LAW 492 - Hot Topics in Virginia Administrative Law

The rising cost and demand for energy by a growing population and an economy reliant on more data centers as well as clean energy mandates are transforming the energy landscape in the Commonwealth. Recent bank failures have raised questions on the state of community banks and their role in today’s economy. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have raised questions about what is regulated, when, and by whom. In the United States, train derailments and pipeline explosions, along with the resulting impacts to the affected communities, have drawn increasing media attention. Rising medical costs and our aging population have given rise to tremendous changes in the insurance industry, both at the state and federal levels. The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) has broad regulatory oversight and authority in the areas of energy, business entities, banks and financial institutions, rail and utility safety, insurance, and more. This one-credit course will examine a wide range of topics in administrative law from energy and banking regulations to rail and pipeline safety regulation, from securities and insurance regulation to general Virginia administrative topics such as public contracting and access to public records. Evaluation will be P/F and based on class participation and an end-of-course writing assignment.