RICHMOND – After undergoing a dramatic edit last week in committee, Staunton Delegate Richard “Dickie” Bell’s bill to fundamentally change how teachers are hired and evaluated passed the House this morning on a 55-43 vote.

House Bill 576 would replace continuing contracts with annual contracts for teachers and principals. Teachers not eligible for continuing contracts by the 2013-2014 school year would receive three-year contracts that would not automatically renew.

Read More - VA House Approves Teacher Contract Revisions - The News Leader

STAUNTON — Local legislators have thrown their support behind proposed state budget amendments that would fund crisis stabilization projects to help ease the strain on Virginia's only public mental hospital for children, Staunton's Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents.

A continuing rise in readmissions to the hospital, mainly because of a lack of help back in the community when children are discharged, has alarmed children's advocates as well as the Valley delegation.

Read More - Lawmakers Seek Programs to Boost Mental Health Care for Youngsters - The News Leader

More than 75 percent of Virginians think welfare recipients should be required to pass a drug test to receive benefits, according to a new poll released this morning.

Overall, voters support testing for public assistance by 76–21 percent with strong support across race, gender, party, income, religious and age groups.

A measure to require the testing was carried over to 2013 by the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday to give lawmakers more time to study the potential costs. A fiscal impact analysis attached to the bill introduced in the House of Delegates estimated the cost of drug screening some recipients at $1.3 million in the first year and $1 million annually after that.

Read More: Poll Finds Strong Support for Drug Testing Welfare Recipients - The News Virginian

Tales of ex-spouses' confrontations and out-of-hand fraternity parties couldn't sway the House of Delegates from approving Staunton Del. Richard P. "Dickie" Bell's bill that would allow people to use deadly force if threatened by an intruder in their homes.

Bell's bill passed with a vote of 70-28 Thursday, moments after Del. Anne B. Crockett-Stark, R-Wytheville, set most of the chamber laughing with a story about an elderly woman — a sharpshooter, in Crockett-Stark's description — who scared off a burglar with a warning shot.

Read More: Dickie Bell's Intruders Bill Clears House - The News Leader

VERONA — Members of the Augusta County Board of Supervisors will face the rare case of having $1 million in badly needed grant money offered to them that could be hard to accept.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has made the money available to reinforce the Mills Creek dam in the Sherando area. But as often happens with government regulations, conditions the conditions that come with the money make acceptance tricky.

The total cost to rehabilitate the dam is about $1.6 million. The USDA's National Resources Conservation Service can only cover 65 percent of the total, which the $1 million is intended to cover, according to county records gathered for the board's regular meeting Wednesday.

Read More: Supervisors Face Awkward Deadline for Dam Funds - The News Leader

RICHMOND, VA – Delegate Richard P. “Dickie” Bell (R-Staunton) announced today House Bill 48 has been reported out of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee.

     House Bill 48 encodes a version of the "castle doctrine," allowing the use of physical force, including deadly force, by a person in his dwelling against an intruder in the dwelling who has committed an overt act against him or another person who is lawfully in the dwelling.

     It was amended today in committee to conform to Senator Richard Stuart’s (R-Montross) bill, Senate Bill 4, which passed out of the Senate February 2, 2012.  It was also amended to state that the legislation is not intended to replace the Common Law, which is currently in practice.

RICHMOND, VA – Delegate Richard P. “Dickie” Bell (R-Staunton) announced today that he has patroned 11 bills and chief co-patroned 2 bills that have passed in the House of Delegates this Session.  Today marks the midpoint of Session, also known as Crossover Day, where the House and Senate must complete work on their respective bills so that they may go over to the other body for consideration.   

     “I am very pleased that so many pieces of my legislation have been so successful this year.  I believe we put together a strong package this year, and I am thrilled to see so many of these important measures advance.” said Delegate Bell. “I am hopeful that this legislation will continue to advance in the Senate.”

            The most recent legislation to pass are House Bills 72 and 218. 

RICHMOND, VA – Delegate Richard P. “Dickie” Bell (R-Staunton) announced today House Bill 48 has passed in the House of Delegates.

     House Bill 48 encodes a version of the "castle doctrine," allowing the use of physical force, including deadly force, by a person in his dwelling against an intruder in the dwelling who has committed an overt act against him or another person who is lawfully in the dwelling.

RICHMOND, VA – Delegate Richard P. “Dickie” Bell (R-Staunton) announced today House Bill 1216 has passed in the House of Delegates.  He also announced that House Bill 576 has been reported out of the Committee on Education.

     House Bill 1216 provides that when a proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance only involves a tract of land owned by the Commonwealth or Federal Government only affects a portion of the land, notice only needs to be given to the owners of properties that are adjacent to the affected area.

      “I am pleased to see House Bill 1216 pass in the House of Delegates.” said Delegate Bell.  “This bill was brought to me by Augusta County and makes a lot of sense.  It will save the localities money and extra hassle, and will also help reduce confusion to land owners.  I hope that this legislation will continue to see success in the State Senate. ”

RICHMOND, VA – Delegate Richard P. “Dickie” Bell (R-Staunton) announced today House Bill 1215 has passed in the House of Delegates.

     House Bill 1215 requires the Board of Education to promulgate regulations establishing standards for accreditation of virtual schools that enroll students full time.

      “I am pleased to see House Bill 1215 pass in the House of Delegates.” said Delegate Bell.  “This bill is simply designed to ensure that the quality of the education that students receive in virtual schools is the equal to the quality of the education that they receive in the traditional classroom. I hope that it will see the same success in the Senate.”