What's happening today?
Today is "crossover," the deadline for each chamber to complete work on its own legislation so it can cross over to the other chamber.
Senate OKs repeal of 'one-gun-a-month' law
The Virginia Senate on Monday approved House legislation that would repeal the nearly 20-year-old law prohibiting the purchase of more than one handgun a month. The Senate had already approved its own version.
House Bill 940 cleared the chamber on a 21-19 vote, with Democrats R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County and John S. Edwards of Roanoke voting with Republicans and Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr. R-James City, voting with Democrats.
The repeal legislation now heads to Gov. Bob McDonnell, who is expected to sign it into law.
Bill would require quake insurance notification
Following last year's 5.8-magnitude earthquake centered in Louisa County, state lawmakers have passed legislation that would require insurers to provide notice to homeowners lacking earthquake insurance.
House Bill 523, carried on behalf of Gov. Bob McDonnell by Del. Peter F. Farrell, R-Henrico, unanimously passed the House on Monday. An identical measure has cleared the Senate.
The legislation would require insurance companies to notify homeowners who have not purchased earthquake coverage at the time of each policy renewal.
At the end of January, 5,976 Virginia homeowners from nine localities had reported damage to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Of those, only 344 — less than 6 percent — had a homeowner's policy with an earthquake rider or a separate earthquake policy.
Two anti-smoking bills pass in Senate
Smoking would be prohibited on school grounds and in government buildings under two bills that passed the Virginia Senate Monday.
Senate Bill 467, sponsored by Sen. Ralph S. Northam, D-Norfolk, would ban smoking inside and outside school buildings and on school property. Northam, a physician who two years ago co-sponsored legislation banning smoking in nearly all Virginia restaurants, said this bill is necessary to send a consistent message to children.
The bill cleared on a 32-8 vote.
Northam's other anti-smoking bill, Senate Bill 468, cleared on a 29-11 vote. The legislation would extend the smoking prohibition in the executive branch of state government to legislative and judicial offices as well as local government offices.
The legislation, however, has an opt-out provision that would allow localities to permit smoking in their facilities.
Health-exchange measures carried over
Reflecting the opposition of Gov. Bob McDonnell and state Republican lawmakers, the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee did not approve a bill setting up a health exchange — but it got one started.
The GOP-controlled committee agreed to carry over two bills that lay the groundwork for an exchange in Virginia should the U.S. Supreme Court deem constitutional President Barack Obama's health-care legislation.
"We have begun a foundation, but it is a long way from where we need to be," said committee chairman Sen. John Watkins, R-Powhatan, a co-sponsor of the legislation. "We wanted to make sure there was a vehicle residing in the Senate so we could continue to work on it in the interim."
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