Comprehensive JLARC Study on Data Centers Highlights Positive Impacts to...
74,000 jobs, $5.5 billion in labor income, $9.1 billion in annual GDP, these are the findings in a recently released Joint Legislative Audit Review Commission (JLARC) report “Data Centers in...
View ArticleGovernor Presents Proposed Amendments to Biennium Budget
Governor Youngkin presented his proposed amendments to the 2024-2026 biennium budget to the “money committees” on December 18, telling legislators that “Virginia is roaring,” with a healthy economy...
View ArticleVACo Analysis of Governor’s Introduced Budget Amendments
Governor Youngkin presented his proposed amendments to the 2024-2026 biennium budget on Wednesday, December 18. As VACo reported in its initial review, the Governor had good news to share with the...
View ArticleACTION ITEM: Oppose Bill to Make Accessory Dwellings Units (ADUs) a...
SB 932 (Salim) mandates all localities permit accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as an accessory use in residential zoning districts. The legislation also prohibits a locality from requiring rear or side...
View ArticleBill to Make Multi-Family Residential a “By-Right” Use in Commercial...
SB 839 (Van Valkenburg) failed to pass in the Senate Local Government Committee by a vote of 5-7-3 on January 20. The legislation requires all local zoning ordinances to allow for the development and...
View ArticleVACo Still Opposes Amended Solar Siting Bill
On January 24, the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee reported a substitute for SB 1190 (Deeds) by a vote of 9 to 6 and then referred it to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee for further...
View ArticleCapitol Contact ALERT: VACo Opposes Bill Mandating Targets for Utility-Scale...
SB 1190 (Deeds), as amended in committee, mandates that every locality, no later than July 1, 2029, shall incorporate into its comprehensive plan targets for energy production and energy efficiency...
View ArticleAffordable Housing Assessment Legislation Improved
HB 2245 (Callsen), as introduced, would require affordable housing property operated under certain federal housing programs to be assessed using the income approach, based on the analysis of certain...
View ArticleACTION ITEM: Oppose Bill to Create “Housing Approval Board” with Authority to...
HB 2641 (Helmer) establishes a three-member Housing Approval Board with authority to overturn local land use decisions and to automatically approve such applications that will have the effect of...
View ArticleBills to Mandate Counties put State Targets for Utility-Scale Solar in...
SB 1190 (Deeds) and HB 2126 (Sullivan), legislation to mandate that every locality incorporate into its comprehensive plan targets for utility-scale solar energy production, failed to pass in their...
View ArticleACTION ITEM: Oppose Bill to Mandate Statewide Standards for Solar Facilities
HB 2438 (Mundon King) requires that, unless otherwise permitted “by right,” a locality shall require a “special exception” (aka special use permit) for any a solar or energy storage project. The...
View ArticleMoney Committees Release Budget Proposals
The House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees met on Sunday to report their respective budget proposals. Further details on both budgets will be available later today, and...
View ArticleHouse and Senate Pass Budgets
The House and Senate passed their respective budget proposals yesterday. Each budget proposal will now be reviewed by the other chamber in advance of the two proposals being placed into a committee of...
View ArticleACTION ITEM: Oppose Bill to Preempt Local Land Use Authority
HB 2641 (Helmer) establishes a three-member Housing Approval Board with authority to overturn local land use decisions and to automatically approve such applications that will have the effect of...
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VACo County Pulse Podcast – Energy Landscape of Virginia Series with Joe...
Season 5Energy Landscape of Virginia Series with Joe LerchEnergy Landscape of Virginia Episode 8 | Virginia General Assembly Update – Legislation on Data Centers and Utility-Scale SolarListen to the...
View ArticleBill to Create “Housing Approval Board” with Authority to Overturn Local Land...
By a vote of 15 to 0, the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee passed by indefinitely HB 2641 (Helmer). The legislation would have established a three-member Housing Approval Board with...
View ArticleACTION ITEM: Oppose Bill to Mandate Statewide Standards for Solar Facilities
HB 2438 (Mundon King) requires that, unless otherwise permitted “by right,” a locality shall require a “special exception” (aka special use permit) for any a solar or energy storage project.ACTION...
View ArticleBill to Mandate Statewide Standards for Solar Facilities Fails
HB 2438 (Mundon King) failed to report out of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee by a vote of 7 yes – 7 no (and one abstention) on the last day for any committee action on bills. HB 2438 would...
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VACo County Pulse Podcast – Energy Landscape of Virginia Series with Joe...
Season 5Energy Landscape of Virginia Series with Joe LerchEnergy Landscape of Virginia Episode 9 | Solar by the Numbers – Facts and FiguresListen to the PodcastEnergy Landscape of Virginia Episode 9 |...
View ArticleVetoed Bills of Interest to County Governments
On Monday evening, Governor Youngkin announced that he had vetoed 157 bills, including SB 1307 (McPike), as discussed elsewhere in County Connections. At the April 2 reconvened session, the General...
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