Committee on Rules and Judiciary

Please be advised that the 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands Committee on Rules and Judiciary has schedule a hearing for Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on St. Thomas. The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimonies and consider the following legislative measures:

BLOCK I 10:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.

Bill No: 36-0144 An act amending title 14 Virgin Islands Code, Chapter 113 to define and prohibit assault rifles, ban suppressors and silencers, and requiring safety training for licensed rifles and shotgun holders; prohibiting large capacity magazines and preventing the illegal sales of firearms, firearm accessories and ammunition.

Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Mario Brooks, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Police Department
Honorable Gordon Rhea, Esq., Attorney General, Virgin Islands Department of Justice
Mr. Kosei Ohno, Member, VI Safe Gun Owners

BLOCK II 11:30 A.M. – 1:30 P.M.

Bill No: 36-0105 An act amending title 7 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 13, subchapter III by prohibiting the possession, sale, or manufacture of tetrahydrocannabinol acid, delta-6 THC, delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC products in the Virgin Islands and for other related purposes.

Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Mario Brooks, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Police Department
Honorable Gordon Rhea, Esq., Attorney General of the Virgin Islands Virgin Islands Department of Justice
Honorable Justa Encarnacion, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Health
Honorable H. Nathalie Hodge, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Licensing and Consume Affairs
Ms. Joanne Moorehead, Executive Director, Virgin Islands Office of Cannabis Regulation
Ms. Riise Richards, Chair, Virgin Islands Industrial Hemp Commission
Mr. Duane Howell, Executive Director, ARCH Institute
Ms. Lindsey Rithamel and Mr. Ryan Kohrig, Owners The Remedy

LUNCH 1:30 P.M. – 2:30 P.M.

BLOCK III 2:30 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.

Bill No. 36-0123 An act amending title 20 Virgin Islands Code, part II, chapter 43, subchapter I, section 493 making it unlawful for a person who has 0.04 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his blood to operate a commercial motor vehicle, and making it unlawful for a person under the age of 21 years who has any detectable amount of alcohol in his blood, to operate a motor vehicle.

Bill No. 36-0136 An act amending title 23 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 17, subchapter II by adding new sections 1331 through 1336 mandating lethal weapon training for security guards and investigators.

Bill No. 36-0099 An act amending title 34 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 15 expanding the Elder and Dependent
Adult Abuse Prevention Ac

Bill No. 36-0061 An Act amending title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 27, section 706 and chapter 28A, section 755 allowing retirees who are receiving an annuity from the Government Employees Retirement System who are subsequently employed by the University of the Virgin Islands (“UVI”), to continue to receive their GERS annuity while receiving their salary from the University if the retiree enrolls in a different retirement plan.

Bill No. 36-0058 An Act honoring and commending Dennis “Pumpa” Lennox Leroy Liburd, Jr. for his many contributions to the Virgin Islands culture and music industry as a Soca artist by awarding him the Official key to the Territory and naming the main entrance of 6-Y Peters Rest Road, Christiansted, St. Croix in his honor.

Bill No. 36-0107 A resolution honoring and commending Dr. Alfred Lee Anduze for his outstanding achievements and significant contributions to the fields of medicine, science, public health, and community empowerment.

Bill No. 36-0121 An act to rename the Peter Carl Limpricht Park the TSK Park in honor of the Ten Sleepless Knights quelbe band and making an appropriation to effectuate that change.