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Dear Friend,
We just wrapped up another busy week down in Richmond! Here is what my team and I have been up to!
My Bills:
This week we had multiple bills up in committee, and I defended and passed my first bill in front of the full House of Delegates! HB2424 will increase access to interpreters in civil proceedings for people who are deaf and hard of hearing. This bill's Senate companion also passed unanimously so we expect it's on track to head to the Governor's desk to be signed into law!
Other Bills Include:
HB 2492 - Ensures that Virginia's Disability Board remains in compliance with federal law so that Virginia doesn't lose out on millions of dollars in federal funds.
I presented this bill in front of the full Rules Committee on Tuesday (it passed unanimously) and then on the Floor for 2nd Reading on Friday. I expect this to pass through the House on Monday.
HB 2416 - Makes booster seats and other child car restraints tax-free to support our working families.
I presented this bill to a Finance subcommittee on Tuesday and then to the full committee on Wednesday. Unfortunately, this bill did not pass the Appropriations Committee on Friday, but I will continue to fight to make life more affordable for young families in Virginia.
HB 2473 - Makes Veterans' benefits more accessible by providing a poster listing benefits to all employers in Virginia.
I presented this bill before subcommittee on Tuesday. Although this bill was tabled, the committee said that they would work with the Department of Labor to ensure we increase accessibility of Veterans benefits and services.
I've also co-patroned other important legislation:
Patron Type | Bill # | Chief Patron | Bill Description | Status |
Chief Co-Patron | HB2445 | Bennett-Parker | Renews the wholesome food donation tax credit for amounts up to $10,000 | Passed Committee 22-0 |
Chief Co-Patron | SB 852 | Favola | Prohibits issuing a search warrant for the search and seizure of a computer containing menstrual data | Passed Senate Judiciary 12-2 |
Co-Patron | HB 1419 | Kory | Extends eligibility for the Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Program to the descendants of persons who were residing in jurisdictions in Virginia in which the public schools were closed to avoid desegregation between 1954 and 1964. | Passed House 99-0 |
Co-Patron | HB 1520 | Simonds | Places certain restrictions on railroad companies to increase safety | Failed in Subcommittee 4-3 |
Co-Patron | HB 1566 | Rasoul | Requires teachers to be paid at or above the national average | Passed Appropriations Subcommittee 8-0 |
Co-Patron | HB 1604 | Ware | Directs the State Corporation Commission to order reductions to base rates charged by utility companies provided that the companies are making unreasonable profits | Passed Committee 22-0 |
Co-Patron | HB1852 | Subramanyam | Directs the Commission on School Construction and Modernization to make recommendations to incorporate renewable energy generation facilities in schools | Failed in Subcommittee 6-2 |
Co-Patron | HB1938 | Plum | Requires school boards to employ at least one full-time counselor per 1,000 students | Failed in Appropriations Subcommittee 5-3 |
Co-Patron | HB 2038 | Shin | Allows state employees health insurance to also cover that of an incapacitated child regardless of whether the child lives with the employee | Passed House 100-0 |
Co-Patron | HB 2070 | Murphy | Any person who possess a firearm after being found guilty for assault and battery against someone in a dating relationship is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor | Failed in Subcommittee 3-3 |
Co-Patron | HB 2073 | Murphy | Creates the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact to speed up issuance of a license to practice medicine in the Commonwealth for qualified physicians from out of state | Assigned to Subcommittee |
Co-Patron | HB2074 | Murphy | Repeals mandatory minimums for persons charged with simple assault and battery for those on the autism spectrum provided that the crime was influenced by the person's disability | Referred to Committee |
Co-Patron | HB2076 | Murphy | Changes eligibility for Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program: shortens from five years to one the physical presence requirements, 90% static disabled instead of 90% permanent disabled, makes stepchildren of living veterans eligible | Failed in Appropriations Subcommittee 5-3 |
Co-Patron | HB2078 | Murphy | Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for a licensed firearm manufacturer to give a handgun to an unlicensed person without a locking device or a warning that guns should be kept locked | Failed in Subcommittee 5-3 |
Co-Patron | HB 2080 | Murphy | Creates special license plates for women veterans | Passed House 100-0 |
Co-Patron | HB 2104 | Bourne | Increases the default boundaries of a school crossing zone from 600 feet to 750 feet from the limits of school property. | Passed House 99-1 |
