Tag: Virginia General Assembly
House Speaker Bill Howell announces retirement
Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) announced Monday that he will not seek re-election.
Speaker Howell announces new transparency resources
Virginia House Speaker Bill Howell announced today that a video archive of House floor sessions is now available for the 2017 Session.
Republican leaders want special session to talk restoration of voting rights
Republican leaders called for a special session of the General Assembly to consider the Governor’s “Order for the Restoration of Rights.”
McAuliffe statement on legislative veto session
Governor Terry McAuliffe released the following statement after the General Assembly voted to uphold 24 of his legislative vetoes.
Ken Plum: Words of wisdom
Folks back home where I grew up in Page County, Virginia were not known to have a lot to say about events.
General Assembly passes two-year state budget, adjourns ahead of schedule
Virginia House Republican leaders commented on the adjournment of the 2016 General Assembly session after lawmakers passed a two-year state budget.
Creigh Deeds: One more day
With the legislature wrapping up the 2016 Regular Session of the General Assembly in a day or so, I wanted to provide a status report.
General Assembly elects Stephen R. McCullough to Supreme Court
The Virginia General Assembly on Thursday elected Court of Appeals Judge Stephen R. McCullough to fill the vacancy on the Virginia Supreme Court left by Justice LeRoy Millette.
Creigh Deeds: Our judiciary
One of the most important responsibilities of the General Assembly is the election of judges. After all, judges represent the Commonwealth.
Chap Petersen pro-cycling ‘dooring’ bill passes House
The House of Delegates passed Senator Chap Petersen’s bill to protect cyclists and drivers from the dangers of suddenly opened car doors in a 70-25 vote.
Creigh Deeds: One week to go in Virginia General Assembly
With one week before the scheduled adjournment of March 12, the 2016 General Assembly is nearing completion on all major issues.
Senate Democrats uphold veto on Clean Power Plan block bill
Senate Democrats upheld a veto on a bill that would have prevented implementation of a Virginia-specific plan in line with the federal Clean Power Plan.
Ken Plum: Bills, bills, bills, bills
If past history provides any indication, the 2016 session of the General Assembly will have considered nearly 3,000 bills and resolutions before its 60-day session adjourns in early March.
Governor McAuliffe vetoes Tebow Bills
Governor Terry McAuliffe today vetoed two so-called Tebow Bills related to the ability of students who receive home instruction to participate in interscholastic programs.
Forty-plus General Assembly members have endorsed Hillary Clinton
Hillary for Virginia announced that Hillary Clinton has the support of 42 Democratic members of the Virginia General Assembly.
Creigh Deeds: Budget, budget, budget
The 2016 Session of the General Assembly is now in warp speed. We are merely two weeks from adjournment, and it seems everybody is in two or three places at the same time.
Ken Plum: Education as the priority
My constituents have made clear to me that their top priority for the budget is education funding; the Governor had the same priority in preparing his budget.
Local school leaders applaud House proposal to restore lottery fund distribution
Education leaders from across the Commonwealth are applauding the House of Delegates plan to restore lottery fund distributions to local school divisions.
Senate upholds local control for charter schools
A Senate committee declined to report Del. Rob Bell’s (R-Charlottesville) charter schools proposal.
Gov. McAuliffe comments on passage of public safety legislation
Governor Terry McAuliffe issued a statement on the passage of public safety legislation by both chambers of the General Assembly.
House Republicans release state budget blueprint
The Virginia House of Delegates Committee on Appropriations proposed a two-year state budget Sunday that includes no tax or fee increases.
Creigh Deeds: Absolutely not
The 2016 Session of the General Assembly has crossed the midpoint. I voted no on a couple of tough votes, but “no” doesn’t always mean “absolutely not.”
Senate committee advances House bill blocking Clean Power Plan
A Senate committee voted to advance HB 2, which would require that the General Assembly sign off on Virginia’s plan to comply with Clean Power Plan requirements.
State Senate committee advances Tebow Bill
The Senate Education and Health Committee on Thursday reported Abemarle Republican Del. Rob Bell’s Tebow Bill.
Senate committee backs Return to Learn, physical activity requirements
A Senate committee backed a measure geared towards supporting students who have suffered health setbacks and another to increase physical activity in schools.
Ken Plum: Classrooms to courtrooms
A report of the Center for Public Integrity (CPI) released last year included some eye-opening findings for Virginia.
State Senate passes right to work amendment
The Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate have now both passed legislation to enshrine Virginia’s right to work law in the Constitution.
Virtual education legislation passes in Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates has passed legislation to establish a statewide virtual school to provide full-time virtual school programs here in Virginia.
House Democrats offer up midterm report card for House Republicans
Wednesday, the day after crossover and the mid-point in the 2016 General Assembly session, House Democrats released their Midterm Report Card.
House Republicans highlight successful and productive start to 2016 General Assembly session
House Republican leaders highlighted the House’s legislative accomplishments at a press conference Wednesday.
Civil forfeiture bill dies in State Senate
A Senate floor effort to keep alive a bill to prohibit the civil seizure of assets when the defendant had been acquitted of the underlying crime failed on Monday.
Right to work amendment on Virgina ballot in November
The Virginia Senate passed HB4 and HJ2 on party-line votes to incorporate a version of Virginia’s existing right to work law into the state constitution.
Research and development tax credit bill passes Senate
This morning, SB58 – a research and development tax credit bill co-chief patroned by Senator Janet Howell (D-Fairfax) – passed unanimously through the Senate.
Bill would create tax credit for farmers who donate to food banks
Farmers are watching a bill in the Virginia General Assembly that stands to benefit not only them but also Virginians statewide who are in need of food.
Farmers back bill that clarifies landowner rights in eminent domain cases
The state’s largest farmers’ advocacy organization is backing a bill ithat spells out landowner rights when property is damaged in activities related to eminent domain.
Religious refusal bill passes Virginia Senate
The Senate approved a measure entitling religious organizations and affiliated businesses to refuse to provide services or goods based on religious beliefs.
Creigh Deeds: Almost to crossover
Crossover for the 2016 Session of the Virginia General Assembly is at hand.
House passes constitutional amendment on public charter schools
The Virginia House of Delegates passed a constitutional amendment on Friday that will lead to the creation of more public charter schools in Virginia.
House subcommittee passes ban on abortion after 20 weeks
The House of Delegates Courts of Justice – Constitutional Law Subcommittee passed a bill Wednesday that would prohibit abortion after 20 weeks with very little exceptions.
Senate committee fails to certify Supreme Court justice: Politics?
Wednesday afternoon, the GOP-controlled Senate Courts of Justice Committee refused to consider certifying Virginia Supreme Court Justice Jane Marum Roush.
House of Delegates passes gun safety package
The Virginia House of Delegates passed the legislative pieces of the bipartisan gun agreement reached between Gov. Terry McAuliffe and the General Assembly.
