Transportation Partnership Opportunity Fund Bills Amended to Address VACo’s Concerns Report out of Conference Favorably
SB 1106 (Newman) and HB 2302 (Adams, L), as introduced, were similar to budget language in the Governor’s introduced budget regarding the Transportation Partnership Opportunity Fund (TPOF). The introduced bills required the Governor to include in the Budget Bill an appropriation of up to $200 million, limited to $100 million each year, from the Commonwealth […]
Enter the VACo 2023 Achievement Awards
Dear VACo Members – It’s time for the 2023 Achievement Awards Program. Any county department is eligible to compete so ENTER NOW! Achievement Awards Submission Form All entries are required to be submitted in electronic form. No paper copy submissions are necessary. The electronic copy should be a PDF or WORD file. Email entries to Gage […]
Visit Dickenson County and the Dickenson County Historic Courthouse
Location: 293 Main Street / McClure StreetBuilt: 1915 – 1917Style: Colonial RevivalArchitect: H M MillerContractor: D G Kelley Description: The building faces southeast and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building backs onto a hill and is located in the center of Clintwood. The building is “T” shaped and is […]
Bill Creating New Stormwater Exemption for Tree Clearing Dies in Senate
HB 2282 (Edmunds), as amended, would have allowed for forest harvesting activities to be exempt from the Virginia Stormwater Management Program even if the land does not intend to be reforested or turned into agricultural use. In effect, these changes in the law could allow for land disturbance activities, not associated with future forestry and […]
Update on Behavioral Health Legislation
As reported earlier in the session, several bills are under consideration to address aspects of the temporary detention process in an effort to relieve pressure on the state hospital system, as well as on law enforcement agencies. In addition, both the House and Senate budget proposals recommend additional investments in crisis services over and above […]
Plug Pulled on the Rural Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund
VACo spoke in support of SB 1466 (Marsden) and HB 1588 (Sullivan), which would create the Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund. This Fund would make available up to $25 million each fiscal year and assist developers by offsetting up to 70 percent of the cost of electric vehicle charging stations. According to the […]
Retired Constitutional Officer Health Insurance Credit Bill Clears Assembly
HB 1789 (Filler-Corn), beginning July 1, 2024, would raise the amount of monthly health insurance credits (HIC) received by retired constitutional officers and their employees with a minimum of 15 years of creditable service from $1.50 to $1.75 per month per year of creditable service not to exceed $52.50 per month. In the case of […]
The Status of School Construction Legislation
On February 17, the members of House Finance Subcommittee #3 voted 5-2 to lay SB 1408 (McClellan) on the table, effectively ending the chances of passage. As previously reported, SB 1408 would permit any county or city to impose an additional local sales and use tax of up to 1 percent, if initiated by a […]
BPOL Legislation Significantly Revised in Senate
HB 2200 (Robinson), as introduced, would mandate a deduction from gross receipts that would otherwise be subject to BPOL taxes for the amounts paid for anti-cancer drugs that are purchased by a medical practice and administered to patients whose treatment costs are paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, or TRICARE. VACo was opposed to the original […]
Bill Gutting Localities Ability to Regulate Solid Waste Laid on Table
SB 1365 (Lewis) would exempt Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) from local flow control ordinance by State law. MRFs are facilities that separate recyclable materials such as metals or other recyclable products from solid waste. The definition of a MRF, as set out in the bill, does not require these facilities to meet any standards for […]
License Reciprocity Bills for Waterworks Pass the General Assembly
SB 999 (Mason) and its companion bill, HB 1940 (Runion), would allow for waterworks employees licensed in other states to be issued the equivalent license in Virginia. The bills help localities recruit and retain these necessary public works employees as staffing issues continue at the local level. As previously reported, VACo supports the passage of […]
House and Senate Differ on Bill to Create a State Economic Development Acquisition Fund
The Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee significantly altered legislation to create a state acquisition and development fund for economic development for sites of at least 250 acres. HB 1842 (Knight), which creates the Virginia Business Ready Sites Acquisition Fund and Program, was changed into a study directing the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) to convene […]
Modified PFAs Bill Addressing VACo’s Concerns Dies in House Sub
SB 1013 (Edwards), as introduced, would have required a public waterworks owner to notify customers via mailings and newspaper publication when a water quality analysis reveals that PFAS chemicals are present in a water supply or when a PFAS contaminant exceeds maximum contaminant levels. VACo opposed the initial iteration of the bill because of the […]
Freedom of Information Act Bills of Note Advancing and Retreating
HB 1569 (Walker) Virginia Freedom of Information Act; disclosure of personnel records. Clarifies that personnel records excluded from disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act include those of persons employed by (i) a public body engaged in emergency medical services or fire protection services, (ii) a law-enforcement agency, or (iii) an emergency 911 system or […]
Conflict of Interest Act Bills Advancing and Vanquishing
HB 2122 (Watts) State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act; Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council; training for members of appointed school boards. Adds members of appointed school boards to the list of persons for whom the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council is required to provide certain training sessions. The bill also […]
Fire Services Needs Work Group Bill Advances
On February 17, the Senate Committee on Rules voted unanimously (15-0) to report HB 2175 (Sickles), which directs the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to establish a work group composed of representatives from the Department of Fire Programs, the Department of Planning and Budget, the Office of Emergency Medical Services, the Virginia Fire […]