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(EconDevel) Economic Development

HB 1500 Budget Bill.

Chief patron: Jones

Summary as introduced:
Budget Bill. Amends Chapter 780, 2016 Acts of Assembly.

02/15/17 House: House acceded to request
02/15/17 House: Conferees appointed by House
02/15/17 House: Delegates: Jones, Cox, Landes, O'Bannon, Greason, Torian
02/15/17 Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate
02/15/17 Senate: Senators: Norment, Hanger, Saslaw, Howell, Newman, Ruff, Wagner

HB 1565 Local tax and regulatory incentives; green development zones.

Chief patron: Webert

Summary as passed House:

Local tax and regulatory incentives; green development zones. Authorizes localities to create green development zones that provide certain tax incentives and regulatory flexibility for up to 10 years to a business operating in an energy-efficient building or to a business that produces products used to reduce negative impact on the environment.

02/13/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/14/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/14/17
02/14/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, February 21, 2017
02/14/17 House: Impact statement from TAX (HB1565ER)
02/17/17 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 27 (effective 7/1/17)

HB 1591 Va Economic Development Partnership Authority; site and building assessment program.

Chief patron: James

Summary as introduced:

Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority; site and building assessment program; minimum size of industrial sites. Lowers the minimum size of industrial sites that may be included in the Authority's site and building assessment program from 250 acres to 100 acres. The bill contains a technical amendment. This bill is identical to SB 976.

02/13/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/13/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/14/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/14/17
02/14/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, February 21, 2017
02/17/17 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 13 (effective 7/1/17)

HB 1624 Host Cities Economic Development Incentive and Host Cities Transportation Support Funds.

Chief patron: James

Summary as introduced:
Host Cities Economic Development Incentive and Host Cities Transportation Support Funds. Creates the Host Cities Economic Development Incentive Fund, administered by the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, to support economic development, growth of existing businesses, and job creation related to the Port of Virginia in one or more host cities. The bill also creates the Host Cities Transportation Support Fund, administered by the Secretary of Transportation, to support transportation projects and facilities related to the Port of Virginia in one or more host cities.

01/04/17 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
01/13/17 House: Assigned App. sub: Commerce, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Technology
01/16/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1624)
01/25/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/08/17 House: Left in Appropriations

HB 1752 Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority (VEDP); grants and other economic incentives.

Chief patron: Davis

Summary as introduced:
Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority (VEDP); grants and other economic incentive programs administered by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority; waiver. Provides that notwithstanding any provision of law or applicable VEDP guidelines, a political subdivision or eligible business, as the case may be, may request a waiver that permits it to use no more than one-quarter of the grant or loan from any fund administered by VEDP for a purpose indirectly related to the economic development project for which the grant or loan was awarded. The bill provides that any request for a waiver shall be submitted to the VEDP or the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, as appropriate, for approval and provides that no such waiver shall be granted unless also approved by the Governor. The bill contains technical amendments.

01/08/17 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
01/12/17 House: Assigned App. sub: Commerce, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Technology
01/16/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1752)
01/25/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/08/17 House: Left in Appropriations

HB 1893 Youth-controlled online businesses; registered office.

Chief patron: Herring

Summary as introduced:
Youth-controlled online businesses; registered office. Establishes a procedure through which a youth-controlled online business is exempted from the requirement that it establish and maintain a registered office for its first year of existence. If it avails itself of this procedure, process will be delivered to the clerk of the State Corporation Commission (the Commission). Upon such delivery, the clerk of the Commission is required to contact the registered agent of the youth-controlled online business at his email address, and the registered agent is given 10 days to accept the service. The measure defines a youth-controlled online business as a domestic stock corporation in which a majority of the members of the board of directors were, on the effective date of its incorporation, between the ages of 18 and 25 or a domestic limited liability company in which a majority of the managers of a manager-managed limited liability company or a majority of the members of a member-managed limited liability company were, on the effective date of its formation, between the ages of 18 and 25, and which entity corporation or limited liability company conducts a commercial enterprise through which it sells products, services, or advertising online using the communications infrastructure of the Internet, and further provided that its commercial establishment is not operated from a specific, identifiable, or dedicated office or other structure.

