STATUS: This bill will be voted on TODAY, 1/30 by the House for a third reading.
Requires the Department of Elections to publicly post costs for purchasing voter registration lists and voting history lists on its website. Maintains existing privacy protections and authorized uses while increasing transparency about fees charged to campaigns, parties, and other authorized recipients.
OPPOSE: SB1009 – Ranked Choice Voting Expansion for Localities
STATUS: This bill PASSED the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee and is headed to the Senate Floor.
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.
SUPPORT: SB1044 – Election Results Reporting for Absentee and Provisional Ballots
STATUS: This bill PASSED the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee and is headed to the Senate Floor.
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.
OPPOSE: SB979 – Delayed Implementation of New Public School Accountability System
STATUS: This bill PASSED the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee and will head to the Senate Floor.
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.
Status: This bill will be voted on in the House Health Subcommittee THIS MORNING, 1/29, at 9AM in House Committee Room C-206.
Requires the Department of Health to establish the Health Care Regulatory Sandbox Program to enable a person to obtain limited access to the market in the Commonwealth to temporarily test an innovative health care product or service on a limited basis.
SUPPORT: SB932 – Accessory Dwelling Unit Zoning Standardization
Status: This bill is on the Senate Second Reading Calendar today, 1/29. It is on the Senate Third Reading Calendar TOMORROW, 1/30, and is expected to receive a floor vote.
This bill establishes statewide standards for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), promoting housing flexibility by requiring localities to permit ADUs in single-family residential zones. The legislation balances local regulatory needs with homeowner rights, creating a streamlined process for ADU development while maintaining reasonable restrictions on size, location, and occupancy to protect neighborhood characteristics and property values.
OPPOSE: SB769 – Require Opt-in Consent for Cookies on Web Browsers
STATUS: This bill will be voted on in the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee TODAY, 1/29, 30 minutes after adjournment in Senate Room B.
This billrequires website controllers to seek consent from a user before storing cookies on the user’s devices. Websites must retain proof of having done so, and provide a means of opt-out afterwards.
OPPOSE: SB917 – Collective Bargaining by Public Employees
STATUS: This bill will be voted on in the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee TODAY, 1/29, at 9am in Senate Room A.
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.
OPPOSE: HB1552 – Certificate of Public Need Exemption for Critical Hospitals
STATUS: This bill was on the House Second Reading Calendar yesterday, 1/28. It is on the House Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 1/29, and is expected to receive a floor vote.
This bill would further entrench Virginia in the problems caused by the Certificate of Public Need program. It would allow certain hospitals, defined as critical access hospitals, to receive an exemption from COPN. This interference in the market place would cause inequity and continue to allow hospitals to choose winners and losers in the market of medical services.
SUPPORT: SB1037 – School-based Telehealth and Mental Health Services
STATUS: This bill was on the House Second Reading Calendar yesterday, 1/28. It is on the House Third Reading Calendar TODAY, 1/29, and is expected to receive a floor vote.
Empowers local school boards to increase healthcare access by allowing students to receive telehealth and mental health services during school hours, respecting parental rights through consent requirements. The bill preserves local control by letting school boards develop their own policies while ensuring student privacy and preventing disciplinary action for receiving healthcare services. This approach expands healthcare options without mandating participation, aligning with principles of individual choice and limited government intervention.
OPPOSE: SB1177 – Certificate of Public Need Exemption for Critical Hospitals
STATUS: This bill was passed on the Senate floor yesterday, 1/28. It will now be sent to the House to be assigned to a House Committee.
This bill would further entrench Virginia in the problems caused by the Certificate of Public Need program. It would allow certain hospitals, defined as critical access hospitals, to receive an exemption from COPN. This interference in the market place would cause inequity and continue to allow hospitals to choose winners and losers in the market of medical services.
SUPPORT: HB2119 – Medical Desert Healthcare Access and Expedited Review
STATUS: This bill passed the House Health Subcommittee yesterday, 1/28. It will now be sent to the full House Health and Human Services 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.
