House Republican Reform Agenda Advances - Repeal of Death Tax, Enactment of "Back-to-School" Tax Holiday Move Forward

For Immediate Release
Contact: G. Paul Nardo (804) 698-1228

RICHMOND, Wednesday, February 15, 2006 Flanked at a news conference by the House Republican leadership team and members of the majority Republican Caucus, Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) today highlighted legislation approved by the House of Delegates during the first half of the 2006 Session of the Virginia General Assembly. Underscoring the unified resolve of the House Republicans to pass their ambitious, broad-based and forward-looking agenda for the Commonwealth, Speaker Howell outlined the success of legislation supported by his caucus at the midpoint of the session, commonly referred to as "Crossover."

"At the outset of this session, House Republicans set our sights on championing real and innovative solutions that address the issues and challenges people care about, those that affect their everyday lives and the quality of life for their families," remarked Speaker Howell. "Today, we can all take a measure of satisfaction in being well on our way to achieving that goal at this session's midpoint. Our success so far is the result of the hard work and leadership of our entire caucus. We intend to keep working hard and finishing strong."

The following is a list of selected Republican-sponsored bills passed by the House of Delegates, which now are on their way to the Senate of Virginia for further consideration.


Transportation Reforms A Comprehensive Approach

House Republicans' are advancing a comprehensive, three-pronged transportation plan to more completely address the Commonwealth's transportation needs. The initiatives would allow localities to more sensibly manage growth and coordinate transportation improvements with the Virginia Department of Transportation and transform how VDOT operates, taking greater advantage of savings and efficiencies offered by the private sector. In addition, the House Republican plan would increase the amount of funding dedicated to transportation by $2 billion over the next four years, without raising taxes or draining general fund dollars from other core government services.

HB 527 Patroned by Delegates Rust & Albo from Fairfax (Passed House 82-18)
Imposes civil penalties on chronic abusive drivers and dedicates from collected revenues, $35M to the Local Revenue Sharing Fund, $25M to the Transportation Partnership Opportunity Fund, and the remainder to the Local Congestion Mitigation Fund.

HB 666 Patroned by Delegate Wardrup from Virginia Beach (Passed House 95-0)
Eliminates current limitations on the use of design-build contracts by VDOT, allowing greater utilization of an innovative procurement process that provides greater efficiencies, lower costs and better results.

HB 667 Patroned by Delegate Wardrup from Virginia Beach (Passed House 99-0)
Requires the contracting out of all maintenance of the Interstate Highway System, allowing more efficient practices in maintaining Virginia's Interstate roads at a lower cost to taxpayers.

HB 671 Patroned by Delegate Wardrup from Virginia Beach (Passed House 95-0)
Grants authority to counties, cities and towns to award design-build contracts for local transportation construction projects.

HB 673 Patroned by Delegate Wardrup from Virginia Beach (Passed House 61-39
Provides for election of district representatives of the Commonwealth Transportation Board by the General Assembly, providing necessary oversight and responsiveness.

HB 676 Patroned by Delegate Wardrup from Virginia Beach (Passed House 95-0)
Requires the Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner to report on the actions of the Department of Transportation regarding efforts to privatize, outsource and downsize.

HB 677 Patroned by Delegate Wardrup from Virginia Beach (Passed House 100-0)
Requires an annual report from the Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner on efforts to outsource asset management and intelligent transportation systems.

HB 681 Patroned by Delegate Scott from Madison (Passed House 100-0)
Increases to $50 million the state match of revenue sharing grants to cities, counties and towns for the maintenance, improvement and construction of local road projects.

HB 821 Patroned by Delegate May from Loudoun (Passed House 100-0)
Expands the roads eligible for the Rural Rustic Roads program.

HB 1000 Patroned by Delegate Rust from Fairfax (Passed House 99-0)
Provides penalties for violators of toll payments, including linking the issuance or renewal of vehicle registration to paying off all tolls, fees and penalties.

HB 1257 Patroned by Delegate Hugo from Fairfax (Passed House 79-20)
Creates the Northern Virginia Transportation Investment Fund and the Hampton Roads Transportation Fund revolving bond programs and provides new, on-going revenue streams for these regions with the worst congestion in the Commonwealth.

HB 1365 Patroned by Delegate Wardrup from Virginia Beach (Passed House 60-38)
Creates a Joint Commission on Transportation Accountability to exercise appropriate legislative oversight of state agencies with transportation responsibilities.

HB 1426 Patroned by Delegate Wardrup from Virginia Beach (Passed House 100-0)
Provides the framework for the Commonwealth to pursue innovative concession agreements with the private sector in order to expedite transportation infrastructure improvements.

HB 1506 Patroned by Delegate Athey from Warren (Passed House 100-0)
Expands the number of localities that may accept cash proffers to those that have experienced a population increase of more than 5%.

HB 1513 Patroned by Delegate Frederick from Prince William (Passed House 100-0)
Requires localities submit their comprehensive plans and traffic impact statements to VDOT for input and review on zoning decisions.

HB 1521 Patroned by Delegate Marshall from Prince William (Passed House 100-0)
Promotes better managed growth by requiring localities to include road and transportation improvements when preparing their comprehensive plans.

HB 1528 Patroned by Delegate Hamilton from Newport News (Passed House 100-0)
Requires localities to include cost estimates of road and transportation improvements in their comprehensive plans to factor into their proffer collections.


Health Care Reforms

By enacting much-needed legislation allowing small businesses to "pool" insurance for their employees, House Republicans are advancing a bi-partisan agenda to lower costs and improve access to quality health care for all Virginians. In addition, measures to encourage the purchase of long-term health care insurance for individuals will help families afford better protection from the devastation of debilitating chronic and terminal conditions.

HB 189 Patroned by Delegate Marshall from Prince William (Passed House 66-33)
Requires abortion clinics abide by the same licensure and regulatory requirements as ambulatory surgery centers.

HB 323 Patroned by Delegate Morgan from Gloucester (Passed House 100-0)
Makes available to providers, health insurance carriers' list of unaffiliated carriers that rent or lease their provider panel.

HB 462 Patroned by Delegate Ingram from Hopewell (Passed House 96-0)
Provides that employees approved for disability benefits on or after age 60 shall be eligible for up to a maximum of five years of disability before having to retire under a service retirement.

HB 760 Patroned by Delegate Hamilton from Newport News (Passed House 100-0)
Provides for additional reporting of data concerning safety and quality health care services that should be identified, collected, and disseminated to ensure openness for consumers.

HB 761 Patroned by Delegate Hamilton from Newport News (Passed House 99-0)
Authorizes the establishment of cooperatives for the purpose of offering, providing or facilitating coverage for health care services to participating small employers.

HB 774 Patroned by Delegate Nixon from Chesterfield (Passed House 99-0)
Allows for joint agreements between multiple community service boards or behavior health authorities, providing for better coordination and increase efficiencies.

HB 786 Patroned by Delegate Landes of Augusta (Passed House 98-0)
Establishes an income tax credit to encourage the purchase of private long-term care health insurance

HJ 50 Patroned by Delegate Hamilton from Newport News (Passed House 78-20)
Directs JLARC to study the feasibility of establishing a multijurisdictional pilot health court and subsequently a system of health courts in the Commonwealth.


Medicaid Reforms

House Republicans are advancing a comprehensive package of fundamental reforms to the Medicaid program. Leveraging the forces of the marketplace to customize services to meet the needs of Virginia's various Medicaid populations, enhancing personal responsibility, empowering individuals to manage their healthcare, bridging public and private coverage, and containing the growth of Medicaid expenditures in the Commonwealth are the key components of the comprehensive reform proposals championed by House Republicans.

