Sine Die Tomorrow? Bills in Conference

Mar 6, 2020

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Somehow I don’t think this is done by Saturday…From the Legislative Information System (LIS) this morning, here are the bills still in conference committees. Some are known to have resolutions, but still must come to the floor:

HB 2 Firearm transfers; criminal history record information checks, penalty.
HB 4 Lottery Board; regulation of casino gaming.
HB 19 Voter identification; signed statement in lieu of required form of identification, penalty.
HB 29 Budget Bill.
HB 30 Budget Bill.
HB 33 Parole; exception to limitation on the application of parole statutes.
HB 42 Prenatal and postnatal depression, etc.; importance of screening patients.
HB 46 Workers’ compensation; employer to notify employee of intent.
HB 75 Electric utilities; electric school bus pilot program.
HB 201 Elections; same-day registration, same-day registration.
HB 220 Absentee voting; postage prepaid on return envelope.
HB 235 Voter registration; automatic voter registration.
HB 259 Unrestorably incompetent defendant; competency report.
HB 271 Public schools; school resource officers and school security officers, data.
HB 273 School boards; planning time and planning periods for elementary, middle, and high school teachers.
HB 284 Removal of dangerous roadside vegetation; local option.
HB 298 Misdemeanor sexual offenses; increases statute of limitations, where the victim is a minor.
HB 330 Employment; covenants not to compete, clarifies definition of low-wage employees, civil penalty.
HB 337 Nonpayment of wages; discriminatory actions prohibited.
HB 375 Postsecondary schools; enrollment agreements, disputes, arbitration.
HB 393 Landlord and tenant; statement of tenant rights and responsibilities.
HB 395 Minimum wage; increases to $10 per hour effective July 1, 2020.
HB 402 Public schools; lock-down drills, frequency, exemptions.
HB 405 Menstrual supplies; school boards shall make available in each school building.
HB 477 Juveniles; increases minimum age at which a juvenile must be tried as an adult.
HB 533 Expanded polystyrene food service containers; definitions, prohibition on dispensing, civil penalty.
HB 534 Disposable plastic bag; local tax.
HB 540 Elections administration; Department of Elections to employ a Director of Operations.
HB 558 Micro-business; enhancement of participation in local procurement.
HB 572 Distributed renewable energy; promotes the establishment thereof.
HB 600 Family day homes; storage of firearms.
HB 648 Prescription Monitoring Program; information disclosed to Emergency Department Information.
HB 660 Deferred dispositions; property crimes, larceny and receiving stolen goods.
HB 668 Field investigations permit; definitions, archaeologist qualifications, penalty.
HB 748 Research and development tax credits; extends sunset date, aggregate caps.
HB 752 Felons; postrelease incarceration of offenders sentenced for certain offenses.
HB 759 Strategic lawsuits against public participation; special motion to dismiss, stay of discovery.
HB 785 Local taxing authority; equalizes city and county taxing authorities.
HB 792 Appeals of right in general district court; order or judgment altering prior final orders.
HB 795 Health insurance; association health plans.
HB 799 Child day programs; lead testing, potable water, effective date.
HB 806 Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund; victims of sexual assault, report.
HB 812 Handguns; limitation on purchases, penalty.
HB 824 Criminal cases; ex parte requests for expert assistance.
HB 861 Best interests of the child; act of violence, force, or threat against an intimate partner, etc.
HB 870 Sexual abuse; statute of limitations.
HB 879 Certificate of public need; revises the Medical Care Facilities Certificate of Public Need Program.
HB 881 Illegal gambling; skill games, exception.
HB 888 Retail Sales and Use Tax; exemption for certain gun safes.
HB 896 Virginia Lottery; repeals prohibition against sale of lottery tickets over the Internet.
HB 913 Higher educational institutions; sexual violence policies, immunity from disciplinary action.
HB 928 Chesterfield County School Board; recovery high school to be established.
HB 972 Marijuana; possession and consumption, penalty.
HB 974 Writ of actual innocence; petition by convicted person.
HB 1017 Commonwealth of Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority; created.
HB 1023 Custodial interrogations; recording.
HB 1024 State Police, Department of; establishment of cold case searchable database.
HB 1037 Health insurance; short-term limited-duration medical plans, definitions, effective date.
HB 1150 Inquiry and report of immigration status; persons charged with or convicted of certain crimes.
HB 1184 Distributed energy generation; promotes establishment of distributed solar energy.
HB 1184 Distributed energy generation; promotes establishment of distributed solar energy.
HB 1186 Disposal of solid waste fees; Russell County.
HB 1196 Driver’s license; suspension for nonpayment of fines or costs.
HB 1201 Virginia Public Procurement Act; determination of nonresponsibility, local option.
HB 1209 New Americans, Office of; created within Department of Social Services.
HB 1211 Motor Vehicles, Department of; issuance of certain documents, citizenship requirement.
HB 1220 Income tax, state; amended return notice, interest accrual period.
HB 1247 Capital outlay plan; updates six-year plan for projects.
HB 1269 Veterans Services Foundation; board of trustees assisted by volunteers, etc.
