January 28, 2008
January 28, 2008 |
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2008 General Assembly Session Week #3 Rail Extension to Dulles in Serious Jeopardy House Appropriation Committee Embraces 21st Century Capital Improvement Program Legislative Developments During the General Assembly Can Affect YOUR Business We Want to Hear from YOU: Join the NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee!
The Virginia Technology Alliance (VTA) 2008 Legislative Reception: January 30 Nanotechnology Day at the Virginia General Assembly: February 6
Biotechnology and Nanotechnology Center for Innovative Technology Technology and Computer Crimes Economic Development and Entrepreneurship E-government Electronic Medical Records Green Technology and Energy Homestead Exemption Immigration Transportation Trust Fund Safeguards Northern VA Transportation Funding Education Technology Privacy, Database Breach and Identity Theft Procurement and Outsourcing Real ID Research STEM Education (K-12 and Higher Ed) Technology Tax Policy Telework, Telecommunications and Broadband Transportation Funding Workforce |
Rail Extension to Dulles
On January 24th, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine; U.S. Senators John Warner and Jim Webb; U.S. Representatives Tom Davis, Jim Moran and Frank Wolf; and Virginia Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer met with U.S. Transportation Department Secretary Mary E. Peters and Federal Transit Administrator James S. Simpson and were shocked to hear from these Department of Transportation (DOT) officials that the $5-billion rail extension project to Tysons and Dulles International Airport is in grave jeopardy. NVTC shares our Governor's and Congressional Delegation's dismay and disbelief. Together with the Greater Washington Board of Trade and other leading regional business organizations, NVTC sent very strong letters on Friday to Secretary Peters, Administrator Simpson, White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolton, White House Counselor Ed Gillespie and U.S. Office of Management and Budget Director Jim Nussle to protest DOT's threat to withhold its slated funding and to urge approval of the project. To view the letter to Secretary Peters which provides background and specifics, click here.in Serious Jeopardy NVTC Protests U.S. Department of Transportation's Threat to Withhold Dulles Rail Funding NVTC President & CEO Bobbie Kilberg "commends Governor Kaine, our Congressional Delegation, Secretary Homer, and our regional and local leaders for their strong leadership and continuing efforts to make Dulles Rail a reality, and urges the federal government to provide its share of the funding for this project which is so vital to the future of our region." |
NVTC Public Policy Links
You can also browse and/or locate specific bills and their status by visiting the Virginia General Assembly's Legislative Information System Web site at http://leg1.state.va.us/.Public Policy Steering Committee Contact Committee Leadership Contact NVTC Lobbying Team NVTC TechPAC Legislative Links Who Are My Legislators State Senators State Delegates Governor of VA Lt Governor Attorney General Secretary of Technology CALLING ALL NVTC MEMBERS!
Learn about and discuss legislative developments that affect the Northern Virginia technology business community during the current General Assembly session by taking part in the NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee calls. The calls take place every Friday at 3:00 p.m. during the session. To learn more, contact Allison Glatfelter, Public Policy Manager, at aglatfelter@nvtc.org.Participate in the Weekly NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee Calls! |
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2008 General Assembly Session Week #3 NVTC Efforts Continue in Richmond to Protect and Enhance Tech Interests 
As the third week of session concludes in Richmond, the General Assembly is now in full-swing as committees continue to tackle the almost 3,000 separate bills that have been introduced this session and as legislation makes its way to the House and Senate floor for debate.Throughout the session, NVTC will be the voice of Northern Virginia's technology community in Richmond to ensure that efforts will continue to address Northern Virginia's transportation crisis, take even greater initiative in keeping Virginia competitive in the increasingly global economy, boost funding for higher education in Northern Virginia, increase research funding at Virginia universities—especially those located in our region—and ensure the Commonwealth provides more highly skilled workers to power Virginia's technology economy. You can review the 2008 NVTC Legislative Agenda for the Commonwealth of Virginia, which highlights NVTC's policy priorities for the 2008 Virginia General Assembly Session. Among this week's highlights:
 (l-r) Delegate Steve Landes (R- Weyers Cave) meets with NVTC Public Policy Manager Allison Glatfelter, NVTC Lobbyist Doug Koelemay and NVTC Vice President for Policy Josh Levi (not pictured) this week. Landes is chairing the newly created Technology Oversight & Government Activities Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. You can review additional budget amendments by clicking here. - Back to top - House Appropriation Committee Embraces 21st Century Capital Improvement Program Chairman Lacey Putney Offers An Alternative to Governor Kaine's Higher Ed Bond Initiative  The bill, co-sponsored by every member of the House Appropriations Committee, would establish a rolling capital improvements fund that would utilize categories of state bonds that do not require voter approval. The legislation contemplates an initial investment approaching $500 million over the first two years with additional investments anticipated in years three through six. House Appropriations members believe their approach would offer several advantages including quicker implementation, improved vetting, better sequencing of projects, more flexibility, reduced cost overruns and comparable interest rates. You can review the House Appropriations Committee staff presentation on HB 1547 by clicking here. You can review details regarding the Governor's Higher Education Bond Proposal by clicking here. - Back to top - Legislative Developments During the General Assembly Can Affect YOUR Business Participate in Weekly NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee Calls! Learn about and discuss legislative developments that affect the Northern Virginia technology business community and YOUR business during the current General Assembly session by taking part in the NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee calls. The calls take place every Friday at 3:00 p.m. during the session. To learn more, contact Allison Glatfelter, Public Policy Manager, at aglatfelter@nvtc.org. - Back to top - We Want to Hear from YOU: Join the NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee! 
