RECENT NEWS
SAVE THE DATE:
The 5th Annual Sneaker Ball is scheduled for Saturday, September 20, 2008, 8p.m., at The Hampton Roads Convention Center.
LOCKE ELECTED DELEGATE:
Senator Locke has been elected as a Delegate (pledged to Senator Obama) to the Democratic National Convention which will convene in Denver, CO, August 25 – 29.
TOWN MEETING RECAP:
Senator Locke and Delegate Mamye BaCote held a Town Meeting on May 18th where the Secretary of Transportation, The Honorable Pierce Homer, discussed Governor Tim Kaine’s transportation plan. This plan will be part of the discussion at the Special Session convening on June 23rd.
2008 GENERAL ASSEMBLY LEGISLATION
The following legislation was introduced,
passed and signed by the Governor:
- SB 240 Martin Luther King, Jr. Living History &
Public Policy Center; clarifies that tax refunds
are to be paid to the Board of Trustees of the
Center.
- SB 242 Virginia Resources Authority; financing
energy conservation and energy efficiency
projects.
- SB 521 Veterans Services; changes references
under powers and duties of the Commissioner
of Veterans Services. This bill was incorportated
into SB 760 (Senator Wagner) which was
a more comprehensive piece of legislation regarding
veterans.
- SJ 56. Vacant residential units; Housing Commission
to study problem in densely populated
urban areas.
The following legislation was left in committee:
- SB 522 Law-enforcement officer: assault and
battery against, penalty. This legislation would
have placed ABC officers under the definition
of Law enforcement officer. It was left in the
House Appropriations Committee after passing
the Senate 40-0 and House Courts of Justice
Committee 18-0.
The following legislation was introduced
and failed:
- SB32 Control of Firearms; libraries.
Prohibits firearms, ammunition,
etc. in libraries.
- SB 33 Outdoor theaters, cabarets,
etc.; localities may adopt
an ordinance to prohibit firearms
on premises.
- SB 238 Payday lending charges;
establishes maximum annual interest
rate at 36%.
- SB 278 Repeal the Payday Loan
Act.
- SB 501 Smoking; prohibited in
restaurants.
- The following bills were copatroned:
SB 764 Address confidentiality
for victims of domestic violence
program expanded.
- HB 1493 Nondiscrimination; prohibits
discrimination in state government
employment based on
race, etc.
A special session on transportation
has been called for June 23.
Click here to visit the Virginia General Assembly Legislative Information System website.