What is Kratom?

This month I want to talk about an incredibly important bill that slid underneath the radar all session long.

Virginia’s part time General Assembly session meets for 60 days in even numbered years and 45 days in odd years, which is when most of the activity happens during 12-14 hours days. So, January columns and February columns are easy to write. And March is always going to be the wrap up column, and in April we meet in Richmond again for Reconvene Session to vote on the Governor’s amendments and vetoes. 

In June, I usually tell you about the laws that go into effect on July 1^st- and in July we get to all the laws that I couldn’t get to in June.

May is a tougher column to write. This year was remarkably busy as the General Assembly sent a huge number of bills back to the Governor without adopting her amendments. That means this week is her deadline to decide whether to allow those bills to become law as they passed the General Assembly or to veto them so we can work on making them more to her liking next year.

But that process isn’t done yet. Next month I’ll write about collective bargaining, class action law suits, the adult use marijuana marketplace, the assault weapons ban and several other high profile issues that will be decided by then.

This month I want to talk Kratom.

Until this session I didn’t know what it was. I’d seen it in neon letters as gas stations and vape shops, and figured it was some kind of intoxicant, but other than that I had no idea what it was.

I didn’t know that earlier this year, UVA Health’s Blue Ridge Poison Center published a major national study showing a staggering 1,200% increase in kratom-related poison control calls over the last decade. Researchers documented cases involving seizures, respiratory distress, addiction, and dangerous interactions with other substances, particularly among younger users and people unaware of product potency or contamination risks.

Kratom is a plant-derived substance often sold as a supplement for pain relief, energy, mood enhancement, or anxiety. But unlike regulated pharmaceuticals, these products are frequently sold with inconsistent labeling, uncertain potency, and little meaningful oversight. At the same time, many users argue kratom has helped them manage chronic pain or reduce dependence on opioids.

During the 2026 Session, the General Assembly adopted new laws regulating the sale of kratom products sold in Virginia.

We placed age restrictions, labeling requirements, testing standards, and penalties for adulterated or dangerously concentrated products. Virginia law will now prohibit the sale of kratom products to minors and create new consumer safety standards designed to prevent contaminated or misleadingly marketed products from reaching store shelves.

This week, renewed national attention has followed the tragic death of former San José State basketball player and Memphis Grizzlies veteran Brandon Clarke, prompting many Americans to ask a familiar question: if these products are widely available in gas stations, vape shops, and convenience stores, what protections are actually in place?

As a legislator I was asked, “What’s Virginia doing about this? You need to do something.”

Fortunately, in this case, I was able to answer that we had done something. Having chaired the subcommittee where this bill was first considered, we heard arguments for an outright ban and we also heard arguments that the problem isn’t in the product itself. Issues ranged from how it’s marketed, how kratom derivatives are distilled into more potent forms, and in the absolute absence of any regulation of its packaging, access to minors, and disclosure of ingredients, and potency.

Is the bill we passed this year the final answer on this issue? Probably not. It’s certainly a step in the right direction and we can come back to revisit the issue if we find the rules we wrote this session don’t address the underlying problem or are so burdensome they have unintended consequences for legitimate uses.

I want to give a big tip of the hat to my colleague Delegate Joshua Cole of Fredericksburg for his leadership on this bill, and his willingness to stick to his guns when manufacturers and purveyors of Kratom asked him to slow down and water down his legislation.

I know it feels like we are always chasing the next problem and that government is always hopelessly behind the curve, but in this case our General Assembly and our Governor have shown some leadership and are working to tackle this problem before it gets too big.

The Compromise State Budget

The General Assembly wrapped up its regular session last month, sending 917 bills to the Governor for action. In Virginia, the Governor has until the end of March to sign, veto, or recommend amendments to the legislation we pass.

That’s out of more than 2,000 bills that were introduced. 

I’m proud to report that the 2025 session was a highly successful one for me. According to a recent Virginia Public Access Project analysis, I was ranked the most effective legislator in the state, with 14 of the 16 bills I introduced passing both chambers.

