Expanded Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) eligibility survives crossover
SB 1404 (Lewis) proposes a slight expansion of project eligibility for Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) projects. Specifically, the bill authorizes SLAF awarded for projects related to Chesapeake Bay total maximum daily load (TMDL) requirements to take into account total phosphorus reductions or total nitrogen reductions. Additionally, SB 1404 authorizes grants awarded for eligible projects […]
Visit Wythe County and St. John’s Lutheran Church
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF Virginia Landmarks Register Listing – Date 04/19/1977 National Register of Historic Places Listing – Date 01/26/1978 NRHP Reference Number 78003047 During the late 18th century, German settlers were concentrated near the present town of Wytheville. In 1798, St. John’s Church, recently organized, adopted a common “Order of […]
Introducing a New Associate Member – HydroGeo
February 17 Educational Webinar for County Officials on New Online Tool to Compare Revenue Options for Solar Projects
The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) in partnership with the Energy Transition Initiative (ETI) has developed a new online tool for local governments to compare the choice between applying the current Machinery and Tools (M&T) tax on utility-scale solar energy equipment versus the recently adopted option to apply an energy tax (aka […]
Commonwealth Connect: Round One FY2021 VATI grants
Governor Northam recently announced $29.6 million in VATI awards to 5 projects, connecting 11,743 Virginia homes and businesses. Congratulations to the winning projects and we look forward to seeing more of Virginia get connected. These awards are for the first round of the FY21 Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) and the list of winning projects are […]
Premier Partner News – VML/VACo Finance
VML/VACo Finance is the financial services arm of the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) and Virginia Municipal League (VML). We provide high quality financial services at low cost, a goal achieved through cost-sharing. We offer services in the following areas: Financing & Municipal Advisory, Investments, and Accounting. Our investment programs comprise the VACo/VML Pooled OPEB […]
New requirements for community outreach for air, water and waste permits fail in Senate, move forward in House
Legislation that requires new, and robust, community and environmental justice outreach for certain applications for permits from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) failed to report out of the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee on February 4, while a companion measure has made it to the House floor. The debate and controversy […]
In-person and virtual learning requirement bill graduates Senate
SB 1303 (Dunnavant) would require that each local school division in the Commonwealth make virtual and in-person learning available to all students by choice of the student’s parent or guardian. This is meant to address the concerns of some parents that virtual or hybrid learning is not as effective as in-person instruction and also the […]
Virginia Board of Education Standards of Quality Legislation
The Virginia Board of Education (VBOE) re-prescribed its biennial revisions to the state’s Standards of Quality (SOQ) in December 2020. Many of the Board’s recommendations remain unfunded in the Governor’s proposed revisions to the 2020-2022 budget and would require significant state and local funding. Two bills seek to codify the Board’s prescriptions. HB 1929 (Aird) […]
Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee changes to workers’ compensation presumption legislation largely address fiscal concerns
As previously reported, several pieces of legislation that propose changes to the Virginia’s Workers’ Compensation Act with potentially significant impact to local governments are making their way through the General Assembly. Over the course of two days, the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee heeded testimony from VACo and adopted substitute language that significantly reduces the […]
Problematic landfill bills defeated in Senate committee
Three problematic bills prohibiting the placement and permitting for landfills have been effectively defeated in the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee on February 4. SB 1186 (Hashmi) preempted local authority, prohibiting the construction of any new municipal solid waste landfill within three miles of any designated historic district, building, structure, object, or site. […]
WIP III wastewater bills continue to find success in House and Senate
Two important bills that save localities money, provide greater certainty to wastewater treatment plants, and still provide a roadmap for achieving the goals and obligations of the Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP III) continue to find favor in the House and Senate. HB 2129 (Lopez) and SB 1354 (Hanger) establish a framework and timeline […]
Helpful public notice bill referred back to committee again; topic to be further studied
Despite favorably reporting from the House Counties, Cities, and Towns Committee twice, legislators have elected to send HB 2114 (Ransone) back to Committee – for a second time – so that the issue can be further studied. HB 2114 provides that in any instance in which a locality has submitted a timely notice of public […]
Legislation to assist in Marcus Alert implementation moves forward
SB 1302 (McPike) would provide additional funding for the crisis call center that will support implementation of last year’s Marcus Alert legislation and designate the call center as the 9-8-8 Crisis Hotline Center for purposes of participating in the national suicide prevention network. In July 2020, the Federal Communications Commission designated 988 as the new […]
A flurry of procurement bills
HB 2001 (Helmer) would require localities to design certain buildings and renovations with Virginia Energy Conservation and Environmental Standards to include charging stations and tracking of energy efficiency and carbon emissions. The bill applies to new buildings in excess of 5,000 square feet or any building renovated that would increase the value of the building […]
Expansion of Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) eligibility passes Senate committee
SB 1404 (Lewis) proposes a slight expansion of project eligibility for Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) projects. Specifically, the bill authorizes SLAF awarded for projects related to Chesapeake Bay total maximum daily load (TMDL) requirements to consider total phosphorus reductions or total nitrogen reductions. Additionally, SB 1404 authorizes grants awarded for eligible projects in localities […]