HB 1301 Children’s Ombudsman, Office of the; established.
HB 1318 Motion picture production tax credit; media-related exemptions, extends sunset provision.
HB 1414 Transportation; amends numerous laws related to funds, safety programs, revenue sources, etc.
HB 1434 Local tax; exemption for solar energy equipment.
HB 1439 Transportation safety; adopting several initiatives.
HB 1450 Electric utility regulation; energy efficiency standard.
HB 1451 Electric utility regulation; mandatory renewable energy portfolio standard.
HB 1495 Virginia Retirement System; retired law-enforcement officers employed as school resource officers.
HB 1499 Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund; created.
HB 1506 Pharmacists; initiating of treatment with and dispensing and administering of controlled substances.
HB 1513 Health insurance; credits for retired school division employees.
HB 1519 Commission to Study Slavery and Subsequent De Jure and De Facto Racial and Economic Discrimination.
HB 1540 Behavioral health providers; barrier crimes, exceptions.
HB 1544 Children; strip searches.
HB 1552 Tethering animals; adequate shelter and space.
HB 1602 Airport Opportunity Fund; created.
HB 1634 Shared solar programs; established by electric cooperative, etc.
HB 1725 Judicial assistants; serves under supervision of presiding judge of circuit court.
HB 1726 Hampton Roads Regional Transit Program and Fund; created, transit funding.
SB 2 Marijuana; decriminalization of simple possession, civil penalty.
SB 11 Disposable plastic bags; local taxation per bag in Planning District 8 when provided to consumers.
SB 34 Driver privilege cards; definitions, effective date, report.
SB 36 Lottery Board; regulation and control of casino gaming.
SB 65 Voter identification; repeal of photo identification requirements.
SB 69 Handguns; limitation on purchases, penalty.
SB 70 Firearm transfers; criminal history record information check, penalty.
SB 71 Firearms; possession on school property.
SB 105 Best interests of the child; act of violence, force, or threat against an intimate partner, etc.
SB 110 Research and development tax credits; extends sunset date, aggregate caps.
SB 134 School boards; planning time & planning periods for elementary, middle, & high school teachers.
SB 142 Virtual Virginia; availability to all public schools.
SB 200 Income tax, state; housing choice vouchers, eligible housing areas.
SB 219 Voter registration; automatic voter registration, effective clause.
SB 225 Removal of dangerous roadside conditions; local option.
SB 232 Menstrual supplies; school boards shall make available in each school building.
SB 235 Health insurance; association health plans.
SB 263 Concealed handgun permits; demonstration of competence, effective date.
SB 277 Income tax, state and corporate; deduction for commuter benefits provided by an employer.
SB 286 Deferred dispositions; property crimes, larceny and receiving stolen goods.
SB 297 Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Prevention Fund; created, report.
SB 329 Disposal of solid waste fees; Russell County.
SB 384 Virginia Lottery; definitions, repeal prohibition against sale of lottery tickets over the Internet.
SB 393 Child day programs; lead testing, potable water, effective clause.
SB 404 Health insurance; short-term limited-duration medical plans, renewals and extensions.
SB 407 Virginia Revolutionary 250 Commission; established, increases membership, report, sunset provision.
SB 480 Covenants not to compete; low-wage employees, civil penalty.
SB 481 Employees; earned sick leave, civil penalties.
SB 545 Appeals of right in general district court; appeal of all claims.
SB 575 Prescription Monitoring Program; information disclosed to Emergency Department Information.
SB 576 Commonwealth of Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority; created.
SB 588 Localities; authority to levy taxes.
SB 593Licensed family day homes; storage of firearms.
SB 612Historical Statues in the United States Capitol, Commission for; removal of Robert E. Lee statue.
SB 700Wills; indexed in the name of executor as listed in such instrument.
SB 707Landlord and tenant; tenant rights and responsibilities.
SB 710Distributed renewable energy; sale of electricity under third-party sales agreements.
SB 720PSAP dispatchers; telecommunicator cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
SB 763Local tax; exemption for solar energy equipment.
SB 768Temporary detention; DBHDS shall study who may evaluate.
SB 793Parole; exception to limitation on the application of parole statutes.
SB 818Behavioral health dockets; established.
SB 838Nonpayment of wages; cause of action, penalties.
SB 880School counselors; minimum staffing ratio.
SB 890Transportation; amends numerous laws related to funds, safety programs, revenue sources, etc.
SB 907Transportation safety; occupants of motor vehicles not equipped with seat belts.
SB 939Employees of local governments; collective bargaining.
SB 971Illegal gambling; definitions, skill games.
SB 990Governor’s New Airline Service Incentive Fund; created.
SB 994VMI; the Institute shall be grounded in a strict code of honor and academic excellence, etc.
SB 1023Correctional facilities, state; visitation and search policies for visitors.
SB 1038Hampton Roads Regional Transit Program and Fund; created, transit funding.
SB 1089State correctional facilities; strip or cavity searches of those entering a facility.
SJ 35Barrier crimes and criminal history records checks; joint subcommittee to study.
SJ 67 Marijuana; JLARC to study legalization of growth, sale, and possession.

