2020 General Assembly - Week 2

In The News

Starting this week, The Public Policy team will be including some news articles that you may be interested in. As you already know, numerous proposals affecting our regional business community have been--and will continue to be--discussed during this session, and it's a good thing to stay up to date with what others are saying and with what's happening in our area. Statewide Schapiro: VA Democrats getting worked up for labor Local Durham bus drivers, aides in Roanoke City vote against joining union We are also excited to announce that Delegate Terry Austin was recognized as a Legislator of the Year by the Virginia Economic Developers Association , as well as receiving the I-81 Champion award from the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce at our Annual Meeting last week. These awards are well deserved and and show Del. Austin's strong commitment to our business community. In addition, the Roanoke Times published Vice President of Public Policy Terry Durkin's op-ed about our business community's concern over the discussions to repeal right to work and increase the minimum wage.

VA West Capital Reception If you haven't yet done so and would like to attend, please RSVP here for the 2020 VA West Capitol Reception next Wednesday (January 22) from 5:00pm-7:00pm at the Omni Hotel Richmond. We hope you will take advantage of this great opportunity to meet with your legislators!

General Assembly Bill Tracking

Economic Development

HB 153 Del. Lee Carter

Right to work; repeals provisions of Code that refers to denial or abridgement.  12/18/19 House: Committee Referral Pending

OPPOSE

HB 325 Del. Mark Levine

Establishes a procedure by which a local alternative minimum wage may be imposed in any locality.  01/14/20 House: Assigned L & C sub: Subcommittee #1

OPPOSE

SB 7 Sen. Dick Saslaw

Minimum wage; increases to $10 per hour effective July 1, 2020.  11/18/19 Senate: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

OPPOSE

HB 754 Del. Terry Kilgore

Establishes the Virginia Brownfield Renewable Energy and Coal Mine Grant Fund and Program.  01/14/20 House: Assigned ACNR sub: Natural Resources

SUPPORT

HB 825 Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy

Paid family and medical leave program.  01/16/20 House: Assigned L & C sub: Subcommittee #1

OPPOSE

HJ 55 Del. Sam Rasoul

Study; Department of Rail and Public Transportation; Commonwealth Corridor passenger rail service; report 01/06/20 House: Referred to Committee on Rules

SUPPORT

SB 426 Sen. Dick Saslaw

Fair share fees  01/07/20 Senate: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

OPPOSE

SB 692 Sen. Mark Obenshain

Interstate 81 Corridor; motor vehicle fuels sales tax. Limits the application of the additional motor vehicle fuels sales tax imposed under current law in all counties and cities in Planning Districts 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 to those counties or cities in Planning District 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 in which a portion of Interstate 81 is located  01/07/20 Senate: Referred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations

OPPOSE

HB 1538 Del. Terry Austin

Transportation bonds; I-81. Authorizes issuance of bonds in an amount up to $2 billion for revenue-producing projects in the Interstate 81 corridor.  01/14/20 House: Assigned App. sub: Transportation & Public Safety

SUPPORT

Workforce Development & Education

HB 953 Del. Hala Ayala

STEAM programs; establishes STEAM Education Fund  01/13/20 House: Assigned Education sub: Pre-K-12

SUPPORT

HJ 66 Del. Terry Kilgore

DOE; experiential learning and workforce development opportunities in high-demand fields, report.  01/07/20 House: Referred to Committee on Rules

SUPPORT

SB 371 Sen. Bill DeSteph

Apprentice agreements; ratio of journeymen to apprentices  Senate: Failed to report (defeated) in General Laws and Technology (4-Y 10-N)

SUPPORT DEFEATED

SB 898 Sen. Bill DeSteph

Public institutions of higher education; State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; business advisory committee.  01/08/20 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health

SUPPORT

Research and Technology

HB 748 Del. Jay Jones

Research and development tax credits; extends sunset date, aggregate caps.  01/07/20 House: Referred to Committee on Finance

SUPPORT

HB 1017 Del. Mark Sickles

Commonwealth of Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority; created.  01/16/20 House: Assigned CT & I sub: Communications

SUPPORT

Healthcare

HB 795 Del. Chris Hurst

Health insurance; association health plans  01/16/20 House: Assigned L & C sub: Subcommittee #2

SUPPORT

SB 861 Sen. Monty Mason

Group health benefit plans; bona fide associations; benefits consortium.  01/15/20 Senate: Assigned C&L sub: Health Insurance

SUPPORT SUBCOMMITTEE PASSES TO FULL COMMITTEE

SB 226 Sen. John Edwards

Virginia Health Benefit Exchange  01/15/20 Senate: Assigned C&L sub: Health Insurance

MONITOR