This week in county government; New state laws take effect; VDH issues HAB advisory for part of Lake Anna; Roundup of recent board appointments
Engage Louisa is a nonpartisan newsletter that keeps folks informed about Louisa County government. We believe our community is stronger and our government serves us better when we increase transparency, accessibility, and engagement.
This week in county government: public meetings, July 3 through July 8
For the latest information on county meetings including public meetings of boards, commissions, authorities, work groups, and internal county committees, click here. (Note: Louisa County frequently schedules internal committee/work group meetings after publication time. Check the county’s website for the most updated information).
Note: County offices are closed on Monday, July 3, and Tuesday, July 4, and the Board of Supervisors meets only once in July (Monday, July 17), so this is a light week in county government.
Wednesday, July 5
Commission on Aging, Betty Queen Center, 522 Industrial Drive, Louisa, 10 am.
Additional information about Louisa County’s upcoming public meetings is available here.
Interested in taking your talents to one of the county’s numerous boards and commissions? Find out more here including which boards have vacancies and how to apply.
New state laws take effect
July 1 marked the start of a new year for state government, ushering in hundreds of new state laws.
Divided government has gripped Richmond for the past two legislative cycles, stymying some of the biggest proposed policy changes. But Democrats and Republicans in the General Assembly managed to find common ground on some issues, from tax breaks for gun safe purchases to an expanded “move over” law for some Virginia highways.
Here’s a look at a dozen noteworthy new laws that took effect on Saturday. For more information on new state laws, check out the Virginia Public Access Project’s roundup here.
Expanded “move over” law (HB1932/SB982): Motorists traveling along Virginia’s four-lane highways are now required to change lanes or slow down, when possible, for stationary vehicles pulled to the side of the road when those vehicles have hazard lights on, display caution signs, or are marked with properly lit flames or torches. The new state law expands an existing law that requires motorists to move over or slow down for emergency vehicles. Carried by Del. Chris Runion (R) in the House of Delegates and Sen. Dave Marsden (D) in the Senate, the legislation unanimously cleared the legislature’s lower chamber while passing the upper chamber, 34-6.
Tax credit for gun safety devices (HB2387): Democrats and Republicans couldn’t find much common ground on bills aimed at reforming the state’s gun laws, but they did manage to agree on a new law that provides tax breaks for purchases of gun safety devices.
Under the bipartisan legislation, Virginians who buy gun safes or other lockable containers from federally-licensed firearms dealers are eligible for an up to $300 non-refundable tax credit. The Virginia Department of Taxation can issue up to $5 million in credits annually through 2027.
Sponsored by Del. Alfonso Lopez, a Northern Virginia Democrat, the bill passed the Senate without opposition and cleared the House, 96 to 4. The legislation was backed by both the National Rifle Association and Everytown for Gun Safety, an organization that advocates for tightening restrictions on guns.
Cracking down on fake emergency calls (HB1572/SB1291): In an effort to crack down on swatting—false emergency calls aimed at drawing a response from law enforcement—legislators passed a new law that makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor to intentionally report a false emergency to any emergency personnel if the report results in an emergency response. The law includes escalating penalties if someone is seriously hurt or killed during the response.
Republican Wendell Walker carried the legislation in the House while Democrat Creigh Deeds sponsored it in the Senate. It passed the legislature’s lower chamber 92 to 6 and won unanimous support in the upper chamber.
Deeds, who will run in a newly drawn district this fall that includes western Louisa County, pointed to the trauma that can result from fake emergency calls as a reason for carrying the bill.
“I had a middle school child in Charlottesville that came to me and was basically crying in my office,” Deeds said during a committee hearing, according to Virginia Mercury. “She was in a closet with a bunch of other students. The school had been called that there was an active shooter there, but there wasn’t an active shooter there.”
Universal occupational licensing (SB1213/HB2180): A new state law makes it easier for barbers, interior designers, home improvement contractors and other professionals with out of state licenses to work in Virginia.
The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Ryan McDougle (R) and Del. Will Morefield (R), creates universal license recognition for 85 occupations licensed by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). That essentially means a barber licensed in Maryland can move to Virginia and work without having to clear Virginia’s licensing requirements.
