Latest Bills

Commending Timothy J. Gette.

Status: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ847ER), 02/13/2009

Study; JLARC to study the Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to conduct a review of the effectiveness of the Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission in its efforts in meeting its strategic plans and goals.

Status: Left in Rules, 02/10/2009

Admissions tax; Carroll County. Adds Carroll County to the list of counties that may impose an admissions tax.

Status: Left in Finance, 02/10/2009

Virginia Post-Disaster Anti-Price Gouging Act; resource shortages. Expands the existing prohibition on post-disaster price gouging to prohibit a seller from selling necessary goods and services at an unconscionable price during the time of a resource shortage within any affected area of the Commonwealth. A resource shortage is defined as an absence, unavailability, or reduced supply of certain natural resources, commodities, goods, or services that results from a state of emergency anywhere in the country when a presidential state of emergency is declared.

Status: Left in Commerce and Labor, 02/10/2009

Virginia Child Protection Accountability System. Establishes the Virginia Child Protection Accountability System to collect and make available to the public information on the response to reported cases of child abuse in the Commonwealth.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0445), 03/27/2009

Golf carts. Allows operation of golf carts and utility vehicles on secondary highway system components within five miles of a motor speedway on the same day as a race or race-related event conducted on that speedway. The bill also increases from 25 mph to 35 mph the speed limit of highways where golf carts and utility vehicles may lawfully operate.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0743), 03/30/2009

Motorcycle brake lights. Allows motorcycles to be equipped with a means of varying the brightness of the vehicle's brake light for a duration of not more than five seconds upon application of the vehicle's brakes.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0079), 02/25/2009

Charter; Twin County Airport Commission. Amends the charter of the Twin County Airport Commission to require a nine-member commission rather than a seven-member commission. The Counties of Carroll and Grayson would each have two members, rather than one.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0232), 03/27/2009

Assault and battery of family or household member; deferred disposition. Rewrites the existing statute for clarity and requires rather than allows the court to order the person to obtain services from local community-based probation if the services are available. This bill is a recommendation of the Committee on District Courts.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0347), 03/27/2009

Designation of persons authorized to make funeral and burial decisions. Designates the persons in order of priority who have the ability to make all necessary arrangements for a decedent's funeral and the disposition of his remains. This bill is in response to recent cases in Virginia concerning who had the right to make such decisions. Current law allows any next of kin to make arrangements, without specifying an order of priority. This bill grants funeral services providers civil immunity for decisions made if there is a dispute among members of the same class, in the absence of bad faith. The bill contains technical amendments.

Status: Left in Courts of Justice, 02/10/2009

Latest Bills

Commending Robert S. Bowers, Jr.

Status: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ974ER), 03/11/2009

Claims; Daniel and Brenda Brewer. Provides relief in the amount of $214,967.22 to Daniel and Brenda Brewer to correct structural problems with their home. The home contains several structural problems that were not noted by the local building official during any of the inspections conducted by the Uniform Statewide Building Code. In addition, the building official issued a certificate of occupancy despite the existence of the structural problems

Status: Left in Appropriations, 02/10/2009

Charter; City of Galax. Updates numerous provisions in the city's charter.

Status: Reenrolled bill text (HB2491ER2), 04/14/2009

State Police Volunteer Chaplaincy Program. Allows the Superintendent of State Police to establish a Voluntary Chaplaincy Program. The Superintendent may establish guidelines regarding the selection, conduct, and supervision of volunteers, but may not regulate the volunteers' expression of religious beliefs.

Status: Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (8-Y 7-N), 02/23/2009

Electric utility rates; deferral of increases. Requires the State Corporation Commission (SCC) to defer a portion of an investor-owned electric utility's increase in residential electric rates or charges if, as a result of the increase, the new residential rates are 15 percent higher than its residential rates in the year preceding the rate increase. The deferred amount is the revenue that would be collected by the utility over the 36 months following the SCC's order, based on the difference between the new rate and 115 percent of its residential rate in the preceding year. The deferred amount, with interest at a rate set by the SCC, will be recovered from residential retail customers over a three-year period.

