By Blox Content Management,By BIBIANA SNYDER Special to The Daily News

Copyright virginislandsdailynews

The 36th Legislature voted to override two vetoes from Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., and advanced a series of nominations and budget bills during legislative session.

Lawmakers voted 15-0 on Wednesday to override Bryan’s veto of Bill No. 36-0227, known as Jah’niqua’s Law, which requires someone convicted of negligent vehicular homicide or driving under the influence to pay restitution to minor children of their victims if the victims die or are permanently disabled.

They also voted 14-1 to override his veto of Bill No. 36-0057, which requires automatic expungement of arrest records when a defendant is acquitted. Sen. Angel Bolques Jr. voted against.

During an early portion of the session, senators unanimously approved four nominations: Roy Moorehead to the Board of Parole; Damian M. Cartwright to the Board of Land Use Appeals; Xavier A. Acevedo to the Water and Power Authority’s Governing Board and UVI President Safiya George to the VI Government Hospitals and Health Facilities Corporation Board of Directors.

Sen. Franklin Johnson said the parole board has lacked a quorum for months, leaving individuals in prison past their eligibility dates.

“People are just being held in prison because of not having the requisite amount of members on this board,” Johnson a former Bureau of Corrections office said.

The addition of Moorehead brings the body to four members, still short of the seven required.

The body also passed two court-related measures. Bill No. 36-0101 allows for continuity of operations in Superior Court during prolonged judicial vacancies, which senators approved unanimously. Bill No. 36-0112 raises the filing fee for general civil complaints from $75 to $150 and authorizes collection of 9 percent interest on offers of judgment filed with the court, advancing on a 14-1 vote.

Sen. Carla Joseph, the sponsor of Bill No. 36-0112, said the measure would “provide justice swiftly” by reducing delays in settlements. But not all lawmakers agreed.

Sen. Hubert Frederick cast the ‘no’ vote.

Senators also advanced 31 budget bills that make up the $1.7 billion fiscal year 2026 plan, which relies heavily on revenue collection and federal recovery projects to remain balanced. The budget includes general funds, non-lapsing funds and federal dollars aimed at rebuilding efforts and other critical projects.

The bills include a controversial $35,000 minimum wage for government employees as a continuous funding source has not been identified as well as funding for youth employment programs and support for more than 60 nonprofits that provide services in areas where government programs fall short. Lawmakers emphasized that late or weak tax collections could destabilize the budget plan.

Sen. Novelle Francis, chair of the Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance, said 846 funded vacancies totaling nearly $119 million were factored into the budget, allowing lawmakers to secure the $35,000 wage increase.

“All of this is projections…all of this is for naught if we’re not able to collect our revenues. It’s simple math. Revenues versus expenditure is our 2026 budget,” Francis said, while stressing that filling these positions is critical to stabilizing the Government Employees’ Retirement System.

Sen. Kurt Vialet also weighed in on the importance of revenue collection for the budget’s success.

“We’re getting ready to pass a budget that we hope is balanced, and it’s only going to be balanced if we’re able to collect those taxes that are owed to this Government of the Virgin Islands, and if we get these bundles moving,” Vialet said.

Vialet also highlighted funding priorities, including interscholastic sports and STEM education programs. He noted an increase in summer youth employment funding from $800,000 to $1.2 million, allowing as many as 1,200 students to work this year.

Sen. Marvin Blyden emphasized the importance of nonprofit support.

“All of them play a critical role and fill the gap for many areas in government that we fall short,” he said.

Other senators stressed priorities such as street lighting and critical health care projects, including the Charlotte Kimelman Cancer Institute and the purchase of a $2.5 million PET-CT scanner.

Senators on Wednesday also took action on various budget bills, voting unanimously in favor of most:

Bill No. 36-0120, appropriating $341,460 from the Education Initiative Fund to the Department of Education for evaluations to determine students’ eligibility for special education services. Vialet sponsored the measure.

Bill No. 36-0154, appropriating funds from the Health Revolving Fund to the Department of Health and the General Fund.

Bill No. 36-0155, appropriating funds from the General Fund to the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Fund.

Bill No. 36-0156, appropriating funds from the Business and Commercial Properties Revolving Fund to the Department of Property and Procurement.

Bill No. 36-0157, appropriating funds from the V.I. Lottery to the General Fund.

Bill No. 36-0158, appropriating funds from the District Public Road Fund to the Department of Public Works for operations.

Bill No. 36-0159, appropriating funds from the Indirect Cost Fund for the Office of Management and Budget, Division of Personnel, Property and Procurement and the Department of Finance.

Bill No. 36-0160, appropriating funds from the General Fund to the St. Croix and St. Thomas Capital Improvement Funds.

Bill No. 36-0161, an act appropriating $25.5 million to the V.I. Legislature.

Bill No. 36-0162, appropriating $20 million from the Insurance Guaranty Fund as a contribution to the General Fund.

Bill No. 36-0163, appropriating funds for salaries and expenses of the Board of Elections and the Office of the Supervisor of Elections.

Bill No. 36-0164, appropriating funds from the School Construction, Maintenance, and Capital Fund to the Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance.

Bill No. 36-0165, appropriating $6 million from the Caribbean Basin Initiative Fund as a contribution to the General Fund.

Bill No. 36-0167, appropriating funds for salaries and expenses at UVI.

Bill No. 36-0168, appropriating funds for the operating expenses of the Public Employees Relations Board and the Labor Management Committee.

Bill No. 36-0169, appropriating $1 million from the Education Initiative Fund to the School Construction, Maintenance, and Capital Fund.

Bill No. 36-0170, appropriating funds for the operating expenses of the Waste Management Authority from the Sewer Wastewater Fund.

Bill No. 36-0171, appropriating funds for the operating expenses of the Hospital and Health Facilities Corporation from the General Fund.

Bill No. 36-0172, appropriating funds for the operating expenses of the Office of the Inspector General from the General Fund.

Bill No. 36-0173, appropriating funds for the operation of the Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, and Office of the Territorial Public Defender.

Bill No. 36-0175, appropriating funds for the operating expenses of the Public Services Commission.

Bill No. 36-0176, appropriating funds from the General Fund to the St. John Capital Improvement Fund. Senators voted 15-0 in favor of the measure.

Bill No. 36-0177, appropriating funds from the General Fund for the operating expenses of the V.I. Board of Education.

Bill No. 36-0178, appropriating funds 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.

Bill No. 36-0179, appropriating funds from the General Fund for the operating expenses of the Virgin Islands Career and Technical Education Board.

Bill No. 36-0181, appropriating funds from the Anti-Litter and Beautification Fund to the WMA and Department of Public Works.

Bill No. 36-0182, providing an appropriation for the WMA from the General Fund.

Bill No. 36-0186, appropriating $6.074 million from the GVI/JPMC Charitable Fund to the General Fund.

Senators voted 15-0 for all of the bills above. All of the budget bills for fiscal year 2026 were passed favorably.

Bill No. 36-0166, appropriating funds from the Tourism Advertising Revolving Fund to multiple departments and agencies. Senators voted 14-1, with Sen. Hubert Frederick voting no.

Bill No. 36-0174, appropriating funds from the General Fund for the operation of the Government of the Virgin Islands. The measure passed on a vote of 14-0, with Sen. Alma Francis Heyliger recorded as not voting.

Bill No. 36-0180, appropriating funds to the V.I.Taxicab Commission. The measure passed on a vote of 14-1, with Sen. Kenneth L. Gittens voting no.

Most of the measures were sponsored by Potter and Francis, with one education related bill sponsored by Vialet.