HB 2313 (Virginia 2013)

HB 2313 (Virginia 2013)
Bill	HB 2313
Jurisdiction	Commonwealth of Virginia
Year	2013
Sponsor	Hon. Philip A. "Tag" Greason
Status	Enacted
Effective	2013-07-01

HB 2313 (Virginia 2013) was a comprehensive transportation funding and tax reform measure enacted by the Virginia General Assembly during the 2013 legislative session and signed by Governor Bob McDonnell. The law altered revenue sources for state and regional transportation, revised distributions to the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Commonwealth Transportation Board, and created new frameworks for regional project delivery involving entities such as the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission. It intersected with debates involving figures and institutions like Terry McAuliffe, the Republican Party (United States), the Democratic Party (United States), and advocacy organizations such as the AAA (American Automobile Association) and the American Public Transportation Association.

Background and Legislative Context

HB 2313 emerged amid long-standing debates over funding for the Interstate Highway System, U.S. Route 58, and metropolitan networks in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. Prior attempts to address maintenance and capacity — including initiatives tied to the Virginia Beach waterfront, the Capital Beltway (I-495), and the Port of Virginia expansion — had stalled in the Virginia General Assembly and at public forums involving stakeholders like the Chamber of Commerce of the United States and the Transportation Research Board. Nationally visible infrastructure debates at the time referenced precedents in states such as Texas and California, and legislative models from the Federal Highway Administration era influenced Virginia lawmakers.

Provisions of HB 2313

The act raised and redirected revenues through modifications to state taxes and fees, altering statutes administered by the Department of Motor Vehicles (Virginia), the Virginia Department of Taxation, and the Virginia Port Authority. It increased the statewide retail sales and use tax allocation for transportation, adjusted the motor fuels tax structure including provisions tied to wholesale and retail operations, and imposed regional sales tax surcharges authorized for entities such as the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission. The bill authorized transfers to the Transportation Trust Fund, revised the roles of the Commonwealth Transportation Board and the Virginia Toll Road frameworks, and included mechanisms for public–private partnerships similar to arrangements used by the Indiana Toll Road concession and projects overseen by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Fiscal Impact and Funding Mechanisms

Analyses by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission and fiscal staff of the House Appropriations Committee (Virginia) estimated multi-year revenue increases through adjustments to sales taxes, diesel fuel taxes, and vehicle registration fees. The statute created dedicated revenue streams to service debt instruments, fund capital projects at the Norfolk International Terminal, and support transit operations by agencies such as the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and the Hampton Roads Transit. Economic forecasts cited comparative data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and referenced cost-benefit frameworks used by the Congressional Budget Office for transportation investments and maintenance backlogs.

Legislative Process and Enactment

HB 2313 advanced through committee review in the House of Delegates (Virginia) and companion consideration in the Senate of Virginia, with floor votes shaped by caucuses including the Republican Caucus (Virginia General Assembly) and the Democratic Caucus (Virginia General Assembly). Key legislative amendments negotiated with stakeholders mirrored procedural precedents from bills like the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act discussions. Governor Bob McDonnell signed the bill amid public remarks referencing partnerships with localities such as Fairfax County and Norfolk. The legislative process saw engagement from municipal executives such as the Mayor of Virginia Beach and regional planning bodies like the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

Implementation and Transportation Projects

Following enactment, funds were allocated for projects including corridor improvements on Interstate 95 (Virginia), capacity projects in Prince William County, and port expansion at the Port of Virginia (Norfolk). Regional authorities — the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission — advanced capital programs for arterial improvements, tolling studies, and transit enhancements involving contractors and consultants with experience on projects like the Big Dig and the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement. Implementation required coordination among the Virginia Department of Transportation, metropolitan planning organizations such as HRTPO (Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization), and federal agencies including the Federal Transit Administration.

Political Debate and Public Response

Debate over HB 2313 involved advocacy groups like the League of Women Voters of Virginia, the Virginia Trucking Association, and environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club Virginia chapter. Critics referenced taxation precedents from the Tax Foundation and opponents invoked ballot-access campaigns similar to those in California Proposition contests. Supporters argued parallels to investment strategies used by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and cited endorsements from regional business groups including the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Public forums, editorial boards at outlets like the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and hearings in venues such as the Virginia State Capitol framed the law as a test case for state-led infrastructure finance.

Subsequent Amendments and Legacy

In subsequent sessions, the Virginia General Assembly considered adjustments to revenue allocations, tolling authority expansions, and project prioritization, reflecting precedents from legislative revisions like the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act and state reforms in North Carolina and Georgia. HB 2313’s legacy includes reshaping regional fiscal capacity for transportation investment, influencing later administrations — including governors Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam — and prompting continued litigation and policy discussions involving entities such as the Commonwealth Transportation Board and local governments like Chesapeake, Virginia. The act remains a reference point in debates over sustainable funding models for major infrastructure in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Category:Virginia statutes