Virginia Action

Archives February 2025

Healthcare Bills Update 2/4

HEALTHCARE

SUPPORT – CALL TO ACTION

SUPPORT: HB2119 – Medical Desert Healthcare Access and Expedited Review

STATUS: This bill is on the House Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/4, and is expected to receive a floor vote.

This bill creates a process for expedited certificate of public need review in medical desert areas, defined as locations with no healthcare facility within 15-30 miles, less than one primary care physician per 3,500 residents, high poverty rates, or federal Health Professional Shortage Area designation. The Commissioner must issue determinations within 120 days of application submission, streamlining approval processes to expand healthcare access in underserved communities.

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE YES on HB2119!

BILL UPDATES – SUPPORT

SUPPORT: HB1904 – Nursery service provider expansion

STATUS: This bill passed on the House floor yesterday, 2/3. It will now be sent to the Senate and will be assigned to a Senate committee.

Expands healthcare access by allowing qualified nurse midwives and pediatric nurse practitioners to provide newborn nursery coverage when physicians are unavailable, with appropriate training requirements. Enables telehealth consultation options while maintaining quality standards and safety protocols. This reduces regulatory barriers and increases healthcare provider options, particularly benefiting rural areas with physician shortages.

SUPPORT: SB1203 – Medical Desert Healthcare Access and Expedited Review

STATUS: This bill was on the Senate Second Reading Calendar yesterday, 2/3. It was read for the second time and was also read for the third time and passed on the Senate floor. It will now be sent to the House and will be assigned to a House committee.

This bill creates a process for expedited certificate of public need review in medical desert areas, defined as locations with no healthcare facility within 15-30 miles, less than one primary care physician per 3,500 residents, high poverty rates, or federal Health Professional Shortage Area designation. The Commissioner must issue determinations within 120 days of application submission, streamlining approval processes to expand healthcare access in underserved communities.

Click here to view more “Recent Updates”

Regulatory Reform Bills Update 2/4

REGULATORY REFORM

OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

OPPOSE: HB2094 – High-risk artificial intelligence regulation

STATUS: This bill is on the House Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/4, and is expected to receive a floor vote.

This bill creates requirements for the development, deployment, and use of certain artificial intelligence systems, defined in the bill, and civil penalties for noncompliance. If adopted, this bill would establish considerable heavy handed regulations on AI development and use including requiring AI to be trained on what appears to be DEI standards. This bill Takes effect July 2026 with enforcement through the Attorney General.

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on HB2089!

Click here to view more “Recent Updates”

Governance Bills Update 2/4

GOVERNANCE

OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

OPPOSE: HB2089 – Home Care Provider Collective Bargaining

STATUS: This bill is on the House Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/4, and is expected to receive a floor vote.

This bill creates the Virginia Home Care Authority to oversee home care services and allows individual home care providers to unionize and collectively bargain. The bill only takes effect if Virginia enacts broader public employee collective bargaining legislation.

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on HB2089!

OPPOSE: HB2495 – Firefighter and EMS Collective Bargaining

STATUS: This bill is on the House Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/4, and is expected to receive a floor vote.

This bill authorizes collective bargaining rights for firefighters and emergency medical services providers in Virginia. The legislation creates a Fire Service Cooperation Board to oversee labor relations, establishes procedures for union elections and dispute resolution, and provides binding arbitration for unresolved contract negotiations. Effective January 1, 2026.

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on HB2495!

OPPOSE: SB917 – Collective Bargaining by Public Employees

STATUS: This bill is on the Senate Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/4, and is expected to receive a floor vote.

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework for public employee collective bargaining, creating a Public Employee Relations Board to oversee negotiations while maintaining critical limitations on government employee strikes. 

Find your Senator’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on SB917!

Click here to view more “Recent Updates”

Election Bills Update 2/4

ELECTIONS

OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

OPPOSE: HB1657 – Voter List Maintenance Timing

STATUS: This bill is on the House Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/4, and is expected to receive a floor vote.

Requires certain list maintenance programs that remove ineligible voters to be completed 90 days before any primary or general election, extending the current requirement that certain list maintenance programs (like address updates at large scale) cannot be completed within 90 days before a general election. Because Virginia has frequent elections, this bill proposes changes that would impede voter list accuracy. 

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on HB1657!

OPPOSE: HB2002 – Voter Registration Cancellation Data Sources

STATUS: This bill is on the House Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/4, and is expected to receive a floor vote.

This bill limits voter registration cancellations to data provided only by the Department of Elections or state-approved agencies, inhibiting our general registrars ability to maintain an accurate registered voter list.

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on HB2002!

OPPOSE: HB2277 – Compelled Election Results Certification

STATUS: This bill is on the House Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/4, and is expected to receive a floor vote.

