RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A bill that would let Petersburg hold a public referendum on a proposed $1.4 billion casino while blocking Richmond from a second shot at a project rejected in 2021 has cleared an early hurdle.
The measure from Democratic Sen. Joe Morrissey, whose district includes both cities, advanced from a Senate subcommittee 7-2 Thursday, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. Morrissey and Petersburg officials argued Richmond does not need the economic boost that a casino would bring.
"If Petersburg can't get it done, maybe you can get another whack but I think they have a right to have a chance to get it done," Sen. Bryce Reeves said.
In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly approved legislation to allow developers to build large casino resorts in Norfolk, Bristol, Portsmouth, Danville and Richmond in what supporters billed as a way to boost struggling economies.
Potential operators had to first clear a voter referendum. That happened in every city but Richmond, which rejected the initiative in 2021. City officials mounted an effort to bring the issue back a second time but ran into the clash with Petersburg.
A bill similar to Morrissey's has been proposed in the House of Delegates.
