The General Assembly reached its midpoint this past week. Known as Crossover, this date on the legislative calendar marks the final day that the House and Senate can consider legislation–with an exception for the budget–that originates in their chamber. Bills will now “crossover” to the other chamber for review.
Speaking of the budget, we in the House are expected to debate and vote on a version of the budget next week. It will not be the final version, but rather the initial proposal from the House Appropriations Committee. I will highlight that in next week’s newsletter.
In this week’s update, I want to discuss a number of key issue areas. Many of them cover the larger issue of affordability that both parties continue to discuss. It’s a concern that I hear from my constituents frequently.
Taxes
Sometimes the story is not about what passed, but about what did not pass. I can report that many of the largest tax increases proposed by Democrats will not be moving forward. This is good news for Virginia families.
One of the most egregious tax proposals was HB978. This bill sought to tax everything from gym memberships and dry cleaning to digital subscriptions like Netflix. Virtually every Virginian would be roped into paying additional taxes.
Unfortunately, legislation to repeal the car tax was unsuccessful this year. I co-sponsored HB566 to end the most hated tax in the state. Instead, the majority party passed legislation to further study the issue. By passing a study and avoiding real action, we are just kicking the can further down the road.
So what’s my take on taxes this session? It’s mixed. Governor Youngkin left the state in an incredibly strong financial position. This despite claims throughout his entire term of a pending recession. I believe there was room to responsibly cut taxes. That would be the ultimate affordability move.
Second Amendment
I have received countless emails, phone calls, and letters from constituents in the 74th district regarding a host of bills that seek to chip away at the Second Amendment rights of law abiding citizens. What is most concerning is the fact that courts across the nation have already indicated in previous lawsuits these proposals are unconstitutional. The General Assembly should avoid passing legislation that we know to be unconstitutional.
SB27 would hold gun manufacturers civilly liable for crimes committed with firearms. Frankly, the bill does not make sense. In no other situation do we require a manufacturer to be held liable for an accident for which they are not involved in. To provide an example, this would be similar to a car manufacturer being responsible for an accident in which the driver caused. Currently, gun manufacturers can be sued for faulty products, not the actions of gun owners.
HB217 is equally as concerning, as it seeks to take Virginia down a path of banning the sale of firearms. Our constitution guarantees us the right to bear arms. This bill is in direct contradiction to those rights and would set us on a troubling path.
A number of concerning bills will not move forward this year. That includes HB926, legislation that would allow localities to prohibit the discharge of a firearm on any plot of land less than five acres in size. This bill clearly targets firing ranges at which responsible gun owners seek to maintain their proficiency. Also in the defeated category is HB919, legislation that would implement an 11 percent tax on ammunition and firearms.
Collective Bargaining
One of the biggest threats to affordability is collective bargaining. Until a few years ago, local government employees were not permitted to collectively bargain. That changed several years ago when new laws were passed that gave local governments the ability to authorize collective bargaining in their city or county. Now, the General Assembly is considering legislation to allow public employees to enter collective bargaining agreements regardless of what a local government decided. (See HB1263 and SB378.)
Here locally, this proposal is expected to cost Chesterfield County in excess of $200 million. There is no state funding, making this an unfunded mandate paid for by the local budget. This will force the Board of Supervisors to either cut funding for other key government services like police and fire or raise local taxes.
Affordability is the top buzzword this legislative session. Passing these collective bargaining bills will make life less affordable for Virginians.
Development
My weekly updates are naturally focused on actions taken in the House of Delegates. Yet the Senate has, unfortunately, defeated legislation that would help communities like Chesterfield do more to tackle growth. In many cases, local governments have little legal authority to reject a proposed housing or commercial development. This becomes particularly concerning when schools and roads are not yet ready for the influx of new residents.
I cosponsored legislation introduced by Senator Glen Sturtevant (SB781) that would give our local governments more flexibility to pause and/or delay development projects when the public infrastructure (roads, schools, water, etc.) was lacking. Unfortunately, this legislation was defeated in a Senate committee. I continue to hear about the need to slow growth across Chesterfield. Rest assured this will be something I continue to work on closely with my colleagues.
Nursing Homes
Controversy over nursing homes and the oversight for them has hit our district hard. Virginians should have confidence that their loved ones who live at a nursing home are safe from harm.
In August of last year, Governor Youngkin made substantial headway in increasing the standards and transparency for nursing homes by way of an executive order carried out by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). The executive order increased oversight of nursing homes by VDH and sought to expand staffing levels in the office tasked with inspecting these facilities. This legislative session, Senator Chris Head introduced SB429 to cement the standards set by Governor Youngkin’s executive order into the Code of Virginia. SB429 passed the Senate unanimously and is currently in committee in the House. Ensuring proper oversight of our nursing facilities will be an issue the General Assembly continues to work on to ensure we get it right.
Data Centers
Concerns have arisen across the Commonwealth from individuals and their communities over the impact increased data center development has on community environments and local’s energy bills for the areas surrounding their placement. Data centers are a somewhat new phenomenon and an area of outside investment for the Commonwealth. We as legislators are working hard to protect the interests of those in our districts. Two key bills the legislature is reviewing are:
- HB284 would require Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power to establish demand response programs for areas with higher energy needs. HB284 passed through the House unanimously.
- SB253 shifts energy costs away from consumers and onto data centers, with some estimates predicting residents’ energy costs could drop by $5.50 per month thanks to this legislation. SB253 passed through the Senate unanimously.
In closing, I want to pay tribute to my colleague Barry Knight of Virginia Beach who passed away this week. Barry had served in the House of Delegates since 2009 and was previously chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. He was a retired hog farmer who cherished his family and faith. Barry enjoyed spending time outdoors hunting or fishing while enjoying the very best of Virginia’s natural beauty. His knowledge and experience will be sorely missed in the House.
As a reminder, my office is here to assist you with any problems you may face with a state government agency. Please reach out by phone or email so that we can help. If you have a federal or local matter, I will be happy to put you in touch with the right contacts.
I hope you found this week’s update informative. As always, it remains an honor to represent Colonial Heights and Chesterfield in the House of Delegates.
Sincerely,
Mike Cherry