Status: Left in Commerce and Labor, 02/10/2009

Transient Occupancy Tax; Smyth County. Adds Smyth County to those counties permitted to impose an additional three percent transient occupancy tax above the two percent, which all counties are permitted to impose.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0031), 02/23/2009

Vehicle safety inspections; use of electronic forms. Requires State Police to accept data required to be submitted to them by official inspection stations in electronic form.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0241), 03/27/2009

Campus police; report of certain incidents to local law-enforcement agency. Requires the chief of the campus police department of a public institution of higher education to notify the Virginia State Police after any incident involving a shooting has occurred on campus. Upon notification, the Virginia State Police may, at the request of the campus police, assume responsibility for leading the investigation with cooperation from the institution of higher education.

Status: Left in Education, 02/10/2009

Admissions tax. Adds Carroll County to the list of localities that may levy a tax, not to exceed 10 percent, on the admissions charged for any event in the county.

Status: Left in Finance, 02/10/2009

Weight limits for gravel trucks. Repeals the July 1, 2009, sunset on the statute granting trucks hauling gravel, sand, or crushed stone no more than 50 miles from origin to destination in counties that impose a severance tax on coal and gases the same weight limits prescribed for coal trucks. The bill also allows the same overweight permits for trucks hauling coal and coal byproducts to electricity-generation facilities as trucks hauling coal to a loading dock or railroad.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0188), 03/27/2009

Latest Bills

Celebrating the life of Mary Austin Campbell Hughes.

Status: Bill text as passed House (HR59ER), 03/11/2009

Commending the George Pearis Cemetery Committee.

Status: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ993ER), 03/11/2009

Law-Enforcement Officers' Privacy Protection Act. Allows a law-enforcement officer to request that personal information about the officer be withheld from disclosure on public records. For purposes of the Act, "personal information" includes the officer's name, social security number, address, phone number, and any other information that could be used to physically locate the officer.

Status: Left in General Laws, 02/10/2009

Board of Education; diploma requirements. Requires the Board of Education to include a standard credit in economics and personal finance in its requirements for standard, modified standard, advanced studies, and general achievement diplomas. Also provides that the diploma requirements will be in effect for those students entering ninth grade for the first time beginning in the 2010-2011 academic school year.

Status: Passed by in Education with letter, 02/04/2009

Forfeiture of motor vehicle for driving with a suspended operator's license. Provides that any motor vehicle used to commit the third or subsequent offense of driving while the operator's license is suspended shall be forfeited to the Commonwealth.

Status: Left in Courts of Justice, 02/10/2009

Official emblems and designations; state song. Designates "The Banner Yet Wave" written by Frank Pugh as the State Song.

Status: Tabled in Rules, 01/27/2009

Celebrating the life of Staff Sergeant Jesse A. Ault.

Status: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ690ER), 01/23/2009

Charter; Town of Pearisburg. Deletes unneeded language related to the subdivision of land.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0234), 03/27/2009

Affirmative defense that silencer is registered. Shifts the burden of proof that a firearm silencer is registered or not from the Commonwealth to the defendant. Possession of an unregistered firearm silencer is unlawful, a Class 6 felony.

Status: Stricken from docket by Militia, Police and Public Safety, 01/30/2009

Study; minimum standards for supervised visitation of children; report. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study the feasibility of establishing statewide minimum standards for the oversight of supervised visitation with children.

Status: Left in Rules, 02/10/2009

Latest Bills

Adjournment Sine Die.

Status: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ1049ER), 04/10/2009

Commending the Glenvar High School wrestling team.

Status: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ1047ER), 03/11/2009

General Assembly; 2009 procedural resolution. Extends the deadline to fill certain judicial and elective officers' vacancies to Saturday, February 28.

Status: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ1043ER), 04/10/2009

Celebrating the life of Barbara Moxley Spencer.

Status: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ997ER), 03/11/2009

Commending Lorraine Lange.

Status: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ867ER), 03/11/2009

Executive Mansion. Relating to use of the Executive Mansion for the purpose of soliciting funds.

Status: Left in Rules, 02/23/2009

Real property tax; sale of tax-delinquent property. Provides that a party whose interest in tax-delinquent property is secured by a properly recorded deed of trust is not required to file a notice in order to have his claim paid upon the judicial sale of such property.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0682), 03/30/2009

Virginia Public Procurement Act; cooperative procurement. Provides that no local public body shall purchase from another public body's contract until it makes a written determination in advance that such cooperative procurement is fiscally advantageous and (i) increases efficiency or (ii) reduces administrative expenses.

