“The Republican-led House made real progress during the 2011 Regular Session and on many fronts, especially in passing a fiscally sound and structurally balanced state budget that funds core government services,” said Speaker Howell. “At our insistence, the final budget agreement includes no new fees or higher taxes. It has no earmarks for non-state agencies. There is no funding or debt for a new ‘Taj Mahal’ to replace the General Assembly Building. There is $67 million less in authorized debt. And, the accelerated sales tax is eliminated for 80% of retailers. Yet, there also are prudent investments in economic development, transportation, education, health care and other important services. Overall, we’ve had a very productive legislative session.”

Below is the outcome for a selected list of 100+ measures – grouped by topic – supported by the House Republican Majority. In all, about 1,600 pieces of legislation were approved by the General Assembly this year.

Budget & Taxes

HB 1500 (Putney — Bedford)                       Passed House 97-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

• Includes no new taxes and eliminates $5.7 million in fee increases adopted last year

• Eliminates $66.8 million in previously authorized debt

• Deposits an $64 million into the Rainy Day Fund, on top of that authorized in the Governor’s introduced budget, bringing the total deposit to $114 million

• Eliminates in large part the accelerated sales tax that weighed on retailers across the Commonwealth

HB 1820 (Ware, R.L. — Powhatan)              Passed House 99-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Imposes a $100 million cap on land preservation tax credits per year and provides for the review of certain real property appraisals performed for the purpose of receiving a land preservation tax credit.

HB 1437 (Cole — Spotsylvania)                    Passed House 94-5                 Passed Senate 38-2

Gives localities some flexibility in determining the basis for calculating business, professional and occupation license taxes within their jurisdiction.

HJ 852 (Cline — Rockbridge)                        Passed House 68-26               Killed by Senate Committee

Encourages the United States Congress to adopt legislation requiring a balanced federal budget and to call a convention to amend the U.S. Constitution to require a balanced federal budget.

Jobs, Energy & Economic Development Opportunities

HB 1500 (Putney — Bedford)                       Passed House 97-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

• Includes over $40 million in various job-creating economic development efforts
• Eliminates the vast majority of the accelerated sales tax that hit retailers throughout the Commonwealth
• Includes no new fees or tax increases
• Invests $32.7 million to capitalize the new Transportation Infrastructure Bank for use by private and public entities in financing necessary transportation priorities

HB 1447 (Cline — Rockbridge)                     Passed House 76-23               Passed Senate 40-0

Grants individual and business income tax credits of 15-20% for expenses related to qualified high-tech research and development in Virginia.

HB 2197 (Comstock — Fairfax)                    Passed House 89-10               Passed Senate 40-0

Grants employers a tax credit for expenses incurred in developing and implementing telework arrangements for employees.

HJ 500 (Bell, R.P. — Staunton)                     Passed House 61-36               Killed by Senate Committee

Incorporates Virginia’s “Right to Work” statutue into the State Consitution.

HB 2052 (Hugo — Fairfax)                           Passed House 63-32               Killed by Senate Committee

Requires the use of secret ballots in any procedure authorizing or selecting a labor organization to represent workers.

HB 2221 (Oder  — Newport News)              Passed House 85-14               Passed Senate 40-0

Creates an exemptipon from the aircraft sales and use tax for businesses headquartered in Virginia that make a minimum of $4 million capital investment in Virginia, create at least 50 new jobs and enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.

HB 1982 (Kilgore — Scott)                           Passed House 99-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Reduces the eligibility criteria for making use of the Governor’s Development Opportunity Fund from $10 million in private investment and 100 new jobs created to $5 million and 50 new jobs.

