eNews – February 23, 2024
Action Alert to OPPOSE bill that would gut local authority on short-term rentals, Budget outlook and items of interest...and more!
Friday, February 23, 2024/Categories: eNews
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In this issue:
Action Alert
Budget
Finance
General Laws
Education
Elections
Cannabis
Health & Human Services
Transportation
VML News
Action Alert
OPPOSE: Senate Bill 544 that would gut local authority on short-term rentals will be on the House floor beginning Monday (February 26)
Please call all your House members and ask them to vote "NO"
SB544 (Bagby) states in part that "no local ordinance enacted after December 31, 2023, shall require that a special exception, special use, or conditional use permit be obtained for the use of a residential dwelling as a short-term rental where the dwelling unit is also legally occupied by the property owner as his primary residence."
Talking Points
- Allowing for a special exception or use requires a locality to provide the neighbors notice and an opportunity to be heard (Citizen Engagement).
- Localities are best suited to make local land use decisions.
- Short-term rental ordinances have been created with a lot of citizen input.
- The language is vague and doesn't state what "legally occupied" is or how it could be enforced.
Action Requested
Please call all your members of the House and ask them to vote "NO" on SB544.
Virginia House of Delegates Members
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Anthony, Bonita
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(804) 698-1092
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DelBAnthony@house.virginia.gov
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Arnold, Jonathan
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(804) 698-1046
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DelJArnold@house.virginia.gov
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Askew, Alex
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(804) 698-1095
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DelAAskew@house.virginia.gov
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Austin, Terry
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(804) 698-1037
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DelTAustin@house.virginia.gov
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Ballard, Jason
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(804) 698-1042
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DelJBallard@house.virginia.gov
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Batten, Amanda
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(804) 698-1071
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DelABatten@house.virginia.gov
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Bennett-Parker, Elizabeth
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(804) 698-1005
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DelEBennett-Parker@house.virginia.gov
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Bloxom, Robert
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(804) 698-1000
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DelRBloxom@house.virginia.gov
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Bulova, David
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(804) 698-1011
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DelDBulova@house.virginia.gov
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Callsen, Katrina
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(804) 698-1054
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DelKCallsen@house.virginia.gov
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Campbell, Ellen
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(804) 698-1036
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DelECampbell@house.virginia.gov
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Carr, Betsy
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(804) 698-1078
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DelBCarr@house.virginia.gov
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Cherry, Mike
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(804) 698-1074
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DelMCherry@house.virginia.gov
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Clark, Nadarius
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(804) 698-1084
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DelNClark@house.virginia.gov
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Cohen, Laura Jane
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(804) 698-1015
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DelLJCohen@house.virginia.gov
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Cole, Joshua
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(804) 698-1065
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DelJCole@house.virginia.gov
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Convirs-Fowler, Kelly
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(804) 698-1096
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DelKConvirs-Fowler@house.virginia.gov
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Cordoza, A.C.
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(804) 698-1086
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DelACCordoza@house.virginia.gov
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Cousins, Rae
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(804) 698-1079
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DelRCousins@house.virginia.gov
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Coyner, Carrie
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(804) 698-1075
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DelCCoyner@house.virginia.gov
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Davis, Will
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(804) 698-1039
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DelWDavis@house.virginia.gov
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Delaney, Karrie
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(804) 698-1009
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DelKDelaney@house.virginia.gov
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Earley, Mark
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(804) 698-1073
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DelMEarley@house.virginia.gov
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Ennis, N. Baxter
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(804) 698-1089
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DelBEnnis@house.virginia.gov
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Feggans, Michael
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(804) 698-1097
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DelMFeggans@house.virginia.gov
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Fowler, Hyland “Buddy”
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(804) 698-1059
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DelBFowler@house.virginia.gov
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Freitas, Nicholas
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(804) 698-1062
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DelNFreitas@house.virginia.gov
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Gardner, Debra
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(804) 698-1076
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DelDGardner@house.virginia.gov
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Garrett, Tom
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(804) 698-1056
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DelTGarrett@house.virginia.gov
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Gilbert, C. Todd
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(804) 698-1033
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DelTGilbert@house.virginia.gov
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Glass, Jackie Hope
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(804) 698-1093
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DelJGlass@house.virginia.gov
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Green, William
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(804) 698-1069
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DelCGreen@house.virginia.gov
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Griffin, Tim
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(804) 698-1053
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DelTGriffin@house.virginia.gov
