HB 1483 (Del. Cleaveland) was considered by the full Senate Education and Health Committee yesterday. This bill would allow Roanoke City Public Schools (which does not often close due to inclement weather because school officials want to ensure that students eligible for free and reduced lunch are fed) to obtain a waiver from the Board of Education to open before Labor Day. You can read more about this bill here. When the bill was heard in subcommittee earlier this week, a representative from the Virginia Tourism Authority testified that the Governor was opposed to this bill. Interestingly, the Governor has softened his position. Before the full Committee, the representative of the Virginia Tourism Authority testified that while the Governor is opposed to generally applicable bills to change the post-Labor Day opening requirement, he was not taking a position on this particular, narrowly-drawn bill. The bill was reported out of the Committee on a vote of 10 to 5.