Status: Left in General Laws and Technology, 02/23/2009

Alcoholic beverage control; unlawful possession; affirmative defense. Provides an affirmative defense to a charge of a underage consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages if the defendant shows that such consumption or possession was allowed under current exceptions in ABC law (i.e., drank it at home with his parents or spouse, etc.). The bill contains technical amendments.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0248), 03/27/2009

Constitutional amendment (first resolution) regulation. Provides that the General Assembly may suspend or nullify any or all portions of any administrative rule or regulation by joint resolution agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each house.

Status: Failed to report (defeated) in Privileges and Elections (6-Y 9-N), 02/17/2009

Latest Bills

Celebrating the life of William E. Skelton.

Status: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ857ER), 03/11/2009

Celebrating the life of Zenobia Lawrence Hikes.

Status: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ856ER), 03/11/2009

Income tax and sales and use tax; credit and exemption for certain telecommunications service providers. Creates an income tax credit and sales and use tax exemption for wireless and broadband equipment purchased by telecommunications providers for use within rural areas of the Commonwealth. For taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2009, the income tax credit is equal to 30 percent of all expenditures for wireless and broadband equipment used in providing telecommunications services in the rural areas of the Commonwealth. There is a $10 million cap on the total amount of income tax credits that may be allowed in any tax year. The sales and use tax exemption is phased in beginning January 1, 2010, with 25 percent of the purchase price being exempt and increasing to 100 percent by 2012.

Status: Left in Finance, 02/10/2009

Substance Abuse Services Council; study; abuse of prescription medication. Directs the Substance Abuse Services Council to conduct a one-year study of the abuse of prescription medication in the Commonwealth and to recommend best strategies to combat such abuse and to coordinate with the Commonwealth's public and private efforts to control prescription medication abuse. The Council shall make a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before November 15, 2009.

Status: Left in Rules, 02/23/2009

Council on Virginia's Future; assessment of the impact of prescription drug abuse. Provides for the Council on Virginia's Future to assess the impact of prescription drug abuse on the Commonwealth including the mortality rates experienced in individual communities and the effect on employees of the Commonwealth. The provisions of the bill expire on July 1, 2011.

Status: Incorporated by Rules (HB2369-Nutter), 02/03/2009

Electric utilities; real-time rates. Directs the State Corporation Commission to promulgate regulations requiring electric utilities to offer electric service to non-residential customers under a tariff that utilizes rates that vary in real time in accordance with hourly changes in the utility's costs of providing electricity. To be eligible to receive service under the tariff, the customer shall operate a distributed generation facility that produces electricity from renewable power. The regulations shall also include provisions that require the utility to purchase from such a customer electricity generated at is distributed generation facility at a price that reflects the utility's avoided costs as they vary hourly. To be eligible for this part of the tariff, the facility's capacity shall not exceed 200 megawatts. Up to 50 percent of the amount of electricity for which the eligible customer is entitled to receive payment under such tariff may be in the form of reduced consumption through on-site efficiency measures. A utility is not required to offer service under the tariff after July 1, 2012, though customers receiving service under the tariff may continue to do so. No more than one percent of the utility's aggregate average monthly consumption is eligible to take service under the tariff. The Commission is required to report annually on the status of the measure and the effectiveness of the tariff.

Status: Reenrolled bill text (HB2371ER2), 04/14/2009

Electric utility rates; curtailing peak power purchases. Directs the State Corporation Commission to promulgate regulations requiring electric utilities to offer electric service to nonresidential customers under a tariff that induces customers to curtail electricity usage during periods when the utility's costs of purchasing electric power rise above their norm as a result of heightened load demand and system congestion. The tariff shall ensure that the utility's costs savings are shared with customers who curtail demand for electric power through reduced rates or charges.

Status: Left in Commerce and Labor, 02/10/2009

Statewide Healthcare Workforce Authority; creation. Creates the Statewide Healthcare Workforce Authority to take over the duties of the Statewide Area Health Education Centers Program. The mission of the Authority is to: (i) develop health careers recruitment programs for Virginia's students, especially underrepresented and disadvantaged students; (ii) support the community-based training of primary care health professions students, residents, and other health professions students in Virginia's underserved communities; (iii) provide educational and practice support systems for the Commonwealth's primary care providers; (iv) support recruitment and retention efforts of primary care, mental health, and dental professionals for underserved areas of the Commonwealth; and (v) collaborate with health, education, public health, and human services organizations to facilitate and promote improved health education and disease prevention among the citizens of the Commonwealth.

Status: Left in Health, Welfare and Institutions, 02/10/2009

Virginia Retirement System; purchase of prior service credit by teachers. Permits teachers whose time period to purchase prior service credit at the rate of five percent of creditable compensation has expired under current law to make such purchase during the period July 1, 2009, through December 30, 2009.

Status: Left in Appropriations, 02/10/2009

Concealed handgun permits; access to permittee information. Protects from public disclosure permittee names and descriptive information held by the Department of State Police for purposes of entry into the Virginia Criminal Information Network. However, the information would still be available to law-enforcement agencies, officers, and agents in the course of law-enforcement duties, and nonidentifying statistical information would be available to the general public.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0235), 03/27/2009

Latest Bills

Commending Nicole Wimmer.

Status: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ882ER), 03/11/2009

Eligibility for betterment loans. Directs the Board of Health and the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality to develop procedures for qualifying the owners of failing septic tanks, underground storage tanks, and contaminated dry cleaning stores, for betterment loans to be provided by private lenders.

Status: Reenrolled bill text (HB2646ER2), 04/14/2009

Commending the Gretna High School football team.

Status: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ784ER), 02/10/2009

Study; Department of Environmental Quality to study disposal of compact fluorescent bulbs; report. Requests the Department of Environmental Quality to study the environmental impact of the expanded use of compact fluorescent light bulbs in the residential sector. In conducting its study, the Department of Environmental Quality shall examine the impact on landfills, proper disposal or recycling in private residences, and public education opportunities. The study should determine the most effective ways to encourage and promote the environmentally sound management of compact fluorescent light bulbs containing mercury. The Department of Environmental Quality shall include in its recommendations strategies for (i) educating consumers on the benefits of proper management of a product that contains mercury and the need to recycle such bulbs; (ii) publicizing options for proper disposal; and (iii) working with the private sector to develop ways to allow the public to conveniently recycle fluorescent light bulbs.

Status: Left in Rules, 02/23/2009

Renewable energy facilities. Defines a renewable energy facility, for purposes of Title 56, as a facility that either: (i) generates thermal or electric power primarily by the use of a renewable energy resource; (ii) uses heat primarily derived from a renewable energy resource to produce electricity or useful, measurable thermal or mechanical energy at a facility of an electric utility's retail customer; (iii) is a solar thermal energy facility, or (iv) specifically allows for co-firing with non-renewable energy resources as long as non-renewable energy resources are not the primary energy source. Hydroelectric power facilities are excluded from the scope of the term. The measure also defines a renewable energy resource as a solar electric, solar thermal, wind, hydropower, geothermal, or ocean current or wave energy resource; biomass; heat derived from a renewable energy resource and used to produce electricity or useful, measurable thermal energy at a retail electric customer's facility; or hydrogen derived from a renewable energy resource. Finally, the measure defines "biomass" as organic material, including materials that are within the scope of "biomass" in the existing section establishing a streamlined environmental permitting process for qualified energy generators, and (a) organic refuse-derived fuel, (b) other industrial solid waste of an organic, non-hazardous nature; and (c) unusable reject materials from recycling operations that are primarily of a cellulosic or liguin nature.

Status: Left in Commerce and Labor, 02/10/2009

Definition of biomass. Defines biomass, for purposes of Chapter 23 of Title 56, as organic material, including materials that are within the scope of "biomass" in the existing section establishing a streamlined environmental permitting process for qualified energy generators, and (i) organic refuse-derived fuel, (ii) other industrial solid waste of an organic, non-hazardous nature; and (iii) unusable reject materials from recycling operations that are primarily of a cellulosic or liguin nature.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0748), 03/30/2009

Annual report of expenditures; local school boards. Requires the annual report of expenditures provided by the school board to the appropriate governing body to also be made available to the public in sufficient detail for citizens to readily identify how appropriated funds have been spent.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0104), 02/25/2009

Private residential wells; minimum storage capacity and yield requirements. Requires the Board of Health to include in its regulations governing construction of private wells minimum storage capacity and yield requirements that shall be substantially similar to the suggested minimums now contained in regulations.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0105), 02/25/2009