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Hayes, C. E. “Cliff”
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(804) 698-1091
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DelCHayes@house.virginia.gov
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Helmer, Dan
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(804) 698-1010
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DelDHelmer@house.virginia.gov
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Henson, Rozia
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(804) 698-1019
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DelRHenson@house.virginia.gov
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Hernandez, Phil
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(804) 698-1094
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DelPHernandez@house.virginia.gov
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Herring, Charniele
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(804) 698-1004
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DelCHerring@house.virginia.gov
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Higgins, Geary
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(804) 698-1030
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DelGHiggins@house.virginia.gov
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Hodges, M. Keith
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(804) 698-1068
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DelKHodges@house.virginia.gov
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Hope, Patrick
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(804) 698-1001
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DelPHope@house.virginia.gov
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Jones, Michael
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(804) 698-1077
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DelMJones@house.virginia.gov
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Kent, Hillary Pugh
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(804) 698-1067
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DelHKent@house.virginia.gov
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Keys-Gamarra, Karen
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(804) 698-1007
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DelKKeys-Gamarra@house.virginia.gov
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Kilgore, Terry
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(804) 698-1045
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DelTKilgore@house.virginia.gov
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Knight, Barry
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(804) 698-1098
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DelBKnight@house.virginia.gov
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Krizek, Paul
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(804) 698-1016
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DelPKrizek@house.virginia.gov
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Laufer, Amy
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(804) 698-1055
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DelALaufer@house.virginia.gov
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Leftwich, James “Jay”
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(804) 698-1090
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DelJLeftwich@house.virginia.gov
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LeVere Bolling, Destiny
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(804) 698-1080
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DelDLeVereBolling@house.virginia.gov
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Lopez, Alfonso
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(804) 698-1003
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DelALopez@house.virginia.gov
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Lovejoy, Ian
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(804) 698-1022
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DelILovejoy@house.virginia.gov
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Maldonado, Michelle Lopes
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(804) 698-1020
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DelMMaldonado@house.virginia.gov
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Marshall, Daniel
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(804) 698-1049
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DelDMarshall@house.virginia.gov
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Martinez, Fernando
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(804) 698-1029
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DelMMartinez@house.virginia.gov
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McClure, Adele
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(804) 698-1002
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DelAMcClure@house.virginia.gov
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McNamara, Joseph
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(804) 698-1040
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DelJMcNamara@house.virginia.gov
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McQuinn, Delores
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(804) 698-1081
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DelDMcQuinn@house.virginia.gov
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Milde, Paul
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(804) 698-1064
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DelPMilde@house.virginia.gov
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Morefield, James “Will”
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(804) 698-1043
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DelJMorefield@house.virginia.gov
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Mundon King, Candi
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(804) 698-1023
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DelCMundonKing@house.virginia.gov
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Oates, Delores
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(804) 698-1031
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DelDOates@house.virginia.gov
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Obenshain, Joseph
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(804) 698-1041
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DelCObenshain@house.virginia.gov
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O’Quinn, Israel
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(804) 698-1044
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DeliOquinn@house.virginia.gov
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Orrock, Robert
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(804) 698-1066
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DelBOrrock@house.virginia.gov
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Owen, David
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(804) 698-1057
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DelDOwen@house.virginia.gov
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Phillips, Eric
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(804) 698-1048
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DelEPhillips@house.virginia.gov
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Price, Marcia “Cia”
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(804) 698-1085
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DelMPrice@house.virginia.gov
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Rasoul, Sam
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(804) 698-1038
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DelSRasoul@house.virginia.gov
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Reaser, Atoosa
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(804) 698-1027
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DelAReaser@house.virginia.gov
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Reid, David
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(804) 698-1028
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DelDReid@house.virginia.gov
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Runion, Chris
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(804) 698-1035
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DelCRunion@house.virginia.gov
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Scott, Don
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(804) 698-1088
