NFIB’s Nicole Riley & Speaker Bill Howell

The Commonwealth’s business leaders held dueling news conferences today [Monday] to express opposing views on enrolling hundreds of thousands of additional low-income residents in Medicaid.  The Virginia Chamber of Commerce stressed that it’s against a traditional expansion of Medicaid—but it likes the state Senate’s plan for using private insurance through a new Marketplace Virginia.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the National Federation of Independent Business believes that Medicaid growth will become fiscally unsustainable.

One reason that it’s prudent for lawmakers to review the fine print of amendments offered to the Virginia state budget is because it may contain legislation that might not pass both houses on its own. Such is the case with an amendment approved by the House and attached to its version of the state budget. As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, it directs the executive branch on how to proceed in controversial cases, such as the lawsuit challenging Virginia’s same-sex marriage ban.

The state Senate also used this approach by passing a budget amendment to create the “Marketplace Virginia” health insurance exchange that’s not popular with many delegates in the House.

The Virginia House of Delegates is set to vote on a Senate-approved bill that would give pet lovers more assurances that the puppy they bring home becomes a permanent family member … instead of a tragedy or significant financial burden. As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, the Senate bill—also known as “Bailey’s Law” in honor of a sick beagle—updates the state’s pet “lemon law” and holds pet stores more accountable.

If Governor McAuliffe agrees, small farmers could operate agritourism activities under less restrictive regulations … thanks to legislation that has now passed both houses of the General Assembly.  The new law would prohibit local governments from requiring special-use permits and imposing stringent noise regulations unless there’s a substantial impact on public welfare or safety.  As Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, while small farmers embraced this bill, they did not get everything they wanted during the legislative session.

Delegate Scott Surovell is at the podium with members of the new caucus.

A bipartisan group of state senators and delegates has formed the General Assembly’s first-ever “Personal, Privacy Protection Caucus” of lawmakers.  Their goal is to refine the law to prevent state and local governments from large-scale gathering and storage of personal data—especially if it takes place without individual warrants.  As Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the members say they’re also trying to strike the right balance between public safety and Fourth Amendment protections.
The caucus plans to hold hearings and consult law enforcement this year to craft new legislation.

Reaction to federal Judge Arenda Wright Allen’s ruling that struck down Virginia’s same-sex marriage ban was swift—with fervent discussion among Virginia lawmakers, a news conference from the state Attorney General who rallied against the law, and gay couples who try, but fail, on Valentine’s Day to get marriage licenses. Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil has more from the State Capitol.

While not all bills to crack down on human trafficking in Virginia have survived the halfway point in the General Assembly, lawmakers believe they’ve made progress in battling what’s now considered one of the fastest—if not the fastest—growing financial crime worldwide. They have agreed that this is not a partisan issue.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, lawmakers were able to work across both chambers and party lines to develop new guidelines to assist victims and law enforcement officials.

Virginia House Speaker Bill Howell and other GOP members of that chamber are characterizing the first half of the General Assembly session as a success. Howell says many of their key initiatives have passed, and they worked well with Democrats. BUT as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, when asked if the House will work with the Senate on passing Medicaid expansion, GOP leaders still say they just don’t see that happening.

The Virginia Senate has approved legislation to repeal the state law passed two years ago that requires women to have an ultrasound before undergoing an abortion.  As Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the measure was initially defeated—then in a dramatic reversal, was revived.

Sen. Creigh Deeds

A person in a mental health crisis may be kept in custody for evaluation for up to 24 hours under legislation that has cleared the Virginia Senate.  The new, 24-hour limit passed over the objections of some in the law enforcement community, who worried that such a lengthy period may divert deputy sheriffs who are detaining the patient from other public safety priorities.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the bill passed unanimously after an impassioned plea from the Senator who was most recently impacted by flaws in the state’s mental health system. 

The Virginia Senate tackled several bills  addressing acts of violence. And, after lengthy debate, Senators likely killed a measure that would have allowed Virginia to use electrocution as a form of execution, if necessary. As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, the Senate also gave preliminary approval to a measure to penalize so-called “celebratory gunfire.”

