Are You Paying Attention to the General Assembly?

You should be; much of what they do will affect how we live. For example:

This bill:

A BILL to amend and reenact 15.2-1129.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to arts and cultural districts.

…

A. The Cities of Alexandria, Charlottesville, Falls Church, Harrisonburg, Manassas, Petersburg, and Winchester and the Towns of Blacksburg and ChincoteagueAny locality may by ordinance establish within their its boundaries an arts and cultural district for the purpose of increasing awareness and support for the arts and culture in the locality. Each locality may provide incentives for the support and creation of arts and cultural venues in the district. Each locality may also grant tax incentives and provide certain regulatory flexibility in an arts and cultural district.

HB2161:

Local sales and use tax; additional authorized in City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Permits the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County to impose an additional sales and use tax at a rate not exceeding one percent, provided that all revenue generated from the additional tax is used solely for transit or other transportation projects.

HB2158:

Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Transit Authority. Establishes a local transportation authority in the Charlottesville-Albemarle area. The Authority shall prepare a regional transit plan for all or portions of those areas located within the City of Charlottesville and all or such portions of the Counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson as their governing bodies desire to have covered, to include, but not necessarily be limited to, transit improvements of regional significance.

HB1837:

Maximum speed limit on nonsurface treated highways for certain counties. Adds Albemarle County to the list of counties where the maximum speed limit on nonsurface treated highways (dirt roads) is 35 miles per hour.

HB1681:

A BILL to amend and reenact 32.1-176.3 and 32.1-176.5 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the construction of wells. … A. Any person intending to construct a private well shall apply to the Department for and receive a permit before proceeding with construction. The permit application shall include a site plan. No survey plat shall be required; however, the Department may suggest that a survey plat be completed. In all cases, it shall be the landowner’s responsibility to ensure that the water well is located on the landowner’s property. This permit shall be issued no later than 60 days from application and in accordance with the Board’s regulations. In addition, an inspection shall be made after construction to assure that the construction standards are met.

Track all of these and more at Richmond Sunlight.