Telephone trespass; penalty. Provides that any person who uses a telephone to place a call to another person after the caller has been given notice by the recipient of the call that he has no permission to do so is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Status: Left in Courts of Justice, 02/10/2009

Workers' Compensation; statutory employers; exclusion. Provides that a person who contracts for a subcontractor to perform work is not required to insure payment of Workers' Compensation benefits to the subcontractor, and is not liable for any injury sustained by the subcontractor, if the subcontractor is an individual who conducts business as a sole proprietorship, is licensed by the Commonwealth to perform the work, and has no employees or subcontractors engaged in the same trade.

Status: Stricken from docket by Commerce and Labor, 01/29/2009

Latest Bills

Celebrating the life of William Edward Lavery.

Status: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ996ER), 03/11/2009

Commending the Virginia Tech football team as Atlantic Coast Conference Champions and winners of the 75th FedEx Orange Bowl.

Status: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ814ER), 02/10/2009

Transient occupancy tax; Bath County. Permits Bath County to impose an additional transient occupancy tax not to exceed three percent with the revenue from such tax to be allocated as follows: (i) one-third for tourism and travel, marketing of tourism, or other initiatives that attract travelers; (ii) one-third for the design, operation, construction and improvement, acquisition, and debt service for such expenses on debt incurred after June 30, 2009, of tourism facilities, historic sites, beautification projects, promotion of the arts, regional tourism marketing efforts, capital costs related to travel and transportation including air service, public parks, and information centers; and (iii) one-third for emergency services including training and equipment for fire and rescue, police, and delivery of acute medical care to serve the community and help respond to tourism-related emergencies.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0016), 02/23/2009

Examination for involuntary commitment; allow examination by licensed marriage and family therapists. Adds licensed marriage and family therapists to the list of persons who may conduct independent examinations of persons who are subject to a hearing for involuntary commitment.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0132), 02/26/2009

Retirement; teachers and administrative faculty of institutions of higher education. Provides that teachers and administrative faculty of institutions of higher education who are covered under an optional retirement plan (in lieu of the Virginia Retirement System) and have 10 years of service with the Commonwealth may make a one-time, irrevocable election to transfer into VRS.

Status: Left in Appropriations, 02/10/2009

Free hunting license. Authorizes the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to issue a state resident basic hunting license at no cost to residents who are on active military service.

Status: Stricken from docket by Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources, 01/28/2009

Dangerous Dog Registry. Authorizes the use of copies of all records, documents, and papers associated with the Dangerous Dog Registry in Virginia courts if the documents have been certified and authenticated by the State Veterinarian or the Dangerous Dog Registry administrator as true copies of the original documents.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0354), 03/27/2009

Charter; Town of Blacksburg. Amends the charter of the Town of Blacksburg to change the date of the town council member and mayoral election from the first Tuesday in May to the general election date in November. Further amends the date the council members take office from July to January and states that the vice-mayor shall be selected at the first council meeting, which will take place in January following the November election, rather than in July. If enacted, the charter changes clarify that the council may determine the annual salary of its members in accordance with state law and that vacancies on town council are also to be filled in an election subject to the requirement of state law. Lastly, the charter changes would permit the expanded use of civil penalties, in lieu of criminal penalties, for ordinance violations.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0658), 03/30/2009

Voter registration residence requirements; students. Provides that a person who has established a physical presence and a place of abode in Virginia and who is enrolled as a full-time student in a degree or certificate program at an accredited public or private institution of higher education physically located in the Commonwealth shall be presumed to have established a domicile at that place of abode. This presumption shall not affect any determination of whether the student is eligible for in-state tuition.

Status: Incorporated by Privileges and Elections (HB1878-Cosgrove), 01/30/2009

Elections; prohibited activities at the polls. Creates an exception to the prohibition on campaign activities within 40 feet of the polling place or within the polling place for the wearing by voters of buttons, stickers, or items of apparel that contain a candidate's name or a political slogan.

Status: Incorporated by Privileges and Elections (HB1878-Cosgrove), 01/30/2009

Latest Bills

Commending the Bradley Free Clinic on the occasion of its 35th anniversary.

Status: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ975ER), 03/11/2009

Celebrating the life of James William Burks, Jr.

