On February 6, the Virginia House decided not to take a vote on HB 1133, which repeals the requirement that petition circulators for district office must live in the district. The House also could have voted on this bill last week, but each day, decided to skip the bill. It seems somewhat likely that most House members want to wait for a U.S. District Court to decide this issue. A U.S. District Court is considering this issue in the Lux case, and will probably rule in the next few months.

If the Virginia legislature does pass this bill soon, then the state would be safe from having to pay attorneys’ fees in the Lux case. But if the Lux case proceeds, and the judge strikes down the in-district residency requirement, then the state will need to pay substantial attorneys’ fees to the attorneys who brought the case. The legislature adjourns March 10.