HB 757 Patroned by Delegate Hamilton from Newport News (Passed House 100-0)
Provides a comprehensive set of reforms to Medicaid including expanding disease management, implementing electronic benefit transfers and electronic health records, and initiating online eligibility and claims reviews. Incorporates legislation by Delegate Welch.

HB 758 Patroned by Delegate Hamilton from Newport News (Passed House 100-0)
Convenes a Medicaid Revitalization Committee to develop recommendations to the state plan or request for federal waivers to implement necessary reforms including Health Opportunity Accounts, disease management, managed care, or electronic benefit transfers.

HB 759 Patroned by Delegate Hamilton from Newport News (Passed House 97-0-1)
Requires the development of a public-private long-term care partnership designed to reduce Medicaid costs for long-term care by delaying or eliminating dependence on Medicaid.

HB 831 Patroned by Delegate Welch from Virginia Beach (Passed House 97-0)
Requires all eligible individuals for the FAMIS program, insofar as feasible, to enroll in health maintenance organizations


Tax Relief and Reform

House Republicans continue to demonstrate their commitment to providing tax relief for Virginians, this year passing two long-promised and highly-popular tax relief measures. Stressing the Commonwealth's ability to remain competitive, Virginia would join the majority of other states by phasing out its death tax as well as join its neighboring states by adopting a back-to-school sales tax holiday.

HB 40 Patroned by Delegate Tata from Virginia Beach (Passed House 93-7)
Phases out Virginia's death tax on the same schedule as the federal government, allowing small businesses and farmers to pass on their legacies to their children.

HB 532 Patroned by Delegate Parrish from Manassas (Passed House 98-0)
Initiates a three-day "Back-to-School" sales tax holiday at the beginning of August to benefit low-and-middle-income families buying school supplies. Incorporates bills introduced by Delegates Cline, Cosgrove, Frederick, Jones, S.C., Rust and others.

HB 1052 Patroned by Delegate Reid from Henrico (Passed House 64-33)
Requires a sunset date on all taxation bills that add new taxes or increase tax rates.

HB 613 Patroned by Delegate O'Bannon from Henrico (Passed House 99-0)
Establishes an income tax credit equal to 50% of expenditures made after January 1, 2006 by a taxpayer for energy efficient equipment for his residence, provided such deduction shall not exceed $5,000.


Improving Education

Building on their commitment to high academic standards and accountability at all levels of public education in the Commonwealth, House Republicans again have passed legislation to improve Virginia's schools, colleges and universities. In addition, the 2006-2008 Biennial Budget proposed by the House provides $1.2 billion for re-benchmarking of the successful Standards of Quality, as well as funding for continued advancements in higher education research initiatives.

HB 35 Patroned by Delegate Tata from Virginia Beach (Passed House 100-0)
Increases the monthly health insurance credit to retired teachers. Same as HB 3.

HB 58 Patroned by Delegate Fralin from Roanoke City (Passed House 91-9)
Requires a component on Internet safety for students that is integrated in a division's instructional program.

HB 134 Patroned by Delegate Cosgrove from Chesapeake (Passed House 97-0)
Removes limitations and requirements currently in place governing the assignment of intellectual property rights at public institutions of higher education, allowing greater individual institution flexibility.

HB 346 Patroned by Delegate Hamilton from Newport News (Passed House 99-0)
Adds campus safety and security to the state goals of public institutions of higher education participating in the Restructured Higher Education Act.

HB 935 Patroned by Delegate Nutter from Montgomery (Passed House 100-0)
Creates a non-stock corporation to support academic research at Virginia's higher education institutions.

HB 1109 Patroned by Delegate Athey from Warren (Passed House 100-0)
Provides that school boards must require background checks as a condition of employment for all public school employees performing services on a contract basis.

HB 1244 Patroned by Delegate Hugo from Fairfax (Passed House 100-0)
Creates the Virginia Mathematics, Science, Engineering, and Technology Career Grant Program to provide higher education grants to Virginians enrolled in an undergraduate program preparing for careers in mathematics, science, engineering, and technology.