Co-Patron | HB 2111 | Bourne | Require Department of Education to oversee work-based learning and implementation of teacher mentor programs, requires school boards to decrease ratio of ESOL, assistant principals and support staff to students | Passed Education Committee 21-0, Referred to Appropriations |
Co-Patron | HB 2134 | Delaney | Clarifies the definition of "sexual conduct" so that it is neutral regarding sexual orientation for the purposes of crimes related to prohibited sales and loans to juveniles. | Incorporated into HB2068 - Lopez |
Co-Patron | HB 2234 | Murphy | Required newborn screening tests performed at no cost | Passed Appropriations 22-0 |
Co-Patron | HB 2227 | Murphy | Civil cause of action against guardian for failure to reasonably secure a firearm from a minor if the minor uses the firearm to cause harm to person or property | Failed in Subcommittee 3-3 |
Co-Patron | HB 2232 | Murphy | Includes a provision for the payment of medical assistance for violence prevention services, Department of Health will approve an accrediting body to certify violence prevention professionals | Failed in Subcommittee 5-3 |
Co-Patron | HB2267 | Wilt | The State Corporation Commission can authorize recovery of any proposed cost through the utility's rates for generation and distribution services instead of regarding petitions for a rate adjustment clause if the cost recovery better serves ratepayers | Passed Committee 22-0 |
Co-Patron | HB 2283 | Shin | Suspends utilities from disconnecting service when: governor declares a state of emergency, extreme heat or cold weather, on the weekend or holidays. Utilities must report annually on utility disconnections | Failed in Subcommittee 5-3 |
Co-Patron | HB 2288 | Sickles | Must be 21 or older to purchase assault firearm | Failed in Subcommittee 6-4 |
Co-Patron | HB 2357 | Murphy | A surrogate may relinquish rights to an intended parent prior to the birth of the child if one intended parent is the genetic parent or the embryo was subject to the legal custody of the intended parent | Failed in Subcommittee 5-3 |
Co-Patron | SB 1112 | Hashmi | Requires health insurance providers to provide coverage for contraceptive measures | Passed Senate 26-13 |
Co-Patron | SB1498 | McClellan | Extends eligibility for the Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Program to the lineal and collateral descendants of persons who were residing in jurisdictions in Virginia in which the public schools were closed to avoid desegregation between 1954 and 1964 and whose educations were affected by the school closings. | Passed Senate 40-0 |
You can check the status of all legislation on lis.virginia.gov.
Additionally, we are continuing to track the budget amendment I submitted to the Committee on Appropriations, which would provide $8.4 million in additional funding to the Children's Behavioral Health Services so that kids can better access mental health services across Virginia.
Press Conferences:
This week I stood with my colleagues in support of our public schools. As a mother of two FCPS students, and a former FCPS teacher myself, I am personally invested in ensuring our children have a world class education - and that starts with our teachers!
Meetings Held:
In the past week, I have continued to meet with constituents, advocacy organizations, and interest groups to hear their thoughts and opinions on legislation and activities happening in the legislature. If you or an organization you represent would like to meet with me or a member of my staff, please reach out to us. We would love to hear from you!
On Wednesday my Chief of Staff, Dante, met with representatives from the Virginia Housing Alliance to discuss how we can work together to increase access to housing and protect vulnerable communities. I am committed to fighting homelessness and increasing the affordability of housing.
Updates:
On Monday night I attended a reception hosted by representatives from the AFL - CIO. I remain committed to defending the rights of workers and supporting good-paying union jobs.
While meeting with the AFL - CIO, I ran into FCDC Chair Bryan Graham and Senator Louise Lucas from Portsmouth. I look forward to continuing to work with them to protect worker’s rights.
As a reminder, on Saturday, February 11th, at 9:00 am at the Vienna Police Station, I will be joining my colleague Senator Chap Petersen as well as Vienna Mayor Linda Colbert for a Town Hall to discuss our priorities for the Legislative Session. This will be your opportunity to hear directly from us, ask us questions about legislation affecting our community, and share your thoughts and opinions with us. We hope to see you there!
If my office can be of any service to you, please send an email to delhseibold@house.virginia.gov. Make sure to follow us on social media to receive updates throughout the year!
Yours in Service,
Holly Seibold
Delegate, 35th District