Bryan signed 23 bills and vetoed six from Dec. 11 Legislature session

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. took action on 29 bills from the 33rd Legislature’s Dec. 11, 2020 session on Jan. 4, 2021, signing 23 measures into law and vetoing six.

Among the measures he signed were bills providing amnesty for some property owners who enclosed space under their homes without submitting building plans, creating a tax deduction for businesses that employ people with disabilities, setting online learning requirements, and waiving penalties on certain outstanding taxes through June 30, 2021.

Bryan also signed legislation changing the composition and duties of the Commission on Aging, appropriating $900,000 for improvements to the Lorence Boynes Sr. Ferry Terminal on St. John, appropriating $1.67 million for improvements at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix, requiring the Department of Agriculture to develop a territorial agricultural plan, and extending scholarship eligibility to students in the Dual Credit Program.

He also approved rezoning measures for parcels in Estate Castle Coakley on St. Croix and Estate Honduras on St. Thomas, and ratified coastal zone management permits for the Summers End marina project on St. John and for Lovango Island Holdings I, LLP.

Bryan vetoed Bill No. 33-0004, which would have required 1% of capital improvement project costs to be spent on works of art in public buildings; Bill No. 33-0041, which would have set requirements for road and highway construction and repair; Bill No. 33-0055, concerning the Public Services Commission; Bill No. 33-0250, which would have added duties to the Department of Public Works in administering capital improvement projects; Bill No. 33-0282, which would have added two members to the Virgin Islands Sports Commission; and Bill No. 33-0364, which would have created a Virgin Islands Indigenous Tribe Identification Card.

In transmittal letters to the Legislature, Bryan said several of the vetoed measures lacked funding sources, would add costs to residents, or required further drafting.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-takes-action-on-29-bills-vetoing-six/