Legislative Watch -- Covering the Virginia General Assembly

Welcome to Legislative Watch, brought to you by Richmond Sunlight. Here you can keep track of what your lawmakers are doing in Richmond -- bills they've introduced, how they've voted and more -- and find out other information about the General Assembly. Not sure who your legislators are? Click here to find out.


Featured article

Who's leading mental health reform?

Local legislators are at the center of push for reform.

BY HUGH LESSIG | 804-225-7345
February 1, 2008

RICHMOND - Freshman Del. Brenda Pogge of York County was assigned a mentor when she entered the House of Delegates on Jan. 9.

She considers herself lucky that Republicans matched her with Del. Phil Hamilton, her neighbor in Newport News. Hamilton is one of the leading authorities on mental health in the General Assembly, and that knowledge has never been in greater demand.

Mental health reform has soared to the top of the legislative agenda, prompted by...Read more



What you can do here

Scroll down to see what legislation local representatives in the General Assembly have introduced and how they've voted on recent bills.

If you don't see your delegate or senator listed, you can choose from the menu below to see that legislator's profile on Richmond Sunlight.

Delegates

Del. Mamye BaCote, D-95


PartyDemocratic
Cash on hand$13,822
Represents House District 95 -- Cities of Hampton (part) and Newport News (part) (map)CommitteesAppropriations, Health, Welfare and Institutions, TransportationContact DelMBaCote@house.state.va.us

Note: Votes are not necessarily for or against a bill; many are procedural. Click the bill links to verify the context of the vote at richmondsunlight.com
Pendente lite spousal support; guidelines. Date: 4/4/2007 | Vote: Y | Outcome: pass

Protective orders; increases penalty for second offense for violation thereof. Date: 4/4/2007 | Vote: Y | Outcome: pass

Budget Bill. Date: 4/4/2007 | Vote: Y | Outcome: pass

Criminal history & central registry check; est. mandatory background check for foster, etc. parents. Date: 4/4/2007 | Vote: Y | Outcome: pass

CRESPA; prohibits felons from acting as settlement agent thereunder. Date: 4/4/2007 | Vote: Y | Outcome: pass

Del. William Barlow, D-64


PartyDemocratic
Cash on hand$25,560
Represents House District 64 -- Counties of Isle of Wight (part), James City (part), Southampton (part), and Surry; Cities of Franklin (part) and Williamsburg (map)CommitteesCourts of Justice, General Laws, Militia, Police and Public SafetyContact DelWBarlow@house.state.va.us

HR36 Commending Brown's African Methodist Episcopal Church
HR31 Celebrating the life of Nicole Regina White.
HJ440 Commending W. Samuel Sadler.
HJ416 Commending the Honorable Robert Brooks Edwards.
HJ417 Commending William E. Laine, Jr.
HJ302 Commending Virginia Lodge No. 177 AF&AM on the occasion of its 150th anniversary.
HB1534 Plastic carryout bags; retail merchant not to provide unless durable.
HB1535 Safety belts; makes non-use thereof primary offense.
HB1429 Golf carts; operation on public highways within boundaries of Town of Claremont.
HB1430 Single-family dwellings; extends effective date requiring Surry County to provide for clustering.
HB1348 Consumer utility tax; tax rate for residential customers.
HB1349 Unemployment compensation; leaving employment to follow spouse of clergy.
HB1350 Charter; City of Williamsburg. 
HB1340 Fire Programs Fund; increases rate of assessment.
HB1341 Indoor Clean Air Act; smoking in restaurants.
HB1342 Water and sewer charge; adds Isle of Wight County to localities that may attach lien on real estate.
HB1343 Zoning ordinance; rezoning property to previous designation.
HB1344 License plates, special; issuance to United States Navy chief petty officers.
HB1345 Parking violations; grants James City County ability to impose civil penalties.
HB1346 Parking ordinances; those adopted by James City County .
HB1347 Cigarette tax; authorizes any county to impose.
HB1336 Criminal case; deferred disposition.
HB1337 Children; unlawful for any person to leave in motor vehicle unattended child under age six.
HB1338 Firearm, etc.; increases from misdemeanor to felony for brandishing.
HB1339 Credit reports; authorizes consumer to freeze access thereto.
HJ169 Plastic bags; Department of Environmental Quality to study policies to mitigate negative effects.
HJ180 Constitutional amendment; Governor's term of office (first reference).
HJ181 Constitutional amendment; establishing Redistricting Commission (first reference).

Note: Votes are not necessarily for or against a bill; many are procedural. Click the bill links to verify the context of the vote at richmondsunlight.com
Land use proceedings; disclosures therein. Date: 4/4/2007 | Vote: Y | Outcome: pass

Scrap metal processors; establishes requirements regarding purchases of scrap metal thereby. Date: 4/4/2007 | Vote: Y | Outcome: pass

Triggerman rule; redefinition thereof. Date: 4/4/2007 | Vote: Y | Outcome: pass

Court-appointed counsel; compensation for services. Date: 4/4/2007 | Vote: Y | Outcome: pass

Aerospace Advisory Council; created. Date: 4/4/2007 | Vote: Y | Outcome: pass

Del. Tom Gear, R-91


PartyRepublican
Cash on hand$2,676
Represents House District 91 -- County of York (part); Cities of Hampton (part) and Poquoson (map)CommitteesFinance, General Laws, TransportationContact DelTGear@house.state.va.us

Note: Votes are not necessarily for or against a bill; many are procedural. Click the bill links to verify the context of the vote at richmondsunlight.com
Assessment rates; notification for increase. Date: 4/4/2007 | Vote: N | Outcome: fail

Sewage sludge; locality may adopt an ordinance that requires special use permit for routine storage. Date: 4/4/2007 | Vote: Y | Outcome: pass

Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program; created. Date: 4/4/2007 | Vote: Y | Outcome: pass

Subaqueous land; Marine Resources Commission to convey certain S&S Marine Supply in Hampton. Date: 4/4/2007 | Vote: Y | Outcome: pass

Income tax, state; increases deduction for prepaid tuition contract, etc. with College Savings Plan. Date: 4/4/2007 | Vote: N | Outcome: fail

Del. Jeion Ward, D-92


PartyDemocratic
Cash on hand$25,153
Represents House District 92 -- City of Hampton (part) (map)CommitteesCommerce and Labor, General Laws, TransportationContact DelJWard@house.state.va.us

Note: Votes are not necessarily for or against a bill; many are procedural. Click the bill links to verify the context of the vote at richmondsunlight.com
Sexually violent predators; Attorney General, et al to study feasibility of treatment options, etc. Date: 4/4/2007 | Vote: Y | Outcome: fail

Psychiatric Inpatient Treatment of Minors Act; certain judges, etc. authorized to perform hearings. Date: 4/4/2007 | Vote: Y | Outcome: pass

Charter; City of Winchester.  Date: 4/4/2007 | Vote: N | Outcome: fail

Tolls; VDOT to impose and collect for use of Route 17 in City of Chesapeake. Date: 4/4/2007 | Vote: X | Outcome: fail

Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA); replaces current provisions in the code with this act. Date: 4/4/2007 | Vote: Y | Outcome: pass

Del. Phil Hamilton, R-93