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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGeneral Assembly Update1 2026 General Assembly Week 4 2 2026 Session Today’s update: •Status of Legislative Agenda items •Legislation of interest Goal of today’s presentation is to provide an update on the General Assembly session and highlight legislation of interest 3 Timeline Upcoming milestones Crossover; February 18th Chambers will present their budgets on February 22nd; Each chamber must approve their budget by February 26th Sine die; Saturday March 14th Reconvene Session; Wednesday April 22nd 4 In the News 2026 Constitutional Amendments Three amendments will be on the November ballot: 1.Reproductive Freedom:Establishes a fundamental right to abortion, contraception, IVF, and other reproductive health services within the state constitution. 2.Voting Rights Restoration:Automatically restores voting rights to individuals upon release from incarceration for a felony conviction, eliminating the need for discretionary gubernatorial action 3.Marriage Equality:Removes defunct language from the Constitution that bans same-sex marriage, aligning it with federal law. Special election April 21st Congressional Redistricting:Grants the General Assembly authority to redraw congressional maps, potentially outside of the traditional 10-year cycle. Would move congressional primaries to August 4th. 5 Legislative Agenda items Cancer Screenings for Public Safety HB 393 AskewSB 672 Rouse •Referred to Appropriations subcommittee •Continued to 2027 by Appropriations (15-0) EMS "Four for Life" funding HB 57 FeggansSB 675 Rouse •Passed the House and referred to Senate Transportation •Continued to 2027 by Appropriations (15-0) Fire Programs Fund HB 394 Askew •Subcommittee laid on the table (7-Y 0-N) Subaquatic Vegetation HB 390 Askew •Reported from Agriculture (22-0); on 3rd reading Menhaden Fishing Study HB 1048 & 1049 CarrSB 474 Marsden •HB1048 Tabled at request;1049 referred to Approps •Continued to 2027 by Appropriations (14-0) “Pop-Up” Event Zones HB 778 Thornton •Continued to 2027 by CCT (voice vote) 10-1 General Law HB 168 AskewSB 51 Rouse •Passed House 75-24; referred to Local Gov't •Passed Senate 26-14;referred to CCT Protecting the Blue Line HB 1328 TataSB 387 Craig •Tabled in subcommittee •Failed to report 7-8 10:1 Election System HB 187 Convirs-FowlerSB 681 Rouse •Passed House 83-13-1; referred to Local Gov't •Passed Senate 27-13; referred to CCT 6 Legislation with Fiscal Impact SB 378 Surovell HB 1263 Tran Collective Bargaining for Public Employees •SB 378 rereferred to Finance 8-6 •HB 1263 referred to Approps 5-2 SB 228 Surovell Eliminates sovereign immunity up to the amount of insurance or self-insurance reserves for any tort case •Rereferred from Courts of Justice to Finance 6-5-3 HB 412 N. Cole Requires a study and recommendations for localities to fund annual needs-based school board budgets •Approps Subcommittee laid on the table 7-0 HB 569 Feggans SB 518 Rouse Requires prevailing wage for public works projects •HB 569 referred to C&L Subcommittee (Thursday) •SB 370 rereferred to Finance 9-6 SB 233 Head Changes how aid to locality funds for fire departments are distributed, prioritizing fiscal distress instead of population •Referred to Commerce &Labor HB 5 Convirs-Fowler Requires one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked for all employees. Delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. •Reported from Appropriations 15-7 SB 2 Boysko Establishes a mandatory paid family and medical leave insurance program with benefits beginning January 1, 2029. Under the program, benefits are paid to covered individuals for family and medical leave and funding for the program is provided through premiums assessed to employers and employees beginning January 1, 2028. •Rereferred to Finance 7-6 7 Land Use Legislation HB 804 Helmer SB 488 VanValkenburg Requires localities to increase their total housing stock by at least 7.5% over the five-year period •HB 804 passed 63-35 and referred to Local Government •SB 488 stricken by patron HB 611 Cohen SB 531 Srinivasan Requires a locality to include in its zoning ordinances for single - family residential zoning districts accessory dwelling units •HB 611 Continued to 2027 •SB 531 passed Senate Local Gov 7-6 W/amendments HB 816 Helmer SB 454 VanValkenburg Requires a locality to include in its zoning ordinance allowing for by- right development of multifamily residential uses on at least 75 percent of all land contained in commercial or business zoning districts •HB 816 passed 64-35 and Referred to Local Government •SB 454 passed 21-19, referred to CCT HB 1279 J. Cole SB 388 McPike "Faith in Housing" , allows for the development and construction of housing on land owned by religious organizations or tax-exempt nonprofit organizations •HB 1279 passed 60-36; referred to Local Gov't •SB 388 on 3rd reading HB 888 Shin Sets limits on minimum parking requirements in designated areas where residents have mass transit access •Passed 61-37; referred to Local Government 8 Revenue Streams SB 661 Rouse HB 1272 Hayes Skill Games authorization and tax $800/per month per machine tax – 15% to local government where machine is located •SB 661 Rereferred to Finance •HB1272 Referred to House General Laws SB 542 Aird SB 826 Lucas HB 642 Krizek Establishes a framework for the creation of a retail marijuana market in the Commonwealth SB542 and HB642 provides for an additional 1% - 3.5% sales tax SB826 requires an additional 3% sales tax •All are waiting action in the Finance and Appropriation Committees HB 334 Rasoul SB 66 McPIke SB 607 Lucas Authorizes all counties and cities to impose an additional local sales and use tax at a rate not to exceed one percent with the revenue used only for capital projects for the construction or renovation of schools if such levy is approved in a voter referendum. •HB334 passed House 70- 28 •SB 66/607 in Finance SB 712 Stuart HB 1449 Pope Adams Local taxing authority for vaping products Lesser of the rate of 10 percent of the wholesale price or eleven cents ($0.11) per milliliter. •SB712 stricken at request of patron •HB1449 Rereferred to Appropriations 9 Discussion