Imposes $1,000 civil penalty on electoral board members who refuse to certify results. This impedes their ability to serve properly as an electoral board member, oversee elections and use their best judgment to certify elections. 

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on HB2277!

SUPPORT – CALL TO ACTION

SUPPORT: HB2513 – Voter Registration Cancellation Notice Process

STATUS: This bill is on the House Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/4, and is expected to receive a floor vote.

Requires registrars to use DMV data to update vote records and mail cancellation notices to both new and old addresses when available for voters who have moved, as indicated by DMV data. 

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE YES on HB2513!

BILL UPDATES – OPPOSE

OPPOSE: SB1009 – Ranked Choice Voting Expansion for Localities

STATUS: This bill passed on the Senate floor yesterday, 2/3, with a party line vote of 21-19. This bill will now be sent to the House and will be assigned to a Committee.

Expands ranked choice voting options for all local offices, despite this method of voting being riddled with problems that disenfranchise voters. Currently, any Virginia locality is allowed to use Ranked Choice Voting for City Council and Board of Supervisor elections, but not any other election; we oppose expansion in any form. This bill also requires localities to receive state approval on feasibility before implementation. 

Click here to view more “Recent Updates”

Education Bills Update 2/4

EDUCATION

OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

OPPOSE: SB979 – Delayed Implementation of New Public School Accountability System

STATUS: This bill is on the Senate Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/4, and is expected to receive a floor vote.

This bill directs the Department of Education to delay for one year the implementation of the revised public school accountability system adopted recently by the State Board of Education after robust research and discussion.

Find your Senator’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on SB979!

Click here to view more “Recent Updates”

Healthcare Bills Update 2/3

HEALTHCARE

SUPPORT – CALL TO ACTION

SUPPORT: HB2119 – Medical Desert Healthcare Access and Expedited Review

STATUS: This bill is on the House Second Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/3. It is expected to be on the House Third Reading Calendar on Tuesday, February 4th, and receive a floor vote.

This bill creates a process for expedited certificate of public need review in medical desert areas, defined as locations with no healthcare facility within 15-30 miles, less than one primary care physician per 3,500 residents, high poverty rates, or federal Health Professional Shortage Area designation. The Commissioner must issue determinations within 120 days of application submission, streamlining approval processes to expand healthcare access in underserved communities.

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE YES on HB2119!

SUPPORT: HB1904 – Nursery service provider expansion

STATUS: This bill is on the House Third Reading Calendar for TODAY, 2/3 to receive a floor vote.

Expands healthcare access by allowing qualified nurse midwives and pediatric nurse practitioners to provide newborn nursery coverage when physicians are unavailable, with appropriate training requirements. Enables telehealth consultation options while maintaining quality standards and safety protocols. This reduces regulatory barriers and increases healthcare provider options, particularly benefiting rural areas with physician shortages.

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE YES on HB1904!

SUPPORT: SB1203 – Medical Desert Healthcare Access and Expedited Review

STATUS: This bill is on the Senate Second Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/3. It is expected to be on the Senate Third Reading Calendar on Tuesday, February 4th, and receive a floor vote.

This bill creates a process for expedited certificate of public need review in medical desert areas, defined as locations with no healthcare facility within 15-30 miles, less than one primary care physician per 3,500 residents, high poverty rates, or federal Health Professional Shortage Area designation. The Commissioner must issue determinations within 120 days of application submission, streamlining approval processes to expand healthcare access in underserved communities.

Find your Senator’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE YES on SB1203!

BILL UPDATE – OPPOSE

OPPOSE: HB1724 – Medicinal Price Setting

STATUS: This bill passed the House on 1/31 and will now be sent to the Senate.

This bill would create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board. Under this proposed legislation, the Board will be given authority to limit drug payment amounts and reimbursements to an upper payment limit amount for state sponsored and state regulated health plans, directly opposed to free market principles.

Click here to view more “Recent Updates”

Regulatory Reform Bills Update 2/3

REGULATORY REFORM

OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

OPPOSE: HB2094 – High-risk artificial intelligence regulation

STATUS: This bill is on the House 2nd Reading calendar TODAY, 2/3, and is expected to be on the House Third Reading Calendar tomorrow and receive a floor vote.

This bill creates requirements for the development, deployment, and use of certain artificial intelligence systems, defined in the bill, and civil penalties for noncompliance. If adopted, this bill would establish considerable heavy handed regulations on AI development and use including requiring AI to be trained on what appears to be DEI standards. This bill Takes effect July 2026 with enforcement through the Attorney General.

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on HB2094!

Click here to view more “Recent Updates”

Election Bills Update 2/3

ELECTIONS

OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

OPPOSE: SB1009 – Ranked Choice Voting Expansion for Localities

STATUS: This bill is on the Senate Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/3, and is expected to receive a floor vote.