Education

HB 2510 (Cox, M.K. — Colonial Heights)    Passed House 98-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

• Sets a goal of creating 100,000 additional undergraduate degrees in Virginia over next 15 years
• Emphasizes the importance of highly competitive “STEM” degree programs, which include science, technology, engineering and math
• Increases access and affordability for more in-state residents wanting to attend Virginia’s institutions of higher learning
• Improves institutional efficiency by encouraging colleges and universities to analyze the use of state-owned buildings, find opportunities to use buildings year-round and explore technological alternatives for summer and on-line classes

HB 1416 (Loupassi — Richmond City)         Passed House 48-46               Killed by Senate Committee

Requires local school boards to report the percentage of their budget spent on instructional spending, and, if the percentage is less than 65 percent, to develop a plan to increase instructional spending

HB 2314 (Massie — Henrico)                        Passed House 54-45               Killed by Senate Committee

Enables Virginia corporations that have given cash donations to non-profit groups offering tuition assistance for non-public schools to receive a corporate income tax credit equal to 70% of their charitable contribution.

HB 1554 (Wilt — Rockingham)                     Passed House 99-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Delays implementation of certain accreditation requirements to allow school systems to effectively allocate limited financial resources.

HB 1793 (Tata — Virginia Beach)                 Passed House 99-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Allows local school boards to award diploma seals for Board of Education approved diplomas.

HB 1792 (Tata — Virginia Beach)                 Passed House 95-3                 Passed Senate 40-0

Codifies the flexibility given in the Standards of Quality for use of appropriations act funds for instructional staffing for mathematics, limited English proficiency, reading, technology and assistant principals.

Health Care

HB 1500 (Putney — Bedford)                       Passed House 97-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

• Sets aside an additional $30 million for the Behavioral Health Trust Fund to help intellectually and developmentally disabled Virginians
• Includes $14.3 million for additional staffing and accomodations for the Sexually Violent Predator Program at the Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation
• Restores a total of $12.5 million in CSA funding for Children’s Mental Health Services

HB 2467 (Greason — Loudoun)                    Passed House 74-24               Passed Senate 27-11

Ensures that health insurance plans in the Commonwealth cover autism spectrum disorders for children ages 2 through 6 up to a yearly cap of $35,000.

HB 1428 (Bell, R.P. — Staunton)                  Passed House 66-33               Killed by Senate Committee

Requires that abortion clinics be regulated in the same fashion as hospitals, ambulatory clinics and dentists offices, including biennial inspections and provision of certain emergency life-saving equipment.

HB 1419 (Byron — Campbell)                       Passed House 61-33               Killed by Senate Committee

Eliminates mandatory, opt-out HPV vaccines given to schoolgirls starting in the sixth grade, and replaces the mandate with an opt-in vaccination program.

HB 2147 (Cline — Rockbridge)                     Passed House 60-36               Killed by Senate Committee

Requires that health insurance plans that will be available through Virginia’s health benefits exchange shall not cover abortions.

HB 1675 (Pogge — James City County)       Passed House 94-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Provides procedures and standards for agencies or governmental entities applying for variances or exemptions to regulations governing emergency medical services.

HB 1960 (Rust — Fairfax)                             Passed House 94-5                 Passed Senate 40-0

Clarifies that institutions of higher education must be formed, headquartered and have their principal place of business in Virginia in order to be eligible for the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant Program.

HB 1968 (Robinson — Chesterfield)             Passed House 95-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Provides that whenever a certification, signature or other attestation is required by a physician, it will also be deemed to include such attestation by a physician assistant.

Law Enforcement & Public Safety

HB 1500 (Putney — Bedford)                       Passed House 97-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

• Includes $400,000 in additional funding for the Line of Duty program, bringing total FY 2012 funding up to $3.4 million
• Includes an additional $8.3 million for sheriffs in FY 2011 and $14.3 million in FY 2012
• Funds 27 new judges in jurisdications with heavy caseloads

HB 1995 (Janis — Henrico)                           Passed House 98-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Protects victims of child pornography by providing civil restitution as an additional punishment and deterrent to producers of child pornography.

HB 1434 (Garrett — Lynchburg)                   Passed House 98-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Adds synthetic marijuana, otherwise known as “spice,” to the list of substances that are illegal to possess, buy or sell in Virginia.

