Delegate Israel O’Quinn is once again hoping to establish a school construction fund with a piece of legislation that would create a fund to provide grants for new construction, modernization and maintenance.
In another school-related bill, O’Quinn is sponsoring legislation that would align Standards of Learning tests to federal requirements, reducing the number and types of tests students must take.
Both bills have been sent to the Education Subcommittee on SOL and SOQ.
According to the bill, the Department of Education estimates $1.8 million in savings from reducing SOLs through reduced administration costs. The legislation would eliminate SOLs in Virginia studies, civics and economics, two world history courses, world geography, Virginia history, earth science, chemistry and in eighth-grade writing.
O’Quinn is also addressing broadband this session with a bill that would require the state maintain a map of broadband provider territories and accurate accounts of speed there. Under the legislation, the map would be updated annually and be available to the public.
The House on Thursday gave first reading to a bill authorizing the governor to lease a piece of property at the Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute. Sen. Todd Pillion is sponsoring legislation in the other chamber of the General Assembly. The Senate bill was referred to Finance and Appropriations.
Pillion is also carrying a Senate bill reducing the number of SOL’s. The legislation passed the Senate Subcommittee on education and health on a 10-5 vote and was sent to Finance and Appropriations.
The senator, who represents, Wythe, Grayson, Galax and part of Smyth, has also introduced a bill that would make equal fishing rules or residents and non-residents in stocked trout waters.
