Also Tuesday in Richmond: House panel advances Suetterlein’s bill on special elections. Senate committee rejects O’Quinn bill to create nuclear reactor revenue-sharing agreement, advances Morefield effort to add coal mine methane to alternative energy list.
Politics
Virginia Senate kills Williams’ bill that would have made it harder to get bail
Also from this week at the capital: Senate panel backs O’Quinn bill to create energy innovation fund. House committee kills Edwards’ measure to study whether to make the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke a state agency.
Roanoke reconsiders its Russian sister city ties as assault on Ukraine continues
The Roanoke City Council, which initially had stood by its relationship with Pskov, is expected to vote later this month on cutting ties with the Russian city.
Scenes from the General Assembly
The legislature’s 2023 session has now passed its midpoint. Here’s what legislating looks like day-to-day.
Speaker Gilbert names budget conferees, urges lawmakers to get to work
In a letter to money committee chairs, the House Speaker said he is concerned with delays in amending the biennial state budget.
It’s time for the House and Senate to swap bills. Here’s the legislation that’s survived the divided legislature.
“Anything that can be put off will be put off in an election year,” said a Mary Washington political scientist. From abortion to education, here are the bills from Southwest and Southside Virginia that will make it to round two.
Del. March complains that fellow Republicans ‘attempted to humiliate me’
The Floyd County Republican says Lt. Gov. Earle-Sears “refused to shake my hand and yelled something . . before leaving and slamming my door.”
General Assembly money committees ready to fund new inland port in Southwest Virginia
The House and Senate budget committees include differing amounts for the facility. The House budget also includes money for widening I-81 in the Roanoke Valley and renovating a building at Catawba Hospital.
Senate panel advances bill to consolidate workforce development programs
Virginia currently has six cabinet secretaries, 12 state agencies and 35 different programs dealing with workforce development. A bipartisan proposal seeks to consolidate services under a centralized Department of Workforce Development and Advancement.
House committee passes transgender bill requiring students to list their biological sex on sports eligibility forms; skips Del. March’s bill
Senate passes Suetterlein bill on special elections. Senate panel backs Hackworth bill on methane. House panel advances O’Quinn bill on nuclear education fund and Ballard bill on gangs.