01/30/17 House: Referred from Science and Technology
01/30/17 House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
01/31/17 House: Assigned Courts sub: Civil Law
02/01/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/07/17 House: Left in Courts of Justice

HB 1968 Small Business Investment Grant Fund; changes to Fund.

Chief patron: Landes

Summary as introduced:
Virginia Small Business Financing Authority; administration of Small Business Investment Grant Fund. Makes changes to the Small Business Investment Grant Fund to make it easier for investor applicants to qualify for grants and provide more benefits for investor applicants. The bill (i) allows as a qualified investment any cash equity investment in a qualified business from an individual investor or from an investor who has received compensation; (ii) amends the definition of "small business" to increase the amount of equity capital for a qualifying business from $3 million to $5 million; (iii) moves the start date for eligible investments from July 1, 2012, to July 1, 2016; and (iv) increases the amount of the grant from 10 percent of the investment to 50 percent of the investment or $50,000, whichever is less. The bill maintains the total grant allocation cap of $250,000 for each eligible investor.

02/20/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1968ER)
02/20/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/21/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HB 1969 Small Business Jobs Grant Fund Program; reduces minimum percentage of revenues.

Chief patron: Landes

Summary as passed House:

Small Business Jobs Grant Fund Program. Reduces from 50 percent to 35 percent the minimum percentage of revenues that a small business must derive from out-of-state sources in order to be eligible for grants from the Small Business Jobs Grant Fund Program. The bill provides that to be eligible for assistance under the Program a company must make a new capital investment of at least $50,000. Finally, the bill changes the definition of small business for purposes of the Program from a company that has 250 or fewer employees to one that has 50 or fewer employees in its base year and average annual gross receipts of $3 million or less averaged over the previous 24-month period.

02/20/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1969ER)
02/20/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/21/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HB 1970 Economic revitalization zones; counties may establish by ordinance.

Chief patron: Landes

Summary as introduced:
Creation of economic revitalization zones in counties. Grants counties authority to create economic revitalization zones. The zones shall be for the purpose of providing incentives to private entities to purchase real property and interests in real property to assemble parcels suitable for economic development. Each county establishing an economic revitalization zone may grant incentives and provide regulatory flexibility. This authority currently exists for cities.

02/21/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/21/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/21/17 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1970ER)
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HB 1973 Economic Development Access Program; bonded projects.

Chief patron: O'Quinn

Summary as passed House:

Economic Development Access Program; bonded projects.Imposes a 48-month moratorium on the repayment of funds allocated to a locality for a bonded project pursuant to the Economic Development Access Program. The bill contains an emergency clause.

EMERGENCY

02/17/17 Senate: Engrossed by Senate as amended
02/17/17 Senate: Passed Senate with amendment (40-Y 0-N)
02/21/17 House: Placed on Calendar
02/21/17 House: Senate amendment agreed to by House (96-Y 0-N)
02/21/17 House: VOTE: ADOPTION EMERGENCY (96-Y 0-N)

HB 2013 Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority; board of directors, qualifications.

Chief patron: Yancey

Summary as introduced:
Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority; board of directors; qualifications. Adds the Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority and the Vice President of Economic Development for the Virginia Port Authority, or their designees, as ex officio voting members of the board of directors of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority and commensurately reduces the number of appointees from 18 to 16. The bill sets out required areas of expertise for the 16 members appointed variously by the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, and the Senate Committee on Rules, with such appointment requirements applying to appointments made on and after July 1, 2017.

01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
01/16/17 House: Assigned App. sub: Commerce, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Technology
01/27/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2013)
02/01/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/08/17 House: Left in Appropriations

HB 2055 Rural Coastal Virginia Community Enhancement Authority; created, report.

