| Bills |
Committee | Last action | Date |
| HB 1650 - Callahan - Budget Bill. |
(H) Committee on Appropriations
(S) Committee on Finance | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0847) | 04/10/07 |
| HB 1653 - Armstrong - Smoking; guilty of a misdemeanor if in certain proximity to gas pumps. |
(H) Committee for Courts of Justice
(S) Committee for Courts of Justice | (H) Enacted, Chapter 848 (effective 7/1/07) | 04/04/07 |
| notes:
This legislation provides that any person who smokes or uses an open flame within 25 feet of a pump used to fuel motor vehicles is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. |
| HB 1678 - Cosgrove - Retail Sales and Use Tax; exemptions include energy-efficient products. |
(H) Committee on Finance
(S) Committee on Finance | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0176) | 03/14/07 |
| notes:
This legislation provides a sales tax exemption for purchases of certain energy-efficient products with a sales price of $2,500 or less made during the first Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in October of each year. The bill also authorizes dealers to absorb the sales and use tax on all other items sold during the same time period and thereby relieve the purchasers of the obligation to pay such tax. Dealers who absorb such taxes are liable for payment of the same to the Tax Commissioner. |
| HB 1695 - Purkey - Business, professional and occupational license (BPOL) tax; motor fuels tax exemption. |
(H) Committee on Finance
(S) Committee on Finance | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0085) | 03/13/07 |
| notes:
Approve by Governor. EFFECTIVE DATE 01-01-01. This legislation clarifies that the motor fuels tax is exempt from gross receipts for purposes of the BPOL tax. |
| HB 1784 - Cosgrove - Wine and beer; delivery thereof, permits. |
(H) Committee on General Laws
(S) Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0099) | 03/13/07 |
| notes:
Approved by Governor. This legislation restores to certain Virginia retailers the privilege of delivering wine and beer to their customers. Such privilege was removed as a result of recent federal litigation challenging the constitutionality of Virginia's ABC law. The bill contains technical amendments, including relocating the existing provisions concerning direct shipment of wine and beer (§ 4.1-112.1) to the administration of licenses portion of ABC law. |
| HB 1984 - Lohr - Alcoholic beverage control; definition of public place and local authority. |
(H) Committee on General Laws
(S) Committee for Courts of Justice | (G) Approved by Governor-Chapter 454 (effective 7/1/07) | 03/19/07 |
| notes:
Includes in the definition of public place any sidewalk adjoining highways, streets, or lanes. |
| HB 1995 - Suit - Alcoholic beverage sale nuisances; locality by its mayor, etc. may petition court to enjoin sale. |
(H) Committee for Courts of Justice
(S) Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services | (G) Approved by Governor-Chapter 456 (effective 7/1/07) | 03/19/07 |
| notes:
Any locality by or through its mayor, executive, or attorney may file a complaint in a circuit court to enjoin the sale of alcohol at any establishment licensed by the Alcohol Beverage Control Board. The basis for such complaint shall be that the continued sale of alcohol at the establishment presents a threat to public safety as a result of frequent criminal acts occurring on or near the premises. The injunction would be automatically lifted upon final disposition of a mandatory ABC Board hearing into the matter. |
| HB 2066 - Nixon - Unemployment compensation; increases maximum weekly benefit. |
(H) Committee on Commerce and Labor
(S) Committee on Commerce and Labor | (G) Approved by Governor-Chapter 628 (effective 7/1/07) | 03/20/07 |
| notes:
Increases the maximum weekly benefit from $347 to $363 for claims effective on or after July 1, 2007 |
| HB 2145 - Albo - Alcoholic beverage control; authorizes ABC Board to grant mixed beverage license to Rimland Resort. |
(H) Committee on General Laws
(S) Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services | (G) Approved by Governor-Chapter 469 (effective 7/1/07) | 03/19/07 |
| notes:
Authorizes the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to grant a mixed beverage license to any establishment located on property consisting of at least 10,000 acres and operated as a resort located in any county with a population between 19,200 and 19,500 (Primland Resort in Patrick County). |
| HB 2422 - Griffith - Smoking; prohibited in restaurants, penalty. |
(H) Committee on General Laws
(S) Committee on Education and Health | (H) Communicated to Governor | 04/04/07 |
| notes:
This bill is now before the Governor for his signature. The question will be will the governor amend the bill to include a more restrictive smoking prohibition. This legislation prohibits smoking in restaurants in the Commonwealth unless a restaurant posts signs stating "Smoking Permitted" conspicuous to ordinary public view at each public entrance. Any person who continues to smoke in any prohibited area after having been asked to refrain from smoking shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $250 for the first offense, and $500 for a second offense; any subsequent offense shall be punishable as a Class 2 misdemeanor. Any proprietor of any restaurant who fails to comply with these restrictions shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $500 for the first offense and $1000 for a second offense; any subsequent offense shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. |