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DelDScott@house.virginia.gov
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Scott, Phillip
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(804) 698-1063
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DelPScott@house.virginia.gov
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Seibold, Holly
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(804) 698-1012
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DelHSeibold@house.virginia.gov
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Sewell, Briana
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(804) 698-1025
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DelBSewell@house.virginia.gov
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Shin, Irene
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(804) 698-1008
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DelIShin@house.virginia.gov
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Sickles, Mark
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(804) 698-1017
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DelMSickles@house.virginia.gov
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Simon, Marcus
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(804) 698-1013
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DelMSimon@house.virginia.gov
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Simonds, Shelly
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(804) 698-1070
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DelSSimonds@house.virginia.gov
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Srinivasan, Kannan
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(804) 698-1026
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DelKSrinivasan@house.virginia.gov
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Sullivan, Richard “Rip”
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(804) 698-1006
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DelRSullivan@house.virginia.gov
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Tata, Anne Ferrell
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(804) 698-1099
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DelAFTata@house.virginia.gov
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Taylor, Kimberly
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(804) 698-1082
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DelKTaylor@house.virginia.gov
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Thomas, Josh
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(804) 698-1021
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DelJTHomas@house.virginia.gov
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Torian, Luke
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(804) 698-1024
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DelLTorian@house.virginia.gov
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Tran, Kathy
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(804) 698-1018
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DelKTran@house.virginia.gov
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Wachsmann, Howard Otto
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(804) 698-1083
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DelOWachsmann@house.virginia.gov
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Walker, Wendell
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(804) 698-1052
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DelWWalker@house.virginia.gov
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Ward, Jeion
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(804) 698-1087
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DelJWard@house.virginia.gov
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Ware, R. Lee
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(804) 698-1072
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DelLWare@house.virginia.gov
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Watts, Vivian
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(804) 698-1014
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DelVWatts@house.virginia.gov
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Webert, Michael
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(804) 698-1061
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DelMWebert@house.virginia.gov
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Wiley, William “Bill”
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(804) 698-1032
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DelBWiley@house.virginia.gov
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Willett, Rodney
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(804) 698-1058
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DelRWillett@house.virginia.gov
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Williams, Wren
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(804) 698-1047
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DelWWilliams@house.virginia.gov
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Wilt, Tony
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(804) 698-1034
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DelTWilt@house.virginia.gov
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Wright, Thomas
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(804) 698-1050
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DelTWright@house.virginia.gov
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Wyatt, Scott
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(804) 698-1060
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DelSWyatt@house.virginia.gov
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Zehr, Eric
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(804) 698-1051
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DelEZehr@house.virginia.gov
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VML Contact: Michelle Gowdy, mgowdy@vml.org | (804) 523-8525
Budget
On your mark. Get set. Go! The race to finish the budget on time begins.
Now that VML staff has had an opportunity to review (or at least set eyes on) close to 1,200 budget amendments offered up by the House and Senate this past Tuesday, the enormity of the task ahead for the soon-to-be-named budget conferees is becoming clearer.
In addition to the volume of amendments that will need to be reconciled in time for the General Assembly’s scheduled adjournment on Saturday, March 9, there is a substantive difference in the resources contained within each chamber’s budget and (not surprisingly) disparities in proposed spending.
To wit, the Senate budget relies upon $2.6 billion in additional general fund revenues in the next biennium, while the House counts on $1.6 billion. That’s right – a billion-dollar resource (i.e., revenues and transfers) difference between the House and Senate spending plans.
As expected, both chambers picked up $1.0 billion in additional revenues when the House and Senate rejected the Governor’s tax proposals, with one obvious exception as we pointed out earlier in the week. Both budgets retain the Governor’s proposal to modernize the current sales and use tax by extending taxation to digital services.
That proposal generates $714 million for the biennium in each budget. The Senate went further by removing an exception the Governor had proposed for transactions between businesses, which picks up more than $600 million on the Senate side. The House did not include that exception for businesses.
Beyond that, the Senate generates about $300 million in new general fund resources because of legislation that passed the chamber, additional tax compliance efforts, and other transfers to the general fund.
Not surprisingly, differences in proposed spending in the House and Senate budgets flow from each chamber’s actions on resources. Those differences are most apparent in K-12.
While there is agreement on spending for teacher’s salaries, at-risk students, and English language learners, budget conferees will need to hammer out differences in amounts and policy that may prove nettlesome.
Priority #1 – Restore the hold harmless payment to local school divisions in the House budget
There is one glaring omission in the House budget plan that will be Priority #1 when VML communicates with the conferees on the budget. The House budget does not reverse a proposal included in the Governor’s introduced budget that eliminates a hold harmless payment to local school divisions – a commitment that was memorialized in the Code of Virginia less than two years ago when the Commonwealth eliminated the statewide sales tax on groceries.
