General Assembly Update: Week 5 – House Passes “Tebow Bill” and Jobs Legislation, Cable Reports, and Weekly Visitors
We are almost at the halfway point of the session, also known as Crossover. Crossover is the day that the House of Delegates must complete its work on the nearly 1,300 House Bills introduced this session. Next Wednesday, the House will begin to consider all bills that have passed the State Senate.
A great deal has been accomplished in the five weeks since the start of Session with over 400 bills, covering a wide range of issues, passing the House. Over one-third of the bills the House has passed relate to my core focus of the session- helping businesses create jobs, expanding education opportunities, keeping our communities safe, and making our government more efficient and effective. It is also worth noting that sixteen bills in support of our veterans have passed the House thus far. These areas of focus will also be addressed in the budget, which is scheduled to be voted on by the Appropriations Committee in the coming weeks.
House Passes “Tebow Bill” and Jobs Legislation
On the floor this week, the House passed HB 947, which paves the way for homeschooled children to participate on high school athletics teams. The bill, nicknamed the “Tebow Bill”, requires the Virginia High School League, the organization that governs high school athletics in Virginia, to allow home school students to try out for public schools teams. Currently, twenty-two states allow for homeschooled children to participate on these teams, including Florida where Tim Tebow was allowed to play on his high school football team.
In focusing on jobs, the House passed HB 714, which extends the major facilities job tax credit to companies that invest in Virginia to create fifty or more full-time jobs. This tax credit will continue to help businesses in Virginia secure the capital investments they need in order to expand and create jobs.
Interviews on Cable Reports
Earlier in the Session, I taped an interview along with Delegate Lee Ware for Chesterfield County. The show will be airing on Comcast Channel 17 and Verizon Channel 27 at the following times: 2/13- 12pm & 7:30pm; 2/14 - 10am & 6pm; 2/15 – 10am & 12:30pm; 2/16 – 4pm; 2/17 – 7:30am & 8am. If you’d prefer to watch online, the video is available online anytime at the link below.
On Wednesday this week, I taped an interview along with Delegate Riley Ingram for “Cable Reports” for the Tri-Cities area. In the interview, we discussed the “Tebow” bill, tax credits, and education among other topics. To watch the interview, please click on the video link below.
Weekly Visitors
We had a number of school groups from the 66th District visit the Capitol this week, including three groups from Manchester High School. The students learned about how the General Assembly works and had a chance to hear from a variety of speakers. Among the visiting school groups was the government class I teach, and they were able to hear from Governor McDonnell’s policy advisor, Richmond Times-Dispatch reporter and columnist Jeff Schapiro, and a well respected lobbyist. I had the opportunity to introduce the forty students in the Gallery at the start of Wednesday’s session so they could stand to be recognized by the House.
Also visiting the Capitol this week were representatives from the Arc South of the James in their second annual visit to the State Capitol. The Arc South of the James came to advocate for more ID Waiver slots and to end the ID Waiver waiting list. I was pleased to meet with this large group that wanted to express their thanks and support for my budget amendment that will be providing necessary funding to ensure family members will be able to keep their loved ones at home.
Weekly Poll Question & Prior Week Results
This week’s question is on offering a tax credit for education scholarships. To take the poll, please click here. I look forward to finding out where you stand on this bill.
Last week’s question was on increasing transportation’s share of the sales tax. Sixty-nine percent of respondents support this move to increase funding for transportation while thirty-one percent oppose this move. As transportation is a core function of government, I support increasing transportation’s share of the sales tax and will vote in favor of the bill when it comes before the House of Delegates next week. I thank everyone who participated in last week’s poll.
In Closing
As we are now in Session, my General Assembly office is open and can be reached by phone at 698-1066 or by email at DelKCox@house.virginia.gov. If my staff or I can be of service to you, please don’t hesitate to contact me. If you make the trip up to the Capitol, please stop by my office in Room 948 on the 9th Floor of the General Assembly Building.
Thank you for the privilege of serving as your Delegate.
