Though Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine has not decided the fate of the gigantic transportation funding bill or any other controversial measure approved during the General Assembly session, he has signed several dozen less-contentious measures into law this month.
The proposals ranged from a so-called Truth in Music Bill to sales-tax holidays to more mundane legalistic measures. The new laws all take effect July 1.
The Truth in Music Bill, sponsored by Springfield Republican Del. David Albo, tries to ensure that fans of older music groups are not tricked into buying tickets to a concert by impostors. It is part of a national effort to protect older performers, especially those from the 1950s and 1960s, from having their musical identities stolen. Under the law, a group could only use the name of a well-known band, such as the Coasters or the Platters, if at least one original member of the band is scheduled to perform.
“It helps prevent consumers from being duped out of money and protects musical pioneers from being cheated out of fair compensation — and applause,” Kaine spokesman Kevin Hall said.
Two other bills signed by the governor would encourage Virginians to buy environmentally friendly products. One suspends the sales tax for the first weekend in October on purchases of energy-efficient appliances, and another exempts heating stoves that use alternative energy from the state sales tax for five years.
“We should do all we can to provide reasonable incentives for families and businesses to conserve energy,” Hall said.
Also among the bills Kaine signed into law are measures requiring elected officials to leave office if convicted of a sexual offense, allowing school buses to travel at 60 mph if the posted speed limit is faster than 55 mph and telling the commonwealth’s top education and health officials to team up to reduce childhood obesity.