Status: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ797ER), 02/10/2009

Water and waste authorities. Allows appointment of industrial or economic development authority directors to the board of water and waste authorities.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0655), 03/30/2009

Community development authorities; taxation. Allows community development authorities to request additional taxes from the locality related to the transient occupancy tax and the food and beverage tax.

Status: Left in Counties, Cities and Towns, 02/10/2009

Fee for in-room rental or purchase of digital media. Creates a fee of 10 percent of the in-room purchase or rental price of digital media. The revenues shall be deposited as follows:

Fifty percent into the state's general fund; and

Fifty percent into a special Film Incentive Programs Fund.

Status: Failed to report (defeated) in Finance (9-Y 13-N), 02/02/2009

Charitable Gaming; one-time raffle. Requires the Division of Charitable Gaming to contract with the State Lottery Department to provide administrative and marketing support for a one-time raffle conducted by a qualified organization as defined in 18.2-340.16, the proceeds, after payment of expenses, prizes, and 20 percent to the Virginia Film Incentive, shall be paid to the qualified organization conducting the raffle. The bill sets out the requirements for the conduct of the raffle.

Status: Left in General Laws, 02/10/2009

Celebrating the life of Frederick Wayne Hutchins, Jr.

Status: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ745ER), 01/30/2009

Sales tax revenue; renovations to public facilities. Includes the debt service on bonds issued for renovations to certain public facilities as eligible to be paid with sales tax revenue retained by the applicable locality from sales made in the facility. The bill deals only with future renovations of a new public facility for which the sales tax revenue already has been retained by the applicable locality. Under current law, renovations of other public facilities must meet other requirements.

Status: Incorporated by Finance (HB2091-Fralin), 02/02/2009

Voluntary registration of family day homes. Eliminates the requirement that the State Board of Social Services adopt regulations establishing qualifications for organizations with which the Commissioner may contract to certify family day homes.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0029), 02/23/2009

Freedom of Information Act; building and fire code complaints. Expands the current record exemption for the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of complainants relating to zoning enforcement complaints made to a local governing body to also include complaints relating to the Uniform Statewide Building Code or the Statewide Fire Prevention Code.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0237), 03/27/2009

Latest Bills

Celebrating the life of James Berry Mohler.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ480ER), 03/06/2009

Celebrating the life of Laura Camm Slaughter.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ481ER), 03/06/2009

Commending Laird and Company.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ460ER), 03/06/2009

Celebrating the life of Bates McCluer Gilliam.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ458ER), 03/06/2009

Celebrating the life of Albert G. Johnson.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ459ER), 03/06/2009

Commending Building Goodness Foundation.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ461ER), 03/06/2009

Celebrating the life of the Honorable Charles Wesley Gunn, Jr.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ442ER), 03/06/2009

Celebrating the life of Bessie Friend Bocock Carter.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ438ER), 03/06/2009

Commending Joan Fenton.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ439ER), 03/06/2009

Special license plates; supporters of the Shenandoah National Park Association. Authorizes the issuance of revenue-sharing special license plates to supporters of the Shenandoah National Park Association.

Status: Incorporated by Transportation (SB817-Stuart) (13-Y 0-N 2-A), 02/09/2009

Latest Bills

Memorializing the Congress to propose an amendment to the Constitution of the United States for a balanced budget requirement. Expresses the General Assembly's support for a balanced budget amendment and urges Congress to submit such an amendment to the states for ratification in order to promote fiscal integrity at the federal level.

Status: Left in Rules, 02/11/2009

Comprehensive Services Program; judicial assignment of children. Provides that in cases of judicial assignment of children to the Comprehensive Services Program the court shall consider (i) the recommendations of the family assessment and planning team and the community policy and management team and (ii) if the cost of any services ordered may exceed the average cost for that category of services, as reported on the publicly accessible website of the Office of Comprehensive Services, the recommendations of the local governing body that will be responsible for the local match portion of the cost of the services. This bill also provides that services ordered shall be limited to services approved by the community policy and management team of the locality that will be responsible for the cost of services rendered pursuant to the order.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0304), 03/27/2009

Arts and cultural districts. Adds the City of Staunton to those localities authorized to create an arts and cultural district for the purpose of increasing awareness and support for the arts and culture in the locality. Localities may provide incentives for the support and creation of arts and cultural venues in the district.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0300), 03/27/2009

Commonwealth Transportation Capital Projects Bond Act of 2007. Repeals the Commonwealth Transportation Capital Projects Bond Act of 2007.

Status: Left in Finance, 02/11/2009

Virginia Energy Plan; biofuels made from nonfood crops. Amends the Virginia Energy Plan to promote the use of sustainable biofuels that rely on nonfood feedstocks.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0768), 03/30/2009

Application to the Congress to call a convention to propose an amendment to the Constitution of the United States for a balanced budget requirement. Initiates the process to call a convention to amend the Constitution of the United States to add a balanced budget amendment to promote fiscal integrity at the federal level.

Status: Left in Rules, 02/11/2009

Joint Subcommittee to Study Strategies and Models for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment; Report. Continues the Joint Subcommittee to Study Strategies and Models for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment for two more years, to continue to (i) identify and characterize the nature of substance abuse in the Commonwealth; (ii) identify current state policies and programs targeting substance abuse prevention and treatment; (iii) examine the cost of such policies and programs to the Commonwealth; (iv) identify and examine policies and prevention programs from other leading states in the field of substance abuse and prevention; and (v) benchmark the Commonwealth's substance abuse prevention and treatment programs and policies against those of the leading states. Additionally, the joint subcommittee shall establish work groups to explore issues, existing state policies and programs, and potential recommendations or solutions to address problems related to substance abuse prevention, substance abuse treatment services, use of evidence-based practices, and other pertinent topics. The joint subcommittee is authorized to hold four meetings during the 2009 interim and four meetings during the 2010 interim, and shall submit a report to the Division of Legislative Automated Services each year.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ318ER), 03/06/2009

Clean fuel vehicle job creation tax credit; adds cellulosic biofuels. Expands the clean fuel vehicle job creation tax credit to include jobs created associated with the production of cellulosic biofuels, the conversion of vehicles from traditional fuels to cellulosic biofuels, and the manufacture of components for vehicles that utilize cellulosic biofuels. The bill also reorganizes the definition of "job" and the list of approved job fields to simplify and clarify eligibility requirements for the tax credit.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0730), 03/30/2009

Alternative fuel tax exemption for agricultural operations. Exempts from the alternative fuel tax any alternative fuel produced by the owner or lessee of an agricultural operation, as defined in 3.2-300, and used (i) exclusively for farm use in any vehicle registered pursuant to 46.2-698 or (ii) in any motor vehicles operated by the owner or lessee, or any of his immediate family members.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0530), 03/27/2009

General reassessments in Augusta County. Authorizes Augusta County to elect by majority vote of its board of supervisors to conduct its general reassessments at either five-year or six-year intervals.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0529), 03/27/2009

Latest Bills

Celebrating the life of Terrell J. Reid.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ477ER), 03/06/2009

Resolution; Denouncing human trafficking. Notes the General Assembly's concern regarding and repudiation of human trafficking in the Commonwealth, and requests the Governor to call upon local governments, law enforcement, and the people of the Commonwealth, through appropriate awareness programs and efforts, to work cooperatively to eradicate human trafficking in Virginia.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ412ER), 03/06/2009

Commending the White Rock Baptist Church on the occasion of its 120th anniversary.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ381ER), 03/06/2009

Commending the Virginia Credit Union League.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ380ER), 03/06/2009

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); property tax assessments. Authorizes localities to cap the annual increase in assessed values of real estate at no more than 25 percent or a greater percentage set by the ordinance. The real estate will be reassessed at fair market value in the year in which it is sold, improved, or otherwise changes hands.

Status: Passed by indefinitely in Privileges and Elections (10-Y 4-N), 01/27/2009

Commending the Lynchburg Area Center for Independent Living on the occasion of its 10th anniversary.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ350ER), 03/06/2009

Land records; social security numbers. Requires, beginning July 1, 2012, that social security numbers not be contained in land records posted via secure remote access to the Internet.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0312), 03/27/2009

Individual income tax; school supplies expense tax credit. Provides an income tax credit for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2009, equal to 100 percent of the amount paid by a taxpayer for school supplies for use by students in public or private primary or secondary schools or students being home schooled. The credit amount may not exceed $125 for individual taxpayers and $250 for taxpayers filing jointly.

