The final days of the 2017 General Assembly Session
The 2017 General Assembly is heading rapidly toward its scheduled adjournment sine die on Saturday, February 25. Surviving bills are either on the House or Senate floors, under negotiation in conference committees, or on the way to Governor Terry McAuliffe for approval. The last day for committee action on legislation was Monday, February 20, and […]
Short-term rental bill passes House
SB 1578 (Norment), which affirms local government authority over short-term rentals, passed the House on Wednesday afternoon by a vote of 86-14. VACo supports SB 1578 because it preserves local authority and authorizes a locality to adopt an ordinance requiring the registration of persons offering property for short-term rental. The bill defines “short-term rental” as […]
Revised wireless bill passes; local authority for approving cell towers is preserved
SB 1282 (McDougle) has passed both chambers and now must be acted upon by the Governor by March 27. After lengthy negotiations with the wireless industry, VACo has agreed to support the revised bill. As originally drafted, the bill would have gutted local land use authority for the siting of new wireless support structures (towers, […]
Revised broadband bill passes Senate; provision harmful to local authorities is struck
With removal of language that would have effectively halted public-private partnerships to deploy broadband to unserved and underserved areas, VACo no longer opposes HB 2108 (Byron). The bill passed the Senate and is now headed to the Governor for consideration. At the request of Delegate Kathy Byron, language was struck that would have removed FOIA […]
Mental health screening and assessment bills fail to advance
Legislation intended to standardize the mental health screening and assessment process for inmates in local and regional jails has been tabled. However, the issue may be addressed in the budget conference report. HB 1783 (Bell, R.B.) and SB 940 (Cosgrove)/SB 1442 (Deeds), as passed by the Senate, would have required all inmates to be screened […]
Bill requiring DMV photos in electronic pollbooks advances
SB 1253 (Obenshain) requires electronic pollbooks to display registered voters’ photos, which would be provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles through the Department of Elections. As introduced, the requirement to download photos onto electronic pollbooks was a local option, but the bill was amended in the Senate to make it mandatory. VACo opposes this […]
Regulations governing placement of children in residential treatment delayed
In August 2016, the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) announced changes to the process by which children would be placed in residential treatment via Medicaid. DMAS had determined that the current Family Assessment and Planning Team process may not be in compliance in all localities with federal regulations governing the composition of the team, […]
Amended ‘stormwater’ bill supported by VACo passes General Assembly
HB 1774 (Hodges), this year’s major stormwater related bill supported by VACo, has unanimously passed both chambers of the General Assembly. As amended, HB 1774 (Hodges) authorizes a cooperative study facilitated by the Virginia Coastal Policy Center at William and Mary Law School. Under the bill, the Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency will convene a work […]
All ‘fracking trade secret’ bills defeated
HB 1679 (Robinson) was stricken from the February 21 docket of the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee. This was the last surviving bill that would have provided “trade secret” status for certain chemicals used in the process of hydraulic fracturing. The other three defeated bills were HB 1678 (Robinson), SB 1291 (Chafin) and […]
Termination for FOIA violation dies in committee
VACo opposed HB 2402 (Morris), which provided that if the court finds that any officer or employee of a public body receives a request for records that was sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, and without legal excuse or justification, deliberately, willfully, and knowingly fails to make a response to such request, such officer or […]
GIS bills gone
HB 2145 (LeMunyon) died in Senate General Laws Committee, meeting the same fate as its Senate counterpart SB 1572 (Stanley). This bill would have required that most GIS work could only be done by licensed land surveyor photogrammetrists. This would add a cost to localities who would have had to hire licensed consultants or to have […]
VACo Video
With Sine Die a few days away, VACo had the opportunity to talk with Delegate Terry Kilgore and Senator Barbara Favola about the General Assembly Session. Watch VACo Videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/VACounties February 20, 2017 Delegate Terry Kilgore discusses the 2017 General Assembly Session, Southwest Virginia, rural issues and the retirement announcement of Speaker Bill Howell. […]
Register for the Virginia Certified County Supervisors’ Program today
County Board members are community leaders who are charged with advancing their county into the future. The Virginia Certified County Supervisors’ Program is designed to provide Virginia’s county supervisors with the opportunity to do just that. This five-course program takes roughly two years to complete. Each course begins with an opening session, followed by six […]
ENTER THE 2017 VACo ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Dear VACo Members It’s almost time for the 2017 Achievement Awards Program. Be on the lookout for the entry form coming March 1. The entry form will be posted on www.vaco.org and emailed to VACo Members. Submissions will be due by June 2. VACo processed a record 91 entries and selected 29 winners from 21 […]
Visit Amherst County and the Bluff Mountain Tunnel
April 1- 7 is Local Government Education Week
Let’s celebrate and share the Virginia local government story with students and the greater community in April. Participating communities are eligible to win a great elementary school level book on local government services and further education on the importance of public service at the same time. The 2012 General Assembly adopted House Joint Resolution #93 […]