What's happening at the state legislature?

Today, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine will meet with President Elias Antonio Saca of El Salvador at the state Capitol.

House OKs bill on RMA; Senate carries it over

A measure to give suburban Richmond a bigger say in metro affairs at Richmond's expense cleared the House yesterday, but a more ambitious version of the proposal all but died in a Senate committee.

The House of Delegates voted 55-42 to send House Bill 544, sponsored by Del. Samuel A. Nixon Jr., R-Chesterfield, to the Senate. The bill would add seats for Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover counties on the board of the Richmond Metropolitan Authority, which owns the Downtown Expressway, the Powhite Parkway and The Diamond.

It would cut Richmond's six seats to three.

Del. Jennifer L. McClellan, D-Richmond, abstained because she sits on the RMA board.

Senate Bill 767, sponsored by Sen. John Watkins, R-Powhatan, also would have given suburbs a bigger voice in the Richmond Metropolitan Authority, but in addition it would have allowed the RMA to issue bonds and collect new taxes to underwrite transportation improvements in the Richmond region.

The Senate Finance Committee carried the bill over to the 2009 General Assembly.

Bill outlawing animal fighting clears Senate

The state Senate yesterday unanimously approved a measure that would expand the law against dogfighting to include all organized animal fighting, and increase the offense to a felony charge.

Senate Bill 592, sponsored by Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City, also makes it a criminal offense to attend an animal fight, involve a minor in animal fighting or provide equipment used in animal fighting, which Norment labeled "a disgusting endeavor."

The legislation arose against the backdrop of recent legal trouble involving suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, convicted last year and sentenced to 22 months in federal prison for financing and participating in a dogfighting operation.

Senate OKs measure on immigration status

The state Senate yesterday unanimously passed a bill to restrict state or local police from asking about the immigration status of a person who reports that he is the victim of a crime or the guardian of a child who is a crime victim.

Sen. Janet D. Howell, D-Fairfax, sponsored Senate Bill 441.