A MEMBERS ONLY PUBLICATION
January 26, 2024
2024 General Assembly, Week 2 Summary
By Nick Clemente, Chamber Vice President, Government Relations
The second full week of the 2024 General Assembly session is one for the history books. In today's summary, I’ll begin with topline story updates followed by details about the bills the Chamber is closely tracking. I'll conclude with a few notes on bills that we are monitoring. If you are tracking a bill not represented here, please contact me at nclemente@novachamber.org.
TOPLINE UPDATES
Potomac Yard Arena Deal
As noted last week, a top Chamber priority this session is bringing the Washington Capitals and Wizards to Virginia. On Monday, the Chamber released our first public statement of support of the deal Governor Youngkin recently announced with Monumental Sports; you can see it here.

Last Friday, Appropriations Chair Luke Torian (HB 1514) and Senator Majority Leader Scott Surovell (SB 718) introduced legislation to create an authority to finance a $2 billion sports and entertainment district. 
In order to push forward this monumental deal for Northern Virginia, the Chamber retained the services of Chamber member, former Delegate David Ramadan, Ed.D., of RAMA International. David will be helping us lobby the General Assembly to support this economic development game-changer. David joined Chamber President and CEO Julie Coons and I in Richmond this week. We had productive meetings with Senate Finance Chair Louise Lucas, Senator Majority Leader Surovell, and House Appropriations Chairman Torian to express our support for the project. We emphasized our position that transportation solutions exist and offered our help in facilitating dialogue and collaboration to ensure this unparalleled opportunity is seized for the benefit of the Commonwealth.
Metro Update
The Chamber is continuing to work with the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance (NVTA) in our effort to find a sustainable path for WMATA. This week in Richmond, WMATA General Manager Randy Clark spoke to the Northern Virginia Delegation at their weekly caucus meeting. Clark asked for temporary funding for the next two years without oversight or structural reform.

NVTA President Jason Stanford also spoke to the Delegation. He shared concerns that the Chamber also shares about Metro’s unsustainable cost growth. He urged legislators to set up a Commission to evaluate Metro’s long-term cost and structural issues. This position is consistent with the Chamber’s call that an oversight Commission should be a prerequisite for any short-term funding.

Furthermore, Delegate Vivian Watts introduced a budget amendment (Item 1 #7h) to establish a Commission to examine WMATA’s long-term cost and funding challenges. Delegates Sickles and Krizek also introduced budget amendments (Item 433 #1h & Item 433 #2h). These would provide $130 million over two years from the Commonwealth and suspend the 3% jurisdictional subsidy cap. Without the suspension, the additional funding would trigger a provision that requires Virginia to reduce its current dedicated WMATA funding. Senator Marsden is carrying the companion budget amendments in the Senate (Item 433 #1s & Item 433#2s).

The Chamber will continue working with our legislators in Northern Virginia to address Metro’s deficiencies and ensure the system is put on a sustainable path. 
Casino/Entertainment District Update
The Chamber supports SB 675 introduced by Senator Dave Marsden. Marsden has included a state-of-the-art conference center and concert hall in this entertainment district. The legislation mandates the proposed location be within a coordinated mixed-use project, outside the Capital Beltway, within a quarter mile of a Silver Line Metro station and within two miles of a regional enclosed mall containing not less than 1.5 million square feet. It also gives the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors the opportunity to consider a referendum.

Last year the Chamber led the effort to introduce Delegate Wren Williams HB 2499 and Senator Dave Marsden SB 1543 which would have allowed Fairfax County voters to decide the matter in a referendum. As our Regional governments project significant budget shortfalls from declining tax revenue due to the significant drop in property values, the Chamber sees the critical need for Northern Virginia to broaden our tax base to fund transit, education, mental health, and many regional priorities. According to state projections, this project is estimated to generate $155 million in annual tax revenue for Fairfax County.

This week, Chamber President and CEO Julie Coons reiterated our position on this matter in front of the Senate General Laws Subcommittee on Gaming. Julie’s testimony along with other Chamber members, played the critical difference in the passage of this bill 10-4. The bill now heads to Senate Finance.
NOTEWORTHY LEGISLATION
The following are noteworthy bills that are worthy of flagging for our members.

