The busy month of April has come to an end. The General Assembly met twice in Richmond to conduct business, with work on the state budget still ongoing.
In this month’s e-newsletter, I will provide you with an update on the Reconvene Session, the state budget, and ongoing lawsuits concerning the redistricting referendum. I hope you continue to find these monthly updates helpful and informative.
Reconvene Session
As required by the Constitution of Virginia, the House and Senate met on April 22 for our Reconvene Session. At this session, no new legislation was considered. The General Assembly instead had the chance to weigh in on amendments proposed by the Governor and the opportunity to override her vetoes.
The Governor vetoed eight bills, including one that would create a new tax on mattresses in order to fund a statewide mattress recycling program. She also vetoed a bill that would permit Fairfax County to construct a casino. None of her vetoes were overridden.
The Governor offered amendments to several high profile bills, including legislation to establish a recreational marijuana market and to authorize collective bargaining of public employees. Rather than debate the merits of the amendments and take a vote, the Democratic majorities in both chambers opted to simply pass over the Governor’s proposals. Both bills now sit on the Governor’s desk in their original form. At this point in the legislative process, Governor Spanberger may either sign them into law or veto them outright.
This article from VPM does a good job of explaining the Governor’s actions on several key issues.
Due to the manner in which the Governor’s amendments regarding collective bargaining were handled, there was not a significant amount of debate. I have previously raised concerns about the significant costs that this proposal would pass on to local taxpayers. If signed into law, Colonial Heights could see a price tag of $12.5 million while Chesterfield sees a staggering $200 million. Earlier this month I pressed the Governor to veto this bill outright. You can read more about my efforts here.
Budget Update
The House and Senate met in special session on April 23 to continue work on the state budget. As you will recall, the legislative session ended on March 14 without adopting a new biennial budget.
Unfortunately, without a budget, there is little that I can report to you at this time. I understand that budget conferees (those legislators tasked with drafting the final budget bill) have not met in any significant way. Media reports indicate that the hold up is a disagreement over revenue, specifically to what extent data centers should be taxed.
The General Assembly is expected to return to Richmond when a budget bill is ready for debate and a vote. There is not yet a timeline for that, but it is worth noting that the new fiscal year begins July 1. A budget must be in place by that date to avoid a state government shutdown.
Redistricting Referendum
Last week, Virginians went to the polls to cast their ballots in a redistricting referendum. The proposal would authorize the General Assembly to redraw existing Congressional districts. The referendum passed with a closer-than-expected margin, leading many to note that the current 6-5 maps reflect the state’s voting population more accurately than the proposed 10-1 option.
As you will recall, several lawsuits were filed before the referendum occurred. The Virginia Supreme Court, citing legal precedent from 1912, opted to hear the cases after the vote occurred. These cases challenged both the process by which the proposed amendment was placed on the ballot and the exact language used in the ballot question.
The Virginia Supreme Court heard oral arguments earlier this week in one of the cases. While the court does not have a formal deadline by which they must issue a ruling in this case, there is a general assumption that they will make a decision by mid-May. There are also some who think the Court may wait just a few extra days to hear arguments on two additional related cases so that they may provide one large ruling covering all aspects of the referendum rather than release individual rulings.
Republicans, myself included, have argued that the process by which this amendment was placed on the ballot was flawed from the start. Our state constitution sets out a very clear procedure by which it can be amended. This redistricting amendment and referendum did not follow that clear process. It remains to be seen whether the Virginia Supreme Court will accept this argument or not. Stay tuned for additional information in the coming weeks.
Legislation Update
I am pleased to report that two of my bills from this past session have been signed into law by the Governor.
House Bill 1140 directs the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DJCS) to create guidelines for the use of confidential informants by law enforcement agencies. We have, regrettably, seen confidential informants placed in compromising situations that result in loss of life. You can learn more about the impetus for this new law through this CBS6 story linked here.
House Bill 1387 provides the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) with authority to automatically revoke the teaching license of an individual who is convicted of a felony for which they are required to register under the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Act. This new law speeds up the existing process with the aim of ensuring our children are safe at school.
In the News
Here are a few news articles from the past few weeks that you may find of interest:
- Cardinal News: Walker: The bills you’re not hearing about could cost Virginians the most
- Virginia Mercury: Virginia lawmakers recess special session without a budget deal
- Virginia Mercury: Republican state lawmakers propose three-month gas tax holiday in Virginia
- Richmond Times Dispatch: In letter to Spanberger, Avula expresses concern about collective bargaining bills
It remains an honor to represent our district in the Virginia House of Delegates. If I can assist you or your family in any way, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Mike Cherry