HB 1403 (Loupassi — Richmond City)         Passed House 98-0                 Killed in Senate Committee

Protects citizens and law enforcement officers by allowing seizure and sale of vehicles involved in eluding police officers or that otherwise are used to endanger law enforcement officers, with proceeds flowing to the Literary Fund.

HB 1407 (Janis — Henrico)                           Passed House 99-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Increases penalties for underage drinking and driving, keeping all Virginians safer on our roads.

HB 1590 (Iaquinto — Virginia Beach)          Passed House 99-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Expands the jurisdiction of Virginia’s General District Courts by raising the maximum claim limit from $15,000 to $25,000.

HB 1573 (Cleaveland — Botetourt)              Passed House 75-23               Killed by Senate Committee

Codifies the common law “castle doctrine” by allowing the use of deadly force in defense of self or others when an individual is threatened with seriously bodily injury intheir own home.

HB 1589 (Iaquinto — Virginia Beach)          Passed House 75-23               Killed by Senate Committee

Requires installation of an ignition interlock after a single DUI conviction.

HB 1651 (Cosgrove — Chesapeake)              Passed House 99-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Requires the DMV to cancel licenses and other identification cards issued to indivudals who are later discovered to be illegally present in Virginia.

HB 1777 (Gilbert — Shenandoah)                 Passed House 98-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Provides that those who create or sell fake birth certificates are guilty of a Class 6 Felony.

HB 1859 (Anderson — Prince William)         Passed House 81-8                 Passed Senate 40-0

Requires state agencies entering into contracts to require E-Verify use by contractors on projects over $50,000.

HB 1421 (Albo — Fairfax)                            Passed House 73-26               Killed by Senate Committee

Prevents agencies, political subdivisions and localities from limiting enforcement of federal immigration laws or establishing “sanctuary cities.”

HB 1465 (Peace — Hanover)                         Passed House 75-24               Killed by Senate Committee

Requires all public post-secondary institutions in the Commonwealth to develop and implement rules prohibiting the enrollment of illegal aliens.

HB 1468 (Albo — Fairfax)                            Passed House 83-16               Killed by Senate Committee

Requires that all local departments of social services verify the legal presernce of an individual applying for public assistance benefits.

HB 1934 (Miller, J.H. — Manassas)               Passed House 78-20               Killed by Senate Committee

Directs Virginia’s State Police to enter into a memorandum of agreement with federal immigration enforcement officers thereby allowing Virginia’s State Police to perform immigration enforcement duties within the Commonwealth.

HB 2333 (Lingamfelter — Prince William)    Passed House 81-18               Killed by Senate Committee

Establishes E-Verify users and in-state businesses a preference for purposes of breaking a tie bid during the public procurement process.

HB 1757 (Wilt — Rockingham)                     Passed House 99-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Heightens protections afforded victims of domestic violation by expanding Address Confidentiality Program.

HB 2225 (Wright — Lunenberg)                   Passed House 98-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Requires the Department of Corrections to establish individual inmate trust accounts including sources of inmate income up to $1,000 payable upon parole or discharge.

HB 2063 (Bell, R.B. — Albemarle)               Passed House 99-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Expands the scope of protective orders available to citizens of the Commonwealth to address the issues of dating violence and stalking.

HB 1449 (Crockett-Stark — Wythe)             Passed House 99-0                 Killed by Senate Committee

Updates the evolving list of substances, used to manufacture methamphetamines, whose possession coupled with intent to manufacture are punishable as a Class 6 Felony.

Government Reform & Savings

HB 2076 (Landes — Augusta)                       Passed House 96-2                 Passed Senate 40-0

Establishes the Office of the Inspector General, which will investigate allegations of fraud, waste, abuse and corruption by state and non-state agencies and officers.

