We've wrapped up the first full week of the 2024 General Assembly Session and things are moving quickly.
It was another busy week of meeting with advocacy groups and lobbyists on bills that are important to them. Starting on MLK Day, traditionally the biggest lobby day of the session, there were a lot of folks visiting the building, advocating on a variety of issues from gun violence prevention to criminal sentencing reform and from environmental protection to mental health care.
New Chair Appointments
Chairman Bulova appointed me as Chair of the Housing & Consumer Protection Subcommittee of the General Laws Committee and Chairman Hope appointed me as Chair of the Civil Law Subcommittee of the Courts of Justice Committee. These are two of the busiest subcommittees in the legislature and is in addition to my role as Chair of the Public Safety Committee. We had our first meetings last week and I'm looking forward to continuing our work this session.
Keep reading for a legislative update on my bills, information on the budget amendments I've introduced, and a few more items!
Legislation Update |
Of the 22 bills I've introduced this session, 7 were heard in committee last week and are all advancing through the legislative process quite nicely. HB 40 | Prohibits the use of campaign funds for personal use. This bill was heard in the Privileges & Elections Committee on Friday, passing unanimously. It will now go to Appropriations for further review, but I am confident it will make it to the House Floor for a vote. HB 54 | Allows the City of Falls Church to change their charter to allow residents who aren't citizens to participate in local boards and commissions. The City has asked for this update so that more residents can participate in local government. It has passed the Counties, Cities, and Towns Committee and will reach the House Floor for a vote early this week. HB 63 | Criminal cases; request for a jury to ascertain punishment. This bill simply allows people accused of crimes to make informed decisions about how they want to exercise their rights. It provides some flexibility for defendants to waive jury sentencing up until the time of the sentencing hearing. It passed Courts of Justice Committee with bipartisan support. HB 81 | Abolishes the common- law crime of suicide. This bill is a common-sense update to the Code of Virginia, repealing an obsolete section. It's working its way through the Courts of Justice Committee. HB 173 | Prohibits the manufacturing, importing, or selling of ghost guns. I've been working on this legislation with gun violence prevention advocates (both local and nationally) for several years to ban these unserialized firearm components in the Commonwealth. It passed the Public Safety Committee on Friday morning and should have a full House vote later this week. HB 315 | Department of Medical Assistance Services; lien for claim of personal injuries. This bill brings Virginia in compliance with federal and state Medicaid regulations relating to recouping funds from third-party recoveries such as personal injury settlements or judgments. These regulations state that fund recovery must be within 60 days, but DMAS currently takes 12 to 18 months. Courts of Justice passed this bill unanimously. As always, you can view my full legislative agenda here. |
My Budget Amendments |
All budget amendments from members to the Governor's introduced budget were due this passed Friday. I put in a few to ensure that any of my bills that pass and have a fiscal impact will subsequently have funding in the state budget. Item 124 #14h | Falls Church Grow Your Own On behalf of Falls Church City Public Schools, I introduced this budget amendment for a FCCPS "grow your own" teacher recruitment and retention program. This program will include: student development to become a teacher, funding for FCCPS employees who participate in an ESOL endorsement cohort at George Mason University; enhancing the current teacher mentor program; providing job shadowing opportunities for students; and provide signing bonuses for teachers hired from HBCUs. Item 132 #2h | SCHEV - Restore Student Loan Ombudsman The Governor's budget removed funding for the the Student Loan Ombudsman Office, which i helped establish. The Ombudsman provides timely assistance to student borrowers of any student education loan in the Commonwealth. This amendment restores that funding. Item 4-5.04 #1h | Firearm Buyback Programs - Conditions and Restrictions on Expenditures The purpose of firearm buyback programs is to reduce the number of guns in circulation. This amendment prohibits any state agency or local political subdivision from contracting with companies that do not dispose of all firearm components for the purpose of a firearm buyback program. You can view all the budget amendments that House Members introduced on the budget website. |