HB 1294 Patroned by Delegate Saxman from Staunton (Passed House 57-42)
Establishes the Public/Private Education Investment tax credit for individuals and businesses for educational expenses.

HB 1478 Patroned by Delegate Oder from Newport News (Passed House 99-0)
Provides that governing boards of public institutions of higher education shall implement policies, procedures, and guidelines for minimizing the cost of textbooks for students.

HB 1502 Patroned by Delegate Callahan from Fairfax (Passed House 95-4)
Provides the management agreements between the specific institutions of higher learning and the Commonwealth, pursuant to the Restructured Higher Education Act.


Criminal Justice Reforms - Ensuring a Safe Virginia

House Republicans are again seizing the lead in making Virginia a safer place to live, learn, work, and raise a family. The focus of this year's agenda has been protecting the public from sexually violent predators, combating gang violence, and fighting the spread of illicit drug use and the scourge of methamphetamine abuse.

HB 775 Patroned by Delegate Albo from Fairfax (Passed House 100-0)
Adds crimes to the list of those that make one eligible for prosecution under Virginia's gang laws.

HB 782 Patroned by Delegate Gilbert from Shenandoah (Passed House 83-16)
Eliminates the triggerman rule for capital murder.

HB 846 Patroned by Delegate Albo from Fairfax (Passed House 100-0)
Imposes stricter penalties for the most heinous sex crimes against minors including GPS monitoring supervision after their incarceration.

HB 847 Patroned by Delegate Albo from Fairfax (Passed House 100-0)
Provides better coordination and dissemination of important information relating to gang activity.

HB 901 Patroned by Delegate Iaquinto from Virginia Beach (Passed House 96-0)
Prohibits those on probation or a suspended sentence for conviction of a gang crime are prohibited from contacting the gang as a condition of that probation or suspended sentence.

HB 984 Patroned by Delegate Sherwood from Frederick (Passed House 96-0)
Enacts several important changes to the Sex Offender Registry to include more extensive and accurate information and strengthen the effects of the Registry.

HB 1004 Patroned by Delegate Sherwood from Frederick (Passed House 97-0)
Creates the Office of Commonwealth Preparedness to develop and coordinate security and preparedness plans.

HB 1014 Patroned by Delegate Hurt from Pittsylvania (Passed House 100-0)
Makes knowingly facilitating the payment for access to sexually explicit material over the Internet involving persons under the age of 18 a Class 4 felony.

HB 1038 Patroned by Delegate Griffith from Salem (Passed House 100-0)
Expands the list of sexually violent offenses that qualify an offender for civil commitment.

HB 1040 Patroned by Delegate Kilgore from Scott (Passed House 95-4)
Regulates the amount of methamphetamine precursor ingredients available for purchase and restricts them to being displayed behind the store counter.

HB 1101 Patroned by Delegate Griffith from Salem (Passed House 100-0)
Makes a number of critical technical changes to the civil commitment process for sexually violent predators.

HB 1141 Patroned by Delegate Cline from Rockbridge (Passed House 98-0)
Increases the penalties for identity theft.

HB 1182 Patroned by Delegate Carrico from Grayson (Passed House 98-0)
Expands penalties for a DUI to a person who drives with tetrahydrocannabinol in his blood.

HB 1347 Patroned by Delegate Bell from Albemarle (Passed House 100-0)
Targets mid-level drug dealers with tough, new penalties, including increasing the penalties for selling drugs to a minor.

HB 1359 Patroned by Delegate Bell from Albemarle (Passed House 100-0)
Authorizes the monitoring and supervision of those held under Virginia's civil commitment statute.


