Posts tagged Virginia Legislature
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Breakfast links: Virginia leaders reach compromise on budget
Virginia leaders set to vote on compromise budget deal today. New efforts emerge to tackle DC’s vacant properties. Road safety bill named for Sarah Langenkamp becomes law in Maryland. Keep reading…
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Virginia bill would give localities more power to crack down on negligent landlords
A bill to expand localities’ power to go after slumlords could allow Virginia cities and counties to begin greater enforcement of dangerous and harmful living conditions. Keep reading…
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Why a study on transportation access for Virginians with disabilities died in committee
How hard is it for the disabled community to access reliable transportation in Virginia? A study before the General Assembly this year sought to answer that question — until Republicans let it die. Keep reading…
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Virginia energy standards bill rejected due to affordable housing concerns
A Democrat-controlled Virgnia legislative committee rejected a bill that would have allowed local governments to adopt stricter energy efficiency codes than the state, with senators fretting it could prevent badly needed affordable housing from being built. Keep reading…
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Can Virginia do more to stop housing discrimination?
In 2020, the General Assembly added four additional protected classes to Virginia’s fair housing laws. A year and a half later, as fair housing caseloads grow, what more can be done to end discrimination? Keep reading…
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Is it time Virginia had an Office of Trails?
From new walking paths at First Landing to freshly forged mountain biking trails in Pocahontas State Park, Virginia’s General Assembly isn’t unfamiliar with putting money towards outdoor recreation. However, the $10 million for regional trails included in the most recent state budget sets a new precedent for trails funding. Is it time Virginia created an Office of Trails to manage the process? Keep reading…
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More rail could be coming to Southwest Virginia
Although the General Assembly approved an $83.5 million budget amendment this session, in part to extend passenger rail service deeper into Southwest Virginia, that doesn’t change the fact that there isn’t a train station or even a platform in the New River Valley. However, legislation from local lawmakers that is heading to the governor’s desk aims to fix that by creating a new regional body to raise money for the facility. Keep reading…
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How contention over a statewide definition of affordable housing in Virginia could complicate a larger crisis
While Virginia Governor Gov. Ralph Northam’s repeated petitioning for a statewide eviction moratorium and other efforts to reduce the rate of evictions across the state have grabbed headlines, an even larger structural problem with Virginia’s housing market has been looming in the background – the state’s worsening affordability crisis. Keep reading…
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This new bill could make streets safer for cyclists in Virginia
Last year cyclists in the commonwealth scored a big win in the General Assembly as part of a coalition backing a hands-free law to prevent distracted driving. This year the state’s bike lobby is backing a bill they say will make Virginia one of the safest states in the nation for bicycles. Keep reading…
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“Tweaks” to Virginia’s transportation bills push local governments to pay their fair share for transit
After a whirlwind General Assembly session during which the Virginia legislature reviewed thousands more bills than ever before, Governor Ralph Northam finally had his chance to weigh in. See how his amendments will impact transit for the state and the region. Keep reading…