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Panel adopts bill allowing local revenue officials to designee on agricultural and forestry advisory committees
Summary
HB 292, sponsored by Delegate Anderson and requested by New Kent County, was reported out after testimony saying the bill simply lets the commissioner of revenue or chief assessing officer send a designee to attend agricultural and forestry district advisory committee meetings.
The subcommittee voted to report HB 292, legislation requested by New Kent County that clarifies local flexibility for agricultural and forest district advisory committees to accept a designee from the commissioner of the revenue or the chief assessing officer.
Delegate Anderson, the patron, said the change preserves the existing advisory committee structure while allowing local officials to send a representative from their office when the official cannot attend. "It simply allows for local officials to send a designee from their office," Anderson said, and he told the panel he was not aware of opposition.
Committee members asked whether a designee would need particular qualifications and Anderson replied the choice is at the discretion of the office; he emphasized that any advisory committee recommendation still goes to the full planning commission for final action.
Kyle Elliott of Capital Square Strategies testified on behalf of New Kent County, saying the measure is a "common-sense clarification" that helps ensure quorums and provides local expertise. Jim Riddell, chair of the Louisa County Ag and Forestry Districts Committee, described committee makeup and called the bill an efficiency measure. Trey Davis of the Virginia Agribusiness Council also testified in support and said much of the practice likely occurs already.
The subcommittee moved to adopt HB 292 and reported it to the full committee by a vote of 11 to nothing.
