Visit Fairfax County and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
The Udvar-Hazy Center in Fairfax County is our companion facility to the Museum on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Opened in 2003, its two huge hangars — the Boeing Aviation Hangar and the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar — display thousands of aviation and space artifacts, including a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, a Concorde, and […]
Capitol Contact ALERT – Call or email your Legislators NOW on Eminent Domain bill
Oppose costly SB 478 in Subcommittee on Monday SB 478 (Obenshain) amends eminent domain laws in several ways that will make out-of-court settlement of condemnation cases more difficult and will add significantly to the cost of public projects. This bill passed the Senate with a vote of 37-2. The bill will be heard on Monday […]
Bill limits local authority over communications towers
VACo opposed HB 1347 (Heretick), which would severely limit local authority to regulate communications towers. The bill limits fees localities may charge in the permitting process, as well as rents locality may charge for leasing public facilities. HB 1347 mandates the use of public rights of way and limits the ability of localities to require […]
Bill prohibits local governments from imposing ‘fees’
With opposition from VACo, HB 801 (Morris) was killed. The bill prohibited the Commonwealth and localities from imposing a charge and calling it a “fee” unless the charge relates to a direct and immediate specific service, goods or permit received by the person paying the charge. This bill was passed by indefinitely by the House […]
Problematic Freedom of Information Act bills gone for the session
In the third and final year of a comprehensive Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) study in which each meeting and record exemption is being examined and discussed, it was surprising to note a very large number of introduced bills. Because of VACo’s opposition and your contacts with legislators the most troublesome bills failed to advance.
Recording Closed Sessions bill sent to House Appropriations
HB 800 (Morris), which requires all closed sessions be recorded, was amended by the patron to mandate both recordings and that minutes be taken in closed session. These recordings and minutes would be available in any proceeding to enforce the Freedom of Information Act. The bill was reported and left in House Appropriations. VACo Contact: […]
Bill targets union activities and creates liability for local governmental entities
SB 737 (Obenshain) passed out of the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee on an 8-7 vote. This bill prohibits public employers from paying leave or benefits to any public employee to directly or indirectly work for or on behalf of an employee organization, professional association, labor union or labor organization. A violation is a […]
Bill alters notice provisions
VACo opposes SB 611 (Stanley), which passed the Senate 25-15. This bill amends Va. Code § 15.2-209, a provision that requires anyone making a claim against a county, city or town to give written notice to the locality’s attorney or chief administrative officer within six months after the claim arises. Failure to give that notice […]
Bill makes localities liable when an employee exceeds their authority
VACo opposes SB 746 (Wagner) that makes a state agency or locality liable for damages caused by an employee who intentionally exceeds his or her authority. This creates a problem as localities and their insurers generally reserve the right not to pay damages on behalf of employees who intentionally commit wrongful acts, and the costs […]
Local Employee Grievance Procedures being challenged
HB 1293 (Hugo) would make significant changes to local grievance procedures statewide. The bill would require that in the final step of all local grievance procedures, the parties must agree to either a certified hearing officer or three-member panel. This eliminates the opportunity for the jurisdiction to determine and state the final step of the […]
Bills provide local governing body greater voice in process to site electric transmission lines
VACo supports SB 136 (Favola) / HB 283 (Minchew) / HB 533 (J. Bell), which authorize the local governing body to be able to require a State Corporation Commission public hearing in the area of a proposed high voltage transmission line. Currently, 20 or more residents in the affected area can demand such a local […]
Comprehensive stormwater bills pass
HB 1250 (Wilt) and SB 673 (Hanger) have passed in the chambers where the bills were introduced. These are companion measures that integrate components of Virginia’s four statutes that govern the state’s stormwater management program – the State Water Control Law, the Virginia Stormwater Act, Virginia’s Erosion and Sediment Control Law, and the Chesapeake Bay […]
Bill to address stormwater ‘donut hole’ tabled
HB 1340 (Hodges) was intended to address the “donut hole” problem in localities subject to the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act by requiring the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to assume responsibility for managing stormwater related functions for land-disturbing activities between 2,500 square feet and one acre. VACo supported this measure. On February 10, the Commerce, […]
Stormwater waiver bill passes
SB 468 (Wagner) unanimously passed the Senate. As amended, SB 468 allows localities imposing stormwater utility fees to establish public-private partnership programs with financial incentives to reward property owners for undertaking programs on their own to effectively manage and treat stormwater. Senator Frank Wagner also inserted an amendment into the bill requiring localities to exempt from […]
Bill protecting trade secrets of fracking chemicals withdrawn
SB 706 (Chafin) was withdrawn by the patron for any further consideration during the current legislative session. SB 706 would have amended the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by excluding as trade secrets the types of chemicals that may be used in the process of hydraulic fracturing (or fracking). Its House companion measure, HB 1389 […]
Workforce training bills supported by VACo advance
HB 66 (Byron) establishes a program that would award grants to certain individuals who complete eight hours of community service and who subsequently complete a noncredit workforce training program and earn the related credential in a high-demand field. The grant, in an aggregate amount of $2,000, would be limited to payment of tuition charged for […]