SENATE BILLS

SB 14 Sales and use tax, local; additional tax authorized in all counties & cities to support schools. Introduced by Senator Jeremy McPike. Allow localities to put a referendum on the ballot for 1% local sales and use tax for capital projects for schools. Passed Senate Finance and Appropriations, 10-4. The House version, HB 600 was introduced by Delegate Terry Kilgore, referred to House Finance.

SB 27 Public School Trades Incentive Fund and Program; created and established.
Introduced by Senator Bill Stanley. This provides grants on a competitive basis to any school board that seeks to restore high school programs for the skilled trades. Passed Senate Education and Health, 15-0, referred to Senate Finance and Appropriations. The Chamber supports this.

SB 555 First-time homebuyer tax credit. Introduced by Senator Angelia Williams Graves. This creates a tax credit between 2024 and 2028 for those who sell their primary residence to a first-time homebuyer. Referred to Senate Finance and Appropriations. The Chamber supports this.

SB 624 Public education; student literacy measures. Introduced by Senator Louise Lucas. This clarifies the provisions of the Virginia Literacy Act. Referred to Senate Education and Health. The Chamber supports this.
HOUSE BILLS

HB 1 Minimum wage; increases wage to $13.50 per hour effective January 1, 2025.
Introduced by Delegate Jeion Ward. This incrementally increases the minimum wage from $12.00 to $15.00 by January 1, 2026. Passed Labor and Commerce, 12-10. Referred to House Appropriations.

HB 28 Fossil fuel projects moratorium; transitioning energy workers, environmental justice protections. Introduced by Delegate Michael Jones this would essentially ban approval of natural gas and bioenergy projects. Referred to Rules. The Chamber opposes this.

HB 37 Loan repayment programs; creates program for mental health professionals. Introduced by Delegate Nadarius Clark. This creates a loan repayment program for mental health professionals in the Commonwealth. Passed Health and Human Services, 18-4. Referred to House Appropriations.

HB 335 Employment; determining wage of tipped employee. Introduced by Delegate Debra Gardner. Federal and state minimum wage laws require employers to make up any deficiencies if a tipped employee does not make at least the full minimum wage for the workweek. This passed Labor and Commerce, Sub #2, 5-3. The Chamber opposes this.

HB 570 Prescription Drug Affordability Board; established drug cost affordability review, report. Introduced by Delegate Karrie Delaney and referred to Health and Human Services. While we support policies that increase access and affordability to medicines, we oppose government price setting. Senate version, SB 274 introduced by Senator Creigh Deeds, referred from Senate Education and Health, 15-0 to Senate Commerce and Labor. The Chamber opposes this.

HB 721 Local anti-rent gouging authority; civil penalty. Introduced by Delegate Nadarius Clark. This would enable localities to require two months’ notice of any rent increase and would restrict increases to no more than the lesser of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or 7%. Referred to House Counties, Cities and Towns. The Chamber opposes this.  

HB 800 Public service companies; pole attachments; cable television systems and telecommunications. Introduced by Delegate Charniele Herring. This bill will expand broadband access to all Virginians, which is a top priority for the Chamber. Referred to House Commerce and Labor. The Chamber support this.

HB 1125 Virginia Business Ready Expedited Permitting Program; established.
Introduced by Delegate Betsy Carr. This would allow the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) the authority to designate up to three sites and seven projects for expedited review. Referred to House General Laws. The Chamber supports this.

HJ 24 Study; joint subcommittee; Dillon Rule; report. Introduced by Delegate Dan Helmer. Creates a 13-member joint subcommittee for a one-year study of the Dillon Rule and its impact on Virginia's localities. SJ 18 is introduced by Senator Ghazala Hashmi, referred to Senate Rules.
Senate Bills
House Bills
CONCLUSION
Thank you for your time. If anyone has any questions or concerns or would like to participate in the weekly update calls on Friday at 8:30 AM, please contact me at nclemente@novachamber.org! 

Sincerely,

Nick Clemente
WE ADVOCATE ON YOUR BEHALF
To find out more about the Chamber's advocacy work, visit us online or contact Nick Clemente, Chamber Vice President, Government Relations, at nclemente@novachamber.org with any questions or concerns.
Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce
7900 Westpark Drive | Suite A550 | Tysons Corner | VA | 22102