
VIRGINIA — A Virginia bill banning all travel to and through five of the state’s 27 major airports is scheduled for a vote Thursday.
The bill would also bar all Virginians from using or transferring a mobile phone or other electronic device into a Virginian airport.
The Virginia State Assembly passed a similar bill last year and is scheduled to consider a similar measure this year.
A coalition of local, state and national organizations is fighting the bill.
Virginia has not had an unusually large-scale hurricane since the 2008-2009 winter storm, which caused a total of nearly $1 billion in damage and forced tens of thousands of evacuations.
The governor, Terry McAuliffe, and his top lieutenant, Robert F. McDonnell, have called it a national emergency.
The governor’s office said the bill will allow local governments to quickly determine whether to expand their emergency operations.
Virginia has seen a large influx of people from around the country after Hurricane Matthew hit.
The state has been the site of frequent outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya.