36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands Calendar Sept. 4 – Sept. 12
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 04, 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 Thursday,
September 4, 2025, at 10:00 A.M. in the Frits E. Lawaetz Conference Room on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
BLOCK I 10:00 A.M. – 11:00 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 of the Virgin Islands, Virgin Islands Department of Justice
Mr. Antonio Emanuel, Director, Office of Gun Violence Prevention, Office of the Governor
BLOCK II 11:15 A.M. – 12:30 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 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 Louis E. Petersen, PhD, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture
Honorable H. Nathalie Hodge, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs
Ms. Joanne Moorehead, Executive Director, Virgin Islands Office of Cannabis Regulation
Ms. Riise Richards, Chair, Virgin Islands Industrial Hemp Commission, Deputy Commissioner, VI
Department of Agriculture
Mr. Duane Howell, Executive Director, ARCH Institute
LUNCH BREAK 12:30 P.M. – 1:00 P.M.
BLOCK III 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 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
Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Mario M. Brooks, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Police Department
Honorable Gordon Rhea, Esq., Virgin Islands Attorney General, Virgin Islands Department of Justice
Ms. Julie Smith Todman, Esq., Chief Public Defender, Virgin Islands Office of the Public Defender
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2025
Committee on Rules and Judiciary
10:00 A.M.
Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room
The 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands Committee on Rules and Judiciary has scheduled a hearing for 10:00
A.M. on Monday, September 08, 2025, in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room on St. Croix. The purpose of the meeting is to receive testimony and consider the following legislative measures:
BLOCK I 10:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.
Mr. Roy Moorehead, Governor’s Nominee, Board of Parole
Mr. Damian M. Cartwright, Governor’s Nominee, Virgin Islands Board of Land Use Appeals
BLOCK II 11:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.
Mr. Xavier A. Acevedo, Governor’s Nominee, Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Governing Board
Dr. Safiya George, Governor’s Nominee, Virgin Islands Government Hospitals and Health Facilities Corporation Board of Directors
LUNCH 1:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.
BLOCK III 2:00 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.
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.
Invited Testifiers:
Ms. Regina deChabert Petersen, Administrator of the Courts, Judicial Branch of the Virgin Islands
Mr. J. Russel B. Pate, Esq., President, Virgin Islands Bar Association
Honorable Gordon C. Rhea, Esq., Attorney General, Department of Justice
Ms. Julie S. Todman, Esq., Chief Territorial Public Defender, V.I. Office of the Territorial Public Defender
BLOCK IV 3:30 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.
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 prejudgment interest when an offer of judgment is filed with the court.
Invited Testifiers:
Ms. Regina deChabert Petersen, Administrator of the Courts, Judicial Branch of the Virgin Islands
Mr. J. Russel B. Pate, Esq., President, Virgin Islands Bar Association
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2025
Committee on Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications
10:00 A.M.
Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall
The Committee on Housing, Transportation & Telecommunications has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday,
September 10, 2025, in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall on St. Thomas.
VIHA Operations, Challenges, and Opportunities
The Committee will receive testimony on the Virgin Islands Housing Authority’s operations, challenges, and
opportunities. Areas of focus include agency updates on operations and maintenance issues, the Housing Choice
Voucher Program, and progress in community rehabilitation. Testimony will also address the Williams Delight
sale and related funding assistance, as well as the impact of federal-level policy changes on VIHA’s funding and
overall operations.
Invited Testifier:
Dwayne Alexander, Executive Director, Virgin Islands Housing Authority
BLOCK II 12:30 PM
Homeownership and Housing Development Programs
The Committee will also hear testimony on the status of homeownership and housing development programs.
This includes updates on funding and progress of current initiatives, the availability and utilization of funds
for affordable housing, and the effects of federal policy changes on funding streams, operations, and programs.
Invited Testifiers:
Eugene Jones, Executive Director, Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority
Adrienne Williams-Octalien, Executive Director, Office of Disaster Recovery
Wayne L. Biggs, Chief Executive Officer, VI Economic Development Authority
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2025
Committee on Rules and Judiciary
10:00 A.M.
Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall
FRIDAY,
SEPTEMBER 12, 202
Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning
10:00 A.M.
Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room
St. Croix Source
Legislature Corner
