We are now one week away from the scheduled end of our 60-day legislative session.  This week was a productive week for the House of Delegates. We are finishing committee work, reviewing amendments from the Senate, and continuing to work on the budget.  As we wind down our General Assembly session, I want to update you on a few important areas.

This past week, Governor McAuliffe announced his veto of Senate Bill 21, which is identical to a House bill that would require General Assembly approval …

Dear Constituent,

Thank you for your interest in our State Government.  Thank you as well, for the honor of representing you in Richmond. I want to provide you with the results of my legislative survey and give you an update as we approach the end of our 2016 Session of the General Assembly.

Over half of the survey respondents believe that working to help create jobs and improve the economy should be our top priority. Towards that goal, we passed several measures incentivizing businesses to create new …

There are just two weeks left in the 2016 General Assembly session, but we continue at a fast pace here in Richmond. This week, the House passed a new two-year state budget. The budget is the most important work we do each year at the State Capitol.

The House produced a conservative and responsible state budget that carefully manages taxpayer resources by prioritizes saving and reducing borrowing. We also make targeted investments in our schools, colleges, and universities. The budget highlights our efforts to grow Virginia’s …

HB340 passed the Senate Agriculture Committee on a unanimous vote, after being amended.

I have never seen an issue where opponents have spread so much false information about its history, intent, or effect.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but NOT their own set of facts.  The historical facts about the definition of “Private Animal Shelter” in the Virginia Code are as follows.

Prior to 2014 there was no separate definition in the Va. Code, there was only “Animal Shelter”.  In 2014, I was the patron …

The 2016 Session of the Virginia General Assembly has reached the halfway point, known as “cross-over.”  All passed House bills will now go to the Senate for their consideration and all passed Senate bills come to the House for consideration.  Last week I gave an overview of the general session, and today I have a brief update on my personal bills.

I introduced nineteen bills this session and two House Resolutions, of those 14 have passed the House.

HB 157- Agriculture and Consumer Services, Department of; approval of …

           We are approaching the halfway point of the General Assembly Session known as “Crossover.”  Crossover is the day when each chamber must finish work on its own legislation and then may only consider legislation from the other body. This year Crossover is on Tuesday, February 16, which means that the House must complete all of its work on House bills before the end of that day while the Senate must do the same for bills that originate in the Senate. …

As we are wrapping up the fourth week of the 2016 General Assembly Session, this was a busy week in the House on an issue that I know is very important to you and your family: jobs and economic growth. 

The House is moving forward on several major pieces of legislation to foster private-sector job creation, encourage long-term economic growth, and protect small businesses. I continue to hear from constituents that these must be our top priorities. Be assured the House is committed to ensuring …

For those who have been actively following HB340, please read the update below. Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments at delborrock@house.virginia.gov.

Prior action in 2015 did not truly change the definition of a private animal shelter it simply rearranged the words in the previous definition. However, an attempt by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (oversees animal shelters) this past year to define “purpose” did not allow public input or comment.  The amendment in the nature of a substitute for HB 340 directs the VDACS to …

This week was a busy and productive one, as all are during session. I introduced three additional bills:

HB 1270 – Establishes a companion animal care advisory committee

HB 1272 – Claims; Frank and Amy Taylor

HB 1306 – Creating a voluntary listing of certain family day homes.

Seven of my bills were voted out of the House this week.   They are now being considered by the Senate.

The bills are: HB 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315 and 559.

HB 310 – Allows our mobile dental clinics to better serve …

It’s a beautiful day in the capitol, as we begin the second full week of Session, after breaking early for the Blizzard of 2016.