Are you interested in legislative issues that can directly impact your business? Do you want to make a difference in the future viability of the technology industry in our region and the Commonwealth? Then, join the NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee!The NVTC Public Policy Steering Committee collects, discusses and evaluates issues and initiatives important to Northern Virginia's technology community and then prioritizes these issues to produce the annual NVTC Legislative Agenda. Our Legislative Agenda provides guidance and structure to our voice in Richmond during each session of the General Assembly. The steering committee is a committee of the NVTC Board of Directors. However, all NVTC members are encouraged to participate in meetings and activities and to raise issues with the committee and present their views. On each Friday during the General Assembly session, the steering committee hosts conference calls to discuss legislative developments and other issues of importance and to provide input and direction to NVTC's on-the-ground lobbying team. If you are interested in becoming active in the Public Policy Steering Committee and participating in these calls, please contact Allison Glatfelter, Public Policy Manager, at aglatfelter@nvtc.org. - Back to top - |
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Upcoming Events The Virginia Technology Alliance (VTA) 2008 Legislative Reception: January 30  Sudhakar Shenoy, NVTC Chairman Emeritus and IMC Founder, Chairman & CEO; Virginia Secretary of Technology Aneesh Chopra; and Governor Tim Kaine at the 2007 VTA Legislative Reception. The reception will take place from 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Library of Virginia (diagonally across from the General Assembly Building). NVTC members are entitled to attend the event at the special member rate of $50. To register, click here. For more information about the VTA Legislative Reception, please visit the Legislative Reception page on the Greater Richmond Technology Council's Web site. - Back to top - | ||||||||
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Nanotechnology Day at the Virginia General Assembly: February 6
NVTC Members Encouraged to Participate Ben Plowman, VP, Sales and Marketing, and Charlie Gause, VP, Operations, Danville, of Luna Technologies exhibit during last year's Nanotechnology Day at the General Assembly. Learn more about Nanotechnology Day. If you are interested in participating, contact Allison Glatfelter, NVTC Public Policy Manager, at publicpolicy@nvtc.org. - Back to top - | ||||||||
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LEGISLATION Biotechnology and Nanotechnology HB 125 Nanotechnology Subordinated Debt and Equity Investment Tax Credit Harry R. Purkey Provides a tax credit for individual investments in certain nanotechnology businesses. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 3 HB 909 Virginia Nanotechnology Authority; established Harry R. Purkey Establishes Virginia Nanotechnology Authority to promote development of nanotechnology in Virginia. Status: House: Assigned to General Laws Subcommittee: Professional/Occupational/Administrative Process HB 910 Technology, Nanotechnology and Biotechnology Investment Fund created Harry R. Purkey Creates the Technology, Nanotechnology and Biotechnology Investment Fund to attract technology or biotechnology companies to, or assist those companies located in, the Commonwealth. Status: House: Assigned to General Laws Subcommittee: Professional/Occupational/Administrative Process HB 911 Classification of certain items as intangible personal property Harry R. Purkey Classifies as intangible personal property idle equipment, hardware or software, of an R&D or technology, high technology or nanotechnology business. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 1 HB 1092 Virginia Biotechnology Investment Tax Credit Mark D. Sickles Creates an R&D tax credit for biotechnology companies in Virginia. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 3 HB 1095 Virginia Commission on Bioscience and Biotechnology Mark D. Sickles Establishes the Virginia Commission on Bioscience and Biotechnology within the legislative branch for studying and advancing the development and enhancement of the biosciences and biotechnology. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules HJ 248 Biosciences and biotechnology; joint subcommittee to study and advance development and enhancement. Mark D. Sickles Creates a study to develop and enhance biosciences and biotechnology. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules SB 787 Bioscience and Biotechnology, Commission on; created, report. Mark R. Herring Establishes the Virginia Commission on Bioscience and Biotechnology for the purpose of studying and advancing the development and enhancement of the biosciences and biotechnology in the Commonwealth. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Rules - Back to top - Center for Innovative Technology HB 416 Innovative Technology Authority; repealed Robert G. Marshall Eliminates the Innovative Technology Authority and the Center for Innovative Technology. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Science and Technology HB 578 Innovative Technology Authority; Powers of Board of Directors John A. Cosgrove Gives power to the Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) Board of Directors to name the president and staff of the CIT. Status: House: Assigned to General Laws Subcommittee: Professional/Occupational/Administrative Process HB 748 Innovative Technology Authority; Board of Directors C. Charles Caputo Removes the Secretaries of Education and Commerce and Trade, as well the Director of the State Council of Higher Education, from the CIT Board of Directors. Status: House: Assigned to General Laws Subcommittee: Professional/Occupational/Administrative Process HJ 2 Requesting the Governor to implement recommendations of 2002 Governor's Commission on Efficiency Robert G. Marshall Requests that Governor Tim Kaine implement the recommendations of the Governor's Commission on Efficiency and Effectiveness. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules HJ 237 Center for Innovative Technology; innovation index; report. Thomas Davis Rust Requests the Center for Innovative Technology to establish a Commonwealth Innovation Index to foster the formation, retention, and expansion of technology-based economic development opportunities. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rule - Back to top - Technology and Computer Crimes HB 39 Wireless telecommunications device; prohibits use of text messaging while driving certain vehicles James M. Scott Prohibits text messaging while driving. Status: Passed by in Transportation with Letter by voice vote HB 384 Computer trespass; alters elements of crime R. Lee Ware, Jr. Changes the elements needed to commit a crime of computer trespass by eliminating the "malicious" requirement. Status: House: Assigned to Committee for Courts of Justice Subcommittee: Criminal HB 385 Computer invasion of privacy; personal information R. Lee Ware, Jr. Expands the definition of personal information when determining if a computer invasion of privacy has occurred. Status: House: Assigned to Committee for Courts of Justice Subcommittee: Criminal HB 386 Computer crimes; exclusion of evidence R. Lee Ware, Jr. Requires that information gathered illegally via computer cannot be used as evidence in a civil or criminal trial or proceeding Status: House: Assigned to Committee for Courts of Justice Subcommittee: Criminal HB 409 Unauthorized use of person's name in Web site address; damages H. Morgan Griffith Provides civil cause of action for using a person's name in a Web site address without written consent. Status: House: Assigned to Committee for Courts of Justice Subcommittee: Civil HB 609 Wireless telecommunications device; prohibits use of text messaging while driving certain vehicles Albert C. Eisenberg Prohibits text messages while driving. Status: House: Passed by in Transportation with Letter by Voice Vote HB 904 Use of mobile telephone and other wireless electronic devices while driving Robert W. Mathieson Requires hands-free mobile communications while driving. Status: Referred to Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety - Back to top - Economic Development and Entrepreneurship HB 125 Nanotechnology subordinated debt and equity investment tax credit Harry R. Purkey Provides a tax credit for angel investments in certain nanotechnology businesses. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 3 HB 166 Venture capital investments, investment return guarantees Harry R. Purkey Creates a program for Virginia to make investment return guarantees for some investments in venture capitol funds that invest in technology companies based in Virginia. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations HB 910 Technology, Nanotechnology and Biotechnology Investment Fund created Harry R. Purkey Creates the Technology, Nanotechnology and Biotechnology Investment Fund to attract technology or biotechnology companies to, or assist those companies located in, the Commonwealth. Status: House: Assigned to Committee on General Laws Subcommittee: Professional/Development/Administrative Process HJ 75 Businesses, private; joint subcommittee to study local incentives provided for economic development Mark L. Cole Establishes a joint subcommittee to study local incentives for economic development. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules HJ 119 Small business; Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study impact of eVirginia thereon David A. Nutter Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the impact of eVirginia (eVA procurement system) on small businesses in the Commonwealth. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules - Back to top - E-government HB 1020 Freedom of Information Act; electronic meetings; interim study committees Timothy D. Hugo Permits interim study committees of the General Assembly to conduct meetings using electronic communications without meeting physical presence requirements for a quorum. Status: House: Referred to Committee on General Laws SB 116 DMV service charges Ryan T. McDougle Imposes a fee on consumers who use a DMV consumer service center when a transaction is available electronically. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Finance - Back to top - Electronic Medical Records HB 247 Hospital emergency departments; ability to access electronic health records John M. O'Bannon, III Requires all hospitals with emergency services to have the ability to access electronic medical records. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions - Back to top - Green Technology and Energy HB 56 Retail sales and use tax exemption; certain energy-efficient products L. Scott Lingamfelter Adds second sales tax holiday for certain energy-efficient products. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 1 HB 139 Income tax, state; tax credit for certain biodiesel fuels producers in State. Christopher K. Peace Allows tax credit for biodiesel fuel producers. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 3 HB 164 Department of General Services, Division of Engineering; use of compact fluorescent light bulbs David E. Poisson Requires all state-owned buildings to use compact fluorescent light bulbs by Jan. 1, 2011. Status: House: Referred to Committee on General Laws HB 171 Virginia Resources Authority financing. Terry G. Kilgore Allows Virginia Resource Authority to finance local government energy efficiency projects. Status: House: On House Floor HB 219 Sales and use tax; Energy Star products tax holiday Terry G. Kilgore Adds second four-day tax holiday for certain Energy Star products. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 1 HB 239 Classification of real property; energy-efficient buildings John A. Cosgrove Allows energy efficient buildings that meet LEED standards to be a separate class of real estate for property tax purposes. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 1 HB 643 Air emissions; operators of major stationary sources of air pollution to comply with NAAQS Clarke N. Hogan Requires companies with stationary sources of air pollution to comply with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Status: House: Assigned to Committee ACNR Subcommittee: 2, Natural Resources HB 646 Electrical transmission lines; State Corporation Commission review Clarke N. Hogan Requires the State Corporation Commission to consider the environmental impact electrical transmission lines will have and establish conditions to minimize adverse environmental impact. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor HB 647 Energy production; renewable and alternative tax credit Clarke N. Hogan Provides tax credit for alternative energy production at commercial facilities. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 3 HB 732 Income tax; energy-efficient equipment tax credit C. Charles Caputo Provides income tax credit for individuals and corporations who purchase energy-efficient equipment for heating, cooling and electricity for commercial property. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 3 HB 793 Secretary of Natural Resources; development of strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions David L. Englin Requires the Secretary of Natural Resources to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Status: House: Assigned to Committee on General Laws Subcommittee: FOIA HB 794 Sales and use tax; Energy Star sales tax holiday David L. Englin Enables businesses to participate in the Energy Star sales tax holiday. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 1 HB 795 Sales and Use tax; Energy Star sales tax holiday David L. Englin Adds WaterSense-qualified products to the items that qualify for the exemption provided during the Energy Star sales tax holiday. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 1 HB 796 Commission on Climate Change David L. Englin Establishes a Commission on Climate Change in the legislative branch of government. Status: House: Passed by Indefinitely in Rules HB 1014 HOV lanes; clean special fuel vehicles Timothy D. Hugo Extends the provision allowing vehicles bearing clean special fuel license plates to use HOV lanes regardless of number of passengers. Status: House: Assigned to Committee on Transportation Subcommittee: 1 HB 1019 Telecommuting; state agencies to keep savings Timothy D. Hugo Authorizes state agencies to retain the unappropriated balance in the General Appropriation Act realized as a direct result of implementing a telecommuting program within each individual agency. Status: House: Assigned to General Laws Subcommittee: Professional/Occupational/Administrative Process HB 1137 Green roof incentive programs William H. Fralin, Jr. Requires the Board of Housing and Community Development to create guidelines for incentive programs for use by localities to encourage the use of green roofs in the construction and remodeling of residential and commercial buildings. Status: House: Referred to Committee on General Laws HB 1195 Department of General Services; Green Buildings Act Brian J. Moran Requires major facility projects of state agencies to be constructed to meet LEED standards. Status: House: Assigned to Committee on General Laws Subcommittee: FOIA HB 1229 Sales and use tax; energy conservation products tax holiday Margaret G. Vanderhye Adds WaterSense products and additional Energy Star products to the Energy Star products sales tax holiday and provides for a second sales and use tax holiday. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 1 HB 1230 Greenhouse gas emissions; mandatory reporting Margaret G. Vanderhye Requires that the State Air Pollution Control Board adopt regulations requiring reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources HB 1434 Sales and use tax exemption; energy-efficient light bulbs. (Green Technology and energy) Timothy D. Hugo Exempts from sales and use tax Energy Star-rated light bulbs. Status: House: Assigned Finance sub: 1 HB 1533 Television Waste Recycling Act; established. Kenneth R. Plum Bans the disposal of covered televisions and component parts, such as solid waste. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources HB 1539 Income tax, state; tax credit for certain biodiesel fuels producers in State. Brian J. Moran Gives an income tax credit to biodiesel fuels producers in Virginia. Status: House: Assigned to Finance Subcommittee: 3 HJ 68 LEED; DGS to adopt standards for new state office buildings Kenneth R. Plum Encourages the Department of General Services to adopt the LEED rating system for procurement of design and construction services for new state office buildings. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules HJ 77 Resolution; Commending "Cool Cities" and "Cool Counties" of the Commonwealth Kenneth R. Plum Commends localities that have joined the "Cool Cities" and "Cool Counties" initiatives. Status: House: Agreed to by Senate by Voice Vote HJ 106 Fluorescent light bulbs; Recycling Markets Development Council to study costs and benefits of recycling Shannon R. Valentine Requests the Virginia Recycling Markets Development Council to study the costs and benefits of recycling fluorescent light bulbs that contain mercury. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules HJ 116 Energy-efficient office buildings and public buildings; joint subcommittee to study options Timothy D. Hugo Establishes joint subcommittee to study options for energy-efficient office buildings and public buildings. Status: House: Referred to the Committee on Rules SB 242 Financing of energy conservation projects Mamie Locke Authorizes the Virginia Resources Authority to finance energy conservation and energy-efficient building projects. Status: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources SB 280 Sales and use tax exemption; energy-efficient light bulbs John C. Miller Exempts from sales and use tax Energy Star-rated light bulbs. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Finance SB 320 Covenants restricting solar energy collection devices Frank W. Wagner Declares that any restrictive agreement that restricts the installation or use of any solar energy collection device on real property in the Commonwealth void and contrary to the public policy of the Commonwealth. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor SB 321 Environmental impact of renewable energy electric generating facilities Frank W. Wagner Requires the Department of Environmental Quality to consult with other state agencies that have expertise in natural resource management when considering the cumulative impact of new and proposed renewable energy electric generating facilities. Status: Senate: Passed by Senate SB 322 Renewable energy source Frank W. Wagner Defines municipal solid waste as source of renewable energy under the Virginia Electric Utility Restructuring Act. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor SB 324 Utility Facilities Act; renewable energy facilities Frank W. Wagner Excludes from the definition of a public utility any company if it is not organized as a public service company and generates and distributes renewable electric energy from a small generation facility of not more than 50 megawatts. The measure exempts such companies from the requirements of the Utility Facilities Act. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor SB 445 Funding for transportation and transportation-related alternatives J. Chapman Petersen Increases gas tax by $0.01 per gallon with the revenues deposited into the Biofuels Production Fund to fund grants for biofuels production. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Finance SB 446 Clean energy future J. Chapman Petersen Comprehensive clean energy proposal that includes renewable energy generation requirements, incentives, tax credits and green jobs training program. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor SB 447 Department of General Services; capital outlay projects; LEED standards applicable to certain buildings J. Chapman Petersen Requires many state-owned buildings to meet LEED standards. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology SB 464 Virginia Commission on Energy Mary Margaret Whipple Establishes the Virginia Commission on Energy as a legislative commission. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Rules SJ 32 Study; options for energy efficient office buildings and public buildings Linda T. Puller Establishes a joint subcommittee to study options for promoting energy efficient buildings. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Rules - Back to top - Homestead Exemption HB 11 Constitutional amendment; exempts certain homeowners from taxation (voter referendum) David B. Albo Authorizes legislation allowing local governments to exempt for property tax purposes up to 20 percent of the value of residential or farm property that is the owner- occupant's primary dwelling and lived in continuously. Status: House: Assigned to Committee on Privileges and Elections Subcommittee: Constitutional HJ 3 Constitutional amendment; exempts certain homeowners from taxation (second reference) Robert H. Brink Authorizes legislation allowing local governments to exempt for property tax purposes up to 20 percent of the value of residential or farm property that is the owner-occupant's primary dwelling and lived in continuously. Status: House: Assigned to Committee on Privileges and Elections Subcommittee: Constitutional HJ 4 Constitutional amendment; exempts certain homeowners from taxation (second reference) David B. Albo Authorizes legislation allowing local governments to exempt for property tax purposes up to 20 percent of the value of residential or farm property that is the owner-occupant's primary dwelling and lived in continuously. Status: House: Assigned to Committee on Privileges and Elections Subcommittee: Constitutional HJ 121 Constitutional amendment; exempts certain homeowners from taxation (second reference) Brian J. Moran Authorizes legislation allowing local governments to exempt for property tax purposes up to 20 percent of the value of residential or farm property that is the owner- occupant's primary dwelling and lived in continuously. Status: House: Assigned to Committee on Privileges and Elections Subcommittee: Constitutional SB 9 Constitutional amendment; exempts certain homeowners from taxation (voter referendum) Mary Margaret Whipple Authorizes legislation allowing local governments to exempt for property tax purposes up to 20 percent of the value of residential or farm property that is the owner-occupant's primary dwelling and lived in continuously. Status: Senate: Referred to the Committee on Privileges and Elections SJ 6 Constitutional amendment; exempts certain homeowners from taxation (second reference) Mary Margaret Whipple Authorizes legislation allowing local governments to exempt for property tax purposes up to 20 percent of the value of residential or farm property that is the owner-occupant's primary dwelling and lived in continuously. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections - Back to top - Immigration HB 90 Public Procurement Act; verification of legal presence for eligibility of employment Paul F. Nichols Requires all public contractors and their subcontractors to register and participate in a federal Electronic Work Verification Program or similar electronic verification of work authorization program to determine that their employees and individual independent contractors are legally eligible for employment in the United States. Would have the effect of restricting offshore outsourcing. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules SB 426 Public Procurement Act; verification of legal presence George L. Barker Requires all public contractors and their subcontractors to register and participate in a federal Electronic Work Verification Program or similar electronic verification of work authorization program to determine that their employees and individual independent contractors are legally eligible for employment in the United States. Would have the effect of restricting offshore outsourcing. Status: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology - Back to top - Transportation Trust Fund Safeguards HJ 29 Constitutional amendment; transportation funds (first reference) Brian J. Moran Attempts to safeguard the Transportation Trust Fund. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections HJ 48 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); transportation funds Robert G. Marshall Attempts to safeguard the Transportation Trust Fund. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections - Back to top - Northern VA Transportation Funding HB 451 Composition of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Thomas Davis Rust Increases the number of seats on the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority from 16 to 17 by adding a town representative. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns HJ 20 Constitutional amendment; restriction on entities that may impose taxes (first reference) Robert G. Marshall Creates a constitutional amendment restricting any entity other than the Commonwealth and local governments from imposing taxes. Would eliminate taxing authority of Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. Status: House: Continued to 2009 in Committee on Privileges and Elections by Voice Vote HJ 21 Constitutional amendment; restriction on entities that may impose taxes (first reference) Robert G. Marshall Creates a constitutional amendment restricting any entity other than the Commonwealth and local governments from imposing taxes. Would eliminate taxing authority of Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. Status: House: Continued to 2009 in Committee on Privileges and Elections by Voice Vote SB 469 Transportation funding Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. Repeals certain abusive driver fees, increases the state motor fuels tax rate by $0.02 per gallon and repeals the sales tax on charges for labor or services in automobile repairs recently implemented as part of the Northern Virginia transportation package. Status: Senate: Incorporated by Finance (SB 1 - Houck) SB 729 Retail Sales & Use Tax; Northern Virginia Transportation Authority authorized to impose. Richard L. Saslaw Authorizes the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority to impose a 0.50 percent retail sales and use tax in the counties and cities embraced by the Authority with revenues going to the Authority. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Finance - Back to top - Education Technology HB 137 Textbook purchases; permits local school boards to enter into contracts with publishers Christopher K. Peace Permits local school boards to enter into contracts with publishers for the purchase of textbooks. The bill expands the definition of textbook to include print, electronic, online and other manipulative-based programs. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Education HJ 43 Higher education institutions, online; Council of Higher Education to study establishment thereof David E. Poisson Asks the State Council on Higher Education to study the feasibility of establishing an online university. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules SB 356 Textbook purchasing contracts John C. Watkins Permits local school boards to enter into contracts with publishers for the purchase of textbooks. The bill expands the definition of textbook to include print, electronic, online and other manipulative-based programs. Status: Assigned to Committee on Education and Health Subcommittee: Public Education - Back to top - Privacy, Database Breach and Identity Theft HB 390 Compromised Data Notification Act; created David L. Bulova Creates the Comprised Data Notification Act requiring state agencies that discover a loss of personal information to give notice of the information loss. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Science and Technology HB 971 Database breach notification Stephen C. Shannon Requires individuals and companies to disclose breaches of data security that may compromise the confidentiality of personal information. Status: House: Assigned to Committee on Science and Technology HB 1052 Database breach notification Kenneth R. Plum Requires individuals and companies to disclose breaches of data security that may compromise the confidentiality of personal information. Status: Assigned to Committee for Courts of Justice Subcommittee: Civil HB 1469 Database breach notification. Kathy J. Byron Requires individuals and companies to disclose breaches of data security that may compromise the confidentiality of personal information. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Science and Technology HB 1504 Compromised Data Notification Act. Samuel A. Nixon, Jr. Creates the Comprised Data Notification Act requiring state agencies that discover a loss of personal information to give notice of the information loss. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Science and Technology SB 307 Database breach notification W. Roscoe Reynolds Requires individuals and companies to disclose breaches of data security that may compromise the confidentiality of personal information. Status: House: Assigned to Committee for Courts of Justice Subcommittee: Criminal - Back to top - Procurement and Outsourcing HB 90 Public Procurement Act; verification of legal presence for eligibility of employment Paul F. Nichols Requires all public contractors and their subcontractors to register and participate in a federal Work Verification Program or similar electronic program to ensure that their employees are eligible for employment in the United States. Would have the effect of restricting offshore outsourcing. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules HB 955 Public Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002; technology projects; gain sharing Samuel A. Nixon, Jr. Authorizes a responsible public entity to include a gain-sharing component in any interim or comprehensive agreement for a qualifying project consisting of technology infrastructure, services or applications under the Public Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act. Status: House: Assigned to Committee on General Laws Subcommittee: FOIA HB 1030 Procurement contracts; state contractors to offer telecommuting to employees Jeffrey M. Frederick Requires the contractor to make every effort to offer telecommuting or alternative work schedules to its employees based on the state telecommuting and alternative work schedule guidelines except where there is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the contractor. Status: House: Assigned to General Laws Subcommittee: Professional/Occupational/Administrative Process HB 1246 Sales and use tax; taxability of certain transactions by government contractors Timothy D. Hugo Codifies Tax Department regulations that address Virginia's tax policies as applied to government contractors under the "true object test." Codifies that the true object test will apply to each separate work order, statement of work and task order, rather than the true object of the underlying contract between a government entity and a contractor. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 1 HB 1358 Procurement of services by certain state agencies Benjamin L. Cline Requires state agencies to list all procurements that were completed with the private sector every two years and promotes further outsourcing. Status: House: Assigned to Committee on General Laws Subcommittee: FOIA HB 1390 Public institutions of higher education; operational authority Lacey E. Putney Provides operational authority for public institutions of higher education in the areas of information technology, procurement and capital outlay pursuant to the Restructuring Act of 2005. Status: Assigned Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee: Higher Education HB 1554 Public Procurement Act; awarding of contracts to small, women-, or minority-owned businesses. Jennifer L. McClellan Requires the development of a program that insures that at least 15 percent of state procurement contracts be awarded to small and women- and minority-owned businesses located in historically underutilized business zones (HUB Zones) that meet certain requirements. The bill defines the HUB Zone. Status: House: Referred to Committee on General Laws HB 1558 Public Procurement Act; verification of legal presence of contractors for employment. Benjamin L. Cline Requires all public contractors and their subcontractors to register and participate in a federal Electronic Work Verification Program or similar electronic verification of work authorization program to determine that their employees and individual independent contractors are legally eligible for employment in the United States. Would have the effect of restricting offshore outsourcing. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules HJ 119 Small business; Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study impact of eVirginia thereon David A. Nutter Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to study the impact of eVirginia (eVA procurement system) on small businesses in the Commonwealth. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules SJ 129 Study; JLARC to study cost of VITA services; report. Kenneth W. Stolle Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to study services provided to state agencies and public bodies by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA). Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Rules SB 426 Public Procurement Act; verification of legal presence George L. Barker Requires all public contractors and their subcontractors to register and participate in a federal Electronic Work Verification Program or similar electronic verification of work authorization program to determine that their employees and individual independent contractors are legally eligible for employment in the United States. Would have the effect of restricting offshore outsourcing. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology SB 442 Public institutions of higher education; operational authority R. Edward Houck Provides operational authority for public institutions of higher education in the areas of information technology, procurement and capital outlay pursuant to the Restructuring Act of 2005. Status: Assigned to Committee on Education and Health Subcommittee: Higher Education SB 749 Public-Private Partnership Advisory Commission; changes primary staff to DGS. Walter A. Stosch Changes the primary staff of the Commission to the Department of General Services. Status: Referred to Committee on Rules - Back to top - Real ID HJ 42 Real ID Act; memorializing Congress to repeal or amend Christopher K. Peace Expresses opposition to the federal Real ID program without additional federal funding. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules SB 492 Real ID; alternative verification system Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. Requires Virginia agencies to develop and implement a plan to provide Virginia resident verification, as an alternative to the requirements of the federal Real ID Act of 2005. The measure specifies that Virginia shall not comply with the unfunded mandates of the Real ID Act. Status: Senate: Re-referred to Committee on Transportation - Back to top - Research HB 234 Commonwealth Technology Research Fund (CTRF); sensor sciences John A. Cosgrove Adds sensor sciences to the eligible research programs in the CTRF. Status: House: On House Floor HB 987 State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; creation of nonstock corporation to support research David A. Nutter Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to establish a nonprofit, nonstock corporation to assist the Council in supporting academic research in Virginia, encouraging research initiatives to support Virginia industry and directing the disbursement of funds for such research initiatives based on established scientific criteria from the Academic Research Initiative Fund. Status: House: Assigned to Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee: Higher Education HB 1092 Virginia Biotechnology Investment Tax Credit Mark D. Sickles Creates a research and development tax credit for biotechnology companies in Virginia. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 3 HB 1194 Corporate income tax; higher education research and development tax credit Brian J. Moran Provides tax credit for businesses that invest in R&D in Virginia's institutions of higher education. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 3 SB 319 Commonwealth Technology Research Fund (CTRF); sensor sciences Frank W. Wagner Adds sensor sciences to the list of fields eligible to receive awards from the CTRF. Status: Senate: Communicated to House - Back to top - STEM Education (K-12 and Higher Ed) HB 92 Standards of Quality; requires that average teacher salary not be less than annual national salary Brian J. Moran Requires that the average teacher salary not be less than the annual national average teacher salary. Status: House: Assigned to the Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee: Elementary and Secondary Education HB 97 Diploma, advanced technical; Board of Education to establish requirements therefore Harry R. Purkey Allows the Board of Education to differentiate between an advanced studies diploma and an advanced technical diploma. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health HB 594 Educational Facilities Bond Act of 2008; created Phillip A. Hamilton Authorizes the issuance of $1.5 billion bond package for higher education and research subject to voter approval. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations HB 614 Charter school, public; definition David E. Poisson Expands the definition of a public charter school to include individual charter programs in a public school that deal with math, science or other areas with shortages. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Education HB 898 Local sales and use tax; additional one-half percent authorized James M. Scott Permits any locality to impose additional one-half percent sales and use tax provided that all revenue generated from the additional tax is used solely for public educational purposes. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 3 HB 984 Math specialist pilot program; Department of Education to establish, report David A. Nutter Requires the Department of Education to establish a math specialist grant program to provide grants to six geographically diverse school divisions across the Commonwealth for the purposes of hiring math specialists. Status: House: Assigned to Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee: Elementary and Secondary Education HB 1161 Income tax exemption; education outreach programs Christopher B. Saxman Allows income tax exemption for expenses incurred as part of a science-, math- or technology-related education outreach program in elementary or secondary schools. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 2 HB 1165 Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program Christopher B. Saxman Expands Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program to include those teacher candidates pursuing an endorsement in a math or science discipline. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Education HB 1547 21st Century Capital Improvement Program; created, report. Lacey E. Putney Summary: Creates the 21st Century Capital Improvement Program that will provide financing for capital projects throughout the Commonwealth from a list of projects issued by the Virginia College Building Authority and the Virginia Public Building Authority, and a list of projects whose planning costs will be appropriated in the Budget Bill. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations HJ 115 Science and engineering graduates, Joint subcommittee studying shortage of; continued Harry R. Purkey Continues the joint subcommittee to study science and technology education in business, law and policy graduate programs in state institutions of higher education. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules HJ 127 Project Lead the Way Launch program; encouraging school divisions to consider launching David A. Nutter Encourages the school divisions of the Commonwealth to consider launching a Project Lead the Way program in high schools. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules SB 148 Two-year College Transfer Grant Walter A. Stosch Clarifies that College Transfer Grants are to institutions and not to students and eliminates the requirement to off set student financial aid by the size of grant received. Status: Senate: Re-referred to Committee on Finance SB 326 Career and technical education; industry certification Frank W. Wagner Requires the Board of Education to develop a plan for increasing the number of students receiving industry certification and state licensure as part of their career and technical education. Status: Senate: Assigned to Committee on Education and Health Subcommittee: Public Education SB 581 General obligation bonds; educational facilities Charles J. Colgan Authorizes the issuance of $1.5 billion bond package for higher education and research subject to voter approval. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Finance - Back to top - Technology Tax Policy HB 57 Retail Sales and Use Tax exemption; adds computers and computer-related equipment thereto L. Scott Lingamfelter Adds the sales of computers and computer-related equipment with a sales price of $1,500 or less to the school supplies and clothing tax-free holiday period in August. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 1 HB 106 Utility Transfers Act; acquisition or disposal of assets or of control of telephone companies Terry G. Kilgore Eliminates the requirement that the State Corporation Commission approve the acquisition, disposal or of control of a telephone company. Status: House: Stricken from docket by Commerce and Labor by Voice Vote HB 125 Nanotechnology subordinated debt and equity investment tax credit Harry R. Purkey Provides a tax credit for angel investments in certain nanotechnology businesses. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 3 HB 170 Corporate tax subtraction and sales tax exemption for space flight entities Terry G. Kilgore Provides a tax exemption for ticket purchases for suborbital space flight. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 2 HB 238 Income tax exemption for launch services and payload John A. Cosgrove Grants a tax exemption for income resulting from the sale of launch services for or relating to space flight. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 2 HB 442 Sales and use tax exemption; computers and computer-related equipment Thomas Davis Rust Adds sales of computers and computer-related equipment with a sales price of $1,500 or less to the school supplies and clothing tax-free holiday period in August. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 1 HB 629 VDOT regulations; fiber optic facilities Joe T. May Allows communication providers who are building fiber optic lines to connect to existing aerial copper lines. Status: House: Committee on Transportation HB 630 VDOT regulations; placement of customer service drop cables Joe T. May Requires VDOT to allow communication companies to place service lines where their customers are located. Status: House: Committee on Transportation HB 632 Resource Authority; provisions of broadband services Joe T. May Allows the Virginia Resource Authority to be a funding source for all broadband services. Status: House: On House Floor HB 636 Insurance notices; electronic delivery Joe T. May Allows insurance companies to communicate with their customers via e-mail rather than traditional mail. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor HB 874 Income tax exemption for launch services and payload Joseph P. Johnson, Jr. Grants an income tax exemption for income resulting from the sale of launch services to space flight participants or launch services intended to provide individuals the training or experience of a launch, without performing an actual launch. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 2 HB 911 Classification of certain items as intangible personal property Harry R. Purkey Classifies as intangible personal property (for property tax purposes) idle equipment, hardware or software, of a R&D or technology, high technology or nanotechnology business. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 1 HB 924 Income tax and sales and use tax; credit and exemption for certain telecommunications service Kathy J. Byron Creates an income tax credit and sales and use tax exemption for wireless and broadband equipment purchased by telecommunications providers for use within rural areas. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 3 HB 1092 Virginia biotechnology investment tax credit Mark D. Sickles Creates a research and development tax credit for biotechnology companies in Virginia. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 3 HB 1151 Corporate tax subtraction and sales tax exemption for space flight entities Clarence E. Phillips Allows tax incentives for space flight entities. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 2 HB 1433 Sales and use tax exemption; telecommunications companies. Timothy D. Hugo Provides a sales and use tax exemption for telecommunication companies. Status: House: Assigned Finance sub: 3 SB 117 Income tax and sales and use tax; credit and exemption for certain telecom. service providers John S. Edwards Creates a tax credit exemption for wireless and broadband equipment purchased by telecommunications providers within rural areas. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Finance SB 401 Income tax exemption for launch services and payload Phillip P. Puckett Grants an income tax exemption for income resulting from the sale of launch services to space flight participants or launch services intended to provide individuals the training or experience of a launch, without performing an actual launch. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Finance - Back to top - Telework, Telecommunications and Broadband HB 1017 Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance; codified; sunset Timothy D. Hugo Codifies Executive Order 35 (2006) creating the Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance under the Secretary of Technology. The office will encourage telework as a family-friendly, business-friendly public policy that promotes workplace efficiency and reduces strain on transportation infrastructure. Status: House: Assigned to General Laws Subcommittee: Professional/Occupational/Administrative Process HB 1018 Definition of telecommuting Timothy D. Hugo Defines telecommuting as a work arrangement in which supervisors direct or permit employees to perform their usual job duties away from their central workplace at least one day per week and in accordance with work agreements. Status: House: Assigned to General Laws Subcommittee: Professional/Occupational/Administrative Process HB 1019 Telecommuting; state agencies to keep savings Timothy D. Hugo Authorizes state agencies to retain the unappropriated balance in the general appropriation act realized as a direct result of implementing a telecommuting program within the agency. Status: House: Assigned to General Laws Subcommittee: Professional/Occupational/Administrative Process HB 1021 State employee telecommuting goal Timothy D. Hugo Establishes a goal for state agencies to have 20 percent of their eligible workforce telecommuting by Jan, 1, 2010. Status: House: Assigned to General Laws Subcommittee: Professional/Occupational/Administrative Process HB 1030 Procurement contracts; state contractors to offer telecommuting to employees Jeffrey M. Frederick Requires the contractor to make every effort to offer telecommuting or alternative work schedules to its employees, based on the state telecommuting and alternative work schedule guidelines, except where there is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the contractor. Status: House: Assigned to General Laws Subcommittee: Professional/Occupational/Administrative Process HB 1031 Income tax; telework expenses tax credit Jeffrey M. Frederick Provides a tax credit to employers for expenses incurred in allowing employees to telework pursuant to a signed telework agreement. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 3 HB 1563 Telecommuting; Secretary of Technology report annually to General Assembly. James M. Scott Requires the Secretary of Technology to work in conjunction with the Secretary of Administration and Secretary of Transportation in advising about telecommuting. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Rules SB 117 Income tax and sales and use tax; credit and exemption for certain telecommunications service providers John S. Edwards Creates a tax credit exemption for wireless and broadband equipment purchased by telecommunications providers with in rural areas. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Finance - Back to top - Transportation Funding HB 41 Motor fuels tax; modifies rates of taxation thereof James M. Scott Allows the Commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles to adjust gas tax rate every six months based on formula. Status: House: Assigned to Finance: Subcommittee 2 HB 94 Secondary highway system; allocates construction funds among counties based on population Paul F. Nichols Allocates construction funds among counties based solely on county population. Status: House: Assigned to Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee: Transportation HB 1108 Primary system highway construction funds allocation Thomas Davis Rust Changes road funding formula to reflect the ratio of vehicle miles traveled on primary highways divided by the lane miles of primary highways in each highway construction district and also need. Status: House: Assigned to Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee: Transportation HB 1385 Allocation of primary and secondary highway construction funds Jackson H. Miller Revises road funding formulas to allocated funding based on population. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Transportation SB 2 Retail Sales and Use Tax; eliminates exemption for certain fuels Linda T. Puller Extends the state and local sales taxes to gas and designates proceeds for transportation funding purposes. Status: Senate: Referred to Committee on Finance SB 411 Transportation funding; motor fuels tax and abusive driver fees Phillip P. Puckett Repeals certain abusive driver fees and increases the motor fuels tax rate by $0.025 per gallon from $0.175 to $0.20. Status: Senate: Incorporated by Finance (SB 1 - Houck) SB 444 Funding for transportation and transportation-related alternatives J. Chapman Petersen Repeals certain abusive driver fees and increases the state motor fuels tax rate by $0.02 per gallon with one-half of the revenues deposited into the Biofuels Production Fund to fund grants for biofuels production and one-half of the revenues deposited into the Highway Maintenance and Operating Fund. Status: Senate: Incorporated by Finance (SB 1 - Houck) SB 469 Transportation funding Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. Repeals certain abusive driver fees, increases the state motor fuels tax rate by $0.02 per gallon, and repeals the sales tax on charges for labor or services in automobile repairs recently implemented as part of the Northern Virginia transportation package. Status: Senate: Incorporated by Finance (SB 1 - Houck) - Back to top - Workforce HB 731 Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority; board of directors; membership C. Charles Caputo Adds the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System to the Board of Directors of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority to help better coordinate workforce development in Virginia. Status: House: Assigned to General Laws Subcommittee: Professional/Occupational/Administrative Process HB 1312 Workforce development; Governor's responsibilities Kathy J. Byron Provides that the strategic plan for workforce development shall be developed in coordination with the development of each Governor's comprehensive economic development policy. Designates community colleges as primary staff for Virginia Workforce Council. Status: House: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor SB 756 Virginia Career Readiness Certification Program; created, report. Frank M. Ruff Creates the Virginia Career Readiness Certification Program to certify the workplace and college readiness skills of Virginians. Status: Senate: Committee substitute printed 084090320-S1 - Back to top - NVTC Business Partners AOL | Center for Innovative Technology | CGI Group Inc. | Deloitte | EDS | Ernst & Young | KPMG LLP | Lee Technologies | Microsoft | Northrop Grumman | Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP | PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | SAIC | Sprint | Unisys |Venable LLP | ||||||||
Virginia Secretary of Technology Aneesh Chopra presented the Governor's technology-related budget initiatives to members of the Senate Finance Committee's Technology Subcommittee. During the course of his presentation, Secretary Chopra informed senators that the Kaine Administration would not be moving forward this year with a proposal to modify a key technology reform implemented in 2003 – 2004 that consolidated technology procurement authority under the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA). Rather than seeking to transfer technology procurement responsibilities back to the Department of General Services (DGS) through this year's budget, the Kaine Administration has instead endorsed Senator Ken Stolle's (R-Virginia Beach) 
Proposals by Senator Chuck Colgan (D-Manassas), Senator Creigh Deeds (D-Bath County), Delegate Steve Shannon (D-Vienna) and Delegate Mark Sickles (D-Franconia) to continue a funding initiative started two years ago to address the nursing shortage in Northern Virginia. The amendments would continue funding to the Northern Virginia Community College to support public-private sector partnerships to maximize the number of newly licensed nurses and increase the supply of nursing faculty. Previously, this funding was allocated among the five regional public and private educational institutions with nursing education programs. Additional faculty and staff were hired at these programs and enrollment increased by 222 nursing students. Without this funding, this program will not be able to maintain the expanded number of nursing education students.
A proposal by Speaker Bill Howell (R-Fredericksburg) to provide funding support for the transfer of technologies developed for the U.S. Department of Defense by the 