As to be expected with an uncontested bill, included in a bloc of other uncontested bills, on the very last day of the session before Crossover, HB542 was passed by the House by a 99 – 0 vote and now goes over to the Senate, where I expect it will be referred to the Courts of Justice Committee, perhaps as early as Monday at 8 a.m. As I reported earlier, this bill will make it legal to wear a mask outdoors in public places, but definitely NOT into a bank or retail establishment, as long as it is NOT with the intent to conceal one’s identity, but rather for the physical safety of the wearer. Should we get this all the way through, as I now expect, you winter time balaclava wearers should get ready to cite Section 18.2-422 of the Code of Virginia, should you ever get questioned while wearing one.
This was an excellent example of how, in this legislature, much of the heavy discussion takes place in a bill’s first stop in its originating body, and should it come out of there in good shape, it has a good chance of sailing right through.
Its shaping up as though Monday will be a big day for us, with the Mask bill on at 8 a.m. and both SB97 the 3 ft. Passing Bill & SB225 the Dooring bill on at 4 p.m. Stand by for an alert on Thursday to make some contacts to the members of the two committees.
Update: Due to having a conflicting commitment, Del. Comstock requested, and was granted, that HB82,the Don’t Follow Too Closely bill, be Passed by for the Day, so that it will be listed on the Docket of the next meeting of the Senate Trans Committee, which is Wednesday, 2/19, 45 minutes after Adjournment of the Senate.
This does not indicate that the bill is in any trouble, but is only a routine postponement.
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