Dear Friends and Constituents,
Another busy week at the Capitol as the mid-point of the 2025 General Assembly Session occurs on Tuesday, February 4th. Referred to as “Cross Over”, it’s the point at which both the Senate and the House of Delegates exchange the bills that have passed in their respective chambers during the past four weeks. Six of my 22 original Bills are headed to theHouse on Tuesday to proceed through the House vetting process before proceeding to the Governor. Details of the status of each of my 22 Bills are below.
While busy, the week was not unsurprisingly dominated once again by the Democrat controlled legislation process. In addition to passing several controversial bills that could have significant implications for public safety, the economy, and regulatory frameworks going forward, the Senate Democrat majority also rejected nine of Governor Youngkin’s appointments to key governing Boards throughout the state. I, along with my Republican colleagues in the Senate, continue to argue and vote against all the Democrats’ historically faulted progressive bills. The liberal advantage in each of the Committees and on the floor in each Chamber is the result of the razor thin Democrat majority in the Senate and the House which makes it easy for them to push through all legislation that follows the progressive narrative. The limitation of passing legislation represents a conservative outcome is ongoing. Most Republican bills are now routinely killed with what has become a terminating verdict by the majority:“Pass by Indefinitely”, most occurring with a party-line vote.
The amount of spending proposed by the Democrats on “green initiatives”through 2035 is staggering and will be passed on to you and me in our monthly electric bills. The VCEA Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) has already led to a significant rise in monthly electricity costs and will account for almost $10billion in spending in the next 10 years.
It is apparent that much of what the Democrats are pushing will drive higher energy bills for years to come. My colleagues and I are engaging stakeholders on all the many sides of the energy issue in order to address consumer energy demands and related pocketbook issues. More to report on this topic next week.
Legislative Progress: Current status of my bills
Bills that have passed the full Senate and advancing to the House
of Delegates on Cross Over, February 4th:
SB 903: Enhances animal welfare and consumer
protections by expanding regulations on the sale and
procurement of animals by pet shops in Virginia.
SB 905: Establishes the Internet Safety Advisory Council tasked
with developing policies and instructional practices for
Internet Safety Education for grades K-12.
SB 907: Ensures the humane treatment of nonhuman primates by
mandating their release to certified sanctuaries when
they are no longer needed.
SB 908: Mandates the inclusion of cyberbullying policies within
Student Conduct codes for Virginia public schools.
SB 913: Ensures ethical procurement practices by prohibiting
Virginia’s public entities from awarding contracts for
imported goods produced through forced or child labor.
SB 1256 (conformed into SB 932): Allows localities to include
accessory dwelling units (ADU’s) and “tiny home”
developments in their comprehensive plans as part of
residential development designations.
SB 1293: Directs the Virginia Board of Education and local school
boards to provide annual training to instructional
personnel and school board employees who are
regularly in contact with students with Autism.
Bills that have been rejected in Senate Committees and will no longer be considered during this Session:
SB 902: Removes penalties when utilities cannot meet the
Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) compliance
obligations.
SB 904: Eliminates the cap on medical malpractice recovery in
actions against health care providers for acts of
malpractice against children 10 years old or younger.
SB 906: Updates Virginia’s campaign finance disclosure
requirements to enhance transparency in political
advertising and independent expenditure.
SB 909: Authorizes the advertising of alcoholic beverages and
non-tobacco nicotine product advertisements in motor
sports facilities.
SB 910: Provides for a phased approach to eliminate the
Certificate of Public Need program requirements for many
categories of medical care facilities and services in
Virginia that will expand services in our rural areas.
SB 911: Mandates commercial and private pesticide applicators
to provide detailed information about aerial applications
to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
and notify beekeepers within a five-mile radius at least
five days in advance.
SB 912: Directs the Safety and Health Codes Board to adopt
regulations to establish a THC impairment standard and
testing protocol to be used exclusively on manufacturing
and utility work sites.
SB 914: Significantly increases the penalty for the sexual assault
of a child under 18 years of age. Specifically, it imposes a
mandatory minimum sentence of life imprisonment
without the possibility of parole for such offenses.
SB 915: Enables school boards in Virginia to partner with private
institutions of higher education to expand industry and
trade-focused education and training opportunities for
high school students.
SB 1246: Establishes The Virginia Emergency Management
Preparedness and Capabilities Grant Program and Fund
to provide financial assistance to local political subdivisions for improving emergency management capabilities.
SB 1284: Strengthens campus security at Virginia’s public higher
education institutions by establishing clear prohibitions
against terrorist organizations and their supporters.
SB 1399: Proposes an amendment to the Code of Virginia to
expand the definition of "lobbyist” to include individuals
who represent public institutions of higher education for
the purpose of lobbying.
SB 1458: Permits owners of passenger cars in Virginia, who are
required to display two license plates, the option to display
only one rear license plate.
SB 1478: Directs the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
to study the efficacy of an expansion of the School of
Dentistry of Virginia Commonwealth University’s
facilities into a building owned by the Commonwealth
located in Southern Virginia.
SB 1481: Requires public institutions of higher education in
Virginia operating animal testing facilities to provide an
annual report detailing specific aspects of their animal
testing operations.
My SB 1246 was rejected in the Finance and Appropriations Committee. The bill would have established the Virginia Emergency Management Preparedness and Capabilities Grant Program and Fund designed to provide financial assistance to local political subdivisions for improving emergency management capabilities. The bill also tasked the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to convene a work group to study funding, review national best practices and provide recommendations for long-term program funding by October 1, 2025. The purpose of SB 1246 was to build on the current system of Emergency Preparedness functions by equipping localities with the resources necessary to address disasters, technological emergencies, and other hazards, ultimately saving lives and protecting property. This bill remains a priority for me and will be re-introduced in the 2026 session.
Community Engagement
Many thanks to everyone who visited my General Assembly office this past week! I know first-hand just how far the drive can be – thanks for taking the time to stop by and allowing me to directly hear about your concerns and address any questions that you may have.
Visitors to our office:
Jason Davis, Blue Ridge Regional Airport, Henry County
Stephanie Lovelace, Franklin County Education Association,
Franklin County
Dorothy Carter, Virginia EducationAssociation, Henry County
Virginia Edwards, Waddell Nursing andRehabilitation, Galax City
Dawn Smith, Grayson County
Aaron Whitener, State Farm Insurance,Patrick County
Sandra Stone, Patrick CountyTreasurer, Patrick County
Glennda Morse, Patrick County Commissioner of the Revenue,
Patrick County
G. Wasley Poole, Wythe County Public Schools, Wytheville
Mark Burnette, Carroll County PublicSchools, Carroll County
Champ Hardie, Henry County PublicSchools, Henry County
Shannon Blevins, Wise County
Steve Helms, Primland, Patrick County
Delta Williams, Pittsylvania
Looking Ahead
As we continue our work through theFebruary 22nd adjournment of the 2025 General Assembly Session, my team and I remain focused on advancing legislation that serves our district's needs while promoting responsible governance for the Commonwealth. Despite the session's challenges, including recent weather disruptions, we're making steady progress on your behalf!
Staying Connected
My office is always available to assist you by contacting: Aaron Arnold, Legislative Aide, or JoAnn Lankford, Administrative Assistant, with any questions that you may have regarding this session and constituent services in general. Phone: (804) 698-7507 Email: [email protected]
Thank you for the privilege of serving as your voice in Richmond. I remain committed to representing our district's values and interests with dedication and integrity.
