Action Alert – Feb 23 2016
Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - 07:15am
Action alert: Support senate budget amendment requiring Airbnb study
| Action needed today:
Please contact your Senator immediately toSUPPORT a state study of the impacts of Airbnb legislation on local governments and the travel industry before any legislation takes effect. |
The Senate budget amendment (Item 3-5.14 #3s) requires any legislation passed in 2016 that preempts local authority regarding limited residential lodging to be re-enacted in the 2017 legislative session. The amendment also requires the Virginia Housing Commission to study the issue and report its work to the chairmen of the Senate and House Finance Committees. HB 812 and SB 416 deliberately supersede and preempt state and local taxation, land use laws/ordinances, replacing them with new paradigms that are either unenforceable or unfair.
The Senate will debate and vote on the passage of all the budget amendments in SB 30 this Thursday, February 25. The Senate Finance Committee had approved the amendments this past Sunday. PLEASE CONTACT THEM NOW.
The companion House budget bill (HB 30) hits the House floor on Thursday, but the amendment package approved by the House Appropriations Committee does not include a similar amendment.
Who to Contact: Your Senator. List of senators and contact info.
Deadline: Today.
Talking points:
- When Uber and Lyft pushed for legislation in 2014 to legalize their operations, the General Assembly decided that the issue was too complicated to address in a session without first bringing all the stakeholders together. Legislation was subsequently introduced in the 2015 session based on the recommendations of the various stakeholders.
- There is no compelling reason why HB 812 and SB 416 must be passed in this session without first addressing the public safety and health responsibilities of local governments. The consequences both intended and unintended related to passing these bills before all concerns are resolved are too important.