One of the most critical responsibilities of the General Assembly during our short session is adjusting Virginia’s two-year budget. This year, we’re looking at a significant surplus, though the ongoing dismantling of the federal government and workforce could have major implications for those numbers.

I’ve been tapped by the Speaker of the House to serve on a bi-partisan Emergency Committee to work to ascertain exactly what the impact will be on Virginia’s budget and help make policy recommendations to address the potential loss of revenue, providing for the needs of newly unemployed federal workers, and long term strategies to allow our economy to adapt the reality of an eviscerated Federal Government. 

With that in mind, here’s a look at what we accomplished in January and February.

Putting money back in the pockets of hard-working Virginians

The House-Senate compromise budget includes over $1 billion in tax cuts for Virginians, including tax rebates of $200 per individual and $400 per couple by October 2025, plus a permanent increase in the standard deduction to help lower tax burdens.

We’re expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), providing more relief to lower-income households. 

Affordable Housing

I hear about this issue a lot – from constituents and in my day job as a real estate title attorney. To help address it, this budget has significant investments to help Virginians achieve homeownership, address high rental costs for low-income Virginians, and increase the state’s supply of affordable housing.

Specifically, there is a pilot program that will provide direct rental assistance to families in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, so that the cost of housing does not exceed 30% of their income. A new grant program for first-time homebuyers to receive a grant of up to $10,000 was also established to help offset the cost of homeownership.

Public Education

This budget includes a historic $782 million increase in state funding for our K-12 public education system. Along with the already promised 3% raise, teachers and support staff will receive a $1,000 bonus.

We also set aside $150 million to improve school facilities, ensuring safe and modern classrooms for Virginia’s students. And we’re investing in early childhood education by adding 4,500 new early childhood education slots while keeping childcare costs affordable for working families.

Healthcare & Mental Health Services

Better and sustainable healthcare for all Virginians is a top priority. As a result, the budget includes an $869 million investment in health and human services, ensuring more funding for Medicaid, maternal health, and mental health services.

Of this, $41.2 million is earmarked for behavioral health, including crisis services, mental health workforce support, and expanded psychiatric resources. There is also $32.3 million to address critical improvements in state mental health facilities.

In addition, there is $8.7 million to hire additional support coordinators at Community Service Boards to ensure individuals receiving a DD waiver get timely access to services and to help with the increased caseload due to the significant addition of DD waiver slots this biennium.

We added an additional $1 million to expand pilot programs to divert and discharge individuals with dementia from state hospitals to community placements. Fairfax County will be able to expand their pilot program that reduces the risk of social isolation among older Virginians, with the goal of expanding the program statewide.

Environment & Infrastructure

Protecting our environment and shoring up our infrastructure projects are critical to Virginia’s continued economic success. As such, we’re maintaining our commitment to the Chesapeake Bay Cleanup by fully funding agricultural best management practices for the biennium. 

The Stormwater Local Assistance Fund will get $40 million to cover projected costs and the we will fully fund the state share of costs for wastewater treatment plant improvements. We’re also adding $25 million for drinking water grants to localities to upgrade or replace existing drinking water infrastructure.

This budget includes restores $3.3 million for operating support for WMATA.

Safer Communities

There is an additional $5.9 million to support grants for local community violence intervention programs, plus an additional $3.5 million for sexual assault and domestic violence victim agencies and victim witness programs.

New Laws in 2024 Part 2

Ideas for legislation come from so many sources – constituent casework, conversations with a colleague, a community meeting, or even an NPR segment. While not all bill ideas are created equal, the general idea is to improve the lives of all Virginians whether we’re tweaking an existing law to avoid unintended consequences or creating a whole new Code Section to address a larger issue.   

Building on my article at the beginning of the month, here are some additional laws that went into effect on July 1st. Chances are, one or more of them will affect you or someone you know.  

Reducing Costs for Virginians  

Housing affordability and helping families avoid eviction has become a hot topic these last several years. To that end, we extended Virginia’s Eviction Diversion Pilot Program, giving the Virginia Housing Commission more time to assess its effectiveness, and perhaps recommend extending it further.   

