by Jackie Nunnery
RICHMOND—The General Assembly has been busy since it convened an abbreviated session which ends on February 22. Now that the deadline for filing bills and resolutions has passed, the next milestone is February 4, “Crossover Day,” the last day for each chamber to consider their own bills before they move to the other chamber.
Among bills of local interest, House Bill 2713, sponsored by District 64 Del. Paul Milde, would direct the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) and the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences (VIMS) to conduct a three-year study on the ecology, fishery impacts and economic importance of the Atlantic menhaden in the state waters.
If passed, the findings would be reported to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources no later than October 1, 2028. As of Monday, January 20, the bill was pending committee referral….
