City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JANUARY 25, 2021
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Update on the 2021 Virginia General Assembly
BODY
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ISSUE: Update on the 2021 General Assembly Session.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council approve the legislative positions included in Attachment 1 (Recommended Positions on Bills of Impact to the City), as recommended by Council's Legislative Subcommittee (Mayor Wilson and Vice Mayor Bennett-Parker) at their January 15 and January 22, 2021 meetings.
DISCUSSION: The 2021 General Assembly Session began on Wednesday, January 13. Coming off a months-long special session, Republicans in the Senate and House of Delegates intend to keep the session to the 30-day constitutional limit on "short" legislative sessions. Typically, the legislature extends short sessions to 45 days, but any extension requires approval from two-thirds of both chambers. However, with Democrats holding the majority in each body of the General Assembly as well as the Governor's office, there are procedural options they can employ to extend the session to, or beyond, the customary 45 days.
For however many days it is in session, the General Assembly is meeting virtually. The members of the Senate, along with some Senate staff, are convening in person at the Science Museum of Virginia, and are holding committee meetings and floor session from that location. Members of the House of Delegates are convening entirely virtually, with House members participating in subcommittee meetings, committee meetings, and floor session remotely from their location of choice. In both the Senate and the House, outside participants - including lobbyists, activists, and members of the public - are joining in subcommittee meetings, committee meetings and most other meetings with members and staff electr...
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