The legislature is racing towards an important deadline, known as “crossover.” Any bill that has been introduced in either the House or the Senate must have all work on it completed by the end of the day today, so that it can “crossover” to be considered by the other part starting tomorrow. Crossover, this year, is on Wednesday, February 18.
The deadline means that a bill must have been heard in a committee, and sometimes a subcommittee. The committee must have voted to “report” the bill to the full Senate or House. Then the full body must have the bill on the calendar for three different days before a final vote. The final vote must be, of course, to pass the legislation.
Any bill that was not reported from a committee by yesterday morning is no longer viable.
The bills that were not heard in committee will be described on the legislative information system as “left in committee.”
Once crossover begins, the House and the Senate will hear proposals with patrons who are in the other body. This makes the scheduling of committee hearings very complicated, because the members are still serving on the committees in their own body, but are often called away to present a bill before the other body.
The disAbility Law Center of Virginia will be vigilant as bills make their way through the final stages of review, but we urge you to let us know if there is something we should be attending to: ga@dlcv.org.
dLCV’s mission is to advance independence, choice and self-determination; protect legal, human and civil rights; and eliminate abuse, neglect and discrimination of people with disabilities through zealous and uncompromising legal advocacy and representation. We can not do this important work alone!