If the Governor issues a state of emergency, electric, gas, water, and wastewater utility companies are prohibited from disconnecting service to a residential customer for nonpayment of bills or fees during said emergency. The suspension will last for 30 days after such declaration of the state of emergency.   

To reduce predatory towing, towing operators for a multifamily dwelling unit parking lot must post a written notice on a vehicle, providing at least 48 hours' notice to a resident prior to removing a resident's vehicle. This is specifically for vehicles with an expired registration or expired vehicle inspection sticker. The landlord must also receive a copy of such notice.  

Telephone companies that operate within local correctional facilities must now reinvest their net profits into each facility for educational, recreational, or medical purposes for the benefit of incarcerated individuals. This can include programs related to behavioral health, substance abuse, reentry, and rehabilitative services. This will reduce price gouging in these facilities while helping inmates get their lives back on track.  

Empowering Localities  

Local governments can now adopt an ordinance to support the planting and replacement of trees during the land development process by allowing a tree canopy fund, on both public and private property. The law also makes it easier to collect tree canopy funds while expanding the canopy credit.  

Another tool to curb predatory towing, localities have the authority to create a permitting system for all towing companies to better track them and hold them accountable.  

Counties that that do not maintain their own roads are now allowed to reduce speed limits to less than 25 miles per hour in business or residential districts. Localities can also restore a speed limit that was previously reduced. 

Making Virginia More Welcoming and Inclusive  

Reinforcing our non-discrimination laws, no one who is authorized to issue a marriage license can refuse to fulfill their obligation based on a couple’s sex, gender, or race. The law also requires that these marriages be recognized by the Commonwealth.  

Families that receive assistance through Medicaid or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children are also automatically eligible to receive assistance through the Child Care Subsidy Program.  

We amended the financial eligibility standards for those receiving the Family and Individual Support Waiver, Community Living Waiver, and Building Independence Waiver (the DD Waivers). This increases the number of people eligible to receive DD Waivers and requires a report on how many Virginians could benefit from changes to the eligibility standards.  

To ensure our most Virginians living with disabilities get the support and resources they need, a new law requires state agencies to seek federal authority to update Home and Community Based Services Waivers to remove burdensome regulations on parental caregivers.   

Protecting the Vulnerable  

Emergency services providers must now provide a behavioral health assessment, as well as further examination and treatment, when treating a patient. This will help ensure that a patient’s mental health doesn’t deteriorate while receiving emergency treatment.  

Elderly and vulnerable adults can submit and update a list of trusted persons that financial institutions can contact in the case of suspected financial exploitation. The law also permits financial institutions to train staff on how to identify and report suspected cases of financial exploitation. New training guidelines will be published on January 1, 2026.   

Local school boards are required to develop policies that ensure high school students learn to prevent and reverse an opioid overdose. The policy encourages students to complete this program before graduating.  

If you have questions about one of these new laws, please don’t hesitate to contact my office. Or if you’ve got a bill idea you’d like to share, I’m all ears! Although we’re limited in the number of bills we can introduce (15!) during the 2025 Session, hearing from constituents is always helpful in putting together my legislative agenda.  

2024 Sine Die - Right On Time

Today, we've officially gavelled out of the 2024 General Assembly Session! And you won't believe what we've accomplished.

Education

If all we had time for this session had been to pass bills to set us on a path to make sure Virginia teachers are compensated at least at the national average (HB 187), to protect our at-risk students (HB 825), improve student mental health (HB 919 & HB 603), ease the teacher shortage, and to secure our kids future through a world class education, it would have been a great session.

But wait, there’s more.

We also passed bills to protect the rights and freedom of a Virginians, including the right to obtain contraception (HB 609 & HB 819), to keep their health and medical data private (HB 78 & HB 1539), their right to a marriage license regardless of sex, gender or race of the parties (HB 174), the right to vote in free and fair elections (HB 623).

 

Abortion Access

Even if we’d only had time to block efforts to ban all abortions in Virginia with no exceptions (HB 404), that would have been a great session. But we did all that AND we built an economy that works for Hardworking Virginia families.