Status: Left in Finance, 02/11/2009

Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority; board of directors; powers. Authorizes ex officio members of the board of directors of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership to designate an individual to serve. The bill also authorizes the Authority to offer a program for the issuance of export documentation for a company located in Virginia exporting goods and services if no federal agency or other regulatory body or issuing entity will provide such documentation in a form deemed necessary by the company.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0569), 03/27/2009

Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority; issuance of export documentation. Authorizes the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority to offer a program for the issuance of export documentation for a company located in Virginia exporting goods and services if no federal agency or other regulatory body or issuing entity will provide such documentation in a form deemed necessary by company.

Status: Stricken at request of Patron in General Laws and Technology (12-Y 0-N), 01/21/2009

Latest Bills

Commending First Baptist Church, Martinsville on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ463ER), 03/06/2009

Economics education and financial literacy; repealed. Repeals the requirement for economics education and financial literacy in middle and high schools.

Status: Stricken at request of patron in Education and Health (15-Y 0-N), 02/05/2009

Elections; appointment and compensation for general registrars. Provides that general registrars shall serve on a full-time basis five days a week.

Status: Left in Appropriations, 02/28/2009

Career and technical diploma; delayed. Delays implementation of the career and technical diploma until the 2010-2011 school year.

Status: Left in Education and Health (15-Y 0-N), 02/05/2009

Standards of learning and textbook adoption cycle; delay. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law, any revisions made to the Standards of Learning in effect as of June 30, 2009, shall not be implemented until the 2010-2011 school year, and that local school divisions shall not be required to purchase new textbooks until the 2010-2011 school year.

Status: Left in Education and Health (15-Y 0-N), 02/05/2009

Standards of Quality; Standard 2. Allows local school divisions to use the state and local funds for elementary resource teachers to employ elementary reading or math specialists, or additional staff for programs for four-year olds.

Status: Left in Education and Health (15-Y 0-N), 02/05/2009

Certificate of public need; exemption. Exempts from the certificate of public need requirements up to 10 beds for the delivery of inpatient psychiatric services in a critical access hospital.

Status: Passed by indefinitely in Education and Health (14-Y 1-N), 02/05/2009

Celebrating the life of Thomas Benjamin Noland, Sr.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ351ER), 03/06/2009

Celebrating the life of David Ferl Deel.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ352ER), 03/06/2009

Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation; Board for Contractors; regulation of locksmiths. Transfers the regulation of locksmiths and locksmith services from the Department of Criminal Justice Services to the State Board for Contractors. The bill also limits the licensing and registration fee to $200 and extends the license and registration period to five years.

Status: Failed to report (defeated) in General Laws and Technology (6-Y 8-N), 02/04/2009

Latest Bills

Commending the City of Bristol Chamber of Commerce on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ511ER), 03/06/2009

Commending the City of Bristol.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ486ER), 03/06/2009

Commending Virginia Intermont College on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ415ER), 03/06/2009

Commending the Children's Hospital at Johnson City Medical Center.

Status: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ393ER), 03/06/2009

Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage Commission. Provides that five of the ex officio members of the Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage Commission shall have voting privileges. Currently, the Chairman of The Crooked Road, the Chairman of Round the Mountain; the Director of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, the Director of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, and the Executive Director of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, or their designees, serve on the Commission without voting privileges.

Status: G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0301), 03/27/2009

Health insurance; mandated coverage for telehealth services. Requires health insurers, health care subscription plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for the cost of telehealth services when the services are appropriately provided through such means. "Telehealth services" means the use of interactive audio, video, or other telecommunications technology by a health care provider to deliver health care services at a site other than the site where the patient is located, for consultation, transfer of medical data, and medical education.

Status: Subject matter referred to Commission on Mandated Health Ins. Benefits pursuant to Code §2.2-2505, 02/09/2009

Charter; City of Bristol. Amends the charter of the City of Bristol by requiring detailed estimates of revenue and expenditures for city budget purposes to be filed with the city manager, rather than the budget director. The changes to the Charter would require the city manager to work with the chief financial officer, rather than the budget director in preparing a total budget estimate for presentation to the city council. Further amends the Charter by changing the date for the submission of the initial budget to council from the second Tuesday in March to the second Tuesday in April.

Status: Stricken from Senate calendar (38-Y 1-N), 01/30/2009