HB 2435 (Habeeb — Salem)                          Passed House 97-0                 Passed Senate 40-0 Requires the Virginia Department of Corrections to eliminate an outdated mandate requiring correctional facilities to make duplicate reports to the Department of Corrections and Compensation Board.

HB 2376 (Habeeb — Salem)                          Passed House 98-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Requires the Department of Social Services to eliminate an unnecessary mandat related to office space requirements.

HJ 542 (LeMunyon — Fairfax)                      Passed House 59-34               Killed by Senate Committee

Calls for an Article V Constitutional Convention to ratify the Repeal Amendment, a measure which would strengthen federalism by allowing a majority of states, acting in tandem, to repeal federal laws and regulations.

HJ 852 (Cline — Rockbridge)                        Passed House 68-26               Killed by Senate Committee

Encourages the United States Congress to adopt legislation requiring a balanced federal budget and to call a convention to amend the U.S. Constitution to require a balanced federal budget.

HB 1457 (Marshall, R.G. — Prince William) Passed House 95-3                 Passed Senate 40-0

Increases the civil penalties imposed for intentional violations of Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act.

HB 2095 (Jones — Suffolk)                           Passed House 85-14               Passed Senate 34-6

Provides for the loss of benefits provided through the Virginia Retirement (VRS) System for any individual convicted of a felony arising out of misconduct in any position covered by VRS retirement programs.

Transportation

HB 2527 (Howell, W.J. — Stafford)             Passed House 65-33               Passed Senate 32-7

• Creates the Transportation Infrastructure Bank, for use by public and private entities pursuing transportation projects across the Commonwealth
• Enhances VDOT’s popular revenue sharing program to incentivize localities to provide matching funds for transportation priorities
• Accelerates previously authorized debt to take advantage of low interest rates and a competitive bidding climate

HB 2051 (Carrico — Grayson)                       Passed House 94-4                 Passed Senate 40-0

Establishes procedures for enforcement and the issuance of citations for certain large vehicles violating size and weight limits on Virginia’s roadways.

HB 1993 (Janis — Henrico)                           Passed House 67-31               Killed by Senate Committee

Gives discretion to law enforcement officers to charge individuals running red lights with either the underlying infraction or reckless driving based on the surrounding circumstances.

HB 1432 (Greason — Loudoun)                    Passed House 90-8                 Passed Senate 26-14

Extends for one year access to High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes for clean fuel vehicles, regardless of the number of occupants

HB 1692 (Stolle — Virginia Beach)               Passed House 99-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Permits Virginia Beach to set variable speed limits on highways within its jurisdiction to account for various conditions that impact road safety.

HB 1558 (Scott, E.T. — Madison)                 Passed House 99-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Prohibits certain overweight farm and agricultural machinery from operating on the Interstate Highway System.

HB 2508 (Morgan — Gloucester)                  Passed House 99-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Adds wharfs, piers and docks to the list of landings controlled, for purposes of legal control or transfer, by the Commonwealth Transportation Board.

HB 1947 (Cox, J.A. — Hanover)                   Passed House 90-7                 Passed Senate 34-6

Removes certain requirements related to notice of intent to enter onto a landowner’s property.

Veterans & Military

HB 1862 (Cosgrove — Chesapeake)              Passed House 98-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Extends the licenses, certifications and other identification documents of spouses accompanying a member of the military abroad.

HB 1645 (O'Bannon — Henrico)                   Passed House 99-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Codifies the constitutional amendment adopted by voters providing a real property tax exemption for the primary residence of veterans who have a 100 percent, service-related disability.

HB 1861 (Anderson — Prince William)         Passed Houe 97-0                   Passed Senate 40-0

Waives the one-year residency requirement for veterans attending institutions of higher learning in Virginia, allowing veterans to immediately qualify for in-state tuition.

HB 1761 (Cox, M.K. — Colonial Heights)    Passed House 99-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Provides supplemental coverage for members of the armed services through Virginia’s cafeteria plan for retirees and dependents eligible for TRICARE supplemental benefits.

