Bills Take Differing Approaches to Statutes Regarding Removal of Officers
HB 1149 (Cordoza) would make a significant change to the process of removing an elected officer or officer who has been appointed to fill an elective office. Under current law, the removal process for most elected officials begins with a petition to a circuit court signed by registered voters within the jurisdiction equating to ten […]
Speed Camera Roundup
SB 336 (Roem) and HB 521 (Laufer) focus on the ability for localities to expand the use of photo speed monitoring within their jurisdiction but take different approaches in enabling the use of this public safety tool. As previously reported, SB 336 would permit a state or local law enforcement agency to place and operate a photo speed […]
Support Priority Budget Amendments
VACo has worked with legislators and partner organizations to introduce a series of budget amendments to address county priorities this session. There are also a large number of other amendments under consideration that are helpful to local governments. The “money committees” will be reviewing member proposals in advance of reporting their respective budgets on February […]
School Construction Financing Bills Pass Senate
On January 29, the full Senate passed SB 14 (McPike) on a bipartisan vote of 27-13. As previously reported, this bill would permit any county or city to impose an additional local sales and use tax of up to 1 percent, if initiated by a resolution of the local governing body and approved by voters […]
FOIA Bills Update
VACo opposed SB 324 (Roem), which is an unfunded mandate bill and would allow every citizen of the Commonwealth, and representative of newspapers and magazines with circulation in the Commonwealth, and media in or into the Commonwealth, to make four free two-hour FOIA requests per 31 consecutive days. Then after the 8 free hours per […]
Public Notice and Transparency Bills of Interest
VACo opposes HB 710 (Webert) and SB 549 (Russet Perry), which provide that any travel expense of a local official, as defined in the bill, to be paid from public funds, that is anticipated to exceed $2,500 shall be subject to approval in advance by a vote of the local governing body in an open […]
Bill to Make Residential a “By-Right” Use in Commercial and Industrial Districts is carried over to 2025
At the request of the patron SB 430 (Van Valkenburg) was “carried over” for the year in the Senate Local Government Committee. The legislation proposes to make “any type of residential use that is permitted in a locality” a permitted use on any parcel, except for those with a zoning classification of agriculture, conservation, or […]
VACo Opposes Bill to Make Residential a “By-Right” Use in Commercial and Industrial Districts
SB 430 (Van Valkenburg) proposes to make “any type of residential use that is permitted in a locality” a permitted use on any parcel, except for those with a zoning classification of agriculture, conservation, or a different residential use. The bill also prohibits a locality from requiring a special exception, special use, or conditional use […]
VACo Opposes Legislation Mandating Localities to Approve Utility-Scale Solar and Battery Storage Facilities
SB 697 (Van Valkenburg) requires localities to permit utility-scale solar and energy storage facilities as a “special exception” per 15.2-2288.8 of Virginia Code and to develop an ordinance that establishes “reasonable criteria and requirements” for the siting of utility-scale solar and battery storage projects. Additionally, the legislation states that such reasonable criteria and requirements “…shall […]
Mandatory Collective Bargaining Bills Resurface
HB 1001 (Tran) / SB 374 (Boysko), in their current form, would undermine the existing local option local governments have to engage in collective bargaining agreements with their employees and require local governments to engage in collective bargaining should their employees so choose. Furthermore, in their current form, the legislation would supersede existing local government […]
Mandatory Testing of PFAS for all Municipal Water Systems Bills Introduced
HB 1085 (Rasoul) and SB 243 (McPike) would require municipal wastewater and drinking water plants to monitor PFAS (also known as “forever chemicals”) levels in effluent, influent, and biosolids at least quarterly and report all such data on an applicable discharge monitoring report required by federal regulations. The bill would also require the Department of […]
Finance Legislation Roundup
Several bills of interest to local government have been submitted and considered in the House Finance and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees. HB 639 (Sullivan) was requested by Arlington County and is intended to clear up confusion caused by legislation from 2023. The 2023 legislation required localities with annual or biennial assessments, or that conduct […]
VACo Supports Multiple Electric Vehicle Charging Bills
As previously reported, VACo supports HB 107 (Sullivan) as this bill would create the Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund. The Program and Fund would make available up to $25 million each fiscal year and assist developers by offsetting up to 70 percent of the non-utility cost of electric vehicle charging stations. According to […]
School Construction Financing Bills Headed to the Senate Floor
On January 23, the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee reported SB 14 (McPike) on a bipartisan vote of 10-4. As previously reported, SB 14 would permit any county or city to impose an additional local sales and use tax of up to 1 percent, if initiated by a resolution of the local governing body and […]
Problematic Legislation Would Hamper Local Tax Collections
Two bills have been introduced that would require significant changes to the local tax collection process. Although the bills are generally understood to have been initiated as a result of issues with meals tax collections in one locality, the bills apply statewide, and several of the bills’ provisions apply to all local taxes. HB 1483 […]
VACo Opposes Legislation to Make ADUs a By-Right Use
SB 304 (Salim) and HB 900 (Srinivasan) mandate all localities permit accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as an accessory use in residential zoning districts. The legislation also prohibits a locality from requiring (1) dedicated parking for the ADU; and (2) Lot sizes or setbacks for the ADU greater than that of the primary dwelling. Additionally, the […]