That omission from the House’s budget amendments shortchanges local school divisions by more than $200 million during the 2024-26 biennium, which is what we feared might happen when the Governor linked this reduction to his tax policy proposals in December.
Other priorities
What follows in this section of eNews are some of the other items VML staff have been monitoring and will continue to do so as the budget conferees line up for what is sure to be an interesting race in the next few weeks!
VML Contact: Joe Flores, jflores@vml.org
Transportation budget items of interest
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) – There is $150 million in the House Budget and language in the Senate budget to allow for temporarily removing the 3% cap on WMATA operating funding increases while also requiring WMATA to produce a corrective plan of action to be provided to the Director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Transportation by November 31, 2024. The Senate budget sets out criteria the corrective plan of action must consider and provides comparisons for similar criteria from large public transit agencies. The Senate budget does include $92 million in funding for buying down tolls for drivers using the Elizabeth River Crossing tunnel between Norfolk and Portsmouth.
Interstate 81 – The House and Senate budgets include $70 million for widening I-81 near Salem which was proposed in the Governor’s introduced budget. The House language differs from the Senate and the Introduced Budgets by allowing construction to occur on both the Northbound and Southbound lanes of I-81 which is intended to reduce the time necessary to complete these projects while maximizing cost savings.
Multi-Use Trails Office – The House budget differs from the Senate in that it transfers the Multi-Use Trails Office from the Department of Transportation to the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
VML Contact: Mitchell Smiley, msmiley@vml.org
Natural Resources budget items to watch
Water Quality Improvement Fund (WQIF) – The House budget provides $400 Million to the Water Quality Improvement Fund for wastewater treatment plant improvements. This appropriation includes $200 million each year of the biennium with $200 million from non-general fund bond revenue in the first year and $200 million of general fund revenue in the second year. The Senate budget does not include funding for the Water Quality Improvement Fund. According to the Department of Environmental Quality there are currently more than $170 million in statutorily required upgrades for current agreements for the biennium and the potential for as much as $380 million in project needs in FY24-25. These projects are statutorily required and without WQIF appropriations wastewater facilities will be required to make improvements with costs for these projects needing to be funded by ratepayers or the locality to comply with state nutrient reduction requirements.
The Senate budget endorses the Governor’s proposal to direct $138 million for the Water Quality Improvement Fund for Agricultural Best Management Practices.
VML Contact: Mitchell Smiley, msmiley@vml.org
Health & Human Services budget items in play
State assistance to local law enforcement (HB 599 program) – The introduced budget level funded this program for the coming biennium at $219.65 million each year, despite growth in state revenues.
The House accepted the introduced budget funding.
The Senate approved Item 396#1s to add $10.0 million each year BUT directs that new funding be distributed to localities eligible for the 599 program with a violent crime index greater than 225 violent crimes per 100,000 as reported in the most recent Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Virginia Crime Index and Drug Arrests Trend Report. This narrows the number of recipients for enhanced funding to 29 cities and two counties. Towns are not included in this DCJS report, so it is unclear if any towns would be eligible even if their county meets the threshold (16 counties meet the threshold and approximately 17 towns in those counties receive 599 funds).
VML would prefer that any funding bump in this program benefit all localities in the program instead of creating new subgroups. There are ways to funnel additional funds to localities with higher crime rates through other initiatives.
PIPP program administrative costs – VML, VACo, and the League of Social Services Executives sought amendments to clarify that local departments of social services should be reimbursed for administrative costs and not be required to pay a 20 percent match for the Percentage of Income Payment Program (PIPP). This is a new program, funded by collection of Universal Service Fees from all residential customers of Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power Company and used to reduce the energy burden of eligible participants and reduce their energy usage.
House (Item 324#5h) and Senate (Item 324 #1s) propose language to clarify the reimbursement/local match issues; VML prefers the Senate amendment which specifically addresses the issues affecting local departments of social services.
Use of Medicaid for health care services in jails. VML worked in cooperation with VACo and the Virginia Association of Regional Jails on amendments in both chambers to support use of Medicaid for behavioral health/substance use disorder treatment for inmates in local and regional jails. There was no language in the introduced budget on this issue.
