Bryan approved 26 bills, vetoed four and issued one line-item veto

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. took action on 31 bills on Jan. 22, 2020, approving 26 measures, vetoing four and issuing a line-item veto on one, according to Government House.

Among the measures he signed were Bill No. 33-0143 updating the Tax Incremental Financing program; Bill No. 33-0107 allowing advertising on the sides of VITRAN buses; Bill No. 33-0119 requiring business licenses to be issued within three days and authorizing enforcement action against noncompliant license holders; Bills No. 33-0200 and 33-0201 increasing penalties for driving under the influence; and Bill No. 33-0219 creating temporary tax amnesty periods for certain income, gross receipts and property taxes tied to 2017 and 2018.

Bryan also approved measures designating May 17 as Virgin Islands Flag Day, creating a psychiatric medical doctoral scholarship, requiring monthly gross receipts filings for certain businesses, mandating labor law posters in businesses, prohibiting marriage licenses for people younger than 18, and raising the threshold for summary administration of estates from $300 to $100,000.

He signed Bill No. 33-0019 on public-school instructional hours but said in his transmittal letter that he had "grave reservations" about the measure and asked the 33rd Legislature to amend it.

Bryan vetoed Bill No. 33-0036, concerning horse-racing definitions; Bill No. 33-0236, appropriating $500,000 for the St. Croix Motor Sports Complex; Bill No. 33-0044, requiring the Taxicab Commission to establish an electronic payment system; and Bill No. 33-0095, the Virgin Islands Medicaid Program Integrity Act.

He used a line-item veto on Bill No. 33-0123, which earmarked a percentage of the Virgin Islands budget for local agriculture.

Other approved bills included measures creating a Tax Study Commission, allowing vehicle transfers upon death without probate, expanding eligibility in the Human Services pharmaceutical program, setting guidelines for the Horse Racing Commission, extending Enterprise Zone benefits deadlines, protecting National Guard members from certain civil proceedings while on active service, exempting certain properties from construction liens, requiring "Keep Left" signage and education, appropriating matching funds for the St. Croix Molasses Pier Enhancement Project, approving three Sub Base lease agreements on St. Thomas, and setting early childhood education requirements for teachers in kindergarten through third grade.

Bryan also acknowledged receipt of two resolutions and acknowledged the Legislature's overridden vetoes of Bill No. 33-0061 and Bill No. 33-0188.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-takes-action-on-31-bills/