HB 1557 (Cox, M.K. — Colonial Heights)    Passed House 98-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Requires the Department of Veterans Services maintain a certain ratio of staff to veterans in the Commonwealth.

HB 1774 (Sherwood — Frederick)                Passed House 98-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Authorizes the Governor to allocate funds for the Virginia National Guard and State Defense Force for purposes of preparedness in the absence of an official state of emergency.

HB 1535 (Merricks — Pittsylvania)               Passed House 94-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Provides that the Boards of Medicine and Nursing may accept relevant medical experience towards certain civilian, medical certifications.

HB 1848 (Stolle — Virginia Beach)               Passed House 98-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Provides that an established Virginia domicile, and attendant in-state tuition, of an active duty military spouse is not affected by the maintenance of a second residence, due to military service, outside the jurisdiction.

HB 1697 (Athey — Warren)                          Passed House 99-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Exempts all Department of Veterans Services facilities from requirements related to certificates of public need.

Federalism

HB 1438 (Cole — Spotsylvania)                    Passed House 65-33               Killed by Senate Committee

Asserts Virginia's authority under the 10th amendment to be free from federal regulation of goods manufactured in, sold in, and consumed in Virginia

HJ 542 (LeMunyon — Fairfax)                      Passed House 59-34               Killed by Senate Committee

Calls for an Article V Constitutional Convention to ratify the Repeal Amendment, a measure which would strengthen federalism by allowing a majority of states, acting in tandem, to repeal federal laws and regulations.

HJ 577 (O’Bannon — Henrico)                      Passed House 63-33               Killed by Senate Committee

Urges the U.S. Congress to limit the FCC’s authority over regulation of the Internet.

HJ 578 (O’Bannon — Henrico)                      Passed House 63-33               Killed by Senate Committee

Urges the U.S. Congress to recognize the separation of powers enshrined in the U.S. Constutiton and encourages Congress to refrain from expanding the rulemaking authority of the FTC.

HB 1397 (Marshall, R.G. — Prince William) Passed House 68-30               Killed by Senate Committee

Exempts qualified residential and manufactured buildings in Virginiafrom requirements stemming from federal energy efficiency standards, provided that such buildings meet certain standards articulated in the Statewide Uniform Building Code.

Other Improvements to Virginia’s Quality of Life

HB 1621 (Knight — Virginia Beach)             Passed House 97-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Expands the defintion of open-space land to include agricultural and forestal production areas.

HB 1954 (Villanueva — Virginia Beach)       Passed House 98-0                 Killed by Senate Committee

Clarifies that educational, artistic and theatrical exemptions to obscenity laws do not extend to child pornography and other offenses involving children.

HB 2372 (Edmunds — Halifax)                    Passed House 97-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Allows certain state vehicles performing environmental functions to be equipped with flashing amber warning lights.

HB 2425 (Ingram — Hopewell)                     Passed House 99-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Gives property owners notice and the opportunity to pay a tenant’s unpaid water or sewer fees before shut off.

HB 1712 (Wright — Lunenberg)                   Passed House 98-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Clarifies that those fishing in interjurisdictional inland waters are subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which he is fishing.

HB 1928 (Marshall, D.W. — Danville)          Passed House 95-4                 Passed Senate 39-0

Amends the process for independent external review of health carrier’s adverse decisions regarding the scope of health benefits offered to an individual.

HB 1929 (Marshall, D.W.  — Danville)         Passed House 99-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Provides that during the public procurement process, if an out of state entity is the lowest responsive bidder, and a resident of a state that permits in state price matching preferences, Virginia will allow in state businesses a second chance to match or beat the out of state bid.

HB 1440 (Marshall, R.G. — Prince William) Passed House 62-36               Killed by Senate Committee

Recognizes that unborn children, from conception onward, enjoy the rights and privileges of any other citizen in the Commonwealth.

HB 2024 (May — Loudoun)                          Passed House 99-0                 Passed Senate 39-0

Requires applications to the State Corporation Commission for large electrical transmission lines must include a description of efforts to minimize environmental, historic and other adverse effects.

HB 1718 (Merricks — Pittsylvania)               Passed House 99-0                 Killed by Senate Committee

Updates sections of the Uniform Commercial Code addressing negotiable instruments, bank deposits and collections to reflect new case law and technological advances.

HB 2519 (Morefield — Tazewell)                  Passed House 96-3                 Passed Senate 40-0

Clarifies that when an agency has an opportunity to comment on a Virginia Water Protection Permit and fails to do so within 45 days, the permit will be deemed approved without further possibility of comment.

HB 2251 (Nutter — Montgomery)                 Passed House 95-2                 Passed Senate 40-0

Provides that when electronic pollbooks fail and no other options are available, elections officers shall maintain a written list of those voting and provide provisional ballots.

HB 1608 (Orrock — Caroline)                       Passed House 94-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Establishes the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Fund and designates the Department of Social Services as the state agency responsible for state efforts relating to public agencies and charitable groups assisting low-income families.

HB 2471 (Poindexter — Franklin)                 Passed House 98-0                 Passed Senate 40-0

Updates the Coal Mine Safety Act, bringing it in line with federal and industry standards.

HB 1874 (Purkey — Virginia Beach)             Passed House 99-0                 Passed Senate 38-0

Brings Virginia’s tax code into greater conformity with federal tax code.

NOTE:  The above list of over 100 bills and resolutions is not intended to be a complete record of all legislation sponsored and passed by the 60-member strong House Republican Majority in the 2011Regular Session.  The short summaries above are provided only for convenience and are not meant to be a complete description of the highlighted legislation.  For more details about a bill or resolution, contact the delegate who patroned the measure or click on the number, which links to the General Assembly’s Legislative Information Service (LIS).  LIS provides the entire legislative history and actual text of all bills and resolutions, amendments and conference reports, as passed by both the Virginia House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia.

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See Speaker Howell's statement on this news.

“As Virginians struggle in today’s economy, state government must address their needs without burdening them with additional job-killing taxes and burdensome requirements,” said Speaker Howell.  “Since the House of Delegate’s defeated Governor Kaine’s $1 billion per year statewide income tax plan by a unanimous and bipartisan vote of 97-0 at the beginning of this Session, House Republicans have aggressively pursued fiscally responsible legislation to create jobs and opportunities for Virginians, reform government to deliver services more efficiently and transparently and address other challenges.  I’m delighted that our strong Majority Caucus has produced real results with the support of Democrats and Independents which has enabled us to achieve House passage of scores of positive reforms.”

“Offering practical solutions to Virginia’s challenges is a hallmark of House Republican leadership in the General Assembly,” said Chairman Nixon.  “With our citizens and Commonwealth confronting the most difficult economic environment in decades, it is essential to build and expand upon our many accomplishments.  The overwhelming bipartisan support for many items on our agenda underscores the ability of Republicans to govern effectively and respond appropriately to the concerns of Virginians.”

Full Press Release, Including List of Bills

The full House passed energy bills put forth by Republicans and Democrats, whose highlights include:

•    Helping Virginia conserve 10% or more of its electricity consumption in future years and keep prices competitive through reduced demand and improved efficiency;

•    Creating new jobs by breaking down barriers in order to encourage fiscally responsible alternative energy generation;

•    Supporting the development of new renewable energy projects across Virginia to ease reliance on foreign oil and
other energy sources; and

•    Helping to keep energy costs to consumers low without adding business regulations and mandates.

"Encouraging the cost-effective development and responsible production of economically viable alternative energy resources in Virginia will help secure our energy independence and reduce our reliance on foreign oil to meet our energy needs,” noted Speaker Howell.  “The series of common-sense measures successfully advanced by House Republicans this Session will help address Virginia’s demand for increased energy production in an environmentally sensitive manner.  This sensible package of reforms, including partnering with our fine public institutions of higher education and the Tobacco Commission, will create critical new jobs in the alternative energy arena that will make significant progress in alleviating Virginia’s energy needs."

