36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands

SENATE CALENDAR

October 13, 2025 – October 24, 2025

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2025 

Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging,

Sports and Parks

Town Hall Meeting

5:30 P.M.

Cleone H. Creque Legislative Conference Room, St. John Annex

The Committee of Committee on Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports and Parks will host a critical townhall meeting with the Taxi Associations in the St. Thomas/St. John District on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at 5:30 P.M. The purpose of  this meeting is to garner feedback from the respective Taxi Associations and have discussions regarding ongoing  planning and policy discussions related to enhancing transportation services and guest experiences for our valued  visitors.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2025 

Committee on Government Operations, Veterans Affairs and Consumer Protection

Town Hall Meeting

5:30 P.M.

Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall

The Committee of Government Operations, Veterans Affairs and Consumer Protection will host a critical townhall meeting with the Taxi Associations in the St. Thomas/St. John District on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at 5:30 P.M. The purpose of this meeting is to garner feedback from the respective Taxi Associations and have discussions regarding ongoing planning and policy discussions related to enhancing transportation services and guest experiences for our valued visitors.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2025

Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning

10:00 A.M.

Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room

The Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning has scheduled a meeting for Thursday, October 

16, 2025 in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room at 10:00 A.M. to discuss and consider the following:

BLOCK I

Bill No. 36-0135 An act amending title 29 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5, section 294 regarding expedited 

building permits for developers.

Invited Testifier:

Honorable Jean-Pierre Oriol, Commissioner, Department of Planning and Natural Resources

BLOCK II

The Committee will receive an update from the Department of Planning and Natural Resources with a focus on the implementation of the Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan, including a review of:

• Progress made to date

• Current or anticipated challenges

• The projected timeline for next steps in the implementation process

Invited Testifier:

Honorable Jean-Pierre Oriol, Commissioner, Department of Planning and Natural Resources

BLOCK III

The Committee will receive testimony from the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority on the status of FEMA-funded power plant upgrades and recovery projects at, including a review of:

• Progress on FEMA-funded replacement of the Richmond Power Plant on St. Croix and unit upgrades at the Randolph Harley Plant on St. Thomas, including the design-build solicitation process and anticipated construction timeline.

• Critical resilience projects such as undergrounding of electrical lines, installation of advanced composite utility poles, battery energy storage systems, and advanced metering.

• Integration of the recently commissioned solar farms on St. Croix into the WAPA power grid and their impact on system reliability, as well as any plans for solar development and integration in the St. Thomas–St. John district.

Invited Testifiers:

Lemuel Lavinier, Chief Operating Officer, Electric System, Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority

Noel Hodge, Chief Engineer, Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority 

Vernon Alexander, Director of Special Projects, Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority 

Maxwell George, Director of Project Management, Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority

Joelle Webster, Director of Grants Management, Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2025

Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety

10:00 A.M.

Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room

The 36th Legislature’s Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety will meet on Friday, October 17, at 10:00 a.m. in the Frits E. Lawaetz Conference Room on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands to consider the following agenda.

BLOCK I 10:00 A.M. – 11:15 A.M.

Bill No. 36-0139 An act amending title 31 Virgin Islands Code to assess civil liability for destruction or damage to government property through willful or negligent act 

Invited Testifiers:

Honorable Mario M. Brooks, Commissioner, V.I. Police Department

Honorable Gordon Rhea, Esq., Attorney General, V.I. Department of Justice

Honorable Lisa M. Alejandro, Commissioner, V.I. Department of Property and Procurement

BLOCK II 11:15 A.M. – 1:15 P.M. 

Bill No. 36-0151 An act amending title 23 Virgin Islands Code regarding the illegal possession of machine guns and machine gun conversion devices

Invited Testifiers:

Honorable Mario M. Brooks, Commissioner, V.I. Police Department

Honorable Gordon Rhea, Esq., Attorney General, V.I. Department of Justice

Mr. Moleto Smith, Director, V.I. Law Enforcement Planning Commission

Mr. Antonio Emanuel, Director, V.I. Office of Gun Violence Prevention

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 M. Brooks, Commissioner, V.I. Police Department

Honorable Gordon Rhea, Esq., Attorney General, V.I. Department of Justice

Mr. Luis Valdes, Florida State Director, Southeast Regional Director, Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands Director of Outreach, Co-Chair Fuerza 2A, National Spokesman, Gun Owners of America

Mr. Kosei Ohno, Founder, VI Safe Gun Owners

Mr. Ehren Henderson, Former Gun Shop Owner, St. Thomas

Mr. John Canegata, Owner, D&J’s Shooting Gallery, LLC, St. Croix

BLOCK III 1:15 P.M. – 2:30 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 tetrahydrocannabinolic 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 M. Brooks, Commissioner, V.I. Police Department

Honorable Gordon Rhea, Esq., Attorney General, V.I. Department of Justice

Honorable Justa “Tita” Encarnacion, Commissioner, V.I. Department of Health

Honorable Louis E. Petersen, PhD, Commissioner, V.I. Department of Agriculture

Honorable H. Nathalie Hodge, Commissioner, V.I. Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs

Ms. Joanne Moorehead, Executive Director, V.I. Office of Cannabis Regulation

Ms. Riise Richards, Chair, V.I. Industrial Hemp Commission, Deputy Commissioner, V.I. Department of Agriculture

Mr. Duane Howell, Executive Director, ARCH Institute

Ms. Lindsey Rithamel, Owner, The Remedy

Mr. William Waldo, Owner, Virgin Abis

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2025

Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance

10:00 A.M.

Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2025

Committee on Education and Workforce Development

9:00 A.M.

Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall

The Committee on Education and Workforce Development will meet on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 9:00 A.M. in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on St. Thomas to receive Considerations of proposed legislations.

Bill No. 36-0067 An Act amending title 17 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5 by adding a section 41j requiring the Pledge of Allegiance and the Virgin Islands Motto to be recited at the beginning of each school day in public schools, but additionally provides that students may opt out of the recitation

Invited Testifiers:

Kyza A. Callwood, PhD., Chairperson, Virgin Islands Board of Education

Dionne Wells-Hedrington, Ed.D., Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Education

Merlene Jones, Ed.D., Principal, Lockhart K-8 School, Virgin Islands Department of Education

Bill No. 36-0069 An Act amending title 17 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 9, subchapter 1, section 82, subsection (a) 

by changing the age a child begins kindergarten from five years of age to four years of age 

Invited Testifiers:

Kyza A. Callwood, PhD., Chairperson, Virgin Islands Board of Education

Honorable Dionne Wells-Hedrington, Ed.D., Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Education

Merlene Jones, Ed.D., Principal, Lockhart K-8 School, Virgin Islands Department of Education

Honorable Averil George, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Human Services

Honorable Justa E. Encarnacion, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Health

Bill No. 36-0080 An Act amending title 17 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5 mandating a daily morning exercise routine for students in all public schools in the Virgin Islands

Invited Testifiers:

Kyza A. Callwood, PhD., Chairperson, Virgin Islands Board of Education

Honorable Dionne Wells-Hedrington, Ed.D., Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Education

Merlene Jones, Ed.D., Principal, Lockhart K-8 School, Virgin Islands Department of Education

Honorable Justa E. Encarnacion, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Health

Brian Young, MD, FAAP, Pediatrician, Partners 4 Kids

Honorable Vincent Roberts, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2025

Committee on Rules and Judiciary

10:00 A.M.

Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall