Protecting your best interests from transportation to eminent domain, VAR was on the front line of all the key issues from day one of Virginia’s General Assembly session.
REALTORS® were asked very early on to help House and Senate leadership define the problems with the proposed land-use initiatives. REALTORS® provided alternatives and stopped harmful proposals, including getting several removed from the transportation bill that ultimately passed both chambers shortly before adjournment in February.
"We had an extremely successful General Assembly session," said VAR President Melanie Thompson. "We passed legislation that will better prepare us as REALTORS to deal with our clients."
The transportation bill establishes and generates funds for Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia transportation authorities, dedicates increased funds for statewide maintenance costs, authorizes bonding for construction of roads outside of Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia, enacts Virginia Department of Transportation administrative and systemic reforms, as well as land-use reforms. At press time, the transportation package was awaiting Governor Kaine's action.
"For the first time in many years, REALTORS were seen by leaders of the House and Senate as being willing to come to the table with initiatives that address issues such as transportation and the effects of congestion on homeowners' quality of life," explained Thompson.
Additionally, REALTORS® worked with legislative leaders to negotiate real estate-related funding streams for the Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia components of the transportation package and respond to the final Senate version that included a statewide grantor tax increase, which was not included in the final version of the bill.
Most importantly, REALTORS® generated significant attention for the proposal to allow interstate tolls throughout the Commonwealth. House Bill 2314 passed the House of Delegates and Senate overwhelmingly and awaited action by Governor Kaine at press time.
"Every aspect of our industry feels the effects of a failing transportation system and I am proud that REALTORS were able to take the lead in passing a meaningful bill," noted Thompson.
If transportation was the most critical issue facing the General Assembly this year, surely eminent domain reform was not far behind. In the two years since the Kelo Supreme Court decision, legislatures throughout the country have tried to identify statutory changes that will protect property owners.
REALTORS® here led a coalition to enact responsible, reasonable reform of eminent domain and have widely been viewed by members of the House of Delegates and Senate as the special interest group in the center of the eminent domain issue. As a result, REALTORS® were able to fulfill a goal of enacting appropriate reform legislation that limits eminent domain to very specific situations while protecting property owners from abuses. HB 2954, though still not perfect, awaited Governor Kaine's action at press time.
Having more than 40,000 REALTORS® on its team played a significant role in VAR’s ability to influence legislation. This year, more than 400 REALTORS® met with their legislators about issues important to the real estate industry and to real estate buyers and sellers.
In addition, several local REALTOR® association presidents signed and submitted letters to their local newspapers supporting the tolling bill.
"We've certainly broadened and effectively leveraged our influence within the General Assembly this year," said R. Scott Brunner, VAR’s chief executive officer. “Thanks to our leadership in the transportation debate, REALTORS® are now seen as a proactive organization offering common-sense solutions rather than one who always says 'no.' If you like what you saw from VAR in the 2007 session, you'll love what you will see from us in the coming months, as we seek to take our public policy message to the public and help shape public opinion," explained Brunner.
VAR legislative successes in 2007
At the outset of the 2007 General Assembly session, VAR sought the introduction of nine bills. As of the adjournment of the session, VAR had successfully championed seven of its measures.
Below is a summary of each of these measures as passed:
Licensing Legislation. HB 2064 requires that new licensees complete their mandatory 30 hours of post-license education within one year of earning their license, a reduction from the two years' time period presently allowed. In addition, it increases broker licensee continuing education from the current 16 hours to 24 hours every two-year cycle, eight hours of which must be in specific brokerage management topics (supervision, fiduciary responsibilities, etc.). You can access that bill at: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=071&typ=bil&val=hb2064
Real Estate Disclosure Legislation. HB 2011 will eliminate the full-blown disclosure and convert the current disclaimer form into a limited disclosure form containing those disclosures mandated by the General Assembly and added to the current disclaimer form in recent years. You can access that bill at: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=071&typ=bil&val=hb2011
Lead Based Paint Immunity. HB 1840 will clarify last year's legislation allowing only a summary of the lead-based paint report, not the entire report, to be provided to tenants. You can access that bill at: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=071&typ=bil&val=hb1840
POA Legislation. HB 1871 will clarify and amend the notice of cancellation provisions under the Property Owners Association Act and Condominium Association Act, to allow the use of e-mail, facsimile or other means to send and receive cancellation notices. You can access that bill at: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=071&typ=bil&val=hb1871
Fiscal Impact Statement Legislation. SB 1012 will require the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget to conduct a fiscal analysis of every proposed regulation to determine if it has a financial impact on the development of real property and to estimate the cost of any impact, so that the cost to you and your clients may be accurately forecasted and planned for. You can access that bill at: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=071&typ=bil&val=sb1012
Housing Grant Legislation. HB 2834 will increase the amount authorized for local government homeownership grants from $5,000 to $25,000 per employee. You can access that bill at: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=071&typ=bil&val=hb2834
Regional Toll Authorities Act. HB 2314 will allow the use of tolls on major highways in Virginia. You can access that bill at: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=071&typ=bil&val=hb2314