Virginia’s General Assembly has been caught in a dispute between Japan and Korea—and it’s all over how students and teachers refer to the body of water between the two nations. Throughout the session, Asian media, emissaries, and other interested parties have crowded committee meetings and Capitol hallways … and some have even met with the Governor.  As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, the dispute is over whether the current name of the “Sea of Japan” in textbooks should be referred to in new versions as the “East Sea.”

The Virginia Senate has passed a series of bills to delay or weaken some of the controversial education accountability measures that were enacted in recent years.  One addresses the policy of grading schools using an A through F system that aimed to make school performance more understandable to parents.  As Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, other bills would modify the rules governing when schools would be transferred to oversight of the newly created Opportunity Educational Institute … and cut the number of Standards of Learning assessments.

Photo Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images via NPR

Former Governor Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, will be able to talk to family members and friends while they await trial—as long as they don’t discuss any substantive material related to their indictment on federal corruption charges.  That’s the ruling of U.S. District Magistrate Judge David Novak, who also said the former first couple will be allowed to discuss the case with each other. Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports that federal prosecutors agreed—although they initially had wanted to allow contacts only with family members.

Virginia is moving closer to implementing changes to its mental health system under legislation that has advanced in the General Assembly.  The state Senate approved two bills to help clarify how long a person can be held for treatment under a temporary detention order … and to prevent someone who’s thought to be a danger to himself or others from possessing a gun.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, other legislation is still alive and pending.

A number of Virginia school systems are supporting a “year-round” school year despite some resistance to the concept by some groups. As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, proponents admit that while it may not work for all school systems, they believe it’s essential to boosting academic achievement, especially in districts with socio-economic challenges.

Credit: Steve Helber, AP, via NPR

A coalition of faith-based groups says its members have been betrayed by Attorney General Mark Herring, who they say has gone against the will of the people by fighting to overturn Virginia’s gay marriage ban approved by voters just eight years ago. As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, the groups want Herring to be impeached, step down, or assign a special attorney to represent the state in the related court case.

The certification of the election of former Delegate Lynwood Lewis to the Virginia Senate ultimately gives Democrats control over that chamber. Although its partisan split is now 20-20, Democratic Lt. Governor Ralph Northam presides over the Senate, giving his caucus the tie-breaking vote to pass whatever rules it chooses. As Tommie McNeil reports, the order of business today was all about Democrats subtly making a statement about control.

House of Delegates GOP leaders have announced that they will not vote to expand Medicaid—if at all—until after a comprehensive, outside audit of the state’s program is conducted.  They say they want to find out why Medicaid has become the most expensive item in the General Fund budget … and why 30 percent of the Commonwealth’s healthcare spending goes to waste, fraud, and inefficiencies.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, they believe it’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to find out what’s wrong with Medicaid and fix what’s broken.

He hasn’t been on the job for two full weeks, and Virginia’s Attorney General Mark Herring is already shaking things up. While he doesn’t surprise anyone by sticking to his campaign pledge of fighting for marriage equality, he does strike a chord on all sides by saying that Virginia’s legal position has shifted. And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, Herring says he will use his office’s resources to join a lawsuit challenging the state Constitution’s provision that upholds traditional marriage.

The Virginia State Senate has approved legislation that expands the rights of a person petitioning for a protective order and puts an alleged abuser on the hook for costs associated with some of the victim’s needs and costs.  Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil has more details from the State Capitol.

It’s fairly easy for people in Virginia to change their name, but when it comes to sex offenders, one state lawmaker thinks it should be more difficult.  Sandy Hausman reports on a bill he’s introduced in Richmond.

Provisional drivers who talk on their cell phones while they’re behind the wheel can be pulled over and charged with a traffic offense under legislation that has passed the Virginia Senate.  As Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, supporters were concerned about the safety of inexperienced drivers under the age of 18 who flaunt the current law.

The bill now heads to the House of Delegates.