On Thursday, the Virgin Islands Senate advanced major bills covering health care, tax relief, infrastructure, public safety, and constitutional reform, while also addressing senior protections and cultural recognitions amid ongoing federal uncertainty.
The Senate unanimously approved Bill No. 36-0203, a resolution urging Congress to allow the territory full participation in the Affordable Care Act.
Lawmakers spoke candidly about the long-standing gap in access to federal health care benefits, noting that thousands of residents remain excluded from protections available to other U.S. citizens.
“There’s no access,” said Sen. Kurt A. Vialet, sponsor of the measure. “So this resolution is asking the government of the United States of America, Congress, the White House, the Senate, that while you argue … Americans in the Virgin Islands do not have that access. So we’re asking to be included.”
Vialet continued, “The irony is that Virgin Islanders have no access to the Affordable Care Act, not even the chance to decide whether they could afford it.”
The resolution passed by roll-call vote and now heads to Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. for transmittal to Congress.
The fate of the Randall “Doc” James Racetrack on St. Croix once again commanded the Senate’s attention. At the center of the debate, Bill No. 36-0119 seeks to reprogram $5 million to push forward improvements to the Racetrack, a sum lawmakers emphasized must remain fully dedicated to the project.
“Not a dime moving from this $5 million … not one penny,” declared Sen. Franklin D. Johnson, reflecting the chamber’s commitment to finally seeing the delayed improvements completed.
The bill also reinforced a $100 million contingency fund, serving as a fiscal safety net for critical infrastructure, including the racetrack. The funds would be released only if a federal government shutdown extends beyond Dec. 1, and could be used for operating or disaster-related expenses in the event of disrupted federal funding.
While some senators voiced exasperation over the project’s long delays, others expressed renewed cautious optimism, “We will just build little by little, right, and we’ll get it to where it should be,” said Sen. Marise C. James.
Ultimately, Bill No. 36-0119 passed by roll-call vote, accompanied by related amendments addressing appropriations and youth development programs.
Lawmakers also unanimously approved Bill No. 36-0083, initiating a 90-day amnesty period that waives penalties on overdue property, income, and gross-receipts taxes for all tax years.
Senators described the measure as a critical step for both residents facing economic hardship and the government itself, which has seen diminished tax collections in the wake of hurricanes Irma and Maria and ongoing fiscal challenges.
Advocates said the temporary amnesty would provide breathing room for families and businesses still struggling to recover, while also helping the government collect overdue taxes that might otherwise go unpaid.
“This is going to give us a little cushion, especially at a point in time where we’re not generating and bringing in revenues,” said Johnson.
In the same session, lawmakers advanced Bill No. 36-0201, which extends deadlines and provides additional funding to the Sixth Constitutional Convention. Senators commended the diverse group tasked with crafting a foundational document for the territory, expressing optimism that this effort could succeed where previous attempts have failed.
“We need to get it done. It’s been a lengthy process,” said Vialet. “We need to give them the opportunity to complete the job.”
The Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Prevention Act was expanded to establish new multidisciplinary teams and grant broader authority to detect, intervene, and prevent abuse, a reform described by legislators as long overdue.
A bill lowering the legal blood alcohol limit for commercial drivers to 0.04% and prohibiting operation by anyone under the age of 21 with any detectable alcohol was also approved.
Another measure now also requires security personnel and investigators to complete lethal weapon training, a step aimed at strengthening public safety across the territory. Additional legislation rezoned land at Lindbergh Bay for affordable housing, updated technical structures for government boards and commissions, and enacted a series of honorific resolutions recognizing cultural and civic leaders.
All bills passed by roll-call vote and have been sent to Bryan for further action.
St. Croix Source
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