Expands ranked choice voting options for all local offices, despite this method of voting being riddled with problems that disenfranchise voters. Currently, any Virginia locality is allowed to use Ranked Choice Voting for City Council and Board of Supervisor elections, but not any other election; we oppose expansion in any form. This bill also requires localities to receive state approval on feasibility before implementation. 

Find your Senator’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on SB1009!

OPPOSE: HB1657 – Voter List Maintenance Timing

STATUS: This bill will be voted on for the 2nd Reading TODAY, 2/3 on the House floor and is expected to be on the House Third Reading Calendar tomorrow and receive a floor vote.

Requires certain list maintenance programs that remove ineligible voters to be completed 90 days before any primary or general election, extending the current requirement that certain list maintenance programs (like address updates at large scale) cannot be completed within 90 days before a general election. Because Virginia has frequent elections, this bill proposes changes that would impede voter list accuracy. 

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on HB1657!

OPPOSE: HB2002 – Voter Registration Cancellation Data Sources

STATUS: This bill will be voted on for the 2nd Reading TODAY, 2/3 on the House floor and is expected to be on the House Third Reading Calendar tomorrow and receive a floor vote.

This bill limits voter registration cancellations to data provided only by the Department of Elections or state-approved agencies, inhibiting our general registrars ability to maintain an accurate registered voter list.

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on HB2002!

OPPOSE: HB2277 – Compelled Election Results Certification

STATUS: This bill will be voted on for the 2nd Reading TODAY, 2/3 on the House floor and is expected to be on the House Third Reading Calendar tomorrow and receive a floor vote.

Imposes $1,000 civil penalty on electoral board members who refuse to certify results. This impedes their ability to serve properly as an electoral board member, oversee elections and use their best judgment to certify elections. 

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on HB2277!

SUPPORT – CALL TO ACTION

SUPPORT: HB2513 – Voter Registration Cancellation Notice Process

STATUS: This bill will be voted on for the 2nd Reading TODAY, 2/3 on the House floor and is expected to be on the House Third Reading Calendar tomorrow and receive a floor vote.

Requires registrars to use DMV data to update vote records and mail cancellation notices to both new and old addresses when available for voters who have moved, as indicated by DMV data. 

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE YES on HB2513!

BILL UPDATES – SUPPORT

SUPPORT: SB1044 – Election Results Reporting for Absentee and Provisional Ballots

STATUS: This bill passed in the Senate on Friday, 1/31. It will now be sent to the House to be assigned to a Committee.

This bill enhances election transparency by requiring detailed reporting of absentee and provisional ballot results. General registrars must separately report early in-person voting results from other absentee ballots and Election Day voting. Results must be posted no later than 5:00 p.m. on the tenth day after election day, ensuring timely and transparent reporting of all ballot types while maintaining systematic verification processes.

Click here to view more “Recent Updates”

Governance Bills Update 2/3

GOVERNANCE

OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

OPPOSE: HB2089 – Home Care Provider Collective Bargaining

STATUS: This bill is on the House Second Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/3. It is expected to be on the House Third Reading Calendar on Tuesday, February 4th, and receive a floor vote.

This bill creates the Virginia Home Care Authority to oversee home care services and allows individual home care providers to unionize and collectively bargain. The bill only takes effect if Virginia enacts broader public employee collective bargaining legislation.

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on HB2089!

OPPOSE: HB2495 – Firefighter and EMS Collective Bargaining

STATUS: This bill is on the House Second Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/3. It is expected to be on the House Third Reading Calendar on Tuesday, February 4th, and receive a floor vote.

This bill authorizes collective bargaining rights for firefighters and emergency medical services providers in Virginia. The legislation creates a Fire Service Cooperation Board to oversee labor relations, establishes procedures for union elections and dispute resolution, and provides binding arbitration for unresolved contract negotiations. Effective January 1, 2026.

Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on HB2495!

OPPOSE: SB917 – Collective Bargaining by Public Employees

STATUS: This bill is on the Senate Second Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/3. It is expected to be on the Senate Third Reading Calendar on Tuesday, February 4th, and receive a floor vote.

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework for public employee collective bargaining, creating a Public Employee Relations Board to oversee negotiations while maintaining critical limitations on government employee strikes. 

Find your Senator’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on SB917!

Click here to view more “Recent Updates”

Education Bills Update 2/3

EDUCATION

OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

OPPOSE: SB979 – Delayed Implementation of New Public School Accountability System

STATUS: This bill is on the Senate Second Reading Calendar TODAY, 2/3. It is expected to be on the Senate Third Reading Calendar on Tuesday, February 4th, and receive a floor vote.

This bill directs the Department of Education to delay for one year the implementation of the revised public school accountability system adopted recently by the State Board of Education after robust research and discussion.

Find your Senator’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE NO on SB979!

Click here to view more “Recent Updates”