from 2024 to 2021. The legislation has been heard in the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee two weeks in a row with VACo speaking in support […]
VACo opposes bills extending state-mandated exemption from local taxes for large solar projects
HB 1131(Jones), HB 1434 (Jones) and SB 762 (Barker), SB 763 (Barker), if adopted, would extend a state mandate to exempt utility-scale solar projects from local tax to 2030 (currently set to expire in 2024). HB 1131 and HB 1434 passed in subcommittee earlier this week on identical 6 to 4 votes and will be […]
Legislation establishing state-level “preclearance” for local election practices advances
HB 761 (VanValkenburg) would establish a process by which the state would review certain election-related actions at the local level before those actions could take effect, similar to the federal preclearance previously required for jurisdictions covered by Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act. Prior to the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in the 2013 […]
Subcommittee halts House version of unfunded mandate for deputy sheriffs’ salaries
A bill requiring an increase in minimum salaries for deputy sheriffs failed to advance in the House, as the legislation was voted to be carried over until 2021 in subcommittee. HB 1302 (Hurst) is the House counterpart to SB 1085 (Pillion), which was previously stricken in favor of studying the issue for the next year. […]
VACo supports maintaining authority of Counties to address impacts of large-scale solar
This year the legislature is considering several bills that would limit and restrict local land use authority to address impacts due to the placement and operation of utility-scale solar projects. VACo opposes these efforts that include the following legislative proposals: HB 657 (Heretick) and SB 893 (Marsden) exempt a solar facility that is 150 megawatts […]
Virginia Food Access Investment Fund survives Senate Finance
The Virginia Food Access Investment Fund (VFAIF) has survived the powerful Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, reporting with amendments to the full Senate by a vote of 13-0. SB 1073 (McClellan) provides funding for the construction, rehabilitation, equipment upgrades, or expansion of grocery stores, small food retailers, and innovative food retail projects in underserved communities. […]