The Committee of the Whole/Regular Session

REGULAR SESSION – OFFICIAL AGENDA – REVISED II

Date:                          Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Time:                           10:00 A.M.

Location:                    Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall

Call to Order:               Honorable Milton E. Potter, Senate President, 36^th Legislature

Anthems:                       National Anthem and Virgin Islands March

Invocation:                     Reverend Charles L. Brown, Jr., Chaplain

Roll Call:                       Honorable Avery L. Lewis, Legislative Secretary

Committee Reports: Waived

Special Orders/Overrides:

         Special Orders – waived

Overrides: Bill No. 36-0227 (overridden 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

*Incorrect Bill No.

                          Bill No. 36-0057 (overridden 9/17/2025 – 14 YEAS/1 NAY)

                          Bill No. 36-0027 (overridden 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

 The 36^th Legislature will convene in a Committee of the Whole to receive testimony on the following:

CONSIDERATION OF MAJOR COASTAL ZONE PERMIT

Bill No. 36-0185     An act ratifying the Governor of the Virgin Islands’ approval of Major Coastal Zone Permit No. CZT-08-2 1(W) granted to Lime Out 2, LLC

Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Jean-Pierre Oriol, Commissioner, Department of Planning & Natural Resources
Marlon Hibbert, Director, Virgin Islands Coastal Zone Management Division, Department of Planning & Natural Resources
Mr. Richard Baranowski, Founder, Lime Out

CONSIDERATION OF HEALTH INSURANCE BILL

Bill No. 36-0189       An act ratifying the Second Renewal of Group Medical Health Insurance Agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands (“GVI”) and Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (“Cigna”); the Second Renewal of Group Dental Health Insurance Agreement between the GVI and Cigna; the First Renewal of Voluntary Critical Illness, Voluntary Accidental Injury, and Voluntary Hospital Care Insurance between the GVI and Cigna; and the Second Amendment to the Agreement for Medical Insurance between the GVI and United Healthcare Insurance Company and its affiliates

The 36^th Legislature will reconvene in Regular Session to consider the following:

BLOCK I – 2 MINUTE DEBATE TIME

CONSIDERATION OF NOMINATIONS

Mr. Roy Moorehead, Board of Parole (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Mr. Damian M. Cartwright, Virgin Islands Board of Land Use Appels (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Mr. Xavier A. Acevedo, Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Governing Board (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Ms. Safiya George, PhD, Virgin Islands Government Hospitals and Health Facilities Corporation Board of Directors (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

CONSIDERATION OF MAJOR COASTAL ZONE PERMIT

Bill No. 36-0185        An act ratifying the Governor of the Virgin Islands’ approval of Major Coastal Zone Permit No. CZT-08-2 1(W) granted to Lime Out 2, LLC (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

CONSIDERATION OF BILLS

Bill No. 36-0101         An Act to provide for continuity of operations in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands in the event of prolonged judicial vacancies (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0112         An Act amending title 4 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 31, section 516 increasing the filing fee for general civil complaints in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands and title 5 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 41, section 426 allowing for the collection of nine percent interest when an offer of judgement is filed with the court (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 14 YEAS, 1 NAY)

BLOCK II & III – 2 MINUTE DEBATE TIME

CONSIDERATION OF BUDGET BILLS

Bill No. 36-0120        An act appropriating the sum of $341,460 from the Virgin Islands Education Initiative Fund to the Virgin Islands Department of Education in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 for the purpose of conducting evaluations to determine students’ eligibility for special education services (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0154        An act providing a lump-sum appropriation from the Health Revolving Fund to the Virgin Islands Department of Health and a contribution to the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands for fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0155        An act providing a lump sum appropriation from the General Fund to the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services Fund for the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0156        An act providing an appropriation from the Business and Commercial Properties Revolving Fund to the Virgin Islands Department of Property and Procurement for operating expenses for the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS) 