| HB 2450 - Saxman - Alcoholic beverage control; creates new restricted wholesale wine license. |
(H) Committee on General Laws
(S) Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services | (H) Enacted, Chapter 870 (effective 4/4/07) | 04/04/07 |
| notes:
This legislation creates a new nonresident winery distributor license that authorizes the licensee to sell and deliver the wine produced by the licensee, in accordance with ABC Board regulations, in closed containers, to (i) persons licensed to sell the wine at retail for the purpose of resale, § 4.1-326 notwithstanding, (ii) the Board, and (iii) persons in Virginia to whom alcoholic beverages may be lawfully sold. The bill provides that, for purposes of § 4.1-234 and Chapter 6 (§ 58.1-600 et seq.) of Title 58.1, each delivery of wine by such licensee to a consumer or a retail licensee shall constitute a sale in Virginia. Licensees are required to collect the taxes due to the Commonwealth and remit any excise taxes monthly to the Board and any sales tax to the Department of Taxation. The bill defines "nonresident winery distributor" as any winery located outside the Commonwealth and licensed as such in the state where the winery is located and whose total wine distribution to all Virginia licensees does not exceed 3,000 cases in any calendar year. The bill also grants these same privileges to certain winery and farm winery licensees. The bill also requires the ABC Board to quarterly audit and inspect all licensees with the privilege of self-distribution to ensure they meet the requirements for the license. The bill sets the state license tax for this new license and requires the ABC Board to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill. |
| HB 2491 - Albo - Alcoholic beverage control; certain conditions for interior advertising, penalty. |
(H) Committee on General Laws
(S) Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services | (G) Approved by Governor-Chapter 494 (effective 7/1/07) | 03/19/07 |
| notes:
This legisaltion authorizes licensed retailers of alcoholic beverages to display, and manufacturers, their authorized vendors, and wholesale wine and beer distributors to provide or sell to such retailers, alcoholic beverage point of sale advertising materials for use in the interior of licensed retail establishments. The bill specifies the conditions under which such advertising may be used and provides that persons found in violation shall be subject to civil penalties |
| HB 2493 - Albo - Farm wineries; establishes criteria for local regulation thereof. |
(H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
(S) Committee on Local Government | (G) Approved by Governor-Chapter 657 (effective 7/1/07) | 03/20/07 |
| notes:
Establishes criteria for the local regulation of farm wineries, including provisions prohibiting localities from requiring that a special exception or special use permit be obtained for the processing, production, harvesting of fruit and other agricultural products, and manufacturing and production of wine by licensed farm wineries. Other provisions relate to farm winery activities, noise, and outdoor events. |
| HB 2614 - May - Electrical utility facilities; review of construction applications by State Corporation Commission. |
(H) Committee on Commerce and Labor
(S) Committee on Commerce and Labor | (G) Approved by Governor-Chapter 756 (effective 7/1/07) | 03/23/07 |
| notes:
This legislation requires the State Corporation Commission to consider certain external costs associated with the construction of electrical utility facilities, such as the monetary effect the facility will have on the value of land and structures along the proposed location or corridor. The Commission must also conduct an independent analysis of the facility applicant's assessment of need, load flow analysis, and method of installation. Finally, the bill will require a public utility to provide a GIS map of any proposed improvement or extension that the Commission shall make publicly available on its website. The utilities are currently required to provide a map, but the Code does not specify that it must be a GIS map. The bill also requires the Joint Commission on Technology and Science to convene a workgroup to develop recommendations as to the factors that should be considered by the State Corporation Commission in reviewing applications for the construction of electrical utility facilities. |
| HB 2637 - Gear - Alcoholic beverage control; creates limited mixed beverage restaurant licenses. |
(H) Committee on General Laws
(S) Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0295) | 03/15/07 |
| notes:
This legislation creates a new limited mixed beverage restaurant license that authorizes the licensee to sell and serve no more than six varieties of liqueurs, which liqueurs shall be combined with coffee or other nonalcoholic beverages for consumption in dining areas of the restaurant. Such license may be granted only to persons who operate a restaurant and in no event shall the sale of such liqueur-based drinks exceed 10 percent of the total annual gross sales. The bill defines liqueur and sets the state and local license taxes for this new license. |
| HB 2738 - Englin - Minimum Wage Act; repeals exclusion for persons who are 65 thereunder. |
(H) Committee on Commerce and Labor