The barber would be required to have an equivalent license or certification in another state and work experience for at least three years in addition to meeting other standards. The legislation doesn’t apply to more strictly regulated professions like psychologists, doctors, architects and engineers.
Governor Glenn Youngkin praised the legislation, calling it “a major victory for the Commonwealth as we continue growing Virginia’s workforce.”
Online age verification for adult entertainment sites (SB1515): This law essentially requires pornography websites to verify that a user is at least 18 years old prior to allowing access to the site. Sites can ask visitors to submit a copy of their government-issued ID or use another age verification technology. Adult entertainment websites that knowingly or intentionally publish or distribute online material harmful to minors, as defined in the law, and that don’t take reasonable steps to verify a visitor’s age can be subject to civil action.
The legislation’s sponsor, Sen. Bill Stanley (R), told Virginia Mercury in March that his bill aims to address the “epidemic” of childhood exposure to pornography.
While the legislation passed with solid bipartisan support—it cleared the House unanimously and only two lawmakers opposed it in the Senate—it met strong resistance from some in the adult entertainment industry who argued that the law isn’t an effective way to police online activity and puts users’ privacy at risk. The popular adult entertainment website, Pornhub, announced last week that it would block people in Virginia from accessing its site because of the law.
FOIA fees (HB2007): Virginia will bring a little more transparency to how government entities determine charges for public records requests.
A new state law requires public bodies to post on their website or publish a written policy explaining how they assess charges for Freedom of Information Act requests and noting the current fee charged, if any, for accessing and searching for public records. Carried by Del. Danica Roem (D), a former reporter, the legislation passed the House and Senate with unanimous support.
Banning foreign adversaries from buying farmland (SB1438/HB2325): Under legislation carried by Republicans in the House and Senate, China and other “foreign adversaries,” are barred from buying farmland in Virginia. Besides the Chinese government, the list of foreign adversaries, as defined in the law, currently includes Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and Venezuelan politician Nicolás Maduro.
The law also directs the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) to submit to the governor and General Assembly an annual report detailing agricultural land under foreign ownership.
The legislation was strongly backed by Governor Glenn Youngkin, who warned in his State of the Commonwealth address in January of the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party. The bill’s patron in the Senate, Richard Stuart (R), said that he’s concerned about Chinese interests buying farmland adjacent to military installations.
At least some legislators on both sides of the aisle seemed to share Youngkin and Stuart’s concerns. The bill cleared the House, 67-30, and the Senate, 23-16.
A recent report from VDACS suggests that foreign adversaries haven’t bought much farmland in Virginia. Chinese firms own about 13,890 acres of agricultural land in the commonwealth with the most recent purchase coming a decade ago. Much of that land was acquired when the Hong Kong firm, WH Group, purchased Smithfield Foods in a $4.72 billion deal that included five pig farms in Southside Virginia, according to the The Richmond Times-Dispatch. Iranians own a pair of farms in northern Virginia, per the VDACS report.
Ban on blue headlights (SB855): Blue headlights are no longer allowed in Virginia.
Under newly enacted legislation, after-market modifications that make headlights appear light blue are prohibited on motor vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds, scooters, and other motorized devices.
The legislation’s patron, Sen. Lionel Spruill, said he carried the bill to help alleviate driver “discomfort” caused by glare from the headlights at night. The legislation passed the General Assembly’s upper and lower chambers with limited opposition. Del. John McGuire, who represents Louisa County in the House of Delegates, was one of 11 House members to oppose the bill.
Witness requirement for absentee ballots removed (HB1948): Voters who cast an absentee ballot are no longer required to obtain a witness signature. Instead, they must provide the last four digits of their social security number and date of birth. Voters who were never issued a social security number are permitted to use the unique identifier assigned to them in the state’s voter registration system. The legislation, carried by Republican Robert Bloxom, passed with unanimous support in the Republican-controlled House while four Democrats opposed it in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Recognizing Green Book historic sites (HB1968): During the Jim Crow era, Black Americans relied on Victor Hugo Green’s “The Negro Motorist Green Book” for a list of hotels, guest houses, service stations, drug stores, taverns, barbershops and restaurants that it was safe to visit when traveling through segregated parts of the country.
A newly enacted Virginia law permits the Department of Historic Resources, in cooperation with the Virginia Tourism Association and the Virginia Department of Transportation, to recognize Green Book sites in Virginia with historic markers. The bill’s patron, Democrat Mike Mullin, said that there were 315 known Green Book sites in Virginia and about 60 could garner recognition, according to Virginia Mercury.
The Green Book has gained renewed notoriety in recent years in the wake of the 2018 film “Green Book,” which chronicled the travels of Black pianist Don Shirley and his white driver through the deep south in the early 1960s.
Jury duty allowance increase (HB2317/SB789): Citizens serving on juries in the Commonwealth of Virginia will see their compensation jump starting July 1. Under the new law, Virginia jurors will receive $50 a day up from the $30 stipend the state previously paid. The legislation, patroned by Del. Angela Williams Graves (D) and Sen. Lionel Spruill (D), passed the House and Senate without opposition.
Official state pony (HB1951/SB1478): Virginia now has an official state pony: the Chincoteague pony.
Made famous by Marguerite Henry’s children’s book, Misty of Chincoteague, the pony has long been celebrated on Virginia’s eastern shore and beyond. An annual pony swim draws thousands of visitors to Chincoteague each July. Thanks to legislation carried by Democrat and Republican legislators from Accomack County, the pony has now earned official statewide recognition.
While the legislation passed with overwhelming support, it met some resistance from the southwest Virginia delegation, at least one of whom mentioned recognizing the wild ponies of the Grayson Highlands.
VDH issues HAB advisory for part of Lake Anna
Harmful Algal Bloom warnings are back at Lake Anna just ahead of the July 4th holiday.
The Virginia Department of Health last week issued an HAB advisory for the Upper Pamunkey branch of the lake in Orange and Spotsylvania counties after testing found high concentrations of cyanobacteria that can be detrimental to human health and harmful to wildlife and pets. The area under the advisory stretches from “the upper inundated waters of Pamunkey Branch to Runnymede Park,” according to a VDH press release (see map below).
The public is advised to avoid direct contact with this specific area of the lake until algae concentrations return to acceptable levels. The advisory warns people and pets to avoid activities that may involve ingesting water like swimming, windsurfing and standup paddle boarding. In humans, toxins produced by cyanobacteria can cause skin rash and gastrointestinal illness including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Tests conducted on June 26 found unsafe levels of cyanobacteria at only one of seven test sites. Toxins were identified at several other locations but were at acceptable levels, per VDH. The next round of monitoring is scheduled for the third week of July, weather permitting.
While the advisory is the first VDH warning for Lake Anna this summer, this is the sixth consecutive year that the blooms have disrupted the peak tourist season at the lake. VDH has issued “no swim” advisories for parts of the lake’s upper end every summer since 2018. Last year, the advisories reached as far south as the Route 208 bridge and, for several weeks, encompassed the main beach at Lake Anna State Park.
The persistence of the blooms has alarmed local and state officials and, last August, prompted the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to place the lake on its list of impaired waterways. The designation potentially opens the door to increased state action to address the blooms.
Even before DEQ’s designation, members of the Louisa County Board of Supervisors and grassroots activists with the Lake Anna Civic Association had urged state lawmakers to direct resources to the lake to support both short-term tactics to control HAB and long-term mitigation strategies. In a meeting with legislators, Board Chair Duane Adams called the lake “a tremendous economic engine” and warned of the blooms’ impact on the local economy if they drive away tourists.
Those lobbying efforts bore some fruit last year when lawmakers included in the biennial state budget $3.5 million to study HAB in the Shenandoah River and at Lake Anna. DEQ launched its lake-specific HAB study earlier this year with the goal of developing a watershed plan over the next three years aimed at limiting the blooms.
While the exact cause of HAB at Lake Anna is complex, the blooms’ growth is generally attributed to excess nutrients, like phosphorus and nitrogen, in warm, stagnant water. The first phase of the DEQ study includes extensive data collection to determine exactly what sorts of algal species are present and identification of pollutants contributing to the blooms as well as other causal factors, a representative of the department told supervisors in December. After that, the study will focus on developing predicative models for early detection, identifying management approaches, and working with stakeholders to develop the watershed plan.
Help could also be on the way for more immediate efforts to stymie the blooms’ growth, pending the General Assembly’s approval of a package of amendments to the state budget. A spending bill passed by the House of Delegate earlier this year directs $1 million to the Department of Conservation and Recreation “to support cyanobacteria mitigation and remediation efforts at Lake Anna" while the Senate budget bill calls for $500,000, according to the state budget website.
But those proposals are caught up in a larger battle over the budget that centers on how to use a billion dollars in state revenue. Republicans are pushing for tax cuts while Democrats advocate for more money for schools and behavioral health services. Governor Glenn Youngkin could call the legislature back to Richmond for a special session later this summer to hammer out a final budget deal.
Beyond state aid, LACA has led local, grassroots efforts to mitigate and remediate the blooms. Through its Kick the HAB fundraising campaign, the organization started a pilot treatment program last summer deploying a product called Lake Guard Oxy at four test sites. The product has been used to combat algae and cyanobacteria in other waterways.
This summer, according to its website, LACA is expanding its program to implement other technologies including ultrasound mitigation capabilities in three test locations and a phosphorous reduction capability at one other location. The goal, LACA says, is “to maintain cyanobacteria levels at or below pre-treatment levels in those four areas for the 2023 recreational season.”
So far, the organization has raised more than $23,000 of its $50,000 goal to fund the program. To learn more about LACA’s efforts and to donate, click here.
HAB is a growing problem in freshwater bodies around the state. Already this summer, VDH has issued “no swim” advisories for part of Smith Mountain Lake in southwest Virginia because of the blooms and, last week, Albemarle County prohibited swimming at Mint Springs Valley Park.
Roundup of recent board appointments
The Louisa County Board of Supervisors appoints citizens and county officials to several dozen boards and committees, which inform policy decisions and oversee the operation of publicly-funded institutions, among other duties. These boards and committees often garner little attention but play a key role in local government administration. Below is a roundup of the board’s appointments from November 2022 through June 2023.
The board reappointed Stephen Wunsh to the Region Ten Community Services Board as a Louisa County Representative.
The board reappointed Supervisor Willie Gentry to the Jefferson Area Board for Aging board of directors as a BOS representative.
The board reappointed Alayna Whitlock to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee as an at-large member.
The board reappointed Sergeant Nathan Harris to the Transportation & Safety Commission as an at-large member.
The board reappointed Chrissie McCotter to the Human Services Advisory Board.
The board reappointed Gail Weber to the Human Services Advisory Board.
The board reappointed Tom Filer to the Louisa County Water Authority.
The board reappointed Supervisor Eric Purcell to the James River Water Authority.
The board recommended reappointment of Joe Leslie to the Board of Zoning Appeals.*
The board recommended reappointment of Juanita Jo Matkins to the Board of Zoning Appeals.*
The board recommended reappointment of Sanders Wyatt to the Board of Zoning Appeals.*
The board appointed Byron Wilson to the Louisa County Water Authority.
The board appointed Charles “Charlie” Fawcett to the Community Policy Management Team.
The board appointed Supervisor Rachel Jones to the Chamber of Commerce board.
The board appointed George Burkett to the Human Services Advisory Board.
The board appointed James Kean to the Ag/Forestal and Rural Preservation Committee.
The board appointed Billy Wayson to the Ag/Forestal and Rural Preservation Committee.
The board appointed Tammy Rogers to the Commission on Aging.
The board appointed Brandy Polanowski to the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library Board of Trustees to represent Louisa County.
*Appointments to the Board of Zoning Appeals are subject to circuit court approval.
Click here for contact information for the Louisa County Board of Supervisors.
Find agendas and minutes from previous Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission meetings as well as archived recordings here.
Click here for contact information for the Louisa County School Board.
Click here for minutes and agendas for School Board meetings.
Click here to access past editions of Engage Louisa.