21/10/2026
The Committee on Rules and Judiciary has scheduled a hearing for Thursday, October 22, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Chambers, on St. Thomas to consider the following legislative measures and Governor’s Nominees.
BLOCK I: NOMINEES 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Mrs. Ardrina Scott Elliott
Governor’s Nominee
Board of Parole and representative of the District of St. Thomas - St.
JohnDr. Tylur D. Arvidson
Governor’s Nominee
The Board of Chiropractic Examiners
BLOCK II: NOMINEES 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Ms. Caryn Hodge
Governor’s Nominee
Virgin Islands Historic Preservation Commission
LUNCH: 1:00 PM –2:00 PM
BLOCK III: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Bill No 36-0277 – An act enacting a comprehensive probate code for the Virgin Islands to govern intestate and testate succession, administration of decedents’ estates, and related procedures. Proposed by Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr.
Invited Testifiers:
The Honorable Rhys S. Hodge
Chief Justice Department of Justice
The Honorable Gordan C. Rhea, Esq.
Attorney General Department of Justice
Ms. Shari N. D'Andrade, Esq.
President Virgin Islands Bar Association
Mr. Troy De Chabert-SchusterState
DirectorAARP Virgin Islands
Ms. Jessica C. Tully, Esq.
Attorney & Real Estate BrokerTully Law, PLLC
Mr. Ben Orzeske, Esq.
Chief CounselUniform Law Commission
Mr. Tom Bolt, Esq.
President/ CEOBoltNagi PC Attorneys at Law
Mr. Wayne L. Biggs, Jr.Chief Executive OfficerVirgin Islands Economic Development Authority
BLOCK IV: BILLS | 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Bill No. 36-0048 ̶ An Act amending title 22, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 3 relating to annual rate changes for medical malpractice liability insurance and amending title 27, Virgin Islands Code, chapter 1 by increasing the limitation on recovery in medical malpractice actions from $250,000 to $400,000; designating the records and testimony gathered by quality improvement committees as confidential; and establishing additional requirements for filing medical malpractice claims. Proposed by Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr.
Bill No. 36-0280 ̶ An act amending title 19 Virgin Islands Code, part IV, chapter 37, subchapter II, section 831, subsection (a), paragraph (2), by giving a parent of a newborn, who is born in a government hospital, the option to receive the child’s birth certificate by mail. Proposed by Senator Hubert L. Frederick
Bill No. 36-0218 ̶ An act honoring and commending Jerome Austin Browne for his outstanding achievements and contributions to baseball and the youth of St. Croix by renaming Prince Street in Christiansted “Jerry Browne Street”. Proposed by Senator Angel L. Bolques, Jr.
Bill No. 36-0229 ̶ An act honoring and commending Adelbert M. “Bert” Bryan for his outstanding contributions and dedicated service to the Virgin Islands community, particularly on the island of St. Croix, and to ceremoniously name Queen Street in Frederiksted, St. Croix, in his honor as “Adelbert M. “Bert” Bryan Drive”. Proposed by Senator Kenneth L. Gittens
Bill No. 36-0281 ̶ An act honoring and commending Hans Lawaetz for his lifetime of exemplary service to the Virgin Islands and awarding him the Virgin Islands Medal of Honor. Proposed by Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr.
Bill No. 36-0319 ̶ An act honoring and commending Rena Brodhurst for her extraordinary contributions to journalism and the preservation of the Virgin Islands’ historical and cultural narrative and awarding her the Virgin Islands Medal of Honor. Proposed by Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr.
Bill No. 36-0320 ̶ A resolution honoring and commending Kevre Hendricks for his outstanding contributions to music, education, military service, and cultural preservation in the Virgin Islands. Proposed by Senator Kurt A. Vialet
Bill No. 36-0323 ̶ An act honoring and commending Maude “Maudie” Dowdy Roberts posthumously and concurrently designating Prince Street in Frederiksted the “Maude ‘Maudie’ Dowdy Roberts Drive”. Proposed by Senator Kenneth L. Gittens
Bill No. 36-0318 ̶ An act amending title 23 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 13 establishing a Police Reserve Unit within the Virgin Islands Police Department Proposed by Senator Kenneth L. Gittens
Bill No. 36-0338 ̶ An act amending title 5 Virgin Islands Code, section 31 (a) by changing the commencement of actions for personal bodily injury Proposed by Senator Franklin D. Johnson
Bill No. 36-0346 ̶ An act amending title 19 Virgin Islands Code creating the Emergency Medical Services System Proposed by Senator Marise C. James
Bill No. 36-0302 ̶ An act appropriating $1,000,000 from the Community Facilities Trust Fund to the Virgin Islands Diabetes Center of Excellence to finance the establishment of the Chronic Care Management Program in fiscal year 2027 Proposed by Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr.
Bill No. 36-0335 ̶ An act appropriating $600,000 from the St. Croix Capital Improvement Fund to the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources to provide the remaining funding necessary for the Frederiksted Fish Market Rehabilitation Project Proposed by Senator Hubert L. Frederick
Bill No. 36-0357 ̶ An act approving the lease agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands, acting through its Commissioner of the Department of Property and Procurement, and Lovango Islands Holding, LLP d/b/a The Lovango Resort and Beach Club for semi-improved Parcel No. 100-1 Estate Nazareth, No. 1 Red Hook Quarter, St. Thomas Proposed by Senators Milton E. Potter and Ray Fonseca, by Request of the Governor
Bill No. 36-0241 ̶ A resolution honoring and commending Rashida Hodge for her being on a global scale in the field of technology as well as philanthropic efforts towards the people of the Virgin Islands through the establishment of the Rashida Hodge Endowment Fund at the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands Proposed by Senator Milton E. Potter
Bill No. 36-0327 ̶ A resolution honoring and commending the St. Thomas Majorettes for over two decades of service to the Virgin Islands community, by promoting discipline, teamwork, leadership development, academic encouragement, personal growth and mentorship for youth, through the performing art of baton twirling Proposed by Senator Milton E. Potter
Bill No. 36-0349 ̶ An act honoring and commending Austin M. Petersen for his extraordinary artistic contributions to the cultural heritage of the Virgin Islands; formally designating the mural wall along Weymouth Rhymer Highway on St. Thomas as Black Utopia Lane; and appropriating funds for the installation of a plaque at Black Utopia Lane Proposed by Senator Angel L. Bolques, Jr.
Bill No. 36-0350 ̶ A resolution honoring and commending the Virgin Islands Conference of the 16th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church on its 106th anniversary Proposed by Senator Hubert L. Frederick
