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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”

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”

Education Bills Update 1/31

EDUCATION

OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

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

STATUS: This bill will be voted on for the 2nd Reading TODAY, 1/31 on 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.

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

OPPOSE – KILLED

OPPOSE: SB1031 – Attack on Religious Exemption for Homeschooling

STATUS: This bill was killed in the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee yesterday, 1/30.

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.

Click here to view more “Recent Updates”

Governance Bills Update 1/30

GOVERNANCE

OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

OPPOSE: HB2089 – Home Care Provider Collective Bargaining

STATUS: This bill will be voted on in the Labor and Commerce Subcommittee 2 TODAY, 1/30, 30 minutes after adjournment of the House in House Committee Room A – 008.

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.

OPPOSE: HB2495 – Firefighter and EMS Collective Bargaining

STATUS: This bill will be voted on in the Labor and Commerce Subcommittee 2 TODAY, 1/30, 30 minutes after adjournment of the House in House Committee Room A – 008.

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.

Please contact these Delegates and tell them to VOTE NO on HB2089 and HB2495!

Subcommittee: #2DistrictPhoneEmail
Chair: Delegate Alfonso H. Lopez(D)3(804) 698-1003DelALopez@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Jason S. Ballard(R)42(804) 698-1042deljballard@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Destiny LeVere Bolling(D)80(804) 698-1080DelDLeVereBolling@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler(D)96(804) 698-1096DelKConvirs-Fowler@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Michael B. Feggans(D)97(804) 698-1097DelMFeggans@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Dan I. Helmer(D)10(804) 698-1010DelDHelmer@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Daniel W. Marshall, III(R)49(804) 698-1049DelDMarshall@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Chris S. Runion(R)35(804) 698-1035DelCRunion@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Jeion A. Ward(D)87(804) 698-1087DelJWard@house.virginia.gov

BILL UPDATES – OPPOSE

    OPPOSE: SB769 – Require Opt-in Consent for Cookies on Web Browsers

    STATUS: This bill was on the agenda for a vote yesterday morning, 1/29, but was not voted on. The bill is currently not on the agenda today.

    This bill requires 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 passed the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee and is headed to the Senate Floor.

    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. 

    Click here to view more “Recent Updates”

    Election Bills Update 1/30

    ELECTION

    SUPPORT – CALL TO ACTION

    SUPPORT: HB1952 – Voter List Price Transparency

    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.

    Find your Delegate’s contact information HERE and ask them to VOTE YES on HB1952!

    BILL UPDATES – OPPOSE

    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. 

    BILL UPDATES – SUPPORT

    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.

    Click here to view more “Recent Updates”

    Education Bills Update 1/28

    EDUCATION

    OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

    OPPOSE: SB1031 – Attack on Religious Exemption for Homeschooling

    STATUS: This bill will be voted on TODAY, 1/28, in the Senate Education and Health Committee after the adjournment of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee in Senate Room A.

    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.

    Please contact the Senators and tell them to VOTE NO on SB1031!

    Senate Education and Health CommitteeDistrictPhoneEmail
    Chair: Senator Ghazala F. Hashmi (D)15(804) 698-7515senatorhashmi@senate.virginia.gov
    Senator Lashrecse D. Aird (D)13(804) 698-7514senatoraird@senate.virginia.gov
    Senator Lamont Bagby (D)14(804) 698-1092senatorbagby@senate.virginia.gov
    Senator Jennifer B. Boysko (D)38(804) 698-7538senatorboysko@senate.virginia.gov
    Senator Christie New Craig (R)19(804) 698-7519senatorcraig@senate.virginia.gov
    Senator Tara A. Durant (R)27(804) 698-7527senatordurant@senate.virginia.gov
    Senator Barbara A. Favola (D)40(804) 698-7540senatorfavola@senate.virginia.gov
    Senator Christopher T. Head (R)3(804) 698-7503senatorhead@senate.virginia.gov
    Senator Mamie E. Locke (D)23(804) 698-7523senatorlocke@senate.virginia.gov
    Senator L. Louise Lucas (D)18(804) 698-7518senatorlucas@senate.virginia.gov
    Senator Mark J. Peake (R)8(804) 698-7508senatorpeake@senate.virginia.gov
    Senator Stella G. Pekarsky (D)36(804) 698-7536senatorpekarsky@senate.virginia.gov
    Senator Todd E. Pillion (R)6(804) 698-7506senatorpillion@senate.virginia.gov
    Senator David R. Suetterlein (R)4(804) 698-7504senatorsuetterlein@senate.virginia.gov
    Senator Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (D)16(804) 698-7516senatorvanvalkenburg@senate.virginia.gov

    SUPPORT – CALL TO ACTION

    SUPPORT: HB2639 – Education Choice Tax Credits

    STATUS: This bill will be voted on TODAY, 1/28 in the House Finance Subcommittee 2 at 4pm in House Committee Room 210.

    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.

    Please contact these Delegates and tell them to VOTE YES on HB2639!

    Subcommittee: #2DistrictPhoneEmail
    Chair: Delegate Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (D)5(804) 698-1005DelEBennett-Parker@house.virginia.gov
    Delegate Bonita G. Anthony (D)92(804) 698-1092DelBAnthony@house.virginia.gov
    Delegate Katrina Callsen (D)54(804) 698-1054DelKCallsen@house.virginia.gov
    Delegate Amy J. Laufer (D)55(804) 698-1055DelALaufer@house.virginia.gov
    Delegate Robert D. Orrock, Sr. (R)66(804) 698-1066DelBOrrock@house.virginia.gov
    Delegate Richard C. “Rip” Sullivan, Jr. (D)6(804) 698-1006DelRSullivan@house.virginia.gov
    Delegate Wendell S. Walker (R)52(804) 698-1052DelWWalker@house.virginia.gov
    Delegate R. Lee Ware (R)72(804) 698-1072DelLWare@house.virginia.gov
    Delegate Vivian E. Watts (D)14(804) 698-1014DelVWatts@house.virginia.gov

    Click here to view more “Recent Updates”