(S) Committee on Commerce and Labor | (G) Approved by Governor-Chapter 832 (effective 7/1/07) | 03/25/07 |
| notes:
This legislation repeals the existing exclusion for persons who have reached age 65 from the definition of an employee under the Virginia Minimum Wage Act. |
| HB 2772 - Hurt - Fraudulent credit card application; false statements to obtain property or credit. |
(H) Committee for Courts of Justice
(S) Committee for Courts of Justice | (G) Approved by Governor-Chapter 518 (effective 7/1/07) | 03/19/07 |
| notes:
This legislation raises penalty for making a false statement to obtain credit from a Class 2 to a Class 1 misdemeanor. Characterizes the crime of fraudulently obtaining less than $200 worth of goods, services, etc. as petit larceny rather than a Class 1 misdemeanor. (Obtaining $200 or more is already described as grand larceny.) Defines a written false statement to include information transmitted, other than by voice transmission, by computer, facsimile, e-mail, Internet, or any other electronic or optical medium. |
| HB 2786 - Joannou - Retail Franchising Act; requirement of SCC for franchise registration. |
(H) Committee on Commerce and Labor
(S) Committee on Commerce and Labor | (G) Approved by Governor-Chapter 668 (effective 7/1/07) | 03/20/07 |
| notes:
This legislation authorizes the State Corporation Commission to require, as a condition of franchise registration, that the franchise fees and other funds paid by a franchisee to the franchisor be escrowed or deferred until the franchisor's preopening obligations are fulfilled, if the liabilities of the franchisor or any controlling person exceed the franchisor's liabilities. The measure also clarifies that it is not unlawful for a person to grant an unregistered franchise if the franchise is exempted from registration by the Commission by rule or order. |
| HB 2816 - Sickles - Weights and measures; allows Commissioner to establish a schedule for examination thereof. |
(H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
(S) Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | (G) Approved by Governor-Chapter 671 (effective 7/1/07) | 03/20/07 |
| notes:
Allows the Commissioner to establish a schedule for the examination of weights and measures by service agencies. Also requires service agencies to destroy out-of-service tags after corrective action and extends the deadline for reporting to the Commissioner from 48 hours to 5 days. |
| HB 3055 - Purkey - Casualty, burglary and theft insurances; policies to include certain provisions. |
(H) Committee on Commerce and Labor
(S) Committee on Commerce and Labor | (G) Approved by Governor-Chapter 762 (effective 7/1/07) | 03/23/07 |
| notes:
Authorizes miscellaneous casualty insurance and burglary and theft insurance policies to include appropriate provisions obligating the insurer to pay medical, hospital, surgical, and funeral expenses arising out of the death, dismemberment, sickness, or injury of any person, and death and dismemberment benefits in the event of death or dismemberment, if the death, dismemberment, sickness, or injury is caused by or is incidental to a cause of loss insured under the policy. |
| HB 3068 - Hogan - Electric utility service; advances scheduled expiration of capped rate period. |
(H) Committee on Commerce and Labor
(S) Committee on Commerce and Labor | (H) Enacted, Chapter 888 (effective 7/1/07) | 04/04/07 |
| notes:
Provides that if the State Corporation Commission is unable to identify regional electricity markets where competition is an effective regulator of rates, it shall establish the post-capped rate period rates for a distributor's generation component of default service at rates that are in the public interest, do not prejudice or disadvantage any class of customers, provide incentives for improved performance, are not excessive, are adequate and seek to ensure the safe and reliable provision of default service. If a distributor asserts that these default service generation rates do not allow it to recover its prudently incurred costs and an adequate return, the Commission shall establish the rates in a cost-of-service rate case proceeding. |
| SB 758 - Stosch - Minimum Wage Act; repeals exclusion for persons who are 65 thereunder. |
(H) Committee on Commerce and Labor
(S) Committee on Commerce and Labor | (G) Approved by Governor-Chapter 816 (effective 7/1/07) | 03/23/07 |
| notes:
PASSED THE SENATE. Repeals the existing exclusion for persons who have reached age 65 from the definition of an employee under the Virginia Minimum Wage Act. |
| SB 772 - Watkins - Business, professional and occupational and license (BPOL) tax; motor fuels tax exemption. |
(H) Committee on Finance
(S) Committee on Finance | (G) Approved by Governor-Chapter 834 (effective 1/1/01) | 03/25/07 |
| notes:
Clarifies that the motor fuels tax is exempt from gross receipts for purposes of the BPOL tax. |
| SB 807 - Puller - Alcoholic beverage control; operation of government stores by agents of the ABC Board. |
(H) Committee on General Laws
(S) Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services | (G) Approved by Governor-Chapter 546 (effective 7/1/07) | 03/19/07 |
| notes:
Provides that the ABC Board may appoint the holder of a distiller's license or its officers and employees as agents of the Board for the sale of spirits manufactured by the licensee at government stores established by the Board upon the distiller's licensed premises if such licensee is a duly organized nonprofit association holding title to real property, together with improvements thereon, that are significant in American history, under a charter from the Commonwealth to preserve such property, and which association accepts no federal, state, or local funds. Such agents must sell the spirits in accordance with ABC law, Board regulations, and the terms of the agency agreement between the Board and the distiller. |
| SB 867 - Watkins - Retail Sales and Use Tax; exemptions include Energy Star qualified products. |
(H) Committee on Finance
(S) Committee on Finance | (G) Approved by Governor-Chapter 817 (effective 7/1/07) | 03/23/07 |
| notes:
Sales tax exemption; energy-efficient products. Provides a sales tax exemption for purchases of certain Energy Star qualified products with a sales price of $2,500 or less made during a four-day period each year in mid-October. The bill also authorizes dealers to absorb the sales and use tax on all other items sold during the same time period and thereby relieve the purchasers of the obligation to pay such tax. Dealers who absorb such taxes are liable for payment of the same to the Tax Commissioner. The sales tax holiday would expire in July of 2012. |
| SB 984 - Edwards - Alcoholic beverage control; creates an internet wine retailer license. |
(H) Committee on General Laws
(S) Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services | (G) Approved by Governor-Chapter 558 (effective 7/1/07) | 03/19/07 |
| notes:
Creates the internet wine retailer license and specifies the privileges of this license and the applicable state license tax. The bill defines an internet wine retailer as a person who owns or operates an establishment with adequate inventory, shelving, and storage facilities, where in consideration of payment, internet or telephone orders are taken and shipped directly to consumers and which establishment is not a retail store open to the public. |
| SB 1149 - Wagner - Alcoholic beverage control; ABC Board has authority to sell products with distilled spirits. |
(H) Committee on General Laws
(S) Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services | (G) Approved by Governor-Chapter 726 (effective 7/1/07) | 03/21/07 |
| notes:
Alcoholic beverage control; government stores; sale of mixers. Authorizes the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to sell products used in connection with distilled spirits, including any garnish or garnishment applied to the rim of a glass of distilled spirits, as may be approved by the ABC Board from time to time at government stores. The bill contains technical amendments. |
| SB 1167 - Stolle - Retail Sales and Use Tax; exemptions include hurricane preparedness equipment. |
(H) Committee on Finance
(S) Committee on Finance | (G) Approved by Governor-Chapter 608 (effective 7/1/07) | 03/20/07 |
| notes:
Sales and use tax exemption; hurricane preparedness equipment. Provides a sales and use tax exemption, beginning in 2008, for certain hurricane preparedness equipment purchased during a seven-day period each year beginning on May 25. The sales and use tax holiday will sunset on July 1, 2012. |
| SB 1289 - Watkins - Wine and beer; delivery thereof, permits. |
(H) Committee on General Laws
(S) Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services | (G) Approved by Governor-Chapter 799 (effective 7/1/07) | 03/23/07 |
| notes:
Alcoholic beverage control; delivery of wine and beer; permits. Allows a brewery, winery, or farm winery located within or outside the Commonwealth that is authorized to engage in the retail sale of wine or beer, after obtaining a delivery permit from the ABC Board, to deliver wine and beer to consumers. Such privilege was removed as a result of recent federal litigation challenging the constitutionality of Virginia's ABC law. The bill contains technical amendments, including relocating the existing provisions concerning direct shipment of wine and beer (§ 4.1-112.1) to the administration of licenses portion of ABC law. This bill is identical to HB1784. |
| SB 1413 - Hanger - Alcoholic beverage control; creates new restricted wholesale wine license. |
(H) Committee on General Laws
(S) Committee on Finance | (H) Enacted, Chapter 932 (effective 4/04/07) | 04/04/07 |
| notes:
Alcoholic beverage control; wholesale wine license. Creates a new restricted wholesale wine license that authorizes the licensee to provide wholesale wine distribution services to winery and farm winery licensees, provided that no more than 3,000 cases of wine produced by a winery or farm winery licensee shall be distributed by the corporation in any one year. The bill requires the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to form a nonprofit nonstock corporation that will hold this new license to promote, develop, and sustain markets for licensed Virginia wineries and farm wineries. The bill also allows certain licensees to deliver or ship beer or wine from one or more premises identified in the license. The bill sets the state license tax for this new license and requires the ABC Board to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill contains an emergency clause and incorporates SB 1164 (Bell). This bill is identical to HB2450. |
| SB 1416 - Norment - Electric utility service; advances scheduled expiration of capped rate period. |
(H) Committee on Commerce and Labor
(S) Committee on Commerce and Labor | (H) Enacted, Chapter 933 (effective 7/1/07) | 04/04/07 |