State Chamber Director Reports on actions at the Virginia Assembly for 2012 session. Message from the Executive Director, Barry Duval

As we approach Crossover at the General Assembly, we reflect on the successes and challenges that we've faced so far during this session. Based on our 2012 Legislative Priorities, we have been monitoring legislation in key areas including economic development, business climate, education and workforce development, and transportation infrastructure. Keeping business costs low and increasing productivity is one of the most important ways to keep Virginia's business climate competitive. We have worked to uphold the Commonwealth's status as a right-to-work state with legislation such as the "Fair and Open Competition in Government Contracting Act," which passed both the House and the Senate. To attract business expansion and relocation, and to spur economic development, we have supported legislation to encourage energy development, enhance education quality and workforce training, contain costs and to make Virginia's business climate more competitive. We are also constantly monitoring legislation that could have a detrimental impact on Virginia's business climate. This week, we worked to protect Virginia's business community from Mandatory Unitary Combined Reporting requirements and the elimination of Non-compete Agreements. These issues are outlined below. We are continually working on behalf of the business community, and hope that you will use our new tools such as our "Bills We're Watching" document to stay up to date on the General Assembly To attract business expansion and relocation, and to spur economic development, we have supported legislation to encourage energy development, enhance education quality and workforce training, contain costs and to make Virginia's business climate more competitive. We are also constantly monitoring legislation that could have a detrimental impact on Virginia's business climate. This week, we worked to protect Virginia's business community from Mandatory Unitary Combined Reporting requirements and the elimination of Non-compete Agreements. These issues are outlined below. We are continually working on behalf of the business community, and hope that you will use our new tools such as our "Bills We're Watching" document to stay up to date on the General Assembly.