VACo Supports Electric Vehicle Charging Station Legislation
VACo supports Delegate David Bulova’s bill that authorizes localities to locate and operate a retail fee-based electric vehicle charging station on any property it owns or leases. Legislation in 2011 initially enabled any “person” to operate such a charging station, but there has been confusion in the ensuing years whether this language encompasses local governments. […]
House Panel Guts Local Control Over Zoning
The House Commerce and Labor Committee yesterday reported out HB 1258 (Kilgore), which allows wireless companies to place cell towers up to 50 feet tall within rights-of-way without local control. Additionally, for towers of greater height, the bill hamstrings localities’ ability to obtain information and address citizen concerns through the public hearing process. Supporting the […]
Call Now to Oppose Capping Local Charges on Wireless Poles
HB 1427 (Kilgore) and SB 823 (McDougle) establish a limit on what localities may charge for the use of publicly owned rights-of-way by the wireless industry for the placement of poles and towers. The bills set statutory limits on what may be charged for wireless structures and equipment on both VDOT and locality-owned rights-of-way. Specifically, […]
Governor Ralph Northam to speak at VACo County Government Day
February 8, 2018 | Omni Richmond Hotel | Agenda This is our day to advocate for counties at the 2018 General Assembly Session. Join us for VACo County Government Day on Thursday, February 8! Registration opens at 11 a.m. and the event kicks off with lunch at noon. Governor Ralph Northam will speak on issues […]
Cooper-Jones makes history in Prince Edward County
The history started years ago, even though Pattie Cooper-Jones may not have realized it. Cooper-Jones moved to Farmville and the Prince Edward County area on August 23, 1983. She was hired to manage an apartment complex, but this wasn’t just any ordinary neighborhood where fixing a tenant’s air conditioning was the biggest issue. This was […]
Visit Buckingham County and the Confluence of the Tye River and James River
The confluence of the Tye River and James River is located in the James River State Park, which is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The park features rolling grasslands, quiet forests and beautiful views, as well as 3 miles of shoreline along the James River. Visitors can hike, bike, canoe, kayak, […]
Oppose Bad Wireless Bill Now
HB 1258 (Kilgore) substantially limits the ability of local-elected officials to determine how wireless infrastructure is incorporated into their communities, and removes citizen input in making decisions on the siting of towers and poles. Action Required – Please contact your Delegates now to oppose HB 1258, which will be heard this afternoon in the House […]
School Board Exemption Bill Passed by Indefinitely
A bill that exempts elected school boards from the requirement that they receive prior authorization from their local governing body prior to instituting any legal action against another government body has failed to move out of committee. SB 440 (Wexton) was passed by indefinitely on January 31 after being heard in the Senate Courts of […]
Stormwater Workgroup Bills Report to House
HB 1307 (Hodges) and HB 1308 (Hodges), which seek to fix the so-called stormwater “donut hole,” have advanced out of the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee and now report to the full House. The bills, drafted upon the recommendations of the HB 1774 Workgroup (named after Delegate Keith Hodges’s 2017 legislation that led […]
Legislation Requires Community Services Boards to Provide Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services in Jails
HB 1487 (Stolle)/SB 878 (Dunnavant) require local Community Services Boards (CSBs) to provide mental health and substance abuse services for individuals incarcerated in local and regional jails. The bills also provide that an individual who is discharged from a local or regional jail may continue to receive services from the CSB that provided services in […]
Troublesome FOIA Bills Advance in the Senate
SB 630 (Surovell) provides that in addition to any penalties imposed under FOIA, if a court finds that any officer, employee, or member of a public body failed to provide public records to a requester in accordance with the provisions of FOIA because such officer, employee, or member of a public body intentionally altered or […]
Bill to Provide Equal Taxing Authority to Counties Fails; Issue to be Considered in Interim
SB 200 (Favola), which would have equalized counties’ taxing authority with the powers currently afforded to cities and towns, was passed by indefinitely in the Senate Finance Committee on January 31. The Committee agreed that a letter would be sent to the Joint Subcommittee on Local Government Fiscal Stress requesting that the subject be examined […]
SLAF Guidelines Update Fails to Report
An update to Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) project funding guidelines has failed to report out the House Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee #3. HB 493 (Hodges) sought to authorize the recipient of a grant from SLAF to use a portion of the grant funds to pay for reasonable administrative costs. Additionally, HB […]
Bill to Fund Court Safety Rereferred
SB 827 (Howell) increases assessments made on defendants convicted of violating a statute or ordinance from $10 to $20. Revenue from the assessment shall be used for funding courthouse security personnel and, at the request of the sheriff, other security-related equipment and property. The salaries for security personnel come from the general fund, and increasing […]
Capitol Contact ALERT – Oppose Bad Wireless Bill Now
HB 1258 (Kilgore) substantially limits the ability of local-elected officials to determine how wireless infrastructure is incorporated into their communities, and removes citizen input in making decisions on the siting of towers and poles. Action Required – Please contact your Delegates now to oppose HB 1258, which will be heard tomorrow in the House Commerce […]
Capitol Contact ALERT – Oppose Bill that Changes Local Grievance Procedure
HB 1471 (Hugo) seeks to make several changes to the local grievance procedures that apply to all localities and local government employees throughout the Commonwealth. HB 1471 is a refiling of similar bills defeated during the 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 legislative sessions. The bill, which also has some provisions regarding local school board grievances, […]