Session starts Wednesday: Here’s a rundown, Hampton Roads

Jan. 07--Legislative sessions are like the proverbial box of chocolates: You never know what you're going to get.

What you won't get is easier to predict as legislators prepare for Wednesday's start to the 2017 General Assembly.

Medicaid expansion, which would provide health insurance to hundreds of thousands of poor Virginians courtesy of the U.S. taxpayers, remains an non-starter for the legislature's Republican majority. The same goes for tax increases, though spending cuts and other tweaks, including a debate over how quickly retailers must send in collected sales taxes, are coming to balance the state budget amid under-performing revenues.

Tax reform in general remains on the back burner, as usual, but could become a major issue in the 2017 gubernatorial race. That election will loom over the legislative session, as it does every four years.

Locally, last year's unexpected death of state Sen. John Miller led to Monty Mason's move from the House to the Senate. Del. Mike Mullin, D-Newport News, takes over Mason's seat in the House.

New U.S. Rep. Donald McEachin's ascendency to Congress opened a new leadership role for state Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, who will have a higher profile role as her party's new caucus chair.

Locke said she doesn't see much changing, but she hinted toward a harder push on some issues, including efforts to block "the dawning of the Trump agenda" as the president elect's politics trickle from D.C. to Richmond.

Locke, D-Hampton, and the Peninsula's other black legislators are keyed in on police issues this session. One bill would push law enforcement agencies to release more information to other agencies when former officers seek new jobs, particularly if the officer committed a criminal offense or generated civil lawsuits.

Another bill sets up new protocols to investigate officer-involved shootings and would require commonwealth's attorneys to release information about shootings even if they're not prosecuted. A third would specifically prohibit officers from seizing recording devices from people who aren't interfering with the officers' duties.

Del. Marcia "Cia" Price, D-Newport News, said there have been a few examples of that happening, though only a few. Locke said the bills are proactive and not meant to cast a negative light on police.

"If we can prevent a problem, let's prevent a problem," she said.

Del. Jeion Ward, D-Hampton, is hoping to teach Virginia school students what to do when they're stopped by police. She envisions best practices being laid out during driver education courses, in online public service videos and potentially being part of the state's drivers license test.

"We need to let our young children know: This is the protocol, this is what you should do," Ward said. "We want to keep the driver calm and keep law enforcement calm."

AI in HRVA?

Del. David Yancey, R-Newport News, has a big idea this session: He wants Hampton Roads to embrace artificial intelligence as a cornerstone of the future economy.

Yancey said that, in talking to people around the country, he believes virtual reality and thinking computers will become a big part of manufacturing. With research facilities such as Jefferson Labs and NASA Langley in Hampton Roads, and a Virginia Tech drone program based here along with all of the region's colleges and universities and the area's manufacturing base, "we've got a unique situation," Yancey said.

Yancey's proposal is not fully formed, but could involve tax credits, deductions and state grants drawn from a number of existing programs, including GO Virginia, a regional jobs creation program the legislature created last year.

"I think part of growing our economy is going to be predicated on big ideas," he said. "If nothing else it kick starts the conversation."

Yancey is also eyeing more incremental changes, saying he hopes to tweak existing tax credits to give businesses more incentives to bring in young people for internships and apprenticeships. The state is rewriting high school graduation requirements and making other moves to emphasize job readiness and the trades, and these changes would dovetail with that effort, Yancey said.

Judge to name

The General Assembly elects judges, and Newport News will have a Circuit Court opening in February with Judge David F. Pugh hitting the state's mandatory retirement age.

Local legislators have been meeting with candidates, but have not reached a consensus. The local bar associations have not all weighed in with their recommendations, either.

Newport News General District Court Judge Christopher R. Papile is among the candidates, which could open up his district court seat. Legislators may also rework an arrangement reached last year to have Hampton and Newport news share a district court judge, though budget concerns may mean the split stays in place.

Social issues

Bills have been filed on abortion, gay marriage, transgender bathroom usage, religious freedom and other hot-button issues, but the status quo that has kept Virginia from moving on these matters still holds.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, has one more year in office and has promised to veto any bill restricting abortion rights, as well as anything he sees as discriminatory. Republican leadership, which controls nearly a two-thirds majority in the House but not enough of the Senate to overturn vetoes, has not prioritized these issues.

They did pass a bill last year granting protections to people and businesses that don't want to recognize gay marriages pass, and that bill may pass again, and be vetoed again. McAuliffe announced an executive order Thursday that forbids the state from contracting with companies that discriminate against people who are gay or transgender, and conservatives have complained that it punishes religious beliefs.

Executive orders can be struck down by a future governor, and social issues will be part of the debate in the 2017 governor's race.

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