The Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning voted to give bill 36-0135, an act amending Title 29, V.I. Code, chapter 5, §294 to authorize an expedited, fee-based building‑permit process, a favorable recommendation and forward it to the Committee on Rules and Judiciary. The committee approved the measure by roll call, 6 yeas and 1 absence, after a daylong hearing that included testimony from the bill sponsor, developers’ representatives and the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR).

Proponents said the measure creates a transparent option for developers and could reduce delays that stall projects and jobs. “This measure is about more than bureaucracy. It's about stimulating economic development in The Virgin Islands, getting projects off the ground, creating jobs, and helping communities grow responsibly and efficiently,” Senator Kenneth L. Gittens, sponsor of the bill, told the committee.

DPNR acknowledged the concept but stressed the agency needs staff and clearer legislative details before it can safely implement an expedited track. "DPNR is not opposed to creating a process by which an application can be reviewed expeditiously for a fee," Commissioner Jean Pierre Oriel said, but he told senators the draft lacks timelines, fee details, a funding source for extra staff and an effective date. He warned the department could lose key permit staff next spring unless the legislature addresses a pending funding shortfall.

Committee members pressed for more detail on safeguards for small contractors and residents, fee formulas, caps on how many expedited requests can be opened at once, and consumer protections if the authority fails to meet expedited deadlines. Several senators, including Kurt A. VLA and Nobel E. Francis, proposed amendments discussed at the hearing: letting the commissioner propose specific timeframes and fee schedules, allowing DPNR to contract reviewers or retirees to do expedited work and requiring a partial payment system (application fee/plan-review fee plus a percentage of the estimated permit fee) rather than full payment up front.

Carlton Dow, executive director of the Virgin Islands Port Authority, told the committee the Port Authority uses a similar federal expedited‑review model on major projects — paying qualified reviewers to prioritize a single project — and said it can be an effective approach without weakening environmental or safety standards. "Time is money," he said, describing large infrastructure projects that benefit from shorter review windows.

After questions, Senator Kurt A. VLA moved the committee recommendation; Senator Clifford A. Joseph Sr. and Senator Duane M. De Graaf seconded. Roll‑call votes recorded as yes for Senators Angelia L. Bocas Jr., Duane M. De Graaf, Marisi (Maris) C. James (chair), Clifford A. Joseph Sr., Milton E. Potter and Kurt A. VLA; Senator Hubert L. Frederick was recorded as excused. The committee minute states the measure will be forwarded to Rules and Judiciary for further consideration.

What happens next: the bill will be refined with amendments the committee discussed — including clearer fee rules, timelines set or proposed by DPNR, language addressing refunds or partial refunds if agreed expedited times are not met, and explicit direction about how fees are to be used. The committee and DPNR said they will address permit‑staff funding during the budget process to avoid a staffing cliff in March 2026.

Votes at a glance: Bill 36‑0135 (amend Title 29 V.I. Code §294, expedited permits)
Motion: Favorable recommendation to Committee on Rules and Judiciary; moved by Senator Kurt A. VLA; seconded by Senator Clifford A. Joseph Sr. and Senator Duane M. De Graaf.
Outcome: Approved by roll call, 6 yeas, 1 excused.

The committee recorded substantive commitments: DPNR will deliver recommended timelines, suggested fee multipliers or percentages, and draft language to protect smaller homeowners and ensure fees are used to support permitting operations. The sponsor and committee members said they will work with DPNR and the Finance chair on a supplemental funding request needed to retain permit staff through March 2026 so the department can realistically operate an expedited review option.