by Jackie Nunnery
RICHMOND—Legislators in the House and Senate worked through extended sessions on their respective bills prior to the Wednesday, February 18, crossover. Now, the House and Senate will consider bills of the other chamber, leading up to the March 9 deadline for committee action.
The General Assembly also faces a budget deadline, according to the Virginia Legislative Information System, lis.virginia.gov, with a February 26 deadline looming for each chamber to take action on their respective budget proposals. The legislature is scheduled to adjourn March 14.
Fisheries
Two bills related to the menhaden reduction fishery failed to make it out of committee. House Bill 1048 would have prohibited purse seine menhaden reduction fishing in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries until research demonstrated that it did not negatively impact other fisheries or menhaden-dependent species. House Bill 1049 would have created a monthly or trimester-based quota for the harvest season.
A related bill, Senate Bill 474, would establish an Atlantic Menhaden Research Fund to be…..
