2020 Legislative Summary

During the 2020 General Assembly session, we introduced legislation that would improve the lives of all Virginians. I feel strongly that these long overdue initiatives put us in a position to move closer toward the vision of a Commonwealth that leaves nobody behind. In the coming months, the Governor will sign into law advances on transportation, access to renewable energy, and investments in education that will benefit our state for years to come. Although there is still much work to be done, we have highlighted some of our more notable legislation that has been sent to Governor Northam’s desk for signature in the coming weeks:

HB921 requires that any housing authorities within the Commonwealth to give its tenants a notice of an intent to demolish or liquidate at least 12 months before such projects may proceed.

HB778 increases the timeline from which local departments of social services are allowed to complete family assessments from 45 to 60 days.

HB1419 requires that school resource officer (SRO) training include guidance on issues that are unique to their roles, such as school and personal liability, security awareness in schools, physical alternatives to restraint, and dealing with students with mental health needs, disabilities, and PTSD.

HB914 repeals acts from 1901, 1906, and 1959 requiring segregation in railcars, streetcars and buses. This bill, among several others like it, was an initiative proposed by the recently created Commission to Examine Racial Inequity in the Law.

HB1131 authorizes that localities, by ordinance, may assess up to a $1,400 revenue share per megawatt on solar photovoltaic projects, with exemption to pollution control facilities and solar projects with a generating capacity that exceeds five MW.

HB1634 requires investor-owned utilities establish a shared solar program, where customers may subscribe to purchase electricity generated at a shared solar facility that does not exceed 5,000 kW in generating capacity.

Find more information about all of the bills introduced in the 2020 session here: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+mbr+H299.