 

Economic Justice

We raised the minimum wage (HB 1), removed Jim Crow era exceptions to the minimum wage (HB 157). We established a prescription drug affordability board (HB 570) so Virginians don’t have to choose between paying for essentials like rent and groceries so they can buy their medicines.

 

Gun Violence Prevention

We also had time to pass important bills to protect victims of domestic violence from deadly gun violence (HB 46 & HB 362), to ban weapons of war from Virginia’s streets and neighborhoods (HB 2 & HB 175), to ban dangerous devices that can convert an ordinary firearm into a virtual automatic weapon (HB 22), and to ban the ghost guns (HB 173).

 

A Compromise Budget

In the last few days of session, we only had a handful of outstanding conference reports yet to be signed, and, for the first time in at least 3 years, a completed budget conference report sitting on our desks. Right. On. Time.

A budget that makes important investments in our infrastructure, in our teachers, in our public employees. It directs the Governor to reenter the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), to invest $149.5 million transportation improvements and WMATA, includes  $100 million for the Community Flood Preparedness Fund, $400 million to meet Chesapeake Bay improvement goals, and $25 million for Coastal Risk Storm Management Projects.

We’ve delivered on our promises to Virginians and we got it all done right in time.

 

Now, it’s up to the Governor. He’s on the clock – will he sign these bills and make sure Virginians get the education, the freedoms, the economic opportunities and the environment they want and deserve? Only time will tell.

The September Marathon

It’s been a busy few weeks since my big Labor Day BBQ and September shows no signs of slowing down. Between knocking doors here at home and in swing districts across Virginia, attending a Special Session in Richmond, and preparing for the imminent start of the early voting period, the fall is shaping up to be a marathon of activity as we sprint to the end of the year.

I know I’m mixing my running metaphors here, but stick with me. What I’m trying to say is it’s very busy!

The Budget Deal

On September 6^th, the General Assembly returned to Richmond for a special session on the state budget. The Governor’s agenda of giving big tax breaks to corporations at the expense of public education funding was soundly defeated as the conferees’ budget largely resembled the draft put forth by Senate Democrats at the end of February. While it’s a shame we lost several months of important funding, here are a few highlights from a budget that prioritized education, mental health care, and putting money back in the wallets of hard-working Virginians.

Education

For our teachers (and state employees), there is an additional 2% salary increase that will go into effect later this year. The budget also includes a $645.3 million increase in direct aid to schools with the City of Falls Church getting an additional $307,343. Plus, the Little City will receive $3 million for improvements to Oak Street Elementary School.

As part of a larger effort to increase access to mental healthcare (more below), $11.7 million is allocated for community and school-based children’s mental health services.

Mental Health & Healthcare

Overall, the budget has $155.6 million in new spending for mental health services:

·       $58 million to create crisis receiving centers and crisis stabilization units.

·       $10 million for 15 additional mobile crisis teams.

·       $34 million for permanent supportive housing and housing for individuals with serious mental illness.

·       $18.0 million for a targeted pay raise of an average of 5% for all CSB staff.

·       $10.0 million to contract for psychiatric emergency programs in hospitals.

·       $4.0 million for the Virginia Mental Health Access Program.

This allocation also includes 500 additional Developmental Disability waiver slots, which will go into effect in January 2024. Further, we were able to maintain budget language allowing state funds for abortions in certain fetal abnormality cases.

Environment

The Water Quality Improvement Fund will receive $644 million in the next fiscal year. The Department of Conservation & Recreation’s Agricultural Best Practices will get a total of $338.5 million to help curb pollution and adverse environmental impacts. We’re also investing $30 million in the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund, plus $17.0 million at the Department of Environmental Quality for local stormwater management projects.

Easing the Burden on Hardworking Virginians

Because of an oversight during the regular 2023 Session, there wasn’t a bill introduced for the annual back to school sales tax holiday that usually occurs in August every year. To remedy that, the budget reinstates the program for school supplies, hurricane preparedness, clothing and footwear and energy efficient appliances. This year, the sales tax holiday will be October 20^th to 22^nd.

