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ACROSS SESSIONS
- Subject Index: Since 1995
- Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
- Summaries: Since 1994
Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
2018 SESSION
Chairman: Jill Holtzman Vogel
Clerk: Hobie Lehman
Staff: Meg Lamb
Date of Meeting: January 16, 2018
Time and Place: 15 minutes after adjournment/Senate Room 3, The Capitol
Updated to add SJR 68
Patron: Petersen
Campaign finance; prohibited contributions to candidates. Prohibits any candidate from soliciting or accepting a contribution from any public service corporation, as defined in § 56-1, or any political action committee established and administered by such a corporation.
Patron: Lucas
Virginia Interim Redistricting Commission; criteria for remedial redistricting plans. Provides for the establishment of the Virginia Interim Redistricting Commission (the Commission) when any congressional or state legislative district drawn as required by Article II, Section 6 of the Constitution of Virginia is declared unlawful or unconstitutional, in whole or in part, by order of any state or federal court. The Commission is tasked with determining and submitting to the General Assembly and the Governor a redistricting plan remedying such unlawful or unconstitutional district. The bill also provides criteria by which the Commission is to draw remedial districts.
Patron: Howell
Presidential candidates; federal tax returns and state income tax returns required for ballot access. Requires any person seeking the nomination of the national political party for the office of the President or Vice President, in order to have his name appear on the primary or general election ballot, to submit to the State Board his federal tax returns and any income tax returns filed in any state from each year of the five-year period immediately preceding the general election. Any person selected by other groups not qualifying as a political party is also required to submit such returns in order to have his name printed on the general election ballot. The bill requires that such tax returns be publicly available on the Department of Elections website after certain redactions are made.
Patron: Suetterlein
Congressional and state legislative districts; compactness standard. Requires congressional and state legislative districts to be composed of compact territory, meaning districts are not to be oddly shaped or have irregular or contorted boundaries, unless justified because the district adheres to political subdivision lines. Fingers or tendrils extending from a district core are to be avoided, as are thin and elongated districts and districts with multiple core populations connected by thin strips of land or water. The bill requires the General Assembly to employ one or more standard numerical measures of individual and average district compactness to provide an objective assessment of a districting plan's compactness, both statewide and district by district.
Patron: Wexton
Voter identification; accepted forms of identification. Adds to the list of accepted forms of identification for purposes of voting a valid identification card that contains a photograph of the voter and is issued by any private entity that is licensed or certified, in whole or in part, by the State Department of Health, the Department of Social Services, the Department of Medical Assistance Services, or the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. Under current law, an employee of any such private entity is permitted to use his employee identification card for purposes of voting, provided that the card contains a photograph of the voter; the bill allows a resident or other person who receives services from such private entity to use a valid identification card issued by the private entity for purposes of voting, provided that the card contains a photograph of the voter.
Patron: Peake
Voter registration; verification of social security numbers; provisional registration status. Requires the general registrars to verify that the name, date of birth, and social security number provided by an applicant on the voter registration application match the information on file in the Social Security Administration database or other database approved by the State Board of Elections (State Board) before registering such applicant. If the information provided by the applicant does not match the information in such a database, the applicant (i) is provisionally registered to vote and notified as to what steps are needed to be fully registered to vote and (ii) is permitted to vote by provisional ballot, but such ballot shall not be counted until the voter presents certain information. The bill also requires the general registrars to verify annually no later than August 1 that the name, date of birth, and social security number in the registration record of each registered voter in the registrar's jurisdiction match the information on file with the Social Security Administration or other database approved by the State Board and, in accordance with § 24.2-429, to initiate the cancellation of the registration of any voter whose registration record information does not match the database information. The State Board is authorized to approve the use of any government database to the extent required to enable each general registrar to carry out the provisions of this measure and to promulgate rules for the use of such database. The Department of Elections is required to provide to the general registrars access to the Social Security Administration database and any other database approved by the State Board. The Department of Elections is further required to enter into any agreement with any federal or state agency to facilitate such access.
Patron: Lewis
Redistricting process. Provides a new method for the preparation of state legislative and congressional redistricting plans. The bill specifies standards for developing plans, including population equality, compactness, maintenance of cores of existing districts, and respect for locality boundaries, and precludes consideration of incumbency and political data in developing plans. The bill assigns responsibility to the Division of Legislative Services (the Division) to prepare plans for submission to the General Assembly and establishes a temporary redistricting advisory commission to advise the Division, disseminate information on plans, and hold hearings for public comment on plans. The bill provides that the General Assembly may reject the Division's plans and may ultimately amend the plans. The bill is patterned after the Iowa redistricting process.
