by Dick Hall-Sizemore
The Virginia General Assembly can be efficient when it puts its mind to it.
Consider the 2024 Special Session that convened on Monday. The House convened at noon and adjourned at 3:15. The Senate stayed around a little bit longer. It convened at noon and adjourned at 3:51. (Technically, both houses actually recessed, rather than adjourned, but that was done so they could come back into session later in the year if they so desire.)
During that period of a little over three hours, both houses accomplished the following: introduced guests in the galleries, recessed so that their money committees could consider the budget bill, elected eight judges, passed a bunch of commending resolutions, and passed the budget bill.
Speaking of the budget bill, here is the legislative history of that most important piece of legislation:
Sat. May 11—Prefiled
Referred to the House Appropriations Committee
Mon. May 13—Reported from House Appropriations Committee
Read first time
Constitutional readings dispensed
Passed by House (94-6)
Constitutional reading dispensed by Senate
Referred to Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee
Reported from Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee
Read second time
Constitutional reading dispensed
Passed by Senate (39-1)
Enrolled
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President of the Senate
Signed by the Governor Continue reading