Neither chamber included the specific language amendment but the Senate included Item 292#11s which directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to establish a stakeholder workgroup to study the use of Medicaid for health care services provided in jails with a report due by Nov. 1, 2024. VML supports the Senate amendment.
Replacement of VaCMS eligibility and enrollment case management software – Local departments of social services struggle with the current software their staff use every day to manage cases for Medicaid, food stamps (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Child Care Subsidy Program, and Energy Assistance. Budget amendments were submitted in both chambers seeking to replace the current system with a more user-friendly, updated system.
The House included Item 334#2h that moves this process forward; the Senate included Item 334#2s that adds some requirements for the state to fulfill but does not address the underlying issue of replacing the current system. VML supports the House amendment.
VML Contact: Janet Areson, jareson@vml.org
Finance
Legislation affecting localities poised for final sprint to the finish line
Several bills that we’ve been following in the Finance area continue to take shape, but action slowed this week as attention turned to passing the House and Senate budgets. We fully expect the pace to pick up next week.
Three of the four bills we’re currently tracking will likely be heard in the Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee (SFAC) next week, which is expected to have marathon sessions as bills are funneled to that committee.
Slimmed down meals tax legislation up next week
HB1483 (McQuinn) is the House companion to SB294 (DeSteph) that was previously passed by indefinitely in SFAC. Whether it meets the same fate likely will be determined next week.
The bill is a response to the issues the city of Richmond has been experiencing with meals taxes. As introduced, the bill’s changes applied to all local tax collections and every locality in Virginia, even localities where meals tax collections have not been a problem.
The bill has been narrowed to address the specific area of concern (i.e., meals tax collections) but also cities with finance directors, presumably an effort to apply the changes to a handful of localities to minimize potential opposition.
Because the subject of this legislation has been heard previously, it is unlikely that testimony will be taken when the bill is heard. VML does not support the bill that creates a two-tiered system of meals tax collections in some localities. It also seems unnecessary, because the city of Richmond has announced measures to address the concerns raised by restaurant owners.
Proposed changes to recordation taxes
Legislation that proposes to exempt “quitclaims” from state and local recordation taxes is another bill likely to be taken up in SFAC next week.
HB414 (Convirs-Fowler) is a House-only bill that would establish an exemption from recordation taxes for quitclaim deeds between a grantor and grantee when no consideration has passed between the parties. In other words, if a deed includes specific words of release, “the grantor relinquishes all right, title and interest and any future claim, challenge, or demand on the land.”
VML has fielded concerns about the potential impact of this change on local revenues as well as the administrative burden on court clerks in some jurisdictions, but hard numbers have been difficult to pin down.
In that vein, the fiscal impact statement prepared by the Department of Taxation states that the impact on state and local revenues cannot be determined at this point.
VML has no position on the bill but will pay close attention when it comes up in Senate Finance & Appropriations.
“Heat not burn” tobacco products inflame passions
Another House-only bill, HB1099 (Kilgore), would modify the definition of “cigarette” for state tax purposes to include any product containing nicotine that is intended to be burned or heated.
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is pursuing the bill out of concern that the introduction of a new “heat not burn” product to the market may interfere with the Commonwealth’s compliance with the Master Tobacco Settlement Agreement, potentially jeopardizing revenues accruing to Virginia.
Philip Morris International, which is behind the new IQOS product, has expressed opposition to the OAG’s legislative proposal.
Under current law, heated tobacco products are distinct from cigarettes for the purpose of taxation. The bill would subject these new products to an excise tax of 2.25 cents per cigarette; traditional cigarettes are taxed at a rate of 3.0 cents per cigarette.
It has been suggested that absent these changes local cigarette revenues may be in jeopardy. That may be the case, but it appears that only future revenues would be affected. Moreover, any potential impact would hit the state’s coffers as well, so the Commonwealth has a compelling interest in getting this right.
VML intends to stay on the sidelines of this squabble. In the meantime, we will monitor the bill when it comes up in SFAC.
Changes to local fiscal relief process to be heard soon
SB645 (Aird) makes changes to the current Local Fiscal Distress process, has been referred to Counties, Cities, and Towns, Subcommittee #3, where it has yet to be docketed. The House version of the bill HB655 (Coyner), failed to pass that chamber two weeks ago.
