2015 Session Recap Part I

As reported here and elsewhere, the 2015 Session was less confrontational than the last.  Much was accomplished with many of us working hard on those issues on which we agreed, rather than those that pulled factions apart.  Issues that dealt with gun control, drug legalization, and such issues were introduced but were generally dealt with by up or down votes without long debates on issues members knew how they were going to vote.

Some issues that might be of interest to you are as follows.

Agriculture Committee

The Tobacco Commission was created fifteen years ago to assist Southern and Southwest Virginia to recover from the loss of the tobacco quota system.  This year, we updated it to better relate to today’s economics and to the policies that we have adopted internally over the last few years.  The Commission will still maintain its focus on growing area businesses and attracting new opportunities.  In addition, we are focusing on training for skills needed in today’s job market and assisting with the infrastructure needed for communities to attract business.

Legislation passed allowing farmers to grow industrial hemp for such things as rope production.  Fear of illegal drug use in the first half of the last century resulted in laws preventing the cultivation of hemp because it is in the same family as marijuana without the properties needed to create drugs.  Some claim this will have an impact in agricultural communities, however, with no existing market it will take years before it will add any significant impact.

     There was successful legislation that removes the requirement that the Department of Agriculture inspect those food products with fresh milk produced in home kitchens if it is labeled as such and is sold to use and not for resale.

General Laws and
Technology Committee

     The biggest issue in the General Laws Committee was an update of the procurement policy for state and local government.  While this legislation attracted little public attention, it does hold the opportunity to save taxpayers at the state and local levels.

The issue that created the most headlines was the state song.  Some would have preferred an updated version of “Carry Me Back to Old Virginia,” but there was not enough support for that.  Two competing songs were offered.  In the end, the agreed upon settlement was to have more than one as many states do.  One, expected to be used in more formal settings, is “Our Great Virginia” to the tune of the song “Oh Shenandoah”.  The second, expected to be used at other settings, is “Sweet Virginia Breeze”.  This song, written and performed by a Richmond band a generation ago, made the national charts at the time.

Horse racing created passion within a sector of the population.  Last year, Virginia’s only licensed horse track that permits legal betting went to war with the owners of the horses.  The issue at hand was that the New Kent track wanted fewer races with better known horses that would attract bettors from across the nation.  To get these horse races is more expensive than races that don’t have the big name horses.  Their differences led to the closure of the track much of 2014.  After much negotiation, the two sides agreed to modify the terms of their state approved contract. Both sides had to give some to reach this agreement.  Therefore, racing will return to Virginia.

We love to hear from you!  You can contact us at Sen.Ruff@verizon.net, 434-374-5129, or Post Office Box 332, Clarksville, VA  23927.