SB 166 (Edwards) received a unanimous 14-0 vote last night in the Senate Finance Committee. SB 166 will establish a community scholarship match program for community college students in the high-demand fields of science, teaching, technology, engineering, math, and nursing. A $5 million budget Senate budget amendment accompanies the legislation, and the law does not become effective unless the General Assembly appropriates the funding. The legislation provides for a state match of up to $5 million for funds raised by each of Virginia’s 23 community colleges and the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education, beginning July 1, 2010.

Tuesday, February 16 is the deadline for all bills to pass their house of origin.  Also known as “crossover day,” the House and Senate usually go into their floor sessions early in the day and committee action should conclude today or Monday, February 15. 

Sunday, February 21 is the day expected for the House and Senate to report out their amendments to former Governor Kaine’s introduced budget. Major differences between the House and Senate center upon implementation of the approximately $2 billion in budget reductions recommended by the former governor and Kaine’s plan to eliminate the state payment to localities to reimburse them for the personal property tax on vehicles (also known as the “car tax”). Added together, this $4 billion difference should frame the focus of the House and Senate budget amendments released on February 21.

Posted by Ellen Davenport