SENATE APPROVES NOMINATIONS, LEASE AGREEMENTS, AND MAJOR LEGISLATIVE MEASURES - Legislature of the United States Virgin Islands Close About Us History Functions and Structure FY 2026 Budget Honor Roll Rules of the 36th Legislative Youth Advisory Council Application Careers Archives Legislative Archives Tours × St. Thomas Senators  St. John Senators  St.Croix Senators  Districts All Senators St. Croix St. Thomas - St. John Senator at Large × Committees Committee of the Whole Budget, Appropriation and Finance Culture, Youth, Aging, Sports, and Parks Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning Economic Development and Agriculture Education and Workforce Development Government Operations, Veteran Affairs and Consumer Protection Health, Hospitals and Human Services Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety Housing, Transportation and Telecommunications Rules and Judiciary Session Folder × No event found! Calendars Bi-Weekly Senate Calendar Session Agenda × Dialog window Dialog window General Senators Committees Media Calendars Contact Legislative Session | News | Press Releases | Senator Milton E. Potter | Uncategorized SENATE APPROVES NOMINATIONS, LEASE AGREEMENTS, AND MAJOR LEGISLATIVE MEASURES Published: Jan 12, 2026 Search for: SENATE APPROVES NOMINATIONS, LEASE AGREEMENTS, AND MAJOR LEGISLATIVE MEASURES ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS —  Members of the 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands, led by Senate President Milton E. Potter, convened in Legislative Session at the Capitol Building. Lawmakers voted in the affirmative for nominations, resolutions, lease agreements, and bills. All approved measures will be transmitted to the Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands for further consideration and action. Ultimately, Legislative Session went into recess to grant the Governor an extension for the State of the Territory Address. The meeting will reconvene on Monday, January 26, 2026.  Senate President Potter stated that the measures presented and approved during the session address critical issues facing the Territory and will have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of the people of the Virgin Islands. In accordance with Title 4, Section 72 of the Virgin Islands Code, which governs judicial appointments, the Legislature approved the nomination of:  Pedro Williams, Esq., Judge, Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, District of St. Thomas/St. John. Lawmakers voted favorably for the following Resolution: Bill No. 36-0089  — A resolution recognizing United States Senator Mike Crapo for his instrumental role in securing a historic increase in the rum cover-over tax reimbursement for the Virgin Islands. Policymakers voted and approved the following Lease Agreements:  Bill No. 36-0208  — An act approving the lease agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands and PEO Productions, LLC, d/b/a WSTA Radio, for: Parcel No. 121, Submarine Base No. 6, Southside Quarter, St. Thomas Parcel No. 167, Sub Base No. 6, Southside Quarter, St. Thomas Parcel No. 171, Sub Base No. 6, Southside Quarter, St. Thomas Bill No. 36-0092  — An act approving the lease agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands and St. John Taxi Services Corporation for Parcel No. D-2, Estate Cruz Bay Town, Cruz Bay Quarter, St. John, Virgin Islands. Lastly, senators voted in the affirmative for the following bills: Bill No. 36-0030  — An act amending Title 24, Virgin Islands Code, Chapter 1, Section 4, to increase the Virgin Islands minimum wage. Bill No. 36-0105  — An act amending Title 7, Virgin Islands Code, Chapter 13, Subchapter III, to prohibit the possession, sale, or manufacture of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, delta-6 THC, delta-8 THC, and delta-10 THC products in the Virgin Islands, and for related purposes. Bill No. 36-0184  — An act amending Title 22, Virgin Islands Code, Chapter 14, the Virgin Islands Insurance Holding Company System Regulatory Act, to implement revisions adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Bill No. 36-0209  — An act amending Title 23, Virgin Islands Code, Chapter 10, to establish civil penalties for disregarding marine advisories and to create the Territorial Marine Safety Fund. Bill No. 36-0210  — An act appropriating $4,000,000 from the Virgin Islands Insurance Guaranty Fund to the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority for the repair, replacement, and operation of streetlights throughout the Territory. (To allow for non germane amendments).  Bill No. 36-0217  — An act approving the sale of Parcel No. 20-A Hospital Street, Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, between the Government of the Virgin Islands and Z Property VI LLC for the sum of $260,000. Bill No . 36-0223 -  The following measure was held in committee:  Bill No. 36-0134  — An act repealing and reenacting Title 18, Virgin Islands Code, Chapter 1, Section 2, relating to government employees’ eligibility for elected office, to allow government employees to run for political office while actively employed, unless otherwise prohibited by federal or applicable law. Senators present at Legislative Session included Milton E. Potter, Kenneth L. Gittens, Avery Lewis, Marise C. James, Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Carla J. Joseph, Dwayne M. DeGraff, Kurt A. Vialet, Hubert L. Frederick, Dwayne M. DeGraff, Alma Francis Heyliger, Angel L. Bolques Jr., Ray Fonseca, Clifford A. Joseph, and Hubert Frederick. The Division of Public Affairs remains committed to providing the community with accurate information on legislative proceedings and other events at the Legislature of the Virgin Islands. Visit legvi.org. ### January 12, 2026                                                        Press Contact: Africah N.T. Harrigan Email: aharrigan@legvi.org Find More Search for: Categories News Observances Press Releases Special Events Related Content COMMITTEE REVIEWS FY 2027 EXECUTIVE BUDGET REQUESTS FOR GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, AND BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES July 23, 2026 ST. CROIX, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – Members of the Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance, chaired by Senator Novelle E. Francis Jr., met in the Frits E. Lawaetz Conference Room to receive testimony on the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budgets for... 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