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Sen. Aaron Rouse




Monday, January 29th, 2024
Weekly Newsletter

Dear friend,

This was the third week of Session for the Virginia General Assembly. With less than two weeks left until crossover, the pace and review of bills have picked up in our respective committees. I’ll provide an overview of the big topics addressed by the Senate and update you on the status of my legislation.

On Monday, I was proud to welcome the Virginia Chapter of the American Heart Association to the Senate Chamber. I’m proud to champion legislation with them to require schools to develop a cardiac emergency response plan. Thank you for your work to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.

[link removed] [[link removed]] Today, we welcomed the @AmericanHeartVA [[link removed]] to the Senate. I’m proud to champion legislation with them to require schools to develop a cardiac emergency response plan. Thank you for your work to be a relentless force for a world of longer healthier lives.
Aaron Rouse on Twitter [[link removed]]
8:44 PM · Jan 22, 2024

Monday, January 22nd, also marked the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, where SCOTUS recognized a woman’s right to make their own healthcare decisions. Post-Dobbs ruling, voters in Virginia showed up in support of reproductive freedom. We must continue to protect access in our Commonwealth.

# [#]
Senator Rouse standing with the Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, Jamie Lockhart

In the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, we passed important legislation through the committee such as:

*
SB
91:
Paid
sick
leave;
home
health
workers
providing
agency-directed
services.
Requires
employers
to
provide
paid
sick
leave
to
home
health
workers
who
provide
agency-directed
services.
Under
current
law,
employers
are
only
required
to
provide
paid
sick
leave
to
home
health
workers
who
provide
consumer-directed
services.
*
SB
507:
Health
care
providers
&
grocery
store
workers;
employers
to
provide
paid
sick
leave.
Requires
employers
to
provide
paid
sick
leave
to
health
care
providers
and
grocery
store
workers.

# [#]
Senator Rouse provided comments during the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee.

Creation of retail markets for marijuana in Virginia

My major legislation before the Senate this week was SB448, which establishes a framework for the creation of a retail marijuana market. In 2021, the General Assembly legalized the growing, possession, consumption, and sharing of marijuana. However, the General Assembly failed to create a regulated adult-use market to allow for the legal sale of marijuana.

Since that time, we’ve seen a major expansion of the marijuana black market where unregulated, untested, unlabeled, and untaxed products are illegally sold, oftentimes to minors. We are hearing from law enforcement from Scott County to Virginia Beach that this is turning into a true public safety and public health crisis.

Regardless of where you stand on marijuana legalization, we can all agree that we are never going to re-criminalize marijuana and, therefore, it’s up to us to finally create a well-regulated adult-use market.

My legislation to create a retail marijuana market will:

*
provide
opportunities
for
equal
access
to
this
new
market
by
small
businesses
and
medical
marijuana
companies;
*
give
adults
safe
access
to
this
legal
product;
*
provide
justice
to
communities
ravaged
by
poverty
and
prior
drug
policy;
*
create
good
paying
jobs;
and,
*
generate
tax
revenue
for
localities
and
the
Commonwealth.

In this bill, no one applicant is preferred over another, and there are no head starts. It prevents multi-state operators from monopolizing the market and ensures that all licensees have an equal and meaningful opportunity to participate in the market on day one.

SB448 is a commonsense approach to finally accomplishing what the legislature set out to do back in 2021. Since then, we’ve seen what an unregulated cannabis market has done to Virginia. We cannot continue to eliminate opportunities for Virginians to earn a living, start a business, and create true generational wealth.

[link removed] [[link removed]] . @AaronRouseVaBch: [[link removed]] As someone who grew up in a historically-disadv. comm'y, w a parent who's incarcerated, & as a small biz owner, I would not put my name on a [marijuana retail] bill that didn't have a social equity component, didn't ensure everybody had a shot at a free market.
9:54 AM · Jan 25, 2024

Recent Wason Center polling suggests that 57% of Virginians support the retail sales of marijuana.

I’ve consistently fought for a regulatory structure for sale of marijuana that is inclusive of Virginia’s small and minority businesses. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate and House, both sides of the aisle, to get this bill to the Governor’s desk.

# [#]
Rehabilitation and Social Services vote on SB 448

SB 448 was presented to the Cannabis Subcommittee of Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services and incorporated with Senator Ebbin’s bill, SB423. It was reported from the full Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services with bipartisan support (10-Y 5-N). It now heads to the Senate Courts and Justice Committee.

[link removed] [[link removed]] My bill to legalize the retail sale of recreational marijuana is centered around leveling the playing field. It ensures everyone has a fair shot and enters this new market at the same time.
[link removed] [[link removed]]
9:51 AM · Jan 26, 2024

Aaron in the News

Senate subcommittee takes 'step one' in retail sale of marijuana in Virginia (wtvr.com) [[link removed]]

" It's about getting Virginia's actual opportunity to have a small business to partake in this environment while understanding that there's certainly an equity component that's involved in this, " Rouse said.

Retail sales of recreational marijuana one step closer to becoming a reality in Virginia | WRIC ABC 8News [[link removed]]

“ My bill is certainly one to provide a framework for Virginians, and small business owners, and those who want to start a business in the cannabis industry — without being drowned out by the big guys, ” Rouse said.

Virginian Pilot, "Virginia Beach’s charter change over its election system hits speed bump at General Assembly" [[link removed]]

As you all may know from my previous newsletter, my bill to change Virginia Beach’s city charter to adopt the 10-1 voting system has passed the Senate and is waiting to be docketed in the House of Delegates after crossover. Unfortunately, there are efforts in the House of Delegates to delay the House patron’s bill from moving forward. I stand with the Virginia Beach NAACP in support of the 10-1 voting system. The 10-1 system has yielded the most diverse, and youngest, city council in our city’s history. Stay tuned for additional updates regarding this important topic.

Virginia Beach NAACP concerned about voting system lawsuit | 13newsnow.com [[link removed]]

State Sen. Aaron Rouse is carrying the Senate version of the bill, which has already unanimously passed the State Senate. However, while the measure did pass through a House committee stage late last week, Virginia Beach Delegate Barry Knight and Delegate Anne Tata voted "nay" on the motion.

Events and Constituent Meetings!

# [#]

Senator Rouse meeting with representatives from Hampton Roads Transit

# [#]

Senator Rouse meeting with representatives from the American Heart Association

# [#]

Senator Rouse meeting with NAMI Coastal Virginia

Upcoming Events

TWO WEEKS AWAY! No matter who you’re rooting for, come hang out with me at my Super Bowl Watch Party at The Park RVA in Richmond. This is a FREE event. Doors open at 5:30 pm, food and drinks on us. RSVP HERE. Please call reach out to Rachel Dyer at [email protected] or 804-761-6950, if you have any questions.

[[link removed]]

Stay Connected

We look forward to sharing updates with you throughout the remainder of the session. To contact me or my staff, please reach out to [email protected] [[email protected]] or via phone at (804) 698-7522.

If you plan on visiting the General Assembly during the session, you can arrange a meeting with my office, attend committee meetings, and sit in the gallery of the Senate or House to watch us on the floor.

To keep up with all the action at the General Assembly throughout the coming weeks follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

Have a great week,
Aaron



PAID FOR BY ROUSE FOR SENATE

Rouse for Senate
P.O. Box 2864
Virginia Beach, VA 23450
United States
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