Those that filed taxes this year will get a taxpayer relief check of either $200 or $400, for single and joint filers respectively. When you file your taxes next year, the Standard Deduction will increase to $8,500 for single filers and $17,000 for joint filers.

The budget includes an additional $15.3 million for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which goes a long way to help those in need.

Continuing to address the Virginia Employment Commission’s backlog of benefits appeals, there is $12.3 million provided for Call Center Support and other necessary administrative items.

The November Election is Coming

I’m sure you’ve seen emails and social media posts about how we are less than 60 days away from the November election. There is a big push to make sure that voters know their options and what’s at stake. So, here’s my early voting PSA:

Early voting begins September 22^nd. Thanks to legislation passed while Democrats controlled the General Assembly, you can vote early in-person or absentee for any reason. The last day to register to vote in the November Election is Tuesday, October 16th. (However, you can register after this date, through Election Day, and vote using a provisional ballot.)

The deadline to apply for a ballot to be mailed to you is Friday, October 27th at 5pm. Check out the City of Falls Church Elections Office webpage (https://www.fallschurchva.gov/135/Voter-Registration-Elections) for more details about early voting and weekend voting dates.

2023 State Budget

As the 2023 short session winds down, the most significant legislation we have left to work on are the two budget bills amending the two-year state budget plan we adopted last year.

As the saying goes, a budget is a reflection of one's priorities, and the House and Senate budgets released last week underscore the stark contrast in priorities between the two chambers and the two parties. With a staggering $1 billion difference between them, the Democrats and Republicans in Richmond clearly have very different visions for Virginia's future. 

The GOP's House Budget 

Unfortunately, the House budget, crafted by Republicans, falls short in meeting the needs of hardworking Virginians. At the heart of the budget are over $350 million in corporate tax breaks, which disproportionately benefit big businesses rather than the average Virginian. This, in turn, puts critical services like our schools, roads, and healthcare in jeopardy. It is evident that the Republican party is more concerned with appeasing their corporate donors and extremist base than ensuring that middle-class Virginians have the resources they need to succeed.

At a time when inflation is causing significant strain for many households, it is simply unacceptable that the House budget proposes middle-class Virginians pay a higher tax rate than our wealthiest corporations. As we delve deeper into the budget negotiations, we will be keeping a watchful eye on this discrepancy and advocating for the needs of all Virginians.

The House budget is a cause for concern on multiple fronts. Notably, it includes a provision for $50 million to be directed towards lab schools, which diverts much-needed attention and funding away from our public school system. Additionally, the House budget eliminates language that allows for state-funded abortions in certain fetal abnormality diagnoses - a critical access point that is currently allowed in state law. This, coupled with a $13.4 million reduction in the VA Cannabis Control Authority budget, presents a worrying picture of the House GOP's priorities.

The House budget also fails to allocate funds for important programs, such as the Firearm Violence & Prevention Center, the Safer Communities Program, and the Cover All Kids healthcare initiative. These are just a few of the more prominent disparities between the House and Senate budgets. 

Working to Fix the Budget

As Deputy Floor Leader, I worked with Leader Don Scott to improve the House version of the budget. Together, we had amendments drafted and introduced that would have addressed real issues facing our communities - issues that Virginians care deeply about, such as school funding, abortion access, gun violence prevention, and protecting our democracy. It was our hope that these amendments would help bridge the gap between the House and Senate budgets, ultimately leading to a more equitable and just budget that serves all Virginians.

Specifically, our amendments would have kept the corporate tax rate at its current level and allocated the revenue to fully fund our school systems in Virginia. They also would have kept the top tax bracket the same as it is today and used the additional revenue to raise teacher pay to the national average - an 11% increase over what teachers in Virginia are paid today.

None of these amendments were adopted, but it gave us an opportunity to showcase our priorities while forcing a vote on these important issues. Although I voted against this version of the budget, the process is far from over. There is still time to make changes as the House and Senate budget conferees will have to come together to close the budget gap, giving both Chambers another opportunity to vote on a better budget (we hope!). Either way, the General Assembly is constitutionally bound to create a balanced budget, which always makes the last few weeks of session interesting. 

Weekend Update

Last weekend while I was back in the district for a few days, I hosted office hours at Northside Social and greeted dozens of constituents who stopped by to say hello, lobby me for budget and legislative priorities, or simply thank me for serving. I look forward to scheduling a number of in-person post-session events to update you all and get your feedback on how session went.

Finally, I wanted to take a moment to thank the Dranesville District Democratic Committee for hosting an amazing brunch and straw poll, which I was pleased to attend!

I’m proud to announce that I received more overall votes than any other candidate in any race in the mostly-just-for-fun straw poll and outpaced my likely primary opponent with over 98% of the vote.

Abortion is Healthcare

Protecting rights to abortion care is the reason I am in the General Assembly today.

That’s how I opened my May column, when we only had a leaked draft Supreme Court opinion indicating that, in spite of their assurances to the contrary, recently confirmed justices were prepared to overturn Roe vs. Wade.

Just a few weeks later, the U.S. Supreme Court issued the Dobbs decision, overturning Roe v. Wade, stripping women of the constitutional right to an abortion, effectively giving each state legislature control over the future of abortion access.

Thirteen states already had “trigger bans” on the books, ready to kick in soon after Roe v. Wade became obsolete. Since the June 24th Dobbs v. Jackson decision, ten states have banned nearly all abortions, with little but mostly no exceptions for rape or incest. You can bet that in the coming months, there will be more attempts to limit or outright ban abortion access across the country, including in Virginia.

Although Virginia’s Governor was seemingly non-committal on the campaign trail about his stance on abortion, he gave a clear signal of his intentions earlier this summer, encouraging members of the Virginia GOP to legislate an abortion ban as soon as possible and announcing a small group of legislators had been tasked with drafting a bill.

With the General Assembly set to resume the 2022 Special Session 1 on September 7th, rumors are swirling that such a bill (or bills) will be introduced next month, in an effort to stir things up before the mid-term congressional election.

With the Republican Majority in the House and the Democrats’ thin hold on the Senate, things aren’t looking good. The Governor has made it clear that he will sign any bill restricting access to abortion that reaches his desk. He has said he is looking for a 15-week ban but will settle for a 20-week ban – and that he thinks he can get some Democrats to go along and make such a ban “bi-partisan.”

Given that we are in Special Session only, we are only scheduled to be back in Richmond for a day, the prospects for navigating the procedural hurdles necessary to pass such a bill this fall seem dim. Actually passing it may not be the goal, though.

The Governor may want the bill floating out there during the mid-terms to increase his personal profile and score him some hits on Fox News.

Regardless of whether he tries to pull such a stunt in September or not, or how much traction he gains from it, we can expect to see a wide variety of anti-abortion bills introduced and debated during the upcoming 2023 legislative session. Some may even pass the GOP controlled House of Delegates.

For our part, I expect Democrats to introduce a Constitutional Amendment to codify the right to an abortion during the 2023 Session. Given the makeup of the General Assembly and the Governor's push for a 15-week ban, it will be an uphill battle to get this passed in the House and the Senate. If it did pass, then it would have to pass the General Assembly again during the 2024 General Assembly Session. After passing this second time, then it would be on the ballot in November 2024, so that voters could decide if it would be included in the Virginia Constitution.

Recently, Kansas voters defeated a Constitutional Amendment that would have ended the right to an abortion in the state. And the margin wasn’t small either, in fact, 58% of voters voted “No” on the banning of abortions in Kansas. That is a whopping 165,000 more voters than the other side received.

I am hopeful that what happened in Kansas foreshadows how hard folks are willing to fight to protect their rights in other states, including Virginia. With states once again on the front line of this issue, I am even more committed to protecting abortion access in Virginia.

I am often asked what folks can do in the meantime. Voting for like-minded elected officials who support your shared values, including the right to abortion access, is crucial. But also talking with your friends, family, and neighbors about these issues goes a long way - we must have these honest conversations. Beyond this, donating and volunteering with organizations that promote or provide abortion access delivers direct aid to those who need it right here in Virginia. Aside from Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, there is the Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project, Blue Ridge Abortion Fund, Hampton Roads Reproductive Justice League, and the New River Abortion Access Fund.

