Updates on VCN Priorities
Virginia Clean Economy Act (HB1526/SB851). Next week marks a pivotal moment for the VCEA. Board member Kendyl Crawford had a great op-ed in support of the VCEA, check it out here. Both House and Senate committees will take votes on the legislation, with the House vote on Tuesday and the Senate vote on Monday. The Senate subcommittee voted 3-1 to not recommend the bill, so the vote in the full committee is even more important. Check out the members on each of the committees (House/Senate), and if they’re in your district, make sure to let them know how important it is for Virginia to become a climate leader (on that same note, we’re anticipating solar freedom bills to also come up in those same committees).
ACTION: Reach out to committee members and tell them to support HB1526/SB851.
One step closer to the Commonwealth Corridor (SJ50). Sen. McClellan’s study on the passenger rail service for the Commonwealth Corridor passed the Senate on a unanimous voice vote. The bill calls for a study of the feasibility of the proposed Commonwealth Corridor passenger rail service, which would connect Hampton Roads, Richmond, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Roanoke, and the New River Valley.
ACTION: SUPPORT SJ50.
A home for menhaden (HB1448/SB791). The transfer of the management authority of menhaden to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission is looking like less of an upstream swim this year. HB1448 has made it out of the ACNR committee and will now float over to the floor. Virginia is currently out of compliance with the federal menhaden management plan of capping harvest numbers. This is largely in part because the General Assembly retains management authority over menhaden and has not adopted federal regulations – allowing for overharvesting and unnecessary politicization of fisheries management decisions. If the management plan is not implemented, the federal government will implement a ban on harvesting menhaden, which would have severe consequences not only for workers, but also for fisheries that catch and rely on menhaden for bait, like the blue crab fishery. Virginia should transfer this authority to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, enabling the commission to enact a cap for 2020. SB791 is currently still in subcommittee.
Increasing the transparency of campaign finance in the legislature (SB217). SB217 was passed unanimously by the Senate and will move over to the House. Under current law, contributions under $10,000 received in the brief period between January 1 and the start of session, a time in which bills are being drafted and introduced, are not reported until mid-April. This bill advances public disclosure by requiring the reporting of contributions of $1,000 or more, made in early January before the session begins, within 24 hours of receipt.
ACTION: SUPPORT SB217
Bill Positions
Virginia Conservation Network publishes bill positions every week. These positions have been voted on by our Legislative Committee, comprised of leading environmental organizations in the state, and our board of directors. They are intended to reflect the positions of the broader conservation community and are updated every Friday.
To view this table online with talking points, visit vcnva.org/bill-tracker.