What Happened to Key Issues

The Virginia General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn later today. Here is a scorecard showing how lawmakers disposed of some of the major issues. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has 30 days to either sign into law, veto or amend bills sent to him. Lawmakers return April 4 to consider vetoes.

Abortion. Senators killed House-passed bills that would have placed further restrictions on abortion.

Booster Seats. Lawmakers approved a proposal requiring children up to 8-years-old to be seated in a booster seat while riding in a vehicle.

Chesapeake Bay Cleanup. Lawmakers agreed to a Kaine proposal to borrow $250 million to reduce pollution in the Chesapeake Bay, helping put the state on track to meet its goal of reducing nutrient and nitrogen runoff originating from human and animal waste.

Cockfighting. A measure that would have increased the penalty for participating in cockfighting was left in a House committee.

Death Penalty. Senators and delegates expanded capital punishment by making accomplices and judge killers eligible for execution.

Education. Lawmakers boosted teacher pay by 3 percent, expanded publicly funded preschool -- although not as much as Gov. Kaine had proposed -- and added money to help students struggling with reading.

Energy Re-regulation. Legislation backed by Dominion Resources and approved by the Senate and House ends utility deregulation by establishing a "hybrid" form of regulation. Critics have warned of higher rates.

Ethics. State senators tried unsuccessfully to halt a proposal by the Virginia State Bar that would allow lawmakers to work at firms that employ people who lobby the General Assembly.

Gambling. The Senate approved but the House rejected a plan to allow customers at Colonial Downs to wager on instant horse racing video machines, which would have been the largest expansion of gambling in a decade.

Growth. Lawmakers gave fast-growing localities more tools to manage development. They created "urban development areas," where a priority would be placed on open space, walking trails and access to public transportation and commercial development. They also established "urban transportation service districts," where localities would assume control over maintaining secondary roads and would assess impact fees to development outside of the districts.

Gun Ban. A bill promoted by Fairfax County banning the carrying of guns into certain areas of police stations and other law enforcement buildings died.