Monday, Feb. 7: Rasoul’s Catawba bill advances in House committee. Bill to pause mining permits in Southside fails.

Markus Schmidt
Markus Schmidt is a reporter for Cardinal News. Reach him at markus@cardinalnews.org or 804-822-1594.
Senate panel OKs Hackworth’s waste coal bill
Proposal would instruct state to identify gob piles around Southwest Virginia.
War memorials bill fails in House committee
Proposal by Del. Wren Williams would have required localities to establish an independent commission to decide the fate of war monuments.
House panel OKs Rasoul’s Catawba Hospital study
Legislation would direct the state to look into the feasibility of turning the hospital into a state-of-the-art campus offering substance abuse treatment.
House approves grant program for Wythe County’s medical glove plant
The proposal by Del. Jeff Campbell would invest $4.6 million in training employees at Blue Star NBR’s facility.
House panel OK’s McNamara’s grocery tax repeal
Del. Marie March’s school bus decal legislation fails before House committee.
Senate panel OKs Suetterlein bill on how to count absentee ballots
Bill is designed to prevent election night ‘mirages’ by showing which precincts absentee ballots are coming from.
House panel backs measure banning drop-off locations for absentee ballots
Proposal by Del. Ronnie Campbell would require voters to mail in their ballots or deliver them to registrars.
House Republicans move on minimum wage bills
One proposal would cap the wage at $11; another would change definition to include a payment to healthcare benefits.
Shakeup on Senate Judiciary Committee
Deeds joins Edwards as co-chair, leaves Privileges & Elections committee.