The Transportation and Public Safety Subcommittee advanced two fire-related bills while tabling three others — including a proposed insurance fee increase and two new grant programs — citing fiscal constraints during an uncertain budget period.
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Delegate All Q. Askew sponsored legislation to increase hazard insurance premium fees from 1% to up to 2% to fund fire programs. An unnamed committee member moved to table it, citing an increase in insurance taxes of $116 million. The Chair stated the fiscal impact was too large and that other ways to address the funding gap would need to be found in the budget.
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“The folks in southwest Virginia are living proof that we should start this resiliency fund now and rather than waiting when we're in a good budget year.”
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Sign in to subscribeCome to order. And if the clerk could help me out, we will open with take and roll. I'm not seeing it show up yet. Kathy, the roll. There we go. If you could indicate your attendance on the roll. There we go. All right. Thank you, Clerk. We do have a quorum, so let's go ahead and begin. I do not see Delegate Sullivan here, so I will lean on Mr. Reynolds to go ahead and present the legislation and then we'll move forward from there. Yes, Mr. Chair. First up is House Bill 325 from Delegate Sullivan. This bill directs the Department of Fire Programs to develop a standardized training program for mental health awareness to be used by local fire departments across the state. The department indicates that developing the curriculum and distributing it would require a one time appropriation of $188,000. Mr. Chair, I move to report House Bill 325. All right, there's a motion to report and there's a second. If the clerk could please open the roll. Okay, this bill passes. Is Billy Wyatt here? No. Okay, this bill passes 6 to 0. And if you could please close the roll. All right. And…
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