We have now passed crossover and are looking to the end of this session on February 25.  This 2017 Legislative Crossover Report focuses on 74 priority and defensive priority bills.  The remainder of the 326 bills and budget items that the VMA is monitoring and managing are available for review at http://vamanufacturers.com/advocacy/key-virginia-legislation/.   

 

This session continues to illustrate the clash between the Executive and Legislative Branches for power and control.  This is a healthy part of our democracy's system of "checks and balances," but there is not much debate by political insiders about the fact that the Executive branch is on the defensive.  The Legislative branch is attempting to assert its influence beyond policy into executive management in higher education research and development, taxation and economic development.  The business community's role will be to help balance these competing interests as an expression of our ongoing legislative advocacy and political action in future elections.

 

A few bills that we would like to highlight in this report involve international trade (HB2471/SB1574), workplace safety (HB1883/SB1542) and the budget (SB900/HB1500).  Last session, HB858 established the Virginia International Trade Corporation (VITC).  Through the budget and HB2471/SB1574, the VITC will be effectively terminated before it was ever implemented, thus, relegating international trade to a secondary resource for Virginia businesses.  HB1883 and SB1542 increase workplace safety violation fines by 78%, but both bodies stripped the new $1.6 million in funding created by the fine increases, thus, providing no help for business with voluntary compliance and workplace safety programs as was included in the Governor's introduced budget.  Finally, the VMA's top priority bill last session created the New Economy Workforce Credentials program to cover 2/3 of the cost for individuals successfully completing industry credential training and certification.  The program has been so successful in its first six months, enrolling 409 people in production occupations training alone, that the Virginia Community College System has requested an additional $1 million in funding.

 

Finally, looking to next year, the VMA will continue to work on our proposals to protect our facilities from drone trespassing, improve recycling for beneficial use in manufacturing and reform Virginia's real and tangible personal property tax valuation and appraisal system.  Members interested in these topics should contact VMA Member Services to join the appropriate committee or working group.