Virginia Senate Bill SB822

Virginia 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 12/20/22
• Refer: 12/20/22
• Report Pass: 1/23/23
• Engrossed: 1/25/23
• Refer: 2/8/23
• Report Pass: 2/10/23
• Enrolled: 2/20/23
• Chaptered: 3/21/23
• Passed: 3/21/23

Caption

Newport News, City of; amending charter, alters certain advertising requirements.

Impact

The bill's impact on state laws revolves around enhancing the authority of local governments to manage their real estate assets more effectively. By modifying the advertising requirements, the bill aims to reduce any bureaucratic delays that may have previously hindered the city from acting promptly on real property transactions. This could potentially lead to more efficient use of municipal resources and the handling of public assets, particularly in the context of waterworks operations.

Summary

SB822 amends the charter of Newport News, Virginia, specifically altering the advertising requirements for the sale, lease, or other disposition of real property owned by the city's waterworks system. The bill allows the city to sell or lease its real property after providing descriptive notice of the ordinance intending to do so in a local newspaper for two consecutive weeks. This change is designed to streamline the process for the city's municipal government in managing its property assets associated with public utilities.

Sentiment

General sentiment towards SB822 seems to be supportive, particularly among local government officials and stakeholders who recognize the necessity for municipalities to have responsive mechanisms for property management. The change is perceived as a positive step towards local governance adaptability, ensuring that cities can manage their infrastructure and resources in a manner that reflects the current needs and demands of the community.

Contention

While there does not appear to be significant public opposition to SB822 as indicated by the unanimous voting history, the specifics of the legislative discussions may reveal nuances regarding concerns over transparency and community awareness. Critics may argue that even minor changes to advertising requirements could lead to lesser public engagement or knowledge about the management of valuable public assets, thus warranting continued monitoring of how this law is implemented in practice.