Calls Needed to Oppose Bill Mandating Land Use Value Taxation for Certain Properties
HB 1204 (Hugo) is a problematic bill that would require certain property be assessed based on use value in certain localities meeting specified population growth critieria. The bill would require that real property of at least five acres that is devoted to open space be assessed based on the property’s land use value. VACo opposes […]
Oppose Heavier Trucks in Virginia – Committee Votes Scheduled for Early this Week
SB 504 (Carrico) and HB 1276 (Garrett) authorize the Commissioner of Highways, with the approval of the Governor, to allow for heavier, six-axle tractor trucks to travel Virginia roads as part of any federal pilot program, for a period of up to 15 years. Action Required – Please contact your legislators now to OPPOSE SB […]
Support the Virginia Grocery Investment Fund
The Virginia Grocery Investment Fund (VGIF) needs your help. SB 37 (Stanley) unanimously reported out of the Senate Finance Committee and passed on the Senate floor by a 36-4 vote. However, the House of Delegates has not yet taken action or placed on an agenda HB 85 (Bell/McQuinn), the House counterpart to SB 37. With […]
Problematic Tax Bills Defeated; Cigarette Taxing Authority Legislation Carried Over to 2019
On February 2, the House Finance Committee’s Subcommittee #3 took up several bills of concern to localities. HB 471 (Reid), as amended in a previous hearing by the House Commerce and Labor Committee, exempts certain new small businesses from the local option sales tax and from local business license taxes for their first five years […]
Tax Increment Financing for Dredging Passes House
A bill that makes dredging projects eligible for tax increment financing passed the House of Delegates on February 2. Under current law, the definition of “development project area” does not specifically include or mention dredging projects. HB 1092 (Hodges) modifies the definition to include “any area designated as a dredging project” for purposes of tax […]
Solar Tax Exemption Bill Passes Senate
SB 902 (Lucas) passed the Senate by a vote of 33-6-1. As described in VACo’s January 23 Capitol Contact, the bill makes it a local option to provide certain local tax exemptions for solar facilities of a certain size. Under current law, solar facilities greater than 20 MW in generation capacity are provided a mandatory […]
Former VACo President-Elect’s Merchants’ Capital Tax Bill Passes House
Former VACo President-Elect Bob Thomas’s merchants’ capital tax bill passed the House of Delegates on February 2 by a 94-3 margin. VACo spoke in support of HB 119 (Thomas), which creates a separate class for merchants’ capital of any wholesaler reported as inventory that is located, and is normally located, in a structure that contains […]
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 […]