This year the General Assembly considered 2,135 bills and a significant number of resolutions. Governor Bob McDonnell signed 871 of the bills into law after they were passed by the Senate and House of Delegates. The vast majority of these new laws went into effect on July 1st. Below are brief summaries of some of the new laws that have drawn the most interest from Virginia Citizens:
Business/ Jobs
Fifty million dollars in financial incentives will be made available to recruit new businesses to Virginia.
State economic grants may be used for the construction of private buildings for companies that create 25 or more jobs.
Veterans are exempt from the handling fee charged by the Department of Business Assistance in connection with the establishment and operation of a small business.
No resident of the Commonwealth shall be required to maintain a health insurance policy.
Companies that create at least 50 new jobs are eligible for $1,000 tax credits for each new job.
Good Government
General Assembly members are required to disclose sources of income they receive from state or local governments or advisory agencies. This requirement mirrors the pre-existing policy on income from private sector sources of income.
The Governor, his Political Action Committee, or any pertinent Secretaries are prohibited from knowingly soliciting or accepting contributions, gifts, or other items worth more than $50 from any bidders or offerors, their controlling persons, or persons acting on their behalf, who have submitted bids or proposals for public contracts worth $5 million.
Virginia state agencies are required to enroll in the federal government’s E-Verify program by December 1, 2012 and use the program to check on the legal employment status of every newly hired employee.
Crime
Prisoners who owe fines, court costs, and other penalties are required to contribute part of their pay from work programs to relieving this obligation.
Killing newborns who are still connected by the umbilical cord will be considered homicide. A loophole previously existed that made it legal for newborns to be killed several hours after they were born if the umbilical cord was uncut and the placenta remained attached.
The death penalty for murdering law enforcement officials is extended to fire marshals and their assistants, auxiliary police officers, and auxiliary police deputies.
A $10 additional fee will be added to the penalty for all criminal convictions to raise money for Internet Crimes Against Children units.
Driving
The general highway speed limit on highways where it is currently 65 MPH may be increased to 70 MPH after VDOT review.
Specialty license plates will be available to supporters of the Virginia Kids Eat Free program, supporters of the Professor Garfield Foundation, supporters of Planned Parenthood, supporters of the Virginia Retail Alliance, supporters of the Virginia Recycling Association, and supporters of the Washington Capitals hockey team.
All drivers and passengers under 18 must wear a seat belt regardless of where they are sitting in the car.
The penalty for exceeding the speed limit raises from $5 per mile over the speed limit to $6.
Education
Public institutions of higher education may establish college partnership laboratory schools.
Policies allowing the creation of virtual school programs and establishing public charter schools were relaxed.
Contracts for purchasing Board of Education approved textbooks for grades 6-12 must allow the purchase of electronic textbooks.
– Information provided by the Office of VA State Senator Ralph Smith – District 22