House Bill 2404, patroned by Delegate Bell, creates the Virginia Universities Clean Energy Development and Economic Stimulus Foundation to assist in identifying and administering the development of alternative energy sources to create jobs and promote energy independence.  Many of Virginia’s colleges and universities already are pioneering work on alternative energy and will be key partners with the Foundation, along with others.  Likewise, private sector experts will be involved in determining the economic impact of individual projects and provide insight into creating a comprehensive alternative energy research and development program for the Commonwealth.

House Bill 2531, patroned by Delegate Kilgore, establishes a meaningful and measurable energy conservation and demand-side management program under the careful direction of the State Corporation Commission.  These programs aimed at reducing energy consumption by electricity consumers would be cost-effective for the producers while protecting rate payers across Virginia.  The legislation does not employ mandates and burdensome regulations that tie the hands of businesses to achieve the same positive results as will occur under this bill.

“With the growing understanding of Virginians for the need to conserve energy use, House Republicans have taken a responsible approach to ensure continued progress in reducing demand,” said Delegate Kilgore, Chairman of the House Commerce and Labor Committee.  “My bill recognizes that the private sector has the ability to create innovative products and services to help all consumers conserve.  And, the legislation is able to protect consumers from being harmed through increases energy costs during this economic downturn.”

Several bills, including House Bill 2172, House Bill 2175, House Bill 2268, House Bill 2152 and House Bill 2371, break down barriers that currently exist to developing renewable energy projects in Virginia.  House Bill 2172 would make it easier for renewable energy projects to connect into the electrical grid in order to share energy resources with Virginia consumers.  House Bill 2175 would provide a programmatic incentive for small renewable energy production by streamlining the permitting process.  House Bill 2268, patroned by Delegate Charles D. Poindexter (R-Franklin), expands the definition of renewable energy to encourage new alternative energy projects with greater use of organic, biomass sources to meet rising energy demand.  House Bill 2152, patroned by Thomas D. Rust (R-Fairfax), provides for relief from capacity charges that discourage renewable generation.  House Bill 2371, patroned by Delegate David A. Nutter (R-Montgomery), promotes the use of renewable energy through the development of dynamic rates for larger, nonresidential customers who use the output from a renewable generation facility.

“Virginia has an abundance of natural resources that can be used to develop environmentally-friendly energy and improve our economic situation,” said Delegate Hogan, patron of House Bills 2172 and 2175.  “It makes good business sense for the Commonwealth to reduce the burdens of those seeking to produce renewable energy and supply that valuable commodity into the marketplace.  These bills foster an improved business climate so the use of innovative alternative energy sources continues, expands and creates new jobs.”

House Bills 2001 and 2002, patroned by Delegate Cosgrove, encourage the use of biofuels as part of Virginia’s overall approach to delivering energy.  House Bill 2001 expands the Biofuels Production Incentive Grant Program to include advanced biofuels derived from renewable biomass or algae.  House Bill 2002 recognizes and encourages the reliance on sustainably produced biofuels made from traditional agricultural crops and supports the delivery infrastructure needed for statewide distribution of these advanced biofuels to Virginia consumers.

“Expanding the feedstocks used to produce biofuels in Virginia will improve the comprehensive approach we have taken in delivering alternative energy to our citizens and businesses,” remarked Delegate Cosgrove.  “Using sustainable sources grown and found in Virginia helps create local jobs in this cutting-edge field.  Providing incentives to harness these natural resources stimulates innovation and economic development.”

House Bill 1633, patroned by Delegate Chris Saxman (R-Staunton) dedicates royalties from the from exploration of domestic energy sources that will create local jobs to transportation improvements, Chesapeake Bay clean-up, renewable energy research and home energy assistance.

Official Release