The bill codifies budget language that has been included in the Appropriations Act that lays out a process to identify and assist with localities identified as in “fiscal distress” by the Auditor of Public Accounts (APA). The bill also authorizes the appointment of an emergency fiscal manager to assume control of a locality’s fiscal operations, superseding the authority of the elected local governing body and chief executive officer under certain circumstances.
VML has conveyed its concerns about the troubling precedent this legislation establishes but does not oppose the bill. We will closely follow the bill when it is heard in the House.
VML Contact: Joe Flores, jflores@vml.org
General Laws
Bills that have passed both chambers
HB128 (Watts) Local regulation of door-to-door vendors; political parties exempted. Provides that local ordinances dealing with solicitation shall not apply to persons participating in specified political activities.
HB208 (Simonds) Comprehensive plan; healthy communities strategy. Allows localities to create a healthy communities strategy in its comprehensive plan.
SB85 (Favola) Virginia Freedom of Information Act; definition of “caregiver,” remote participation in meetings. Stipulates that a person with a disability or their caregiver can participate remotely as part of the public body in a meeting and count as part of a quorum.
HB1488 (Henson) Local government; standardization of public notice requirements for certain meetings, hearings, etc. This is a clean-up bill from the code commission regarding public notice requirements. The revisions include amending the frequency for publishing notices in the newspapers, the number of days required to elapse between the publication of notices and the amount of information to be contained in each notice.
HB1486 (Thomas) Vacant buildings; registration. Allows any county, city, or town to require a vacant building registration if the building has been vacant 12 months and it meets certain criteria.
VML Contact: Michelle Gowdy, mgowdy@vml.org
Bills on the floor of the chambers
HB578 (McQuinn) Uniform Statewide Building Code; violations, increases fines. Increases the fees for any person, firm, or corporation shall be fined when convicted of a third or subsequent offense of violating the building code.
HB816 (Cherry) FOIA; meetings held through electronic communication during declared states of emergency. States that meetings by electronic means due to a state of emergency are declarative of existing law since March 20, 2020 as long as the notice and access requirements were met.
SB415 (Stuart) Virginia Freedom of Information Act; amends definition of “meeting”. Adds an exception to the definition of meeting local political party meetings.
VML Contact: Michelle Gowdy, mgowdy@vml.org
Education
Big education bills still in play
HB805 (Rasoul) and SB14 (McPike) would grant the statewide authority for counties and cities to impose a sales use tax of up to one percent if approved by voter referendum to be used solely for school construction.
HB805 passed out of the Senate 27-12 as amended to be identical to SB14 (as reported by the House Finance Committee).
SB14 passed out of House Finance with bipartisan support and is currently on the House floor. SB14 was amended to include incorporated towns that own and operate their own school divisions. Under this amendment, should the county ask for the one percent, a prorated portion of the sales tax generated will be allotted to the town based on the school-aged population. This amendment only affects the towns of West Point and Colonial Beach.
SB105 (Lucas) would rename the National Teacher Certification Incentive Reward Program and Fund as the National Board Certification Incentive Reward Program and Fund. This bill also incorporates several JLARC recommendations by incorporating SB 127, SB 128, SB 187, SB 227, SB 228, and SB 609. This bill was reported out of the House Education Committee, with a substitute from the K-12 Subcommittee, by unanimous vote on February 21.
Originally, HB624 (Rasoul) would amend the Standards of Quality (SOQ) to provide funding for instructional and support positions for English language learners and establish an at-risk program. This encompasses two JLARC recommendations and is currently assigned to the Senate Education and Health Committee. HB624 is now conformed and therefore identical to SB105.
VML Contact: Josette Bulova, jbulova@vml.org
Elections
Satellite offices bill clears the Senate
HB1408 (Srinivasan) would direct the Department of Elections to develop standards and guidelines for local governing bodies to utilize when determining the number of voter satellite offices including a recommended number of days the offices must be open to the public. This bill passed the Senate today on a vote of 21-18.
VML Contact: Josette Bulova, jbulova@vml.org
Cannabis
Compromise reached in cannabis legislation
This week, Delegate Krizek and Senator Rouse unveiled compromise substitute language for their legislation, HB698 and SB448, establishing a cannabis retail market in Virginia. This legislation establishes retail sales to begin May 2025 with licenses distributed to applicants fall 2024. Taxation of retail sales would be set at a rate of 4.5 percent for the state and a local option tax of 4.5 percent.
