2012 General Assembly Session
The 2012 Virginia General Assembly convened in Richmond on January 11th and adjourns on March 10th. February 14th was "cross-over," the day by which each house must complete work upon its bills, except for Budget and Revenue bills. The "reconvened' or "veto" session will be held on April 18th.
The outlook for transportation is unclear. Governor McDonnell has proposed a package of initiatives that includes dedicating a greater portion of future surpluses (if any) and annual revenue growth above 5% (when it occurs) to transportation, and increasing the portion of the retail sales tax dedicated to transportation from .5% to .75% over an 8-year period. While all of these proposals help, none approach the level of "significant, new, sustained transportation funding" the Alliance and most other Northern Virginia business organizations have called for and the Governor has acknowledged are needed and would propose.
While the House of Delegates enacted most of the Governor’s plan, the State Senate did not and has proposed its own program. In essence the Senate version proposes to index the state gas tax to the Producer Price Index for Highway Construction Materials while eliminating the Governor’s proposals to increase the percentage of existing retail sales tax dedicated to transportation, dedicate a higher percentage of future General Fund surpluses and General Fund revenue growth to transportation as well as naming rights and transportation tax districts.
This in effect sends omnibus transportation funding to a House-Senate Conference and a Governor-House versus Senate showdown.
Key Transportation Bills: For a listing of key transportation bills introduced in the 2012 session, click here.
All Legislation: To find descriptions of all 2012 bills and resolutions, visit the Legislative Information Service homepage.
For summaries and results of prior year General Assembly Sessions, click on the year below.
2011
Here's How You Can Make a Difference
Be Informed
The Alliance actively tracks important transportation legislation as the session progresses. Please sign up to receive our free Alliance Alert email, the easiest way to stay appraised of the situation in Richmond and important transportation developments in general from the comfort of your inbox.
Be Involved
During the course of each legislative session there will be several opportunities to weigh in on key legislation. Use the resources below to ensure your voice is heard during and between sessions.
To find out who your legislators are, click here.
Northern Virginia Delegation: For contact information for Northern Virginia Senators and Delegates, click here.
All Legislators: For contact information for legislators across the Commonwealth, click here.
Key Committee Membership:
For contact information for House Appropriations, Finance and Transportation Committee members, click here.
For contact information for Senate Finance and Transportation Committee members, click here.
Executive Branch: For contact information for the Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General, click here.