Votes at a glance: Subcommittee recommends reporting on tech fee change, transparency, advisory boards and other measures

The Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee’s General Government Subcommittee recommended multiple bills for reporting to the full committee and approved committee substitutes on several items.

Key outcomes

- Local technology fee (sign-up item 725): A proposed increase from $5 to $10 was amended by committee substitute to set the fee at $8 and require local clerks to report balances to the Clerk's Association and Comp Board; the substitute was recommended for reporting.

- Guardianship/conservatorship bill: Staff reported minimal fiscal impact; the committee moved and recommended the bill for reporting.

- Electronic devices / attorney access (Sen. Celine): A bill to adjust electronic-device rules in courthouses and improve attorney access to courts and jails was amended via committee substitute; members recommended reporting.

- Economic-interest filings online (SB 530): A transparency measure requiring local officials to file statements of economic interest online was presented; staff estimated about $50,000 per year in ongoing costs and the committee recommended the bill for reporting.

- Board of Education advisory board: A committee substitute converted the measure into a Section 1 feasibility study for the Board of Education to assess creating an advisory board for African American, Asian American and Indigenous curriculum; the substitute was recommended for reporting.

- Virginia Boys and Men's Advisory Commission: The committee adopted a substitute reducing the commission to 18 members (6 citizen members, 6 senators, 6 delegates), requiring a legislative-member quorum and adding a 2029 sunset; the substitute was recommended for reporting.

What’s next: Bills recommended for reporting will move to the full committee calendar; high-cost proposals were carried over for additional drafting and possible budget-language solutions.