The 2021 Virginia General Assembly session is coming to a close, and with that we are getting a pretty good idea on where our legislative priorities stand in finality. Although many items haven't been completely resolved--such as those waiting on the Governor's consideration--we are pleased to announce a selection of positive outcomes in what has been a challenging year for businesses and legislators alike.
Tax Conformity
Thanks to your help and advocacy, the General Assembly has agreed to a compromise in tax conformity legislation what would allow businesses to deduct up to $100,000 in Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loans from 2020 taxable income. While total deductibility of PPP loans would have been the best possible outcome, this threshold of $100,000 will cover around 80% of Virginia businesses (and a greater percentage of smaller ones) and was the result of heavy negotiations between the House and Senate. We thank the conferees for their hard work on this legislation, as well as our regional delegation to the General Assembly for their support of our business community. This is a win, especially for small businesses.
Paid Sick Leave
Legislation seeking to impose a one-size fits all paid sick leave requirement on private employers received multiple hearings and votes this session but did not come to pass. We continue to believe that employers should be given latitude to provide leave policies that work best for their business and employees--as many already do--but this is an issue that will surely be brought up in future sessions.
New River Valley Passenger Rail
Legislation seeking to establish a passenger rail authority in the New River Valley has passed the House and Senate successfully, and now it awaits the Governor's signature. Expansion of passenger rail in our region is vital to mitigate traffic congestion—especially on I-81—as well as necessary to provide a new link to Amazon HQ2 and Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus in northern Virginia.
Broadband Expansion
A pilot program which allows utilities to assist in expanding broadband access to unserved Virginians passed the House and Senate and is now awaiting Governor Northam's signature. We were happy to support this measure and are excited by the prospect of increasing the "connectability" of our more rural regions.
Right to Work
Virginia's Right to Work law, which protects employees from being compelled to join a union as a condition of employment, was upheld once again this year. This is an important law that contributes to Virginia's status as a top state to do business, and we were pleased to see efforts to erode or eliminate this law on the state level be defeated.
Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back
Legislation establishing the G3 program has successfully passed the House and Senate in a bi-partisan fashion and is awaiting the Governor's signature. This program seeks to make community colleges more affordable for low and middle income Virginians who are seeking employment in high-demand fields. We believe this will assist in important workforce development efforts and we were glad to support.