Final Budget Highlights

Now I'll be bold
As well as strong
And use my head alongside my heart
...
And I'll kneel down
Wait for now
I'll kneel down
Know my ground
....

'Cause I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you

~ Mumford & Sons, "I Will Wait"
Thanks to you, hundreds of thousands of Virginians who work just enough to stay out of poverty, but don't earn enough to be able to afford health insurance, will be able to get healthcare through expanded Medicaid coverage next year.

After 6 years of failed attempts, and now 3 months after the House of Delegates did it, the Senate of Virginia finally passed a state budget with Medicaid expansion! I was pleased to once again vote YES on the Senate version, which will now go to Governor Northam for amendments, line item vetoes, and ultimately his signature.

Elections matter. And when we vote, we win AND we can make landmark policy changes that make Virginia better for everyone.

Of course, Medicaid expansion is not the only thing the 2018-2020 Biennial Budget accomplishes. With the draw down of federal money from expansion coupled with the higher than projected state revenues, we were able to fund quite a few good things.

Budget Highlights

Healthcare

Medicaid Expansion | Extends coverage to nearly 400,00 Virginians with incomes up to 138% above the federal poverty level pursuant to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) | Effective January 2019

I/DD Waiver Slots | Adds 1,319 waivers slots and 50 reserve slots to further reduce the waiting list, which is about 6,500 children and adults

Mental Health | $191.7 million to address capacity issues through discharge planning, assisted living slots and community support teams, including $84.1 million for community mental health services

LARC Pilot Program | $6 million for the Virginia Department of Health to expand access to long acting reversible contraception (LARCs) for low-income populations

Education

Teacher Raises | 3% raise for school positions | Effective July 2019

Tuition Assistance Grants | Increases TAG funding to $3,350

Direct Aid to Public Education | Increased by $166.3 million from the General Fund and the Lottery above the original introduced budget

Per Pupil Funding | Includes $4.6 to increase the per pupil amount to $6,326, an increase of $201 per student

Student Loan Ombudsman | Includes funding to establish the Office of the Student Loan Ombudsman, which will assist borrowers with understanding their rights and responsibilities regarding their loans as well as resolve complaints involving loan servicers

Transportation & Public Safety

Law Enforcement Raises | Targeted salary increase for some law enforcement and deputy sheriffs | Effective January 2019

I-66 Reverse Commuter Tolling | This Republican amendment was not included in the budget and will not go into effect.

Government

State Employee Raises | 2% raise for state employees and 2% additional merit salary adjustment for state employees with 3+ years of service | Effective July 2019

Judicial Branch

Judicial Vacancies | Includes funding to fill all current vacancies across the state

Special Dockets | Dedicated funding to expand existing or establish new mental health dockets and to increase the number of drug courts

You can view the full compromise budget here.

The Governor's Budget

It’s going to be a much different year in the Virginia House of Delegates in 2017 with Democrats having secured at least a 50-50 tie in the Chamber pending the outcome of a disputed election in Fredericksburg.

Democrats seem likely to be in a position to insist on a power sharing arrangement that allows us to Chair committees and possibly control the speaker’s gavel. As of this writing many of those details remain to be worked out, but be assured that I will revisit them in upcoming columns as session approaches.

Meanwhile, earlier this week outgoing Governor Terry McAuliffe unveiled his final biennial state budget, and in it, his last and best effort to provide health care to the over 400,000 Virginians who make too much money to qualify for traditional Medicaid coverage and not enough to afford even subsidized insurance in a health care exchange or in the open market by expanding Medicaid in Virginia.

The two-year budget plan relies on savings that will be realized only if we accept the roughly $6 million dollars a day that Medicaid expansion would provide and use it to pay for essential services that we've paid for from the General Fund instead for the last four years.

Two years ago, the Governor introduced a budget that used the savings to be realized from expanding Medicaid to lower the state's corporate tax rate. The thought was that Republicans love a good corporate tax cut more than they hated Obamacare, and that would give them cover to accept Medicaid expansion while doing something that would help McAuliffe lure more companies to Virginia to help diversify our economy.

