HomeMy WebLinkAboutI. A. 2024 GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPDATE 3.5.24Brent McKenzie, Legislative Affairs Liaison
March 4, 2024
General Assembly Legislative Update
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2024 General Assembly Update
Today’s update:
•Status on the Legislative Agenda items
•Legislation of interest
•Federal budget update
Goal of today’s presentation is to provide a brief update on the General
Assembly session.
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Status of Legislative Agenda items
Bill Status
HB 416 10-1 Charter •Passed the House 75-24-1; Passed Senate 39-0.
•Now goes to Governor for his action.
SB 189 10-1 Charter •Passed Senate 40-0; Passed House 68-31-1
•Governor's deadline to respond March 8th at 11:59pm
SB 262 Board of Equalization •Passed Senate 40-0; Passed House 97-0.
•Now goes to Governor for his action.
HB 415 Board of Equalization •Passed the House 100-0; Passed Senate 40-0
•Now goes to Governor for his action.
SB 188 10-1 General Law •Passed Senate 40-0; Reported from House P & E 11-9.
•2nd reading on House floor today.Vote likely tomorrow.
HB 133 Toxic Exposure Fund •Amended version passed House 98-0; Reported from Senate Finance 15-0.
•2nd reading on Senate floor today. Vote likely tomorrow.
SB 650 Toxic Exposure Fund •Senate made the same amendment that the House did, and it passed the Senate 40-0
•Substitute reported from House Appropriations 15-2. Passed House 98-0.
HB 134 Fentanyl Education •Passed House 99-0;Reported from Senate Education and Health with substitute (15-Y 0-N).
Passed Senate 39-0.
•House must agree to Senate amendments before it can go to the Governor
HB 374 Minority Business Council •Passed House 99-0; Reported from Senate Rules 15-0.
•Will be voted on the Senate floor this week.
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Legislation of interest
Skill Games
HB 590 Virginia Small Business
Economic Development Act;
established.
SB 212 Virginia Small Business
Economic Development
Act;established.
•Does not include local authority or referendum
•Restaurants and convenient stores are limited to 4 games per location, up from 3
•Truck stops limited to 10 games per location, up from 5
•Must be 21 years old to play
•Does not require age verification technology be included on each game
•Includes a new requirement that an establishment that allows a person under 21 to
engage in play will be guilty of a class-1 misdemeanor
•25% tax on gross profits, defined as all revenue generated minus prizes
o 15% to the Department for distribution to the localities in which skill game
machines are located
o 1% to the law-enforcement agencies that have primary law-enforcement
responsibilities in any locality in which skill game machines are located
o 75% to the Pre K-12 Priority Fund
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Legislation of interest
Cannabis
SB 448 Cannabis control; retail
market; penalties.
•Creates a retail sales marketplace administered the Cannabis Control Authority
•Sales could begin in May 2025
•Allows 350 retail stores, 100 processing localities, and 50 cultivation sites state -wide
•Allows localities to hold a referendum, by resolution from the local governing board to the
circuit court, on whether to prohibit sales within locality (the default is to allow sales)
•Locality may prohibit the possession or use in public parks, playgrounds, public streets or
any sidewalk adjoining a public street
•Retain local zoning and business license requirements
•Localities may, by ordinance, restrict the hours in which marijuana is sold in the locality
•Sales restricted to 21 years old or older
•Products would be taxed at a maximum rate of 11.625%, with 8% going to the state,
2.5% a local option tax and 1.125% to K-12 education
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Federal Budget Update
Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS):
•Under the U.S. Department of Justice’s OJP – Byrne Grant Program – the City has secured $693,000 for the Creeds
Training Facility Request
Energy & Water:
•Under the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (Civil) – Investigations – the City has secured $400,000 for “Virginia Beach &
Vicinity Coastal Storm Risk Management Study”
•Under the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (Civil) – Operations & Maintenance – the City has secured $3,900,000 for
the Rudee Inlet project
Transportation Housing Urban Development (THUD):
•Under the U.S. Department of Transportation – Highway Infrastructure Program – the City has secured $3,000,000
for Laskin Road Phase I-B
Congress has yet to agree to the remaining FY24 appropriations bills set to
expire on March 22nd. Once that is done, the appropriations cycle will be
complete, and Congress can proceed to the FY25 cycle.
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Discussion