Chief patron: Hodges

Summary as passed House:

Rural Coastal Virginia Community Enhancement Authority. Establishes the Rural Coastal Virginia Community Enhancement Authority, consisting of the 12 counties within the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula, and Accomack-Northampton planning districts. The Authority is created for the purpose of serving as a regional economic development body and represents a partnership of the Commonwealth, the planning districts, and the 12 counties of the coastal region. The Authority shall be governed by a 15-member board. The Authority may seek and approve loans and solicit donations, grants, and any other funding from the Commonwealth, the federal government, and regional, local government, and private entities to carry out its purposes, powers and duties. Also, the Authority will (i) assist the region in obtaining necessary job training or employment-related education, leadership and civic development, and business development, especially entrepreneurship for the coastal region; (ii) provide special assistance to distressed and underdeveloped counties within the coastal region; and (iii) fund demonstration projects, and conduct research, evaluations, and assessments of the coastal region's assets and needs.

02/17/17 Senate: Engrossed by Senate as amended
02/17/17 Senate: Passed Senate with amendments (39-Y 1-N)
02/21/17 House: Placed on Calendar
02/21/17 House: Senate amendments agreed to by House (96-Y 0-N)
02/21/17 House: VOTE: ADOPTION (96-Y 0-N)

HB 2074 Income tax, state and corporate; subtraction for Virginia venture capital account investment.

Chief patron: Rush

Summary as passed House:

Income tax; subtraction for Virginia venture capital account investment. Establishes for taxable years beginning January 1, 2018, an individual and corporate income tax subtraction for income derived from an investment in a Virginia venture capital account, defined in the bill as an investment fund that makes at least 50 percent of its investments in qualified portfolio companies and employs at least one investor with at least four years' experience in venture capital investment or substantially equivalent experience. The bill defines "qualified portfolio company" as a Virginia-headquartered company that has a primary purpose of production, sale, research, or development of a product or service and provides equity in exchange for the investment. An income tax subtraction would be available only for an investment made on or after January 1, 2018.

02/21/17 House: Senate substitute rejected by House 17105512D-S1 (1-Y 96-N)
02/21/17 House: VOTE: REJECTED (1-Y 96-N)
02/22/17 Senate: Senate insisted on substitute (40-Y 0-N)
02/22/17 Senate: Senate requested conference committee
02/23/17 House: House acceded to request

HB 2108 Virginia Wireless Services Authority Act; rates and charges.

Chief patron: Byron

Summary as passed:

Virginia Wireless Services Authority Act; rates and charges. Provides that a wireless services authority may fix rates, fees, and charges for services provide, or facilities owned, operated, or maintained by the authority, for which the authority has received loan funding. Currently, an authority may do so only if it has issued revenue bonds. A similar change authorizes rates to be set at levels to provide for payment of loans. The measure also requires each authority to maintain records demonstrating compliance with certain provisions and to make the records available for inspection and copying by the public pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

02/16/17 Senate: Passed Senate with amendment (35-Y 3-N 1-A)
02/20/17 House: Placed on Calendar
02/20/17 House: Senate amendment agreed to by House (79-Y 13-N 1-A)
02/20/17 House: VOTE: ADOPTION (79-Y 13-N 1-A)
02/23/17 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2108ER)

HB 2199 Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority; Chief Executive Officer, powers and duties.

Chief patron: Kilgore

Summary as introduced:
Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority; Chief Executive Officer; powers and duties. Requires the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority (the Authority) to develop a comprehensive operational plan for the Authority, including, at a minimum, the following components: (i) a plan for coordination with all state agencies administering economic development incentive programs to ensure that such programs consistently achieve maximum effectiveness, (ii) the results of the most recent survey of all economic development partners assessing the effectiveness of the Authority's coordination with nonstate economic development organizations and the alignment of the Authority's strategic plan with economic development partners, and (iii) an evaluation of grant incentive awards programs administered by the Authority. The initial plan must be submitted by December 1, 2017, to the Authority's Board for review and approval. After approval, the CEO must report quarterly to the Board regarding the status of the implementation of the plan. In addition, the bill changes the membership requirements of the Board by removing the conditions that the Governor's appointees represent the state's congressional districts and changing the appointments of legislative appointees from membership at large to requirements for general areas of expertise. The bill changes all terms from six to four years and provides for the 12 citizen members appointed by the Governor to be re-staggered beginning in 2017. The bill also (a) provides for the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to serve as the chairman of the Authority's Board, (b) establishes the Division of Grant Administration within the Authority, (c) creates an Office of Internal Audit, and (d) provides for the Authority to staff the Governor's cabinet-level committee assisting the Secretary of Commerce and Trade in developing the state's comprehensive economic development strategy.

01/11/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17103639D
01/11/17 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
01/16/17 House: Assigned App. sub: Commerce, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Technology
02/01/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/08/17 House: Left in Appropriations

HB 2228 Aerospace Advisory Council; reorganizes as Advisory Committee on Aerospace.

Chief patron: Sickles

Summary as introduced:
Aerospace Advisory Council; reorganize as Advisory Committee on Aerospace. Moves the existing Aerospace Advisory Council, renamed the Advisory Committee on Aerospace, to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) to advise VEDP on issues related to economic development and the aerospace sector. The current members of the Aerospace Advisory Council will continue to serve as members of the Advisory Committee on Aerospace. The Aerospace Advisory Council is currently an advisory council in the executive branch of government staffed by the Department of Aviation.

01/30/17 House: Reported from Science and Technology (20-Y 1-N)
01/30/17 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
01/30/17 House: Assigned App. sub: Commerce, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Technology
02/01/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/08/17 House: Left in Appropriations

HB 2245 Virginia Research Investment Committee; expands role of Committee.

Chief patron: Jones

Summary as passed House:

The bill also clarifies that the exemption from mandatory disclosure of records under the Freedom of Information Act by applicants for grants and loans from the Committee applies to certain financial records, trade secrets, and research-related information. The bill requires an applicant seeking to invoke the protections of the exemption to submit a written request to the Committee identifying the records or data for which protection is sought and stating the reason why protection is necessary. The exemption would also apply to documents prepared exclusively for the application review by the Committee, its staff, or a reviewing entity conducting a scientific review at the request of the Committee. The closed meeting exemption would also be amended to include interviews of applicants by the Committee or a reviewing entity conducting a scientific review.

The bill contains technical amendments. HB 2245 is identical to SB 1371.

02/10/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2245H1)
02/20/17 Senate: Reported from General Laws and Technology (14-Y 1-N)
02/21/17 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)
02/22/17 Senate: Read third time
02/22/17 Senate: Passed Senate (39-Y 1-N)

HB 2278 Cooperative Marketing Fund; programs eligible for matching grant funds.

Chief patron: Hester

Summary as introduced:
Virginia Tourism Authority; Cooperative Marketing Fund; eligibility. Provides that proposals for existing programs that have a measurable return on investment are eligible for matching grant funds under the Cooperative Marketing Fund. The bill also (i) removes the requirement that only private funds be matched and (ii) provides that guidelines established for the Fund may include a preference for proposals submitted by state agencies.

02/20/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2278ER)
02/20/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/21/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HB 2312 Industrial development authorities; issuance of bonds to finance local tax preferences.

Chief patron: Morefield

Summary as introduced:
Industrial development authorities; issuance of bonds to finance local tax preferences. Authorizes industrial development authorities to make loans to any locality for the purpose of reducing local tax rates.

01/12/17 House: Presented and ordered printed 17103377D
01/12/17 House: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
01/19/17 House: Assigned CC & T sub: Subcommittee #1
01/23/17 House: Impact statement from TAX (HB2312)
02/03/17 House: Tabled in Counties, Cities and Towns

HB 2347 Commonwealth's Development Opportunity Fund; limitation on use of moneys from the Fund.

Chief patron: Byron

Summary as passed House:

Commonwealth's Development Opportunity Fund; limitation on use of moneys from the Fund. Provides that unless an exception has been granted by the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, moneys in the Commonwealth's Development Opportunity Fund shall not be used for any economic development project involving a business that relocates or expands its operations in one or more Virginia localities while simultaneously closing its operations or substantially reducing the number of its employees in another Virginia locality. Under current law, this limitation on the use of the Fund is stated as a general policy rather than as a requirement. The bill also requires the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to provide written notice to the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees at least 48 hours prior to the final approval of the grant or loan. Currently, the notice must be provided promptly, and a time frame is not specified.

02/20/17 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB2347ER)
02/20/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/21/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

HB 2471 Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority; membership, powers and duties.

Chief patron: Jones

Summary as passed House:

02/20/17 House: Senate substitute rejected by House 17105445D-S1 (2-Y 92-N)
02/20/17 House: VOTE: REJECTED (2-Y 92-N)
02/21/17 Senate: Senate insisted on substitute (38-Y 0-N)
02/21/17 Senate: Senate requested conference committee
02/22/17 House: House acceded to request

HJ 580 Study; JLARC; impact of state-owned ports on local governments; report.

Chief patron: James

Summary as introduced:
Study; JLARC; impact of state-owned ports on local governments; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to review and update its 1999 study entitled "Review of the Impact of State-Owned Ports on Local Governments."

01/04/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102448D
01/04/17 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
01/26/17 House: Tabled in Rules

HJ 615 Study; Joint Commission on Technology and Science; robots, automation, and artificial intelligence.

Chief patron: Marshall, R.G.

Summary as introduced:
Study; Joint Commission on Technology and Science; robots, automation, and artificial intelligence; report. Directs the Joint Commission on Technology and Science to convene an advisory committee to study the opportunities and challenges related to the adoption and use of robots, automation, and artificial intelligence, especially as it relates to the economy and the Commonwealth workforce and potential employment. The executive summary of the Commission's report shall be submitted no later than the first day of the 2018 Session of the General Assembly.

01/07/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17103569D
01/07/17 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
01/12/17 House: Assigned Rules sub: Studies
01/26/17 House: Tabled in Rules

HJ 648 Study; JLARC; impact of state-owned ports on local governments; report.

Chief patron: Heretick

01/10/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17101395D
01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
01/26/17 House: Tabled in Rules

HJ 673 Study; JLARC recommendations regarding VEDP; report.

Chief patron: Massie

Summary as introduced:
Study; JLARC recommendations regarding VEDP; report. Establishes a joint subcommittee to study how best to implement the recommendations of the 2016 Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission review of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority.

01/10/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102757D
01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
01/26/17 House: Tabled in Rules

HJ 700 Study; Broadband Advisory Council; broadband availability and the most cost-effective coverage.

Chief patron: Levine

Summary as introduced:
Study; Broadband Advisory Council; broadband availability and the most cost-effective means to provide broadband coverage to the greatest number of people; report. Requests the Broadband Advisory Council to develop a system for rating communities where the most people can be served by increased broadband coverage for the least cost.

01/11/17 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102688D
01/11/17 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
01/12/17 House: Assigned Rules sub: Studies
01/26/17 House: Tabled in Rules

SB 3 Building Revitalization Grant Fund; created, report.

Chief patron: Stanley

Summary as introduced:
Building Revitalization Grant Fund. Establishes the Building Revitalization Grant Fund, administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development, to award grants of up to $100,000 to businesses that make a capital investment of at least $1 million in revitalizing or retrofitting an existing building in the Commonwealth to serve as a new place of business. This bill is a recommendation of the Housing Commission.

11/22/15 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16100383D
11/22/15 Senate: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
01/18/16 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB3)
01/18/16 Senate: Continued to 2017 in General Laws and Technology (15-Y 0-N)
12/02/16 Senate: Left in General Laws and Technology

SB 15 Economic development, local; transfer of taxes to qualified locality.

Chief patron: Garrett

Summary as introduced:
Local economic development. Provides that the Virginia income tax net revenue and sales and use tax generated by certain corporations or limited liability companies within a qualified locality be transferred to the qualified locality under certain conditions. A qualified locality is one that (i) has made application to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority for a Major Employment and Investment Project Site Planning Grant and has been rejected for such grant and (ii) has expended local funds for the economic development purposes specified in the requirements for such grant provided by statute and in guidelines of the Authority. The bill provides that the total amount eligible to be returned to a qualified locality shall not exceed $5 million for any single economic development project.

01/19/16 Senate: Impact statement from TAX (SB15)
01/19/16 Senate: Rereferred from Local Government (13-Y 0-N)
01/19/16 Senate: Rereferred to Finance
01/26/16 Senate: Continued to 2017 in Finance (15-Y 0-N)
12/02/16 Senate: Left in Finance

SB 900 Budget Bill.

Chief patron: Norment, Hanger

Summary as introduced:
Budget Bill. Amends Chapter 780, 2016 Acts of Assembly.

02/09/17 Senate: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)
02/13/17 House: Placed on Calendar
02/13/17 House: Read first time
02/13/17 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
02/21/17 House: Left in Appropriations

SB 967 Local industrial development authorities; port authority.

Chief patron: Cosgrove

Summary as passed Senate:

Chesapeake Port Authority; Chesapeake Economic Development Authority; transfer of powers. Permits the City Council of Chesapeake to transfer the powers of the Chesapeake Port Authority to the Chesapeake Economic Development Authority. Such transfer has the effect of dissolving the Chesapeake Port Authority.

02/16/17 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB967ER)
02/16/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/17/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/17/17 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/17/17
02/17/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, February 24, 2017

SB 976 Va Economic Development Partnership Authority; site and building assessment program.

Chief patron: Hanger

Summary as introduced:

02/13/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/13/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/14/17 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/14/17
02/14/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, February 21, 2017
02/17/17 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 19 (effective 7/1/17)

SB 1013 Host Localities Economic Development Incentive and Transportation Support Funds; created, etc.

Chief patron: Lucas

Summary as passed Senate:

Host Cities Economic Development Incentive and Host Localities Transportation Support Funds. Creates the Host Localities Economic Development Incentive Fund, administered by the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, to support economic development, growth of existing businesses, and job creation related to the Port of Virginia in one or more host localities. The bill also creates the Host Localities Transportation Support Fund, administered by the Secretary of Transportation, to support transportation projects and facilities related to the Port of Virginia in one or more host localities. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act.

02/08/17 House: Read first time
02/08/17 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
02/08/17 House: Assigned App. sub: Transportation
02/13/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
02/21/17 House: Left in Appropriations

SB 1114 Virginia Veteran Entrepreneurship Grant Program and Fund.

Chief patron: McPike

Summary as introduced:
Virginia Veteran Entrepreneurship Grant Program and Fund. Establishes the Virginia Veteran Entrepreneurship Grant Program and Fund to provide grants to eligible providers of educational, training, or other services to veterans in the areas of starting their own business, purchasing a franchise, or other entrepreneurial endeavors and to assist such service providers in offering resources to veterans for the start-up of new veteran-owned business operations in the Commonwealth. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2019, and provides that if the Program and Fund are not reauthorized by the General Assembly, moneys in the Fund shall revert to the general fund.

01/09/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
01/18/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1114)
01/30/17 Senate: Reported from General Laws and Technology (15-Y 0-N)
01/30/17 Senate: Rereferred to Finance
02/02/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Finance (16-Y 0-N)

SB 1202 Commercial Space Flight Authority; development of six-year strategic plan.

Chief patron: Lewis

Summary as passed:

Commercial Space Flight Authority. Requires the Executive Director of the Commercial Space Flight Authority (the Authority) to develop and present to the Authority's board of directors (the Board) every four years a six-year strategic plan for its adoption and eliminates the requirement that a strategic plan be submitted to the Governor and General Assembly every four years. The bill also clarifies that the public purpose of the Authority is to promote (i) industrial and economic development and (ii) scientific and technological research and development for the commercial space flight industry. The bill provides that the Executive Director of the Authority also serves as the Chief Executive Officer; specifies that the Governor's appointments to the Board have experience in the aerospace industry, the financial industry, higher education, or the marketing industry or in scientific research and development; and eliminates the requirement that the Board form a nonvoting advisory committee.

02/22/17 Senate: Enrolled
02/22/17 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1202ER)
02/22/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1202ER)
02/23/17 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/23/17
02/23/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

SB 1203 Working waterfront development areas; establishment.

Chief patron: Lewis

Summary as introduced:

Working waterfront development areas; establishment. Authorizes localities, by ordinance, to establish a working waterfront development area and grant certain incentives and regulatory flexibility to private entities for the development of working waterfronts in such area.

02/16/17 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1203ER)
02/16/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/17/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/17/17 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/17/17
02/17/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, February 24, 2017

SB 1238 Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority; Chief Executive Officer; powers and duties.

Chief patron: Hanger

01/10/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17103638D
01/10/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
02/03/17 Senate: Incorporated by General Laws and Technology (SB1574-Ruff) (13-Y 0-N)

SB 1282 Wireless communications infrastructure; procedure for approved by localities.

Chief patron: McDougle

Summary as passed:

Wireless communications infrastructure. Provides a uniform procedure for the way in which small cell facilities on existing structures are approved by localities and approved and installed in public rights-of-way. The measure includes provisions that establish requirements applicable to the location of micro-wireless facilities. The measure also addresses restrictions by localities and the Department of Transportation regarding the use of public rights-of-way or easements.

02/20/17 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1282ER)
02/20/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/21/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

SB 1328 Enterprise zone grants and tax credits; qualified real property improvement expenditures.

Chief patron: Carrico

Summary as introduced:
Enterprise zone grants and tax credits; qualified real property improvement expenditures. Provides that an expenditure for an improvement to real property may qualify for a grant or tax credit regardless of whether it is capitalized or deducted as a business expense under federal Treasury Regulations.

02/17/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/20/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/21/17 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017
02/22/17 Senate: Impact statement from TAX (SB1328ER)

SB 1371 Virginia Research Investment Committee; expands role of Committee.

Chief patron: Saslaw

Summary as passed Senate:

Virginia Research Investment Committee. Expands the role of the Virginia Research Investment Committee (the Committee) to include, in addition to awarding grants and loans from the Virginia Research Investment Fund, providing guidance and coordination in the use of public funds to support research and commercialization efforts throughout the Commonwealth. Effective January 1, 2018, the bill moves responsibility for the development of the Commonwealth Research and Technology Strategic Roadmap (the Roadmap) from the Center for Innovative Technology to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (the Council), which shall submit the plan to the Committee for approval. The Council would consult with public institutions of higher education, make recommendations on the industry sectors in which the Commonwealth should focus its research and development efforts, and establish a process for maintaining an inventory of the Commonwealth's current research and development efforts. The Roadmap would be used to determine areas of focus for awards from the Virginia Research Investment Fund and the Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund.

The bill also clarifies that the exemption from mandatory disclosure of records under the Freedom of Information Act by applicants for grants and loans from the Committee applies to certain financial records, trade secrets, and research-related information. The bill requires an applicant seeking to invoke the protections of the exemption to submit a written request to the Committee identifying the records or data for which protection is sought and stating the reason why protection is necessary. The exemption would also apply to documents prepared exclusively for the application review by the Committee, its staff, or a reviewing entity conducting a scientific review at the request of the Committee. The closed meeting exemption would also be amended to include interviews of applicants by the Committee or a reviewing entity conducting a scientific review.

The bill contains technical amendments. SB 1371 is identical to HB 2245.

02/22/17 Senate: Enrolled
02/22/17 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1371ER)
02/22/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1371ER)
02/23/17 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/23/17
02/23/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

SB 1415 Virginia Port Authority; removal of members on Board of Commissioners.

Chief patron: Spruill

Summary as passed Senate:

Virginia Port Authority; Board of Commissioners. Changes from nonvoting ex officio member to voting member the status of two members of the Board of Commissioners of the Virginia Port Authority appointed by the Governor, one of whom represents the City of Richmond or the County of Chesterfield, Hanover, or Henrico and one of whom represents the City of Winchester or the County of Clarke, Frederick, or Warren.

02/17/17 Senate: Title replaced 17105321D-H1
02/22/17 Senate: Enrolled
02/22/17 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1415ER)
02/23/17 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on 2/23/17
02/23/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

SB 1417 Commercial air service plan; Virginia Aviation Board to develop and review.

Chief patron: Newman

Summary as passed Senate:

Commercial air service plan. Requires the Virginia Aviation Board to develop and review every five years a commercial air service plan for commercial air service airports in the Commonwealth and, prior to allocation of funds from the Commonwealth Airport Fund by the Board, ensure that requested funds are consistent with the plan. The bill requires the Board to report to the Governor and the General Assembly annually on the use of Commercial Airport Fund revenues for the previous fiscal year. The bill prohibits the use of Commercial Airport Fund revenues for (i) operating costs, unless otherwise approved by the Board, or (ii) purposes related to supporting the operation of an airline, either directly or indirectly, through grants, credit enhancements, or other related means.

02/20/17 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB1417ER)
02/20/17 House: Signed by Speaker
02/21/17 Senate: Signed by President
02/21/17 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on 2/21/17
02/21/17 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, March 27, 2017

SB 1574 Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority; membership, powers and duties.

Chief patron: Ruff

Summary as passed Senate:

Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority; membership; powers and duties. Restructures the membership of the board of directors (the Board) of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority (the Authority), designates the Board as a supervisory board within the statutory definition of "supervisory," sets out the minimum qualifications for appointments to the Board, and sets out additional powers and duties required of the Board, including development of a strategic plan for economic development, a marketing plan, and an operational plan. The bill also establishes a Division of Incentives within the Authority to track, manage, and coordinate economic development incentives. Under the bill, the Division is required to obtain certification from the Attorney General prior to certifying that an approved project has met the investment and job creation requirements and the review of the Attorney General prior to seeking the repayment of any public funds from an approved project due to a failure of the project to meet the investment and job creation requirements set forth in the contract or memorandum of understanding. The bill establishes a position of internal auditor, and two advisory committees and requires (i) each commissioner of the revenue to provide certain tax information and (ii) the Virginia Employment Commission to provide certain employment information to the Authority as may be necessary to facilitate the administration and enforcement by the Authority of performance agreements with businesses that have received incentive awards. This bill incorporates SB 1238.

02/20/17 House: Passed House with substitute BLOCK VOTE (97-Y 0-N)
02/20/17 House: VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (97-Y 0-N)
02/21/17 Senate: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N)
02/22/17 House: House insisted on substitute
02/22/17 House: House requested conference committee

SB 1591 Economic Development Access Program; bonded projects.

Chief patron: Carrico

Summary as passed Senate:

Economic Development Access Program; bonded projects. Imposes a 36-month moratorium on the repayment of funds allocated to a locality for a bonded project pursuant to the Economic Development Access Program, provided that the conditions of the Commonwealth Transportation Board's economic development access policy are met.

EMERGENCY

02/20/17 House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB1591H1
02/20/17 House: Passed House with substitute BLOCK VOTE (97-Y 0-N)
02/20/17 House: VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (97-Y 0-N)
02/21/17 Senate: House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N)
02/21/17 Senate: Title replaced 17105489D-H1

SJ 246 Study; inland port facility in the Roanoke Region and New River Valley; report.

Chief patron: Edwards

Summary as introduced:
Study; inland port facility in the Roanoke Region and New River Valley; report. Requests the Secretary of Transportation to study the feasibility of an additional inland port facility in the Roanoke Region and New River Valley.

12/29/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102726D
12/29/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Rules
02/02/17 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Rules

SJ 281 Study; long-term economic viability of working waterfronts; report.

Chief patron: Lewis

Summary as introduced:
Study; long-term economic viability of working waterfronts; report. Requests the Virginia Economic Development Partnership to study the long-term economic viability of working waterfronts including a projection of the economic viability of preserving waterfront locations for new and existing water-dependent uses, and restoring working waterfront structures.

01/10/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17102788D
01/10/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Rules
02/02/17 Senate: Stricken at request of Patron in Rules

Counts: HB: 21 HJ: 5 SB: 17 SJ: 2