Update on Elections Bills
Although a significant number of bills dealing with elections were considered this session, only a handful have met with approval in both chambers. Among the bills that are expected to pass this session are the following: HB 1948 (Bloxom) eliminates the requirement for a witness to sign an absentee ballot’s return envelope. Instead, the voter […]
Workforce Development Reform Bills Advance
HB 2195 (Byron) / SB 1470 (Ruff) would create the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement (the Department) to administer workforce development services and training programs. The bills consolidate various statewide workforce program evaluation and data sharing under the Department and provides protections against improper disclosure of data. The bills also (i) transfer administration of […]
State General Fund Revenues on Track, but Slowdown Still Expected
On February 15, Secretary of Finance Stephen E. Cummings reported to the House Appropriations Committee on January state General Fund revenues, notifying Committee members that revenues are ahead of the December forecast, but highlighting several areas of uncertainty in the months ahead. After adjusting for timing issues for collections and certain policy changes, such as […]
Capitol Contact ALERT! Oppose Bill that May Result in Negative Impacts on Local Water Quality
Bill to be heard on Friday, February 17 – Call Your Senators Now to Oppose HB 2282 (Edmunds), as amended, would allow 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 […]
House and Senate Pass Budgets
The House and Senate passed their respective budget proposals on Thursday, with the House approving its budget by 63-36 and the Senate approving its proposal by 32-8. The deadline for the budget bills to be placed in conference is Wednesday, February 15. Following is an overview of the major elements of both proposed budgets of […]
Teacher Compensation Bill Modified to Become Study
SB 1215 (Lucas), as originally drafted, would require the Commonwealth to compensate its public-school teachers at a rate that is competitive, defined in current law as at or above the national average teacher salary, in order to attract and keep highly qualified teachers. Currently, the Code of Virginia declares it the policy of the Commonwealth to […]
Problematic Bill Creating New Liability for Local Enforcement Action Passes House Subcommittee
After passing the senate by a wide margin, SB 1495 (Surovell) cleared its first hurdle by unanimous vote in the House Courts of Justice Committee’s Subcommittee #2 on February 13. The legislation provides that any person aggrieved by an enforcement action by a locality, where the enforcement action was based upon a willful disregard for […]
Transportation Partnership Opportunity Fund Bills Amended to Address VACo’s Concerns
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 […]
Bill Requiring School Divisions to Spend ESSER Funds Goes to the Senate
HB 2269 (Greenhalgh) would require local school divisions to return any unspent or unobligated Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) or Governor Emergency Education Relief Funds (GEER) state set-aside funds exceeding 20 percent of its total awarded allocations, awarded to the local school division by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to VDOE […]
Return to Work Bills Advance
Several items of legislation that seek to incentivize return to work by certain public employees are advancing through the General Assembly. They primarily incentivize retirees in law enforcement or specialized school division positions by reducing the length of the Virginia Retirement System’s required break in service. These bills are intended to help reduce the ongoing […]
Visit Cumberland County and the Cumberland County Historic Courthouse
Location: 1 Court House Circle / Foster Road Built: 1818 – 1821 Style: Colonial Revival Architect: William A Howard Contractor: William A Howard Description: The building faces south and is a one story red colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Cumberland. The rectangular building is located on […]
Federal and Regional Economic Development Partnership to Invest in Virginia Localities
The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) is an economic development partnership of the Federal government and the seven state governments of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Florida. SCRC’s mission is to build sustainable communities and increase economic growth, particularly in economically distressed areas. Dr. Jennifer Clyburn Reed serves as the Federal […]
Online mapping resource to assist in siting of utility-scale solar facilities now available
The Virginia Land and Energy Navigator (VaLEN) is now available for public use. VaLEN brings together GIS information related to prime farm and forestland, conserved lands, brownfields and mined lands, transmission lines, and other topics to support land use planning and decision-making at the local level for energy projects including solar, wind, hydroelectric, and small modular […]
Welcome to VACo – Grimm + Parker Architects
Capitol Contact ALERT! Oppose Bill That Creates New Liability and Financial Remedy against Localities
Bill could be heard on Monday, February 13 – Call Your Delegates Now to Oppose SB 1495 (Surovell) provides that any person aggrieved by an enforcement action by a locality, where the enforcement action was based upon a willful disregard for applicable law, regulation, or ordinance, shall be entitled to an award of compensatory damages […]
Constitutional Amendments Advance in Senate, Stall in House
A handful of Constitutional amendments have been passed by the Senate and await action in the House. Of particular interest to local governments are the following: SJ 231 (McPike) would extend the current real property tax exemption for the surviving spouse of any member of the armed forces of the United States who was killed […]