Bryan vetoed four bills and approved attorney general nomination after September legislative session

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. acted on legislation passed during the 35th Legislature’s Sept. 27, 2024 regular session and on several fiscal year 2025 budget measures, according to a Government House statement published Oct. 15, 2024.

Bryan vetoed four bills: Nos. 35-0087, 35-0375, 35-0379 and 35-0381. The statement also said he vetoed budget bills Nos. 35-0375, 35-0379, 35-0380 and 35-0381.

The governor approved Bill No. 35-0272, which increased the motor vehicle rental surcharge; Bill No. 35-0303, which approved the government’s conveyance of Plot No. 25B Hill Street in Christiansted to the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority; and Bill No. 35-0339, which approved renewal and amendment agreements for government health and dental insurance coverage.

He also approved zoning measures in Bills Nos. 35-0280, 35-0302, 35-0309, 35-0321, 35-0322, 35-0324, 35-0325, 35-0327 and 35-0372.

Government House said Bryan approved fiscal year 2025 budget bills Nos. 35-0341 through 35-0366, along with 35-0373, 35-0376 and 35-0377, excluding the measures he vetoed.

The statement said Bryan acknowledged the Legislature’s favorable action on the nomination of Gordon C. Rhea as attorney general, along with nominations of Vance E. Pinney and Calford S. Martin to the Virgin Islands Coastal Zone Management Commission for St. Thomas, Martin to the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority board for St. Thomas, and Julian Penn to the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission.

Among the vetoed measures, Bill No. 35-0375 would have established a 3% money transfer fee and a Money Laundering and Electronic Transaction Enforcement Fund. Bill No. 35-0379 would have amended portions of Virgin Islands law and several prior acts. Bill No. 35-0380 would have appropriated funds from the Jeffrey Epstein and Leon Black settlements for projects and trust funds. Bill No. 35-0381 would have appropriated money to the Attorney General’s Crime Prevention/Prosecution Fund.

For Bill No. 35-0087, which would have created a Veterans Mainland Travel Revolving Fund, the statement said Bryan cited the Office of Veterans Affairs’ lack of involvement in drafting the measure and requested revisions.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-acts-on-bills-from-35th-legislatures-september-session/