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“IT AIN’T OVER ‘TIL IT’S OVER”
Yogi Berra’s oft quoted pronouncement about a baseball series is also true about the Virginia General Assembly. We are thankful that this year the budget conference committee reached agreement on the 2024-2026 budget before the deadline. The House and Senate agreed with the report, although not unanimously, and adjourned sine die on schedule March 9. However, it’s not really over until April 17 when the GA reconvenes for the one-day session commonly referred to as the Veto Session. At that time the legislature will take up the Governor’s amendments and vetoes. Since a two-thirds majority is required to override a veto and the Democrats have a razor thin majority, we can be pretty sure any vetoes will stand.
Sometimes a bill that’s defeated in the regular session has a mysterious way of being resurrected by funding in the budget bill. And a bill passed by the GA may get no funding in the budget bill and so is not implemented.
How did the influx of more than 50 new legislators this session affect the GA as they dealt with almost 3,600 pieces of legislation? Although there were a few dust-ups, one new Republican Senator said, “I can’t think of a single negative moment.” A veteran Democratic Delegate said the “…newcomers changed the tone. They’ve been so energetic, so many new ideas. They want to change the world.” She found that “energizing.”
On Friday, March 8, the Governor signed 60 bills, amended 12, and vetoed 8. A governor usually has 30 days to sign, veto, or amend bills passed in both chambers. However, legislation sent to his desk a week before the last week of the session must be acted on in 7 days; therefore, the Governor had to act on these bills by midnight Friday, March 8. Those not seeing action would automatically pass. Let me know if you are interested in getting these bill numbers to learn their fate. The Governor has 30 days to act on the bills sent to him during the last week.
HB 30, the $188 billion budget bill, passed in the House 62-37 and in the Senate 24-14. To see how your Senator and Delegate voted, go to leg1.state.va.us, pull up HB 30 and click on the vote numbers at the bottom.
The legislators are at home now. A follow up session with your senator and delegate between now and April 17 would be an excellent time to ask questions about their votes, the effects of specific bills, etc., and to tell them your thoughts before the Reconvened Session. The Legislative Committee would like to hear about these discussions on April 16-17 at the Delegate Assembly.
Yogi, in politics, it “ain’t” ever over!
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