Stephen D. Haner

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13 responses to “Sine Die Tomorrow? Bills in Conference”

LarrytheG

March 6, 2020

GOOD LORD!

does this mean:

1. – that legislative staff are pulling “all nighters”?

2. – that this is the time when “obscure” and unnoticed changes
get inserted?

Free Lance Start reported this morning that the gas tax, regional gas tax districts, Metro pay-back, state inspections (stay) and DMV, 1/2 and kill the $5 for in-person transactions that could have been done online.

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Steve Haner

March 6, 2020

1-Yes. Hard working folks.
2-Very much yes, very dangerous time. Anything can just show up in a conference report, and not just the budget bills. They are seldom closely read.
3 – Yes, RTD has that report, too. I think that list includes some other conference bills which have been voted on in one chamber, but not the other. It is still a daunting list. Many will just die.

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WayneS

March 6, 2020

I’m okay with them just going home and taking no further action on anything.

But then, I’m ALWAYS okay with any legislature adjourning without passing new laws.

We already have too many laws.

I would support holding a GA session in which the sole purpose was to pore over the Code of Virginia and repeal any and all ill-conceived, unneeded, outdated and/or just plain stupid laws.

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1. Steve Haner
  
  March 6, 2020
  
  Might need more than one…
  
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  1. WayneS
    
    March 6, 2020
    
    Definitely. I’m thinking one special three-week session each year until the number of words in the Code of Virginia has been reduced by 25%, then one session every two-years until another 25% reduction is achieved. 🙂
    
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Dick Hall-Sizemore

March 6, 2020

The big one in conference is the budget bill. The schedule rules adopted by the General Assembly at the beginning of the session require that the members have 48 hours to review the budget conference report before voting on it. Reportedly, the biggest hangup is the issue of higher ed tuition. The House wants to continue the freeze for another year and limit increases to 2 percent in the second year. It has provided over $100 million for higher ed in exchange for the freeze. The Senate does not want a freeze, but wants to put more money into student financial aid.

So, since they have not reported out the budget bill, they are looking at a one day, at least, extension, unless they amend the rules.

I am surprised at the budget impasse. I thought the Democrats would be particularly anxious to show that they could make things work smoothly. The Republicans will have a field day; although they were late with the budget last year.

As for all the bills in conference, I have no sympathy for them. It is their own fault. They introduce a ton of bills. Everyone wants to be on 3 or 4 committees. Then they complain that they don’t have time because they are running back and forth between committees. As for the conferences, a lot could have been avoided if the chief patron of the bill had put her ego aside and accepted some compromise.

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djrippert

March 6, 2020

On January 23 I wrote, “Virginia will decriminalize this year and set about studying the possibility of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. That study will be presented in the 2021 session and medical marijuana will be legalized in that session.”

Now we have a couple of decriminalization bills and a legalization study heading to Sine Die. Seems like I have better than even chances of the prediction coming true. We’ll see.

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vaconsumeradvocate

March 6, 2020

Since LIS is so slow reporting vote breakdowns and uploading amendments and substitutes, it’s super hard for those not able to be on site to keep up. Hopefully technology will improve and hopefully as the D’s evaluate the Session, they’ll make improving timeliness of info getting on LIS a priority for next year. LOTS of mischief may be underway right now that we can’t monitor.

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LarrytheG

March 6, 2020

Have never been impressed with LIS especially after Richmond Sunshine – a largely on man volunteer effort
provided superior performance over the original (totally awful) LIS.

It’s not that the current state of technology is not yet up to the demands of what LIS does It’s that LIS is not up to the level it could be and needs to be.

The whole idea of LIS – conceptually – is to provide timely information on the legislative process – as it occurs and it
fails to do that – and we’re back to the bad old days when what happened during the GA was not known to any except the insiders until after the fact.

It’s called sausage making.. but when you combine the way our GA “works” with the unlimited way that money “works” – it’s not good.

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1. Steve Haner
  
  March 7, 2020
  
  Richmond Sunshine is just LIS data with some enhancements, just like VPAP is Board of Elections data with enhancements. Absent the government reports neither would actually exist. I prefer working with LIS, but that could be just habit. It has seemed slower this year in getting amendments, substitutes and vote tallies posted.
  
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LarrytheG

March 7, 2020

Well, you’re right – no one LIS or other gets data until it is posted.

NOT posting it in a timely manner undermines trust in the GA…IMHO.

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1. Steve Haner
  
  March 7, 2020
  
  I was really pissed how nothing was getting posted yesterday, including floor minutes, until I learned that there was no “yesterday” and everything was still being marked March 5…..
  
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LarrytheG

March 7, 2020

I don’t care how they label the days – actions as they occur – should be posted within minutes… otherwise – it’s a joke and ordinary citizens have no idea what is going on and it sounds like lobbyists don’t either!

The most powerful “lobby” in the GA – is the GA itself!

All this blather about “transparency”.. it’s for schmucks…and rubes…

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