This week, Delegate Danica Roem's HB 2132 reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (13-8), and then passed in the House of Delegates 58-42. It has now been referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. We hope to make this the year that Virginia becomes the 13th state in the country to ban the LGBTQ panic defense. Senator Mamie Locke and Senator Jennifer McClellan's SB 1138, which would modernize laws that currently criminalize people living with HIV, made a triumphant step forward. Throughout this week, we heard much discussion about this bill on the Senate Floor, and finally late Friday evening, it passed in the Senate 21-17. This is a huge victory. It has now been referred to the Committee for Courts of Justice in the House of Delegates. Senator George Barker’s SB 1366, which would require the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services to include LGBTQ older Virginians in the category of greatest social need as defined in the Older Americans Act, passed in the Senate 23-16. This bill is crucial in the support of older LGBTQ Virginians. It has now been referred to the House of Delegates Committee on Health, Welfare, and Institutions. Additionally, Senator Jennifer McClellan’s SB 1310 reported from the Finance and Appropriations Committee with amendments 12-4 and then passed on the Senate floor 21-18. This bill looks to expand the Virginia Human Rights Act to any person who employs one or more domestic workers. Senator McClellan’s SB 1360, which would define sexual and workplace harassment, including sexual orientation and gender identity, reported from the Finance and Appropriations Committee with amendments 12-4, and then reported from the Judiciary Committee with amendments 9-6. On the Senate floor, there was a motion to recommit the bill to the Judiciary Committee 20-18. Delegate Vivian Watts’ companion bill, HB 2155, passed in the House of Delegates 54-44, and is now referred to the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology. Delegate Mark Levine’s HB 1932 passed in the House of Delegates 53-43, and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services. This bill would repeal the “conscience clause,” and is a big step in the right direction for making Virginia's child-placing agencies more equitable. We are currently in the process of updating the state constitution to make it in line with the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision, which made marriage equality the law of the land. HJ 582, introduced by Delegate Mark Sickles, now has incorporated HJ 539 (Levine) and HJ 557 (Lopez). This week it was agreed to by the House of Delegates 60-33, and is now referred to the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections. The companion bill, SJ 270 introduced by Senator Adam Ebbin, reported from the Privileges and Elections Committee with a substitute 9-4, with two abstentions. It then was agreed to by the Senate 24-12. If you haven’t already, please use our Take Action feature to easily contact your legislators and ask them to support the Equality Agenda. To keep up with what bills are being heard next week and learn how you can help transform Virginia’s legal landscape, please follow EV’s Facebook page and check out our website with our 2021 bill tracker. | 
