You know, there's an awful lot of criticism out in the blogosphere (Raising Kaine included) about bad legislation in Virginia this year. But how about some PRAISE for good bills proposed so far in 2006? Here is a short list of bills I particularly like, including the name of the bill's Chief Patron. Note that there are both Democrats and Republicans on this list. Also, please note that this list is not meant to be comprehensive, that I haven't studies these bills in depth, and that I'm sure I missed a bunch of good bills. Please let me know which ones you think should be added to (or subtracted from) the list. Thanks.
David Poisson (D-32)
HB 269: Provides that vehicles purchased for the centralized fleet shall be clean alternative fuel or hybrid passenger-type vehicles and that the purchase shall follow annual percentage rate targets resulting in 100% of purchases being clean alternative fuel or hybrid vehicles by 2011.
Vincent F. Callahan, Jr. (R-34)
HB 539: Increases the minimum wage from its current federally mandated level of $5.15 per hour to $6.15 per hour effective July 1, 2006; to $7.15 per hour effective July 1, 2007; and to $8.15 per hour effective July 1, 2008....
Kristen Amundson (D-44)
HB 604: Extends the sunset authorizing HOV lane use by vehicles bearing clean special fuel license plates to July 1, 2008.
HB 1095: Requires the State Veterinarian or his designee to conduct routine inspections of every municipal pound or shelter twice annually, all other shelters and pet shops shall be inspected once annually. Inspections shall be unannounced...
David Englin (D-45)
HB 390: Exempts certain energy-efficient products from sales and use tax.
HB 394: Provides an income tax credit for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2007, for certain low-income individuals and persons filing joint returns in an amount equal to 25% of their annual housing rental expenses up to an amount equal to 6% of the federal poverty guidelines.
HB 395: Increases the cigarette tax rate from $0.30 per pack to $0.80 per pack.
HB 974: Exempts from the motor vehicle sales and use tax cars with an EPA fuel efficiency rating of 50 mpg or greater, and SUV's with an EPA fuel efficiency rating of 30 mpg or greater.
Brian Moran (D- 46)
HB 1211: Amends the statute that presently requires motorists to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians to require that motorists stop for pedestrians.
Al Eisenberg (D-47)
HB 1165: Requires the Department of Social Services, in coordination with the Statewide Domestic Violence Coalition, to set up procedures or services to protect the documents and personal mail of domestic violence victims so that their location or address cannot be detected from such documentation.
Robert Brink (D-48)
HB 375: Requires (i) that the disclosure statement on a print media advertisement with multiple pages, folds, or faces shall appear on the first page, fold, or face and (ii) that, in any print media advertisement in which the word "official" appears, the disclosure statement shall be printed in an equivalent or more conspicuous type size, font, and style than the word "official."
HB 685: Permits a voter who applied for but has not received an absentee ballot to vote a provisional ballot at his polling place upon his signed statement that he has not received or voted an absentee ballot.
HB 1434: Requires any regular minister, priest, rabbi, or accredited practitioner to report suspected child abuse or neglect to a local department of social services or the Department of Social Services' toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline.
Adam Ebbin (D-49)
HB 857: Requires all major facility projects of state agencies and other entities for which the project is funded with state money to be designed, constructed, and certified to meet the LEED silver standard as established by the United States Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environment Design...
James M. Scott (D-53)
HB 1088: Requires the filing of special reports to disclose the source of funds for large contributions ($100,000 for statewide candidates and $25,000 for General Assembly candidates) made by certain political committees, persons, and entities...
HB 1091: Prohibits the use of gas chambers for animal euthanasia....
R. Lee Ware, Jr. (R-65)
HB 449: Expands the land preservation tax credit by removing the $100,000 annual credit limit that a taxpayer may take for qualified donations of conservation easements and putting a $2.5 million or 50% of the fair market value, whichever is less, cap on each donated easement....
Chuck Caputo (D-67)
HB 277: For localities in Northern Virginia, increases from $340,000 to $540,000 the maximum financial worth cap a locality may impose in providing real estate tax exemptions to the elderly or disabled.
John S. Reid (R-72)
HB 1055: Establishes a phased schedule for all electric generating units in Virginia to reduce their emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and mercury...The Department [of Environmental Quality] also is to conduct an analysis of the issues related to development and implementation of standards and programs to control emissions of CO2 from stationary sources, which is to be submitted to the legislative oversight committees and the Board by December 31, 2008.
Donald McEachin (D-74)
HB 756: Requires hard copy optical scan ballots to be rerun through appropriately programmed tabulators in recount proceedings...
Terrie L. Suit (R-81)
HB 240: Provides that tuition shall not be charged to children of active members of the military who are ordered to locate to military housing located in a different school division than the one the child is attending at the time of the order to relocate...
HB 695: Provides that all dependents of active duty military personnel assigned to a permanent duty station in Virginia who reside in Virginia shall be deemed to be domiciled in the Commonwealth for purposes of eligibility for in-state tuition and shall be eligible to receive in-state tuition in Virginia...
Thomas Gear (R-91)
HB 880: Provides, retroactive to January 1, 2005, (i) a sales and use tax exemption for the purchase of solar energy systems and other energy efficient products...
These are all excellent bills, as far as I can tell, and Virginia would be a better place if they became law. Good work to the Delegates named above. Next, I need to look at the best Senate bills so far in 2006.