Local lawmakers defied the odds earlier this year, when they won passage of a controversial school opening bill.
The measure allowed the city of Roanoke to start classes before Labor Day.
Now, Salem Delegate Greg Habeeb wants to take the effort one step further.Habeeb has pre-filed legislation that would completely repeal the so-called "King's Dominion Law," that requires school systems to start after Labor Day unless they receive a waiver from the state.
Similar legislation has faced strong opposition from the state's tourism industry in the past, but Habeeb says the school opening bill that won approval this year shows that attitudes are changing.
He says the decision of when to start classes should rest with local school boards, educators and parents.
Habeeb is working on almost two dozen measures for the upcoming session of the General Assembly.
The most important he says is a tax credit that he hopes will generate new jobs in areas of the state with the highest unemployment.
Other proposals include a bill that would automatically restore the voting rights of non-violent offenders after they complete their sentences.
Another would allow pickles to be sold at farmer's markets without a state health inspection.Habeeb has scheduled three town hall meetings before he returns to Richmond in January.
The first is Wednesday night at 7PM at the Roanoke County Administration Center. Habeeb has also created an online survey that his constituents can fill out between now and January 11th.