Patron: Dance
Voter identification; repeal of photo identification requirements. Repeals the requirement that voters show a form of identification containing a photograph in order to be allowed to vote. The bill requires a voter to show either his voter registration confirmation documents; his valid Virginia driver's license, his valid United States passport, or any other identification issued by the Commonwealth, one of its political subdivisions, or the United States; any valid student identification card issued by any institution of higher education located in the Commonwealth or any private school located in the Commonwealth; any valid employee identification card containing a photograph of the voter and issued by an employer of the voter in the ordinary course of the employer's business; or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter. The bill adds language regarding requirements for certain voters pursuant to the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
Patron: Cosgrove
Certain property deemed exempt from taxation. Deems certain property owned by the Norfolk Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America to have been exempt from taxation pursuant to the 1902 Constitution of Virginia. The current Constitution provides that property exempt from taxation on the effective date of the constitutional revisions shall continue to be exempt until otherwise provided by the General Assembly.
Patron: Obenshain
Reports of registered voters and persons voting at elections. Requires local electoral boards to direct general registrars to investigate the list of registered voters whenever the number of registered voters in a county or city exceeds the population of persons age 18 or older, based on the most recent population estimate of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service of the University of Virginia. The bill also requires the local electoral boards to direct the general registrars to investigate the list of persons voting at an election whenever the number of persons voting at any election in a county or city exceeds the number of persons registered to vote in that county or city. The Department of Elections is required to provide certain data to any general registrar conducting such an investigation for the registrar's use during the investigation. The bill requires local electoral boards to make reports of the findings to the State Board and requires such reports to be made public.
Patron: Obenshain
Voter identification; electronic pollbooks to contain photographs of voters. Requires electronic pollbooks to contain the photographs of registered voters that are obtained by the general registrars in the production of voter photo identification cards or contained in a voter's Department of Motor Vehicles record. The bill also provides that if the electronic pollbook contains the voter's photograph, the officer of election is required to access that photograph and the voter is not required to present one of the statutorily required forms of identification. The bill prohibits lists of voters furnished pursuant to current law from containing any voter's photograph. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2019.
Patron: Mason
Voter referendum; independent redistricting commission. Provides for a statewide referendum on the question of whether there should be an independent redistricting commission established in Virginia for the purpose of drawing the district maps for the House of Delegates, Senate of Virginia, and congressional districts. The results would be advisory only and are intended only to demonstrate the preference of the citizens of the Commonwealth on the manner in which electoral districts are created. The referendum would be held at the November 2018 general election.
Patron: Vogel
Virginia Interim Redistricting Commission; criteria for remedial redistricting plans. Provides for the establishment of the Virginia Interim Redistricting Commission (the Commission) when any congressional or state legislative district drawn as required by Article II, Section 6 of the Constitution of Virginia is declared unlawful or unconstitutional, in whole or in part, by order of any state or federal court. The Commission is tasked with determining and submitting to the General Assembly and the Governor a redistricting plan remedying such unlawful or unconstitutional district. The bill also provides criteria by which the Commission is to draw remedial districts.
Patron: Chase
Congressional and state legislative districts. Provides criteria for the General Assembly to observe in drawing districts, including respect for political boundaries, equal population, racial and ethnic fairness, contiguity, compactness, and communities of interest. The bill prohibits use of political data or election results unless necessary to determine if racial or ethnic minorities can elect candidates of their choice.
Patron: Howell
Congressional and state legislative districts. Provides criteria for the General Assembly to observe in drawing districts, including respect for political boundaries, equal population, racial and ethnic fairness, contiguity, compactness, and communities of interest. The bill prohibits use of political data or election results unless necessary to determine if racial or ethnic minorities can elect candidates of their choice.
Patron: Sturtevant
Congressional and state legislative districts. Provides criteria for the General Assembly to observe in drawing districts, including respect for political boundaries, equal population, racial and ethnic fairness, contiguity, compactness, and communities of interest. The bill prohibits use of political data or election results unless necessary to determine if racial or ethnic minorities can elect candidates of their choice.
Patron: Ebbin
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); marriage. Proposes the repeal of the constitutional amendment dealing with marriage that was approved by referendum at the November 2006 election. That amendment to the Bill of Rights (i) defines marriage as "only a union between one man and one woman"; (ii) prohibits the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions from creating or recognizing "a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage"; and (iii) prohibits the Commonwealth or its political subdivisions from creating or recognizing "another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage." The provisions of this section of the Constitution of Virginia are no longer valid as a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. ___ (June 26, 2015).
Patron: Chase
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); qualifications of Governor and Lieutenant Governor; residency requirement. Increases from five to eight the number of years a person must have been a resident of and registered voter in the Commonwealth in order to be eligible to the office of the Governor and, by reference, the Lieutenant Governor.
Patron: Chase
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); General Assembly; term limits. Limits members of the Senate to three full terms (12 years) and members of the House of Delegates to six full terms (12 years). The limitations apply to service for both consecutive and nonconsecutive terms. Service for a partial term does not preclude serving the allowed number of full terms. The limits apply to terms of service beginning on and after the start of the 2022 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
Patron: Lucas
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); qualifications to vote; restoration of civil rights. Authorizes the General Assembly to provide by law for the restoration of civil rights for persons convicted of nonviolent felonies who have completed service of their sentences subject to the conditions, requirements, and definitions set forth in that law. The present Constitution provides for restoration of rights by the Governor; the amendment retains the right of the Governor to restore civil rights and adds an alternative for restoration of rights pursuant to law for nonviolent felons.