The compromise package includes local authority to:
- Hold a referendum opting out of allowing retail establishments.
- Levy a local option tax on retail sales.
- Retain local land use authority.
The compromise also provides for local ordinance authority to ban public consumption and local ordinances to regulate the hours of operation for cannabis retailers.
SB448 reported on a partisan vote from the House Committee on General Laws while HB698 reported from the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services on a bipartisan vote of 10-5. Both bills are expected to be heard by several committees in each chamber prior to reaching the floors of the chambers for a final vote.
VML Contact: Mitchell Smiley, msmiley@vml.org
Health & Human Services
Jail cost bill continues to progress
The Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee amended and reported HB912 (Shin), which requires net profits from sales in jail commissaries or stores to be used for education, recreation, or rehabilitation services benefitting inmates of the local or regional jails. The original bill capped fees and charges by jails.
VML Contact: Janet Areson, jareson@vml.org
Pool regulation bill reported
The Senate Education and Health Committee reported HB354 (Hope) that directs the Virgnia Board of Health to adopt health and safety regulations governing swimming pools and other water recreational facilities operated for public use. This includes publicly owned pools, community pools, and pools and other water recreational facilities operated in conjunction with a tourist facility or health spa.
The Department currently has a workgroup looking at updating regulations; the requirements of this bill would be folded into the workgroup’s efforts.
VML Contact: Janet Areson, jareson@vml.org
Transportation
Photo speed monitoring device bill amended
SB336 (Roem) photo speed monitoring bill was amended in a Subcommittee of the House Committee on Transportation this week which narrowed the bill considerably. After amendments the Subcommittee acted favorably with a vote of 5-3 and during the full committee meeting picked up an endorsement of the bill from the administration and VDOT. It was reported from the full House Transportation Committee on a bipartisan vote of 17-5 and thus gained the distinction of being the only bill expanding photo enforcement authority to reach the House floor this year.
Senator Roem’s bill was amended to permit photo speed enforcement to be placed up to 1,000 feet from a school zone if a traffic fatality has occurred in that intersection since 2014. Speed cameras operated under this authority would have any revenue generated from their use deposited in the Virginia Highway Safety Improvement Program.
SB336 is likely to be considered by the full House next week.
VML Contact: Mitchell Smiley, msmiley@vml.or
VML News
Registration now open for Matt Lehrman’s keynote address at the VMCA conference
VML is pleased to present keynote speaker Matt Lehrman on the final morning of the Virginia Municipal Clerk's Association (VMCA) conference.
- Date: Friday, April 19
- Time: 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Location: DoubleTree Hilton, Charlottesville
- Registration: Available here >
Attendees of recent VML Annual Conferences know that Matt is a dynamic speaker whose interactive presentations utilize technology to be both engaging and educational.
About the speaker: Matt Lehrman is the co-founder and managing director of Social Prosperity Partners—an Arizona-based consulting firm dedicated to the proposition that “Where people work together courageously, their potential is unlimited.” In addition to delivering inspiring keynotes and substantive workshops on topics of civility and collaborative leadership, Matt’s Social Prosperity Partners practice specializes in strategic planning services for municipalities, civic associations, and nonprofit organizations.
About the presentation - "A Community of Possibilities: Advancing Beyond Civility to Visioning"
The ultimate responsibility of local government isn’t just infrastructure, it’s “Idea-structure” — the ongoing process of involving, connecting, and empowering the diversity of its community members toward a mutually desired future. Here’s what every municipal leader should understand about their role as a guardian of responsible and inclusive civic participation.
VML Contact: Rob Bullington, rbullington@vml.org
VML now accepting submissions for “If I Were Mayor” essay contest for 7th and 8th graders
Deadline to enter is Monday, March 18
The Virginia Municipal League (VML) invites 7th and 8th grade students who reside or attend school in a VML member locality during the 2023-2024 school year to submit an entry for our “If I were Mayor” essay contest.
Regional winners selected from around the state will each receive a $150 gift card and a plaque. One statewide winner chosen from the regional winners will receive a $250 gift card and a plaque. The runner-up from the region that receives the statewide award will become that region’s winner.
Winning essays will be featured in the May issue of VML’s magazine Virginia Town & City.
Complete rules and regulations as well as instructions on how to submit entries are available here >.
VML Contact: Manuel Timbreza, mtimbreza@vml.org