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Education Bills Update 2/6

EDUCATION

SUPPORT – CALL TO ACTION

SUPPORT: SB1014 – Department of Human Resource Management; hiring on the basis of direct experience.

STATUS: This bill will be voted on in the House General Laws Committee TODAY, 2/6, 30 minutes after the adjournment of the House in House Committee Room B – 205.

This bill restricts agencies from requiring a college degree in the hiring of state employees unless the job were to actually require it.

Please contact these Delegates and tell them to VOTE YES on SB1014!

House General Laws CommitteeDistrictPhoneEmail
Chair: Delegate David L. Bulova (D)11(804) 698-1011DelDBulova@house.virginia.gov
Vice Chair: Delegate Betsy B. Carr (D)78(804) 698-1078DelBCarr@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Jonathan “Jed” Arnold (R)46(804) 698-1646Deljarnold@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Terry L. Austin (R)37(804) 698-1037DelTAustin@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (D)5(804) 698-1005DelEBennett-Parker@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. (R)100(804) 698-1000DelRBloxom@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Ellen H. Campbell (R)36(804) 698-1036Delecampbell@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Joshua G. Cole (D)65(804) 698-1065DelJCole@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Carrie E. Coyner (R)75(804)698-1075DelCCoyer@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Karrie K. Delaney (D)9(804) 698-1009DelKDelaney@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Hyland F. “Buddy” Fowler, Jr. (R)59(804) 698-1059DelBFowler@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Barry D. Knight (R)98(804) 698-1098DelBKnight@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Paul E. Krizek (D)16(804) 698-1016DelPKrizek@house.virginia.gov
Delegate James A. “Jay” Leftwich (R)90(804) 698-1090DelJLeftwich@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Adele Y. McClure (D)2(804) 698-1002DelAMcClure@house.virginia.gov
Delegate James W. Morefield (R)43(804) 698-1043DelJMorefield@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Marcia S. “Cia” Price (D)85(804) 698-1085DelMPrice@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Holly M. Seibold (D)12(804) 698-1012Delhseibold@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Marcus B. Simon (D)13(804) 698-1013DelMSimon@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Joshua E. Thomas (D)21(804) 698-1021DelJThomas@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Luke E. Torian (D)24(804) 698-1024DelLTorian@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Bill Wiley (R)32(804) 698-1032DelBWiley@house.virginia.gov

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Regulatory Reform Bills Update 2/6

REGULATORY REFORM

SUPPORT – CALL TO ACTION

SUPPORT: SB932 – Accessory Dwelling Unit Zoning Standardization

STATUS: This bill will be voted on in the House Counties, Cities, and Towns Subcommittee #2 TODAY, 2/6 at 7:30 am in House South Subcommittee Room – 210.

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.

Please contact these Delegates and tell them to VOTE YES on SB932!

Subcommittee #2DistrictPhoneEmail
Chair: Delegate Briana D. Sewell(D)25(804) 698-1025delbsewell@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Katrina Callsen(D)54(804) 698-1054DelKCallsen@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Laura Jane Cohen(D)15(804) 698-1015DelLJCohen@house.virginia.gov
Delegate M. Keith Hodges(R)68(804) 698-1068DelKHodges@house.virginia.gov
Delegate James W. Morefield(R)43(804) 698-1043DelJMorefield@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Candi Mundon King(D)23(804) 698-1023DelCMundonKing@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Atoosa R. Reaser(D)27(804) 698-1027DelAReaser@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Shelly A. Simonds(D)70(804) 698-1070DelSSimonds@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Anne Ferrell Tata(R)99(804) 698-1099delaftata@house.virginia.gov

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Healthcare Bills Update 2/6

HEALTHCARE

OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

OPPOSE: HB1552 – Certificate of Public Need Exemption for Critical Hospitals

STATUS: This bill will be voted on in the Senate Education and Health Committee TODAY, 2/6 at 8:30 am in Senate Room A.

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. 

Please contact these Senators and tell them to VOTE NO on HB1552!

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

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Regulatory Reform Bills Update 2/5

REGULATORY REFORM

BILL UPDATE – OPPOSE

OPPOSE: HB2094 – High-risk artificial intelligence regulation

STATUS: STATUS: This bill passed the House yesterday, 2/4 and has been moved to the Senate.

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.

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Governance Bills Update 2/5

GOVERNANCE

BILLS UPDATE – OPPOSE

OPPOSE: HB2089 – Home Care Provider Collective Bargaining

STATUS: This bill passed the House yesterday, 2/4 and has been moved to the Senate.

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 passed the House yesterday, 2/4 and has been moved to the Senate.

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.

OPPOSE: SB917 – Collective Bargaining by Public Employees

STATUS: This bill passed the Senate yesterday, 2/4 and has been moved to the House.

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. 

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Healthcare Bills Update 2/5

HEALTHCARE

BILL UPDATES – SUPPORT

SUPPORT: HB2119 – Medical Desert Healthcare Access and Expedited Review

STATUS: This bill passed unanimously yesterday, 2/4, on the House floor.

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.

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Election Bills Update 2/5

ELECTIONS

BILL UPDATES – OPPOSE

OPPOSE: HB1657 – Voter List Maintenance Timing

STATUS: This bill was passed yesterday, 2/4, on the House floor.

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. 

OPPOSE: HB2002 – Voter Registration Cancellation Data Sources

STATUS: This bill was passed yesterday, 2/4, on the House floor.

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.

OPPOSE: HB2277 – Compelled Election Results Certification

STATUS: This bill was passed yesterday, 2/4, on the House floor.

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. 

OPPOSE – KILLED

OPPOSE: HB2057 – Automatic Voter Registration Expansion

STATUS: This bill was killed because it didn’t make it out of committee before the crossover deadline. The bill’s patron discussed working on the bill with another committee member of a different party and bringing it back next year.

Expands automatic voter registration to include hunting/fishing license applicants, concealed handgun permit applicants, and milk distributor license applicants. Maintains citizenship verification requirements. 

BILL UPDATES – SUPPORT

SUPPORT: HB2513 – Voter Registration Cancellation Notice Process

STATUS: This bill was passed yesterday, 2/4, on the House floor.

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. 

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Education Bills Update 2/5

EDUCATION

OPPOSE – KILLED

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

STATUS: This bill was killed on the Senate floor on 2/4.

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.

SUPPORT – KILLED

SUPPORT: HB2231 – Virginia Opportunity Scholarships

STATUS: This bill did not make it out of the House Appropriations Committee before the Crossover deadline.

The Virginia Opportunity Scholarship program is designed to give students greater access to learning opportunities that best meet their needs. 10,000 eligible K-12 students can receive $5,000 per academic year. This program is for Virginia students whose household income does not exceed $81,120 for a family of four. This scholarship puts money directly into families’ hands for expenses of attending an accredited private school in Virginia including, tuition, transportation, books, and other qualified educational expenses— such as summer school programs— so families can access the opportunities that work best for their child.

SUPPORT: HB2373 – Parents’ Rights in Education

STATUS: This bill did not make it out of the House Education Committee before the Crossover deadline.

Defends clear parental rights in public education, empowering parents to review curriculum, opt out of explicit content, know their child’s instructors, access school records, control data sharing, make medical decisions, and stay informed of counseling services. Strengthens parental oversight of their children’s education while limiting institutional overreach.

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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”