House Deflects Bill Aiming to Broaden Conflict of Interest

A bill that would have restricted the activities of local planning commission members was passed by indefinitely this week before it reached a full committee vote.

House Bill 405 would have expanded the part of the Virginia State Code that addressees conflict of interest, saying people who are employees or board members of organizations that lobby for or against the environment and land use could not serve as planning commission members, Inside NOVA reported.

The proposed bill said no citizen could serve on local planning commissions if they were also "a compensated employee or a compensated member of the board of a nonprofit association or organization where such organization advocates for or against the environment and land use policies or regulatory determinations of local government.”

The change would have applied to District 8, which includes the towns of Vienna, Herndon, Leesburg, Purcelville and Dumfries; Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun and Prince William Counties; and the cities of Falls Church, Fairfax, Alexandria, Manassas and Manassas Park.

The bill was initially approved 8-1 in a subcommittee meeting, but passed by indefinitely Wednesday after a "backlash" from several Prince William County leaders, Inside NOVA reported.

At Monday's town council meeting, Vienna Mayor Jane Seeman said she did not support the bill.

To read more about the bill, click here.