By SARAH VOGELSONG, Virginia Mercury
A bill to restore State Corporation Commission authority in reviewing Dominion Energy’s base rates that passed the House of Delegates with strong bipartisan support may face headwinds in the Senate, one of its patrons fears. Del. Jay Jones, D-Norfolk, who along with Republican Del. Lee Ware of Powhatan is a chief sponsor of the Fair Energy Bills Act, said he is concerned the legislation won’t be docketed for consideration in the more utility-friendly Senate after clearing the House on a 77-23 vote.
By SARAH RANKIN AND ALAN SUDERMAN, Associated Press
As Dominion Energy spearheads the $8 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline, Virginia lawmakers are advancing legislation sponsored by a Republican who says he wants to protect the company’s captive ratepayers from possible overcharges. Under legislation from Del. Lee Ware, Dominion’s Virginia electric utility would have to demonstrate the need for a new fuel source and show that it “objectively studied” other options
By JUSTIN MATTINGLY, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)
Tuition could again freeze at Virginia’s public colleges next year, but this time there’s a twist. The version of the two-year budget that the House of Delegates approved Thursday includes $111.8 million for the state’s public colleges to keep tuition rates flat in an effort to help families and students whose bills have ballooned over the past 10 years.
By JUSTIN MATTINGLY, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)
While the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate have approved versions of the state budget for the next two years, noticeably absent is the full funding of new standards state education leaders say schools need to properly teach students.
By MEGAN PAULY, WCVE
Lockdown drills have been required in Virginia public schools since 2013. But emerging evidence suggests that these drills can make kids feel less safe at school, and even increase symptoms of anxiety and depression. Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg (D - Henrico), who’s also a teacher, is sponsoring legislation to require schools to notify parents at least 24-hours before the drills. The bill cleared a Senate committee Thursday and passed the House unanimously a few weeks ago.
By DAVE RESS, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)
Virginia is gearing up for a major crackdown on employers that say people who work for them are independent contractors when they are not. Legislation allowing workers the right to sue for wages and benefits — including health insurance — they missed out because they were mistakenly classified as independent contractors is moving through both the House of Delegates and state Senate.
By WILL GONZALEZ, VCU Capital News Service
A bill that gives tenants the power to make repairs on their property and deduct the costs from their rent, with conditions, recently passed the Virginia Senate and is expected to advance in the House.
By C. SUAREZ ROJAS, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)
When a man from New York was seen leaving a Henrico County massage parlor on Nine Mile Road in 2018 with a large sum of cash during a police investigation, detectives thought they finally found their smoking gun. But prosecutors knew it would amount to a misdemeanor charge for what they saw as a much more serious offense.
By BRIDGET BALCH, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)
Charlotte Woodward was born with a heart condition that resulted in four open-heart surgeries in her adolescence. When she was 22, her doctors said another surgery was not an option and, that for her to live, Woodward would need a new heart. After only 11 days on the organ transplant waitlist, Woodward got her heart — saving her life and allowing her to graduate from high school, attend community college and get a job working for the National Down Syndrome Society.
WVEC
Lawmakers in the House of Delegates overwhelmingly passed a bill that would make hair discrimination illegal in Virginia. Senate Bill 50 introduces the Virginia Human Rights Act, which expands the terms of racial discrimination based on hairstyles. The bill would make it illegal to discriminate against anyone based on hair texture, hair type and protective hairstyles like braids, locks and twists.
By MICHAEL POPE, WVTF
Before she was elected to the House of Delegates, Danica Roem was a newspaper reporter for the Gainesville Times and the Prince William Times in Northern Virginia. Now that she’s a delegate, she’s working on a shield law for Virginia, protecting journalists from disclosing confidential sources.
By IAN MUNRO, Daily News Record (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)
The General Assembly looks poised to present a path to legal driving for undocumented immigrants, but in what form remains to be seen. “We have a lot of immigrants in our community, in the Valley, across our state who are in an awkward position, if you will,” said Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Mount Solon.
By MIKE GANGLOFF, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)
No policies were violated and a police officer did not give Del. Chris Hurst any preferential treatment at the Jan. 26 traffic stop where the legislator was released after blowing just above the legal threshold for drunken driving on a preliminary breath test, concluded a Christiansburg Police Department review of the incident.
By AMY FRIEDENBERGER, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)
Legislators representing the Roanoke Valley remain divided on who should fill the impending vacancy on the Roanoke Circuit Court as a General Assembly panel interviewed two candidates on Friday. The Senate Judiciary Committee and House Judicial Panel interviewed Roanoke Juvenile and Domestic Relations Judges Frank Rogers and Onzlee Ware.
By PETER VIETH, Virginia Lawyers Weekly (Access to this article limited to subscribers)
The General Assembly is scheduled to interview 29 candidates for open trial court seats today, including eight prosecutors, five elected commonwealth’s attorneys, and eight district judges being considered for circuit seats. Montgomery County Circuit Judge Marc Long Jr. – having failed to win support from the House of Delegates for another term – could be replaced
By PETER VIETH, Virginia Lawyers Weekly (Access to this article limited to subscribers)
Two candidates emerged unopposed among eight considered “highly qualified” for a seat on the Court of Appeals in rankings by the Virginia State Bar’s Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee. Fairfax County Circuit Judge David Bernhard was listed as “highly qualified” by a 12-0 vote. Pittsylvania County Circuit Judge Stacey W. Moreau earned the same designation based on a 16-0 vote when she sought a Court of Appeals seat in 2014.
By EMMA GAUTHIER, VCU Capital News Service
The governor, lobbyists, legislators and their assistants left Capitol Square Thursday to face off on the basketball court for a cancer research fundraiser....While the Senate appeared to have the rowdiest fans, that didn’t stop the House from stealing the game. Tension in the stadium rose when the Senate held a two point lead. With less than a second on the clock, the House landed a three-point shot, winning the game 26-25.