Bill No. 36-0157        An act providing an appropriation from the Virgin Islands Lottery as a contribution to the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0158        An act providing an appropriation from the District Public Road Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands to the Department of Public Works for operating expenses for the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0159        An act providing an appropriation from the Indirect Cost Fund for the operating expenses of the Office of Management and Budget, the Virgin Islands Division of Personnel, the Virgin Islands Department of Property and Procurement and the Virgin Islands Department of Finance for the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0160        An act providing an appropriation from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands to the St. Croix Capital Improvement Fund and the St. Thomas Capital Improvement Fund for fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0161        An act appropriating $25,500,000 to the Legislature of the Virgin Islands in the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0162        An act appropriating $20,000,000 from the Virgin Islands Insurance Guaranty Fund as a contribution to the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands in the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through, September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0163        An act providing an appropriation for salaries and expenses of the Virgin Islands Board of Elections and the Office of the Supervisor of Elections in the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026  (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0164        An act providing a lump-sum appropriation from the School Construction, Maintenance and Capital Fund to the Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance for repair, renovation and maintenance of public schools and facilities in fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0165        An act appropriating $6,000,000 from the Caribbean Basin Initiative Fund as a contribution to the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands in fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0166        An act providing an appropriation from the Tourism Advertising Revolving Fund to the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority, the Office of the Governor, the Virgin Islands Department of Education, the Virgin Islands Police Department, the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works, the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture, the Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation, the Virgin Islands Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs, the Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System and the Virgin Islands Department of Tourism during the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 14 YEAS/1 Nay)

Bill No. 36-0167        An act providing an appropriation for the salaries and expenses of the University of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0168        An act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Public Employees Relations Board and the Virgin Islands Labor Management Committee for the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

BLOCK III

CONSIDERATION OF BUDGET BILLS

Bill No. 36-0169        An act appropriating the sum of $1,000,000 from the Virgin Islands Education Initiative Fund to the School Construction, Maintenance and Capital Fund for the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0170        An act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Waste Management Authority from the Sewer Waste Water Fund of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0171        An act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Hospital and Health Facilities Corporation from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0172        An act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Office of the Inspector General from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0173        An act providing an appropriation for the operation of the Judicial Branch of the Government of the Virgin Islands, the Judicial Council and the Office of the Territorial Public Defender during the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)                                                                                   

Bill No. 36-0174        An act providing an appropriation from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the operation of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 and amending title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 27 requiring legislative approval for increased employer and employee contribution amounts to the Government Employees Retirement System (Closed Rule) (Approved – 09/17/2025 – 14 YEAS/1 NV as amended) by:

Amendment Nos.
35-515 – 13 YEAS/2 NAYS
35-553 – 15 YEAS

Bill No. 36-0175        An act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Public Services Commission for the fiscal year October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0176        An act providing an appropriation from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands to the St. John Capital Improvement Fund for fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0177        An act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Board of Education from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0178        An act providing an appropriation from the Transportation Trust Fund as a contribution to the General Fund and for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Public Works during the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0179        An act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Career and Technical Education Board from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0180        An act providing an appropriation to the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission for the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 14 YEAS/1 NAY)

Bill No. 36-0181        An act providing an appropriation from the Anti-Litter and Beautification Fund to the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority and the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works for operating expenses during the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0182        An act providing an appropriation for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority from the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands during the fiscal year October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0186           An act appropriating $6,074,209 from the GVI/JPMC Charitable Fund to the General Fund of the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands for the fiscal year October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 (Closed Rule) (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)

Bill No. 36-0189        An act ratifying the Second Renewal of Group Medical Health Insurance Agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands (“GVI”) and Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (“Cigna”); the Second Renewal of Group Dental Health Insurance Agreement between the GVI and Cigna; the First Renewal of Voluntary Critical Illness, Voluntary Accidental Injury, and Voluntary Hospital Care Insurance between the GVI and Cigna; and the Second Amendment to the Agreement for Medical Insurance between the GVI and United Healthcare Insurance Company and its affiliates (Approved – 9/17/2025 – 15 YEAS)