Author: Gage Harter

Water Reporting Bills Amended in VACo’s Favor

HB 2407 (Scott, P.A.) and SB 1408 (Reeves), as introduced, would require waterworks to report any operational anomaly, regardless of severity, that could affect water quality, public health, or service continuity to the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Drinking Water (the Office) within 24 hours of discovery. This would include instances of pump failures, […]

Bill that Would Repeal Local Authority Related to Towing is in Better Posture

SB 1332 (Marsden) and HB 2214 (McQuinn) as introduced, would repeal the authority for localities to establish trespass towing fees, with exceptions, and require the State Corporation Commission to establish such fees statewide and adjust such fees annually. VACo opposed SB 1332 and HB 2214 as introduced because these bills stripped localities of little authority […]

Two Short-Term Rental Bills Advance and Two Fail to Move Forward

HB 2383 (Mundon King) and SB 1402 (Surovell), which reflect a compromise between Airbnb and Commissioners of the Revenue, have passed their respective originating chambers.  Airbnb has agreed to comply with current law requiring monthly reporting of property addresses and gross receipts for all accommodations facilitated by in each locality.  This information will allow transient […]

Inter-Basin Water Transfer Bill Defeated

SB 923 (Stuart), as substituted and amended, would prohibit the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) from issuing a Virginia Water Protection Permit for a surface water withdrawal if more than 6 million gallons of water per day would be returned to a different river basin. SB 923 imposes strict limitations on the ability of water utilities […]

Finance Roundup

As the 2025 session approaches the crossover deadline for bills to emerge from their chambers of origin, several finance-related bills of interest have advanced, as outlined below: Property tax exemptions:  HB 1896 (Willett) relates to certain property that is tax-exempt by classification (such as property owned by the Commonwealth or by religious institutions, or nonprofit […]

Additional Bills of Interest

The following are bills that VACo has been monitoring, as they will affect local government operations fiscally or operationally. Eminent Domain Bills Eminent domain; condemnation proceedings. SB 1158 (Obenshain) adds additional responsibilities to parties who condemn property, primarily relating to procedures in condemnation and the transfer of a defeasible title by certificate. The bill sets forth […]

BPOL Legislation Needs Thorough Review

HB 1743 (Watts) deals with the ability of businesses to deduct gross receipts attributable to business conducted in another state or foreign country from taxation under the BPOL tax.  Under current law, receipts attributable to business conducted in another state or foreign country in which the taxpayer is liable for an income tax or other […]

Local Authority to Appoint School Boards Preemption Bill Defeated

On January 30, SB 1404 (Pekarsky), which requires election as the method of selecting the members of each school board in the Commonwealth and makes several changes to eliminate provisions relating to appointed school boards, was defeated in the Senate Education and Health Committee by failing to report on a vote of 6-7-2. As previously […]

Affordable Housing Assessment Legislation Improved

HB 2245 (Callsen), as introduced, would require affordable housing property operated under certain federal housing programs to be assessed using the income approach, based on the analysis of certain enumerated data points.  Under current law, in valuing affordable housing properties, assessors are required to consider the contract rent and the impact of applicable rent restrictions; […]

Bills to Eliminate Grocery Tax, Restrict Meals Tax Authority Fail

HB 2006 (McNamara) and SB 1172 (Suetterlein), similar bills that would have eliminated the 1 percent local option sales and use tax on groceries, have failed to emerge from their respective committees.  VACo opposed both bills; although the legislation proposed to replace the lost revenue with a state appropriation based on each city and county’s […]

Line of Duty Act (LODA) Bills for Private Police Departments and Campuses Advance

VACo supports HB 1815 (Campbell) / SB 1142 (Obenshain), which would provide employees of contributing nonprofit private institutions of higher education and contributing private police departments with the benefits granted to employees of participating employers under the Line of Duty Act. The bills require each contributing nonprofit private institution of higher education to pay its […]

Real Property Tax Exemption Bills Under Consideration

Several bills regarding property tax exemptions for disabled veterans and their surviving spouses and the surviving spouses of servicemembers who die in the line of duty are under consideration this session. Current law provides that for the real property tax exemption for the surviving spouse of a servicemember who died in the line of duty, […]