Natural Resources Protecting Virginia's Environment

House Republicans continue to demonstrate their commitment to protecting Virginia's natural resources. For 2006, the House continued its long-term commitment to cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay by investing more than $200 million this year and creating greater oversight and accountability measures. In addition, legislation to enact stronger air emissions, protect the supply of clean water from mercury contamination, and encourage the use of environmentally friendly alternative fuels all won widespread support in the House.

HB 447 Patroned by Delegate Ware from Powhatan (Passed House 99-0)
Provides for the removal of mercury switches in cars prior to their demolition.

HB 596 Patroned by Delegate Sherwood from Frederick (Passed House 100-0)
Creates a Dam Safety, Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance Fund to make loans and grants to localities to finance projects, upgrades and studies.

HB 680 Patroned by Delegate Wittman from Westmoreland (Passed House 100-0)
Establishes the Biofuels Production Fund and Biofuels Production Incentive Grant Program to encourage the production and use of biofuels throughout the Commonwealth.

HB 1055 Patroned by Delegate Reid from Henrico (Passed House 100-0)
Adopts stronger air emissions' regulations to provide further controls to protect Virginia's pristine environment.

HB 1150 Patroned by Delegate Lingamfelter from Prince William (Passed House 99-0)
Requires development of a strategic plan for the cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay and other Virginia waters with expanded legislative oversight and reporting of measurable progress.




Reforming State Government

House Republicans continue to work toward their long-term goal of streamlining government, identifying cost-savings and administrative efficiencies, and controlling bureaucratic growth. This session, an added emphasis has been given to improving and strengthening disclosure requirements for lobbyists and interest groups, candidates, and elected officials.

HB 110 Patroned by Delegate Reid from Henrico (Passed House 98-0)
Adds to state agencies' strategic plans the examination of the impact and response to the aging population of Virginia

HB 543 Patroned by Delegate Griffith from Salem (Passed House 76-20)
Provides several clarifications and expansions to those covered under the lobbyist registration and disclosure provisions.

HB 544 Patroned by Delegate Griffith from Salem (Passed House 64-36)
Requires the Department of Planning and Budget to prepare and provide reports analyzing each state agency's budget to both the Governor and the General Assembly.

HB 972 Patroned by Delegate Jones from Suffolk (Passed House 97-0)
Campaign Finance Disclosure Act of 2006 enacts a new campaign finance disclosure act.

HB 1143 Patroned by Delegate Orrock from Caroline (Passed House 97-0)
Requires that candidates file a statement of organization within 10 days of appointing a campaign treasurer, designating a campaign committee, or designating a campaign depository.

HB 1473 Patroned by Delegate Saxman from Staunton (Passed House 100-0)
Implements strategic program measures and performance standards and targets in the executive budget.

HB 1074 Patroned by Delegate Dudley from Franklin (Passed House 100-0)
Clarifies that members of the General Assembly are not entitled to receive additional compensation for attending meetings of boards, commissions, and other bodies when the General Assembly is in active session.




Creating a Better Future for All Virginians

Creating Jobs and Economic Opportunities

HB 400 Patroned by Delegate Wittman from Westmoreland (Passed House 97-0)
Allows the Governor's Development Opportunity Fund to be used for expanding high-speed and broadband access in underserved areas.

HB 931 Patroned by Delegate Nutter from Montgomery (Passed House 100-0)
Allows localities to create Tourism Financing Development Authorities.

HB 1233 Patroned by Delegate Purkey from Virginia Beach (Passed House 100-0)
Creates the Manufacturing Development Commission to determine the needs of the manufacturing sector and the most efficient and cost-effective manner they can be addressed

HB 1307 Patroned by Delegate Byron from Campbell (Passed House 99-0)
Addresses the responsibilities of the Chief Workforce Development Officer for the Commonwealth in coordinating workforce development and training programs.

HB 1440 Patroned by Speaker Howell from Stafford (Passed House 99-0)
Establishes the Virginia Sesquicentennial American Civil War Commission to prepare for and commemorate the 150th anniversary of Virginia's participation in the American Civil War.


