What's happening today?
The House of Delegates will take up a proposed compromise on alcohol billboards.
TV monitors in cars would be limited
The days of watching SpongeBob DVDs with your kids while driving the minivan may soon be coming to an end in Virginia.
The state Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved House Bill 2420, which prohibits motor vehicles from having television monitors located within view of drivers.
The bill provides exceptions for monitors used to operate motor vehicles or devices that assist drivers, such as GPS systems.
Striped bass selected
as Va. saltwater fish
All hail the striped bass — soon to be the official saltwater fish of Virginia.
By a vote of 80-16, the House of Delegates on Tuesday passed Senate Bill 940, clearing the way for the tasty sea dweller to enter Sec. 1-510 of the Code of Virginia reserved for official state things, such as the Virginia big-eared bat and the American foxhound.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. John C. Miller, D-Newport News, with the help of an elementary school class in his district, survived a hostile amendment by Del. Jackson H. Miller, R-Manassas, to insert the menhaden in place of the striped bass. Miller argued that the menhaden has more cultural and economic significance to Virginia than the striped bass.
"Menhaden saved Jamestown," said Del. Albert C. Pollard Jr., D-Lancaster.
But supporters of striped bass pointed out that a group of schoolchildren from the Hampton Roads area were promoting the bass. The amendment was defeated 49-48, and then the bill designating striped bass as the official saltwater fish passed 80-16.
If approved by Gov. Bob McDonnell, the striper would share the fish designation with its freshwater counterpart, the brook trout.
Tax break for big boats defeated
The House of Delegates struck a blow against yacht owners Tuesday, refusing to approve a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed localities to cap the personal-property tax rate on large boats.
Del. Ward L. Armstrong, D-Henry, the House Democratic leader, led a populist uprising against the amendment, calling it "the second-dumbest bill of the session." The "dumbest?" — the new $300 million General Assembly office building the Senate is proposing to build, he said.
Senate Joint Resolution 344, which had easily cleared the Senate, was defeated 78-19.
The measure was proposed by Sen. Richard D. Stuart, R-Westmoreland, and sought by marina owners and local commissioners of the revenue who said boat owners, to avoid paying a large personal property tax, were moving their boats out of Virginia during the winters for refurbishing.
From staff reports
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement