Author: Gage Harter

VACo opposes bill to revise how localities determine water and sewer connection fees

Under current law the fees localities set for the connection of water and sewer service must be “fair and reasonable.” SB 1569 (Reeves) would change that standard to “practicable and equitable” and then require that the fees must adhere to specific criteria currently applicable only to treatment of sewage waste. Such criteria are not appropriate […]

Check Register bill defeated in committee

By a unanimous vote, SB 795 (Sturtevant) was tabled in a subcommittee of the House Counties, Cities and Towns Committee on Wednesday afternoon. The failed proposal would have required every locality and every school division to post on its website a register of all transactions. This includes vendor name, date of payment, amount and description […]

Short-term rental bill clears another hurdle

SB 1578 (Norment), which affirms local government authority over short-term rentals, unanimously passed the House General Laws Committee on Thursday and then was referred to House Appropriations where it will likely be voted on Monday afternoon. VACo supports SB 1578 because it preserves local authority and authorizes a locality to adopt an ordinance requiring the […]

Update on Constitutional Amendments

Numerous Constitutional amendments were introduced this year, but only a few remain under consideration. In order to be incorporated into the Constitution, an amendment must pass this session and next session in identical form and then be approved by referendum (traditionally at the next November general election). The following measures remain under consideration: HJ 562 […]

The latest on education bills

As mentioned at County Government Day, the constitutional amendments that would have allowed the Board of Education to approve charter schools failed to advance this year. However, two bills on the same topic remain in play. As amended, HB 2342 (Landes) and SB 1283 (Obenshain) would allow the Board of Education to establish regional charter […]

Amended ‘stormwater’ bill supported by VACo clears Senate Committee

After unanimously passing in the House, HB 1774 (Hodges) was reported by the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee on a 12-0 vote.  As amended, HB 1774 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 […]

All ‘fracking trade secret’ bills defeated

HB 1679 (Robinson) was stricken from the docket of Thursday’s meeting 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) […]

An update on immigration bills

Several bills were introduced dealing with local governmental enforcement of federal immigration laws and policies but only one appears to be still alive. HB 1468 (Marshall, R.G.) deals with compliance by the Department of Corrections, local sheriffs and regional jail superintendents with requests from the Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to hold prisoners pending ICE taking […]

Three Fracking Trade Secrets Bills Defeated – One to Go

On February 13, HB 1678 (Robinson) was rejected on an 8-6 vote by the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee. VACo opposed the bill, which would have established procedures for the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy to approve “trade secret” status for certain chemicals used in the process of hydraulic fracturing or “fracking.” Earlier […]

Agritourism Home Rental Bill Dies in Subcommittee

On February 13, SB 1491 (Stuart) was tabled on a voice vote in the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee’s Agriculture Subcommittee. This bill would have expanded the definition of “agritourism activity” by including the rental of a single-family residence for a period of at least one week. VACo spoke against the measure as […]

Capitol Contact ALERT – Contact your Delegate NOW to Support Short-Term Rental Bill

Support SB 1578 (Norment), which affirms local government authority over short-term rentals and requires compliance with local lodging and zoning ordinances. The bill passed the Senate last week and will be before the House General Laws Committee on Thursday afternoon. In 2016, VACo opposed Airbnb backed legislation that would have preempted local zoning authority and […]

Bill to preserve local authority over short-term rentals passes Senate

SB 1578 (Norment), a bill to affirm and clarify the role local governments play in making sure short-term rentals are in compliance with local lodging and zoning ordinances, passed the Senate this week and will be before the House General Laws Committee’s Subcommittee #1 next Tuesday. In 2016, the company Airbnb backed an unsuccessful proposal […]