SUPPORT: SB1064 – Medical Care Facilities Certificate of Public Need Process Reform
STATUS: This bill passed on the Senate floor yesterday, 1/28. It will now be sent to the House to be assigned to a House Committee.
This bill streamlines the certificate of public need (COPN) process for medical facilities by establishing an expedited 90-day review for certain psychiatric services, creating clear criteria for project reviews, and ensuring efficient processing of applications. The reforms maintain oversight of healthcare facility expansion while reducing regulatory burden through more efficient approval processes, supporting increased access to behavioral health services.
SUPPORT: SB1203 – Medical Desert Healthcare Access and Expedited Review
STATUS: This bill passed the Senate Health Subcommittee yesterday, 1/28. It will now be sent to the full Senate Education and Health 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.
OPPOSE: SB1009 – Ranked Choice Voting Expansion for Localities
STATUS: This bill was on the agenda to be voted on yesterday, but was passed by for the day. The bill will be voted on in the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee TODAY, 1/29 at 9am in Senate Room A, Room 305.
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.
STATUS: This bill is on the 2nd Reading Calendar and is expected to be on the 3rd Reading Calendar TOMORROW, 1/30 for a vote.
Requires the Department of Elections to publicly post costs for purchasing voter registration lists and voting history lists on its website. Maintains existing privacy protections and authorized uses while increasing transparency about fees charged to campaigns, parties, and other authorized recipients.
SUPPORT: SB1454 – Systematic Citizenship Verification Program
STATUS: This bill was killed in the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee on 1/28.
Establishes monthly verification system to prevent non-citizen voter registration and remove non-citizens from voter rolls. Requires clear signage at polling places and registration offices about citizenship requirements and election fraud penalties. Requires registration agencies to verify citizenship status before processing applications.
OPPOSE: SB979 – Delayed Implementation of New Public School Accountability System
STATUS: This bill will be voted on in the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee TODAY, 1/29, at 9am in the Senate Room A, Room 305.
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.
OPPOSE: SB1031 – Attack on Religious Exemption for Homeschooling
STATUS: This bill passed the Senate Education and Health Committee and is headed to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee.
This legislation challenges the core purpose of the religious exemption for homeschooling statute, which was established to safeguard the beliefs of families who conscientiously object to government-run education due to deeply held religious convictions and choose to homeschool their children.
STATUS: This bill was killed the House Finance Subcommittee 2 on 1/28.
Creates two refundable tax credits empowering parental education choice: Up to $5,000 for homeschool/private school expenses and up to $1,500 for public school expenses. Lower-income families get additional $2,500 credit. Program capped at $25M annually with automatic 10% increase if 90% used. Supports family freedom in education decisions while reducing their tax burden.
Status: This bill will be voted on in the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee TODAY, 1/28, at 9AM in Senate Room A.
This bill establishes a framework for portable benefit accounts for independent contractors. The legislation supports independent workers by creating a mechanism for flexible benefits and tax relief, allowing contractors to save for healthcare and other essential expenses while maintaining individual financial autonomy.
SUPPORT: SB839 – Property Rights and Multi-Family Housing
Status: This bill passed the Senate Local Government Committee on 1/27 and was sent to the Senate Floor. It is expected to receive a floor vote later this week.
This bill would require cities and counties to automatically allow apartment buildings or other multi-family housing to be built in areas that are currently zoned for businesses or commercial use, supporting strong property rights.
Status: This bill passed the House Communications Subcommittee and the House Communications, Technology and Innovation full Committee on 1/27 and was sent to General Government and Capital Outlay Appropriations Subcommittee.
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.
STATUS: This bill has passed the House Appropriations Committee on 1/27 and is moving to the floor of the House.
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.
OPPOSE: SB769 – Require Opt-in Consent for Cookies on Web Browsers
STATUS: This bill will be voted on in the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee TOMORROW, 1/29 in Senate Room B after adjournment.
This billrequires website controllers to seek consent from a user before storing cookies on the user’s devices. Websites must retain proof of having done so, and provide a means of opt-out afterwards.
