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New laws taking effect July 1 impact seat belts, waterworks and more
Hundreds of new laws take effect Tuesday, some demanding new habits for many Virginians, like a measure telling adults in the back seat of a car to buckle their seat belts. Some mean change for much smaller groups, like a long-sought law saying politicians can’t use campaign funds for personal expenses. For those keeping score, the General Assembly passed 916 bills. Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed 721 into law. Most take effect July 1, but some such as House Bill 2036 were deemed emergencies. That bill declared “exhibition driving” — spinning a car by stomping on the brake and the gas pedal at the same time, or carrying people on the roof or hood — to be a misdemeanor.
Whyte: Virginia could set a new standard for responsible gambling
Last session, the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate introduced companion bills to legalize and license online gaming, commonly referred to as iGaming. Virginia was among several states contemplating similar measures amidst a dramatic rise in consumer popularity in states with legalized iGaming — and to establish a clear regulatory framework for an activity that is already occurring in Virginia, largely through illegal and unregulated operators.
Newport News launches new FOIA protocol to boost transparency and public access
Newport News has rolled out a new Virginia Freedom of Information Act (VFOIA) Responses Protocol, aiming to enhance transparency and streamline public access to government records. The city processes more than 2,000 VFOIA requests each year and says the new formalized system will improve consistency, compliance with state law, and the overall experience for residents.
Will Mayor Avula publish city payment data as required by code? Maybe.
If you ask Mayor Danny Avula, he’ll tell you he understands the importance of transparency. It was one of his central campaign pledges and, in the six months since he took office, City Hall has in some ways shifted. . . . Meanwhile, compliance with rules set by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act has increased significantly with respect to requests submitted by the Richmond Times-Dispatch — although city officials continue to charge large, discretionary fees for disclosing public records.
Fairfax Co. schools planning to make weapon detectors permanent
All Fairfax County high schools will have a permanent weapons detection system in place starting in the fall. Virginia’s largest school division launched a pilot program last spring, choosing to put the technology on different high school campuses on various days. But calls for extra security intensified after a what police described as a stabbing at West Potomac High School in April. At the time of that incident, district leaders said weapon scanners weren’t deployed at the school.
Roadless Rule rescission could open up Virginia forestland for road development, logging
The U.S. The Department of Agriculture is about to undo the 2001 Roadless Rule that has protected 59 million acres of national forests from being developed or logged for decades. Virginia boasts the most inventoried roadless areas in the southeast, 394,000 acres, which would be opened up for development once the rule is axed. The state has over 1.6 million acres of forest in the National Forest System.
U.Va. names short-term leader following Ryan’s exit
Following President Jim Ryan’s sudden resignation, the University of Virginia‘s short-term acting president will be Jennifer “J.J.” Wagner Davis, the university’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, the university’s board of visitors announced Monday. She will remain acting president until the board — which changes composition Tuesday with the start of the next year’s terms — names a longer-term interim president to serve until a permanent hire can be made after a national search.
The Navy puts admiral in charge of Norfolk Naval Shipyard amid growing maintenance backlog
The Navy has appointed Rear Adm. Kavon Hakimzadeh to a newly created position of commodore over the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Under a two-year pilot project, Hakimzadeh will oversee maintenance at the public shipyard in Portsmouth. . . . Public shipyards are traditionally overseen by a captain. Capt. James “Jip” Mosman is the commander at Norfolk. As part of the pilot project, two captains will also be appointed to oversee submarine maintenance and aircraft carrier maintenance at the shipyard. The Navy has seen a growing maintenance backlog for a decade.
Kaine targets GOP budget bill with amendments to blunt its impact on Virginians
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., filed a series of amendments Monday to the Republican-led budget package moving through Congress, arguing the legislation would slash essential services and disproportionately benefit the wealthy. A member of the Senate Budget Committee, Kaine said his amendments are designed to blunt some of what he called the proposal’s “worst of the worst” provisions.
New State Laws Go Into Effect July 1
More than 80 new laws will take effect across Virginia on July 1, and several of them are designed to protect consumers and make driving safer. Among the new laws is a requirement that all adult passengers in the back seat of vehicles must wear seat belts. Previously, adults in the back seat were exempt from the seat belt rule. Local governments will also have new tools at their disposal to control traffic.