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Legislative Update: 2017 General Assembly Session Begins

The 45-day 2017 session of the General Assembly began on January 11. The following is a brief update on legislation that is being monitored by VLA's Legislative Committee. Click on the bill's name to learn more about the bill from Virginia's Legislative Information System.

  • HB 1876 — A bill to amend and reenact § 2.2-3705.7 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; public access to library records of minors.
    Excludes from mandatory disclosure library records that can be used to identify any library patron under the age of 18 years. The bill provides that access shall not be denied to the parent, including a noncustodial parent, or guardian of such library patron.
       The Legislative Committee does not oppose this change. Likely to pass.
  • HB 1418 — A bill to amend and reenact § 15.2-915 of the Code of Virginia, relating to control of firearms; libraries owned or operated by localities. Allows a locality to adopt an ordinance that prohibits firearms, ammunition, or components or a combination thereof in libraries owned or operated by the locality.
        Referred to the Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety; already dead.

  • HB 1787 — This would amend the code to make governing boards of public libraries not mandatory in counties organized by charter.
        The Legislative Committee does not oppose this change. Likely to pass.

  • HB 2191 — School boards; procedures; sexually explicit instructional materials or related academic activities. The Intellectual Freedom and Legislative Committees are monitoring this while coordinating with VAASL and other interested parties.
       This is likely to pass even if school and library groups oppose. Read VLA's Letter to the Honorable R. Steve Landes to hear more about the association's stance on HB 2191.

Budget-related issues

The General Assembly is still trying to bridge a $1B+ gap between revenues and budget, with pressing issues related to raises for state employees and public safety issues. The Legislative Committee has worked to have budget amendments entered to increase state aid, and the Library of Virginia has sought budget amendments to restore public service hours to six days per week, and one to recover some of the positions recently lost. These amendments will have difficult roads ahead. The Legislative Committee will continue to monitor the situation.

— Tom Shepley
VLA Legislative Committee
Jan. 14, 2017