Legislation

View all of the bills that Senator Mark Herring is introducing.

The Virginia Innovation Investment Act (SB 428)
This bill is an effort to spur investment in the high-tech industry. It is a bill that will help create job opportunities in new science and technology start-up companies that locate in Virginia.

Read more on this bill
Link to the bill



Privatization of the Commonwealth's rest areas (SJ 99)
This bill directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the privatization of all or portions of the Commonwealth's rest areas. During the summer of 2009, Virginia shut down 19 interstate safety rest areas in order to save money. Privatizing all or portions of the Commonwealth's rest areas is not only a way to recover the cost of operating and maintaining them, but also a way to expand commercial activity, improve the cleanliness and attractiveness of the rest areas, help present the Commonwealth in a positive way, and perhaps generate additional revenue.

Link to the bill



The State Government Spending Accountability Act (SB 431)
This bill goes directly to Senator Herring's commitment to expand transparency and accountability in government. Citizens have a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent in Richmond. This bill would require each state agency to post their check register on their website. It also directs the Auditor of Public Accounts to conduct a review of Commonwealth Data Point, the searchable online database of state revenue and expenditure information that Virginia currently uses. Commonwealth Data Point has been a useful tool for citizens for many years but the technology it employs has become out-dated, and it is not user-friendly. Virginia should look to incorporate the best practices of other states, like Texas and Missouri, in order to be a leader in transparency and accountability.

Letter of support from Americans for Tax Reform
Link to the bill



Budget Amendment to reverse the freeze on the reformulation of the Local Composite Index (LCI)

Here is a letter to the editor that Senator Herring wrote about this issue:


The legislature will face many difficult decisions this session. One of the most important issues of concern to Loudoun County will be whether to reformulate the Local Composite Index (LCI), which determines how much education funding each locality receives from the state.

The LCI is meant to distribute money equitably, so poor districts get more school funding from the state and wealthy districts get less. Many of us in Northern Virginia have long found it unfair to shoulder such a large share of education funding. Every two years, the formula is recalculated, using updated data on enrollment, income, retail sales and real estate values. This year, for once, Loudoun stands to benefit from the reformulation because of dramatic declines in the housing market.

However, the proposed budget offered by Governor Kaine, unfortunately, includes a delay in reformulating the LCI. This proposed delay would result in Loudoun County Public Schools losing out on nearly $35 million it ought to receive. That equates to six cents on the real estate tax rate here in Loudoun. There are always winners and losers whenever the LCI is reformulated. Much of the rest of the state benefits from the delay, but it comes at an enormous cost to a handful of other jurisdictions and Loudoun is hit disproportionately hard.

I have introduced a budget amendment to reverse this proposed delay and proceed with the reformulation of the LCI.

This is a fairness issue. While there have been aspects of the LCI that many of us have felt were unfair, we have nevertheless abided by the formula and paid more than our fair share. It is patently unfair that the one time reformulation of the LCI stands to benefit Loudoun and some other Northern Virginia jurisdictions; a proposal comes forward to break with our court-tested and time-honored procedure.

I will use every effort at my disposal to secure passage of the amendment and I will support no budget that treats Loudoun County and our school children and taxpayers unfairly.

Sincerely,

Senator Mark Herring

View all of the bills that Senator Mark Herring is introducing.