Wireless Bills to be Voted on Early Next Week; Contact Legislators to Oppose
HB 2196 (Kilgore) and SB 1282 (McDougle) would gut local zoning authority and require that localities allow wireless facilities in their rights of way and on all locally owned property. The bills grant special privileges to a single industry at the expense of the local taxpayers. Forced use of public property and right of way […]
Capitol Contact ALERT – Contact your Legislators NOW to oppose Broadband Services bill
Many VACo members have invested time, resources, and expense for the deployment of broadband to serve schools, businesses, and residential areas. HB 2108 (Byron), if passed, could halt these efforts and potentially bar future initiatives. HB 2108 will be heard in the House Commerce and Labor Committee on Thursday afternoon 30 minutes after adjournment in […]
VACo Opposes Bills to Exempt Electrical Substations from Local Approval
Appalachian Power seeks to exempt “any station, substation, transition station, and switchyard facilities” associated with certain high voltage transmission lines from local planning and zoning review. Currently only the overhead transmission lines – when approved by the State Corporation Commission (SCC) – “shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements” of local comprehensive plans and zoning […]
Capitol Contact ALERT – Contact your Legislators NOW to oppose Wireless bills
HB 2196 (Kilgore) and SB 1282 (McDougle) would gut local zoning authority and require that localities allow wireless facilities in their rights of way and on all locally owned property. The bills grant special privileges to a single industry at the expense of the local taxpayers. Forced use of public property and right of way […]
Support Needed for VACo Budget Amendments
Several budget amendments were introduced at VACo’s request. Budget amendments have begun to be heard in the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees in advance of the money committees reporting their respective budgets on February 5. Calls are needed in support of the following amendments: VRS Teacher Plan Item 475 #1h (Kilgore) | Item 475 […]
Bill Expands ‘Agritourism’ Definition
VACo opposes SB 1491 (Stuart), which defines “agritourism activity” to include the rental of a single-family residence for a period of at least one week. VACo opposes this measure because it further reduces local land use regulatory authority. Under legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2014 – HB 268 (Orrock) and SB 51 (Stuart) […]
Bill Creates Study on Recycling
SB 1518 (Lewis) expands the scope of the recycling programs supported by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to include beneficial use, defined as “the use or reuse of a material that otherwise would become solid waste in a manufacturing process or as landfill cover, aggregate substitute, fuel substitute, or fill material.” The bill […]
Bill Allows Sales of Lifelong Dog Licenses
HB 1477 (Orrock) authorizes local governments to provide for a lifetime dog or cat license. The maximum license charged by localities for a lifetime license at $50. The bill was unanimously recommended for reporting on a 7-0 vote on January 23 in the of the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee’s Agriculture Subcommittee. VACo […]
Senate Charter School Constitutional Amendment to be Heard Wednesday, January 25
SJ 240 (Obenshain), which would allow the state Board of Education to establish charter schools, subject to criteria and conditions that the General Assembly would prescribe, is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee’s Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments on Wednesday, January 25. VACo has historically opposed such measures because they would […]
Several problematic education bills introduced
In addition to the constitutional amendments that would allow the Board of Education to approve charter schools, two bills on the same topic have been introduced. HB 2342 (Landes) and SB 1283 (Obenshain) would allow the Board of Education to establish charter school divisions in regions where one or more of the school divisions have […]
VACo Weekly Legislative Wrap – January 20
For the week ending January 20
Stormwater a Hot Issue during 2017 General Assembly Session
HB 1774 (Hodges) is a complex stormwater bill that is likely to undergo some significant changes before it is presented to the Chesapeake Subcommittee of the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee. As introduced, HB 1774 allows local governments that “opt out” of managing their own stormwater programs to establish a “rural development growth […]
More Harmful Freedom of Information Act Bills Introduced
Delegate Rick Morris submitted two measures dealing with FOIA that will affect local governments. HB 2401 (Morris) mandates that minutes be taken in all closed meetings and also provides that audio recordings of all closed meetings be made. The bill is silent as to who can access these notes and recordings and what process can […]
Bill Expands Definition of Agritourism
SB 1491 (Stuart) defines “agritourism activity” to include the rental of a single-family residence for a period of at least one week. This measure, which appears to further reduce local land use regulatory authority, has been referred to the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee. VACo would like to receive feedback from counties on […]
Join us for a VACo Education Event
The #VACoEducation calendar is filling in quickly. Make sure to check out all VACo Education on our newly redesigned website or on the Education & Meetings schedule. The evening of Wednesday, February 1, VACo and Virginia Rural Center will team up to host the Rural Caucus Reception and Dinner. Majority Leader Kirk Cox will be […]
Visit Prince William County and the National Museum of the Marine Corps
The National Museum of the Marine Corps is a lasting tribute to U.S. Marines–past, present, and future. Situated on a 135-acre site adjacent to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, and under the command of Marine Corps University, the Museum’s soaring design evokes the image of the flag-raisers of Iwo Jima and beckons visitors to this […]