Strengthening Virginia Families

HB 101 Patroned by Delegate Cosgrove from Chesapeake (Passed House 76-20)
Provides for a referendum at the November 2006 election on approval of a proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage.

HB 570 Patroned by Delegate Nixon from Chesterfield (Passed House 92-8)
Requires libraries to install child pornography filters on computers.

HB 1308 Patroned by Delegate Lohr from Rockingham (Passed House 70-29)
Allows local school boards to prohibit school facilities from being used by any student club or group that encourages or promotes sexual activity by unmarried minor students.

HJ 41 Patroned by Delegate Marshall from Prince William (Passed House 73-22)
Provides that only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by the Commonwealth.


Supporting our Military


HB 138 Patroned by Delegate Cole from Spotsylvania (Passed House 87-11)
Provides that the spouse or dependent of a military or merchant marine member is entitled to register in the county or city where the spouse or dependent resides.

HB 240 Patroned by Delegate Suit from Virginia Beach (Passed House 99-0)
Provides that tuition not be charged to children of active military who are ordered to locate to military housing in a different school division than the one the child is attending.

HB 695 Patroned by Delegate Suit from Virginia Beach (Passed House 100-0)
Extends in-state tuition eligibility to dependants of active military personnel assigned to permanent duty in Virginia.

HB 1272 Patroned by Delegate Janis from Henrico (Passed House 100-0)
Expands the definition of disability under the War Orphan Education Program.

HB 1383 Patroned by Delegate Cox from Colonial Heights (Passed House 98-0-1)
Authorizes the Governor to request federal funds to construct a new veterans care center in the Hampton Roads area, and requires Virginia to issue a short-term treasury loan for the state share of construction costs.


Supporting Honest Immigration

HB 61 Patroned by Delegate Albo from Fairfax (Passed House 99-0)
Requires the State Board of Elections to remove the names of voters who are not United States citizens from the rolls.

HB 262 Patroned by Delegate Hargrove from Hanover (Passed House 67-33)
Provides that an illegal alien shall not be eligible for enrollment in any public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth. This bill incorporates legislation by Delegate Gear.

HB 487 Patroned by Delegate Frederick from Prince William (Passed House 77-22)
Makes the responsibility of the Governor to enter into an agreement concerning enforcement of immigration laws with the federal government.

HB 1048 Patroned by Delegate Reid from Henrico (Passed House 77-22)
Requires businesses to verify documentation of legal presence.

HB 1049 Patroned by Delegate Reid from Henrico (Passed House 100-0)
Makes possessing, selling, offering or advertising for sale, or transferring birth certificates for false identification a felony in order to buy a gun or procure employment.


Other Notable Changes

HB 286 Patroned by Delegate Marshall from Danville (Passed House 98-0)
Discloses the pending enforcement actions under the Uniform Statewide Building Code.

HB 470 Patroned by Delegate Ingram from Hopewell (Passed House 98-0)
Provides that the provision calling for a special election to fill a vacancy in a constitutional office overrides any other provision that may provide a different method to fill the vacancy.

HB 707 Patroned by Delegate Hogan from Halifax (Passed House 94-6)
Adds a member of the House of Delegates to the Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission.

HB 727 Patroned by Delegate McQuigg from Prince William (Passed House 99-0)
Makes several important changes to jurisdiction and review time under adoption laws.

HB 1173 Patroned by Delegate Rapp from York (Passed House 99-0)
Provides considerations in determining fair market value on property containing affordable rental housing.


This list is not intended to be a complete compilation of Republican-sponsored legislation in the 2006 Session.

Additional House Republican initiatives are included in the 2006-2008 Biennial Budget (HB 30) and will be detailed during House floor debate next week.

For more details about any bill listed above, please contact the office of the delegate who patroned the measure or click on the bill number, which is linked to the General Assembly's Legislative Information Service.

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