Governor Northam Increases Capacity Limits for Outdoor Sports and Entertainment Venues as COVID-19 Hospitalizations and Infection Rates Continue to Fall, Vaccinations Rise   Indoor capacity limits to remain in place, overnight summer camps can open May 1 with mitigation measures   RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that as COVID-19 hospitalizations and infection rates continue to decline and vaccinations rise in Virginia, certain outdoor sports and entertainment venues may begin to operate at increased capacity starting Monday, March 1. He amended Executive Order Seventy-Two with the next steps of the “Forward Virginia” plan to safely and gradually ease public health restrictions while mitigating the spread of the virus.   “Thanks to the hard work and sacrifice of all Virginians, hospitalization and positivity rates across the Commonwealth are the lowest they have been in nearly three months,” said Governor Northam. “As key health metrics show encouraging trends and we continue to ramp up our vaccination efforts, we can begin to gradually resume certain recreational activities and further reopen sectors of our economy. Even as we take steps to safely ease public health guidelines, we must all remain vigilant so we can maintain our progress—the more we stay home, mask up, and practice social…

  Please see the National Retail Federation’s announcement below on changes made by the Biden Administration to the Paycheck Protection Program, including  a 14-day period, starting February 24th, during which only businesses with fewer than 20 employees can apply for relief through the program: Yesterday, President Biden announced several reforms to the Paycheck Protection Program as a means to help the smallest businesses and those that have been left behind in previous relief efforts. The changes include: Institute a 14-day period, starting Wednesday, during which only businesses with fewer than 20 employees can apply for relief through the Program. Help sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals receive more financial support. Eliminate an exclusionary restriction that prevents small business owners with prior non-fraud felony convictions from obtaining relief through the Paycheck Protection Program. Eliminate an exclusionary restriction that prevents small business owners who are delinquent on their federal student loans from obtaining relief through the Paycheck Protection Program. Ensure access for non-citizen small business owners who are lawful U.S. residents by clarifying that they may use Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) to apply for relief.   Resource Links: Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Announces Changes to PPP Biden-Harris Administration Increases Lending to Small…

The first full week following Crossover has seen several bills acted on already. Below are the bills that have been acted on since our Crossover Report last week.   Tax Conformity   SB 1146 - Howell - Income tax, state; conformity with the Internal Revenue Code (Reported from House Finance Committee with a Substitute (conformed to House version) 13-Y 9-N) Advances Virginia’s date of conformity with the Internal Revenue Code from December 31, 2019, to December 31, 2020. The bill adds exceptions to such conformity for suspension of the overall limitation on itemized deductions and the reduction in the medical expense deduction floor for taxable year 2017 and taxable years on and after January 1, 2019, and for the provisions of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) related to the net operating loss limitation and carryback, a loss limitation applicable to taxpayers other than corporations, and the limitation on business interest. The bill contains an emergency clause.   Employer Mandates   HB 1848 - Sickles - Virginia Human Rights Acts; adds discrimination on the basis of disability. (Passed the Senate 39-Y 0-N) Adds discrimination on the basis of disability as an unlawful employment practice under the Virginia Human Rights Act. The…

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