Committee clears bill to set two‑year terms for Historic Preservation Commission members
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Summary
The Rules and Judiciary Committee voted to forward Bill No. 36‑0140, which replaces staggered one‑ and two‑year terms with a two‑year term for all Historic Preservation Commission members and corrects a fund name in statute.
The Committee on Rules and Judiciary voted on Oct. 23, 2025 to report Bill No. 36‑0140 to the full Legislature. The measure amends Title 3, Chapter 22, §403 of the Virgin Islands Code to state that ‘‘all members of the commission shall serve a term of two years.’’
Sponsor Senator Avery L. Lewis described the bill as a clarification to remove ambiguity about member terms. Director Sean L. Krueger of the Virgin Islands State Historic Preservation Office testified in support on behalf of Commissioner Jean Pierre Oriel. Krueger told the committee the change would bring parity and noted he and the commissioner also recommended correcting subsection G to rename a fund as the “Virgin Islands Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Revolving Fund” (Title 33, §3095) to match current law.
Senators asked whether the bill would create immediate turnovers for sitting members; Krueger said a reset was practical in his view and that the statute already allows members to continue serving until a successor is appointed and qualified. Committee members also discussed the commission’s recent funding gains after years of underfunding.
The committee moved the bill, held a roll call and recorded four yeas with three absences. The measure will be forwarded to the full Legislature for further consideration.