Only he miscalculated. It turned out Republicans hated Obamacare more than they loved the idea of cutting corporate taxes.

This year the approach is different, and with the new make-up of the General Assembly, which now likely includes at last 50 Democrats, and possibly 51 depending on the result of pending recounts and lawsuits, it just might work.

Overall, things are looking good. Revenue forecasts are looking up and our unemployment rate is down to 3.6% - the lowest in nearly a decade. General Fund collections exceeded the official forecast by more than $134 million. Over the next biennium, the General Fund revenue forecast is just over $42 billion.

The Governor’s top budget priorities are funding vital public services like the Standards of Quality for public education and the existing Medicaid program.

Other highlights from this year's budget include:

• Funding to automate the teacher license application system and to support principal recruitment and retention in our hardest-hit school divisions.
• Updating Virginia’s education formulas including the Standards of Quality, which will add $436 million in education funding over the next two year.
• In the area of workforce development, $1 million in new funding is added to the budget for two-week cybersecurity camps dedicated to exposing high school students to careers in this rapidly growing industry.
• Children can’t learn if they are hungry, so we’ve added $2 million to support our breakfast incentive funding, which has dramatically improved participation in our high-need elementary schools.
• There is $4 million in increased funding for the New Economy Workforce Credential tuition assistance program to address the high demand of students wishing to participate in the program.
• In an effort to make Virginia a little greener, $2 million to support the development of the solar industry in Virginia. $110 million in Commonwealth Transportation Capital Projects Revenue Bonds for mass transit projects in FY 2020 to maintain the state’s commitments to these services.
• In addition to expanding Medicaid, the budget provides Full funding for the revised Medicaid forecast for foster care and adoption programs and Children’s Services Act caseloads as well as funding to support 825 additional Medicaid waiver slots over the course of the biennium for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
• I’m excited about funds that will allow Virginia to continue to make strides in the way we treat people living with Mental Illness in Virginia, including $11 million to begin primary care screening and monitoring at the Community Service Boards, $1 million for the creation and expansion of mental health dockets in jurisdictions with high caseloads, $2.9 million to establish special units and programs for seriously mentally ill inmates and $10 million to support medication-assisted treatment for individuals who seek help with opioid addiction, through our Community Service Boards.
• Finally, the budget includes a 2% raise for state employees, including teachers, law enforcement, and state agency workers.

In year’s past a budget that includes these priorities might have been viewed as Dead on Arrival. With a 50/50 House of Delegates, well, not so fast. Should be an interesting session.

Petition for Paid Sick Days

This is the moment
Tonight is the night, we’ll fight till it’s over
So we put our hands up like the ceiling can’t hold us
Like the ceiling can’t hold us

~ Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, "Can't Hold Us"


You may have seen the recent news reports about a norovirus outbreak at the Chipotle here in Northern Virginia. Apparently, one contagious employee who made the decision to come to work sick resulted in nearly 100 people being infected.

Why do people make the decision to come to work when they are sick?

Often people fear losing their job, or they can't afford to lose a day's pay. Nearly 42% of Virginians don't have paid sick days or paid time off to care for themselves or their children.

Federal policy makers have proposed the Healthy Families Act to make paid sick leave a national mandate. Unfortunately, given the way things are going in Congress these days, it's unlikely to move forward any time soon.

Once again, that means it is up to each state to figure out the best way to solve the problem and avoid outbreaks like we saw last week in Northern Virginia.

That's why I've introduced legislation and budget amendments to expand paid sick days and paid time off in Virginia.

Why are paid sick days important?

Paid sick days reduce the spread of contagious diseases like the flu (and norovirus!), emergency medical expenses, and employee turnover. Furthermore, communities of color and single parents are disproportionately affected by lack of access to paid sick days.

As a Delegate, I take my role of working to better our community and the lives of all Virginians seriously. And I believe that the majority of Virginians agree that offering paid sick days is is the right thing to do.

If increasing the number of Virginia workers with paid sicks days is important to you, please sign the petition and share it with you friends and neighbors!