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Midway through the General Assembly session, the single biggest issue – how to make up a $4 billion budget shortfall – is just beginning to be debated, with both houses set to unveil their budget proposals Sunday.
Nonetheless, legislators have already weighed in on a host of other issues. And there’s talk of one, possibly two, special sessions to come later this year to discuss transportation and restructuring state government.
Here’s a scorecard of the major issues so far. Of the 2,649 bills introduced, more than half are still alive.
The session is scheduled to run through March 13. For more information, including how to contact your state legislators, visit http://legis.state.va.us/.
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Handgun purchases Would repeal the state law that prohibits individuals from purchasing more than one handgun in a month. (HB49)
Guns in bars Would allow individuals with concealed carry permits to bring their firearms into restaurants that serve alcohol as long as they don’t drink.(HB505/SB334)
Capital punishment Would expand the list of crimes that are punishable by death to include the murder of fire marshals, deputy fire marshals and emergency medical service technicians. (HB166)
BILLS KILLED
Sex offenders Would expand the list of places sex offenders may not live near. (HB1004)
Marijuana Would make possession of a small amount of marijuana a civil penalty with a $500 fine rather than a criminal offense. (HB1134)
Gun show loophole Would require a criminal background check of individuals seeking to purchase a firearm from a private seller at a gun show before a transaction is completed. (HB1234)
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Offshore oil exploration Would allow oil exploration 50 miles from the state’s coastline. (HB787/SB394)
Stormwater pollution Would delay putting in place tougher new stormwater regulations. (HB1220/SB395)
Sewer penalties Would allow new civil penalties of up to $100 against people who violate local laws against discharging fats, oils and greases into sewer systems. (HB82)
Menhaden harvesting Would extend until 2014 the cap on harvests of the tiny fish, which are important to Chesapeake Bay water quality and game fish populations. (HB142/SB47)
Right to dry Would prevent homeowner associations from banning clotheslines and other natural drying devices. (SB221)
Fertilizer tanks Would require permits for any above-ground liquid fertilizer tank that holds more than 100,000 gallons. (HB1211)
Offshore wind Would establish an offshore wind development authority. (HB389/SB577)
Green jobs tax-credit Would allow for $1,000 and $500 in tax credits, respectively, for every job created that pays $50,000 or more. (HB803/SB143, SB623)
BILLS KILLED
Offshore drilling Would have dedicated future offshore drilling royalties to the state’s general fund, a research consortium and to localities for their transportation needs. (SB601)
Shopping bags Would have required retailers to charge 5 cents for plastic and paper bags. (HB1115)
Menhaden Would have removed oversight of menhaden from legislators and turned it over to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. (HB294/SB185)
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Charter schools Would allow charter school applicants to appeal school board authorization decisions to the state Board of Education. (HB1390/SB737)
Lab schools Would help develop partnerships between K-12 systems and colleges in order to create laboratory schools. (HB1389/SB736)
Virtual schools Would help add more online-only schools. (HB1388/SB738)
Instructional spending Would require school divisions to direct 65 percent of their budgets toward instruction spending. (HB76)
Waiving graduation requirements Bill inspired by Virginia Beach student with cancer would allow the state Board of Education to waive graduation requirements for good cause on a case-by-case basis. (HB1199)
SOL alternative Requires that a justification be provided for every student taking the Virginia Grade Level Alternative Assessment. (HB304)
BILLS KILLED
Start of school year Would have tweaked or fully eliminated the requirement that the first day of school come after Labor Day. (HB565/SB203)
Out-of-state enrollment Would have required at least 75 percent of students at Virginia’s public universities to come from in state. (HB1026)
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Virginia Retirement System Would reduce benefits, increase the retirement age, and require an employee contribution for state and local employees hired after July 1. (HB1189)
Ethics reform Would revise the procedures of the House and Senate ethics panels, requiring public proceedings and ensuring that investigations continue notwithstanding a member’s departure from office. (HB655/SB186)
Judicial retirements Would raise the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 to 73. (SB206)
Information technology Would eliminate the Information Technology Investment Board and place oversight of the state IT system under the authority of the governor. (HB1034/SB236)
Commissioners of accounts Would prohibit legislators or members of their law firms from serving as court-appointed commissioners of accounts. (HB664)
BILL KILLED
Alcoholic beverage control Would have privatized the state ABC stores. (HB342/SB443)
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HOV lanes Would allow military personnel in uniform to use the HOV lanes on Interstates 64 and 264 when they are traveling to or from a military facility. (HB759/SB696)
Fishing licenses Would allow military personnel home on leave to fish without a license. (SB243)
War Memorial Would create a two-tier system to honor fallen service members, based on whether they died in combat. (HB767)
Business permit fee Would waive the handling fee for veterans who use the one-stop small business permitting program. (HB262/SB455)
Interstate compact Would require the Department of Education to hire a military family education liaison to help children of military families who are faced with frequent moves and deployments. (SB299)
BILL KILLED
OLF Would have limited the Navy’s ability to build an outlying landing field. (HB887/SB6)
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Speed limit Would raise the maximum speed limit on interstate and other limited-access highways to 70 mph from 65. (HB856/SB537)
“Move over” law Would require motorists to move left on a multiple-lane highway, if it can be done safely, when approaching any stationary vehicle with flashing blue, red or amber lights. (HB1159)
Tunnel review Would direct the Virginia Department of Transportation to implement an independent review panel’s recommendations made after a flood-caused closure of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. (HJ81)
BILLS KILLED
Tunnel tolls Would have imposed a $2 toll on the Hampton Roads and Monitor-Merrimac Memorial bridge-tunnels. (HB1323)
Radar detectors Would have repealed the state’s ban on use of the devices. (HB674)
Cell phones Would have prohibited using cell phones while driving, except in hands-free mode. (HB221)
Passing bicycles Would have increased the minimum clearance when passing a bicycle to 3 feet from 2. (HB1048/SB566)
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Parental rights Urges Congress to pass the Parental Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and submit it to the states for ratification. (HJ193)
Ultrasound before abortion Would require pregnant women to have an ultrasound prior to an abortion. (HB1042)
Abortion clinics Requires all abortion clinics to be licensed according to the same rules as ambulatory surgery centers. (HB393)
License plates Authorizes specialized revenue-sharing license plates with the slogan “Trust women/Protect choice.” (HB1108/SB704)
BILLS KILLED
Coerced abortion Would have imposed criminal penalties for coercing a pregnant woman to have an abortion against her will. (SB504)
VSP prayer policy Would have allowed the Virginia State Police to establish a volunteer chaplaincy program and prohibited regulation on a chaplain’s expression of religious beliefs. (HB9)
Employment discrimination Would have added sexual orientation to state government’s non-discrimination policy. (HB1116)
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Health insurance Would prohibit requiring a Virginia resident to buy health insurance. (SB283, SB311, HB10)
Dental discounts Would prohibit dental insurance companies from demanding discounts for procedures not covered by a patient’s policy. (HB1263/SB622)
BILLS KILLED
Autism insurance Would have required coverage for diagnosis and treatment of autism for children. (HB303)
Medical marijuana Would have eased restrictions on medicinal marijuana use and relaxed criminal penalties for possession. (HB1134, HB1136)
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BILLS KILLED
No-excuse absentee voting Would have allowed voters to vote in person at polling places before Election Day without having to give a reason. (HB161)
Bipartisan redistricting Would have established a temporary seven-member panel to draw up Virginia’s legislative districts. (HB323)
Photo ID voting requirement Would have required would-be voters to provide photo ID before voting. (HB498)
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Virginia ports Would prohibit the sale of the Virginia ports and require the governor’s approval of any long-term lease. (SB140)
Governor’s Development Opportunity Fund Provides that localities may be required to provide matching funds. (SB554)
Asbestos liability Would limit the asbestos-related liability of Crown Cork & Seal, a manufacturer of cans and bottle caps. (HB629)
Vehicles damaged by water Would raise the threshold for reporting water damage to $5,000 from $1,000. (HB392)
Motion picture tax credits Would provide an income tax credit for spending at least $250,000 on a film production in the state. (SB257)
Chinese drywall Authorizes funds from the Virginia Disaster Response Fund to be spent on removal of hazardous Chinese drywall from homes. (SB523)
Unemployment benefits Would provide up to 26 weeks of additional benefits for people enrolled in approved training programs. (SB239)
Transient occupancy tax Would allow localities to tax single-family residences and time-shares rented out for fewer than 30 consecutive days. (SB342)
BILLS KILLED
Corporate income tax Would have eliminated the tax. (HB119)
Machinery and tools tax Would have exempted manufacturing equipment purchased after July 1. (HB613)
Personal income tax Would have increased the tax rate by 1 percentage point to compensate localities for removal of the car tax. (HB1155)
Compiled by Deirdre Fernandes, Lauren King, Bill Sizemore, Michael Sluss, Julian Walker and Alicia P.Q. Wittmeyer
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HB 171 ? ? Why aren't we hearing about it?
Forbids private citizens, employers and almost every other entity from barring guns on their property - as long as the gun is in a locked car in the parking lot.
That will make a lot of bosses happy. Just think, you announce a layoff, or even an unpopular policy, and employees go to their cars to get their guns! Smart...real smart!
Stay informed.
Because you rely on the media to feed you information instead of looking it up yourself. Several restrictions are included that aren't mentioned.
Good concise one sentence sumations of bills.
My question is why does everyone assume a legally armed citizen is gong to shoot people but cry for criminal rights?
HB171
This is our admittedly incomplete roundup of major bills - we do plan to cover HB171 when it comes up in the Senate. Stay tuned.
Meredith Kruse Military/State Editor