Patron: Ebbin
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Governor's term of office. Permits a Governor elected in 2021 and thereafter to succeed himself in office. The amendment allows two four-year terms (either in succession or not in succession) but prohibits election to a third term. Service for more than two years of a partial term counts as service for one term.
Patron: Locke
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); qualifications of voters and the right to vote. Establishes that the sole qualifications to vote in the Commonwealth are United States citizenship, being at least 18 years of age, residency in the Commonwealth, and registration to vote in accordance with requirements set out in the Constitution of Virginia. The amendment further provides that any person who meets those qualifications shall have the right to vote and such right cannot be abridged by law. The bill removes from current constitutional qualifications to vote not having been convicted of a felony and not having been adjudicated to be mentally incompetent.
Patron: Lucas
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); qualifications of voters and the right to vote. Establishes that the sole qualifications to vote in the Commonwealth are United States citizenship, being at least 18 years of age, residency in the Commonwealth, and registration to vote in accordance with requirements set out in the Constitution of Virginia. The amendment further provides that any person who meets those qualifications shall have the right to vote and such right cannot be abridged by law. The bill removes from current constitutional qualifications to vote not having been convicted of a felony and not having been adjudicated to be mentally incompetent.
Patron: Hanger
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Virginia Redistricting Commission; criteria for legislative and congressional districts. Establishes the seven-member Virginia Redistricting Commission (the Commission) to redraw congressional and General Assembly district boundaries after each decennial census. The Commission is directed to certify district plans for the General Assembly within 30 days of receipt of the new census data or by June 1 of the year following the census, whichever occurs later, and for the House of Representatives within 60 days of receipt of the census data or by July 1 of the year following the census, whichever occurs later. The amendment also establishes the standards to govern redistricting plans, which include the current constitutional standards on population equality, compactness, and contiguity and additional standards to minimize splits of localities and to prohibit consideration of incumbency and political data.
Patron: Hanger
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); qualification of voters; restoration of civil rights. Authorizes the General Assembly to provide by general law for the restoration of civil rights for any person who has been convicted of a felony not designated by the General Assembly as a barrier crime for the purpose of rights restoration and who has completed service of his sentence and paid in full any restitution, fines, costs, and fees assessed against him as a result of his conviction. The bill retains the authority of the Governor to restore the civil rights of persons convicted of felonies.
Patron: Barker
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Virginia Redistricting Commission; partisan balance of districts. Establishes the Virginia Redistricting Commission, an eight-member commission tasked with establishing the districts for the United States House of Representatives and for the Senate and the House of Delegates of the General Assembly and apportioning the members of the House of Representatives and the members of the Senate and the House of Delegates among the districts, respectively. The districts are to be drawn to reflect the voting patterns of the Commonwealth with, to the extent practicable, half of the districts more favorable than statewide totals to each of the two political parties most often receiving the most votes cast in statewide elections. The bill also provides that redistricting is to happen in 2021 and every 10 years thereafter and at no other time, unless ordered by a court.
Patron: Reeves
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Literary Fund; proceeds from forfeited property for drug offenses distributed for the purpose of promoting law enforcement. Specifies that, regarding the current provision that proceeds from the sale of forfeited property for drug offenses be paid into the state treasury and distributed for the purpose of promoting law enforcement, the purpose of promoting law enforcement shall be as defined by general law.
Patron: Deeds
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); Virginia Redistricting Commission. Establishes the Virginia Redistricting Commission to redraw congressional and General Assembly district boundaries after each decennial census. Appointments to the 13-member Commission are to be made as follows: two each by the President pro tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, the minority leader in each house, and the state chairman of each of the two political parties receiving the most votes in the prior gubernatorial election. The 12 partisan members then select the thirteenth member by a majority vote or, if they cannot agree on a selection, certify the two names receiving the most votes to the Supreme Court of Virginia, which will name the thirteenth member. The standards to govern redistricting plans include the current constitutional standards on population equality, compactness, and contiguity and additional standards to minimize splits of localities and to prohibit consideration of incumbency and political data.
Patron: Vogel
Constitutional amendment (first resolution); apportionment; criteria for electoral districts. Provides the criteria for electoral districts drawn by the General Assembly. The amendment directs that electoral districts are (i) to be composed of contiguous and compact territory, (ii) to be drawn utilizing existing political boundaries, and (iii) to be as nearly equal in population as is practicable but with variations in the size of districts permitted in order to comply with other reapportionment criteria. The amendment prohibits electoral districts being drawn for the purpose of favoring or disfavoring any political party, incumbent legislator or member of Congress, or other individual or entity. The amendment authorizes the General Assembly to provide additional standards, definitions, or guidance in order to facilitate the objective interpretation and application of such criteria.