2019 Legislative Agenda
EXPANDING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
HB 2493 – To increase access to oral healthcare, this bill expands the responsibilities of remotely supervised dental hygienists so that they are aligned with those under general supervision.
HJ 682 – This bill directs the Department of Health Professions to study and make recommendations about how foreign trained doctors currently living in Virginia can help meet the doctor shortages in our rural and underserved communities
330#4h - Funding for the Lifespan Respite Voucher Program to ensure that family caregivers are able to take needed respite from the ongoing care they provide loved ones.
355#1h - Funding for a program that provides Low Vision Services to Virginians who are visually impaired.
STRENGTHENING PUBLIC EDUCATION
HB 2463 – This bill helps families better advocate for their children who are in special education by shifting the burden of proof during due process hearings.
HB 2589 – This bill gives local school boards flexibility to hire instructors to teach dual enrollment courses, which provide students with opportunities to gain college credit while enrolled in high school.
HB 2668 – This bill provides local school boards with the flexibility of hiring licensed behavior instructional analysts and licensed assistant behavior instructional analysts to ensure students have the appropriate supports they need to learn.
211#1h - Funding for the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) to implement a Free Tuition Pilot at Northern Virginia Community College.
211#2h - Funding for Virginia Community College System (VCCS) - Free Tuition Systemwide for Career Technical.
HONORING OUR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES
HB 2712 - This bill extends in-state tuition eligibility for students who are using Veterans Choice Act educational benefits (GI Bill) so that they can finish their degrees.
83#2h - Funding for costs associated with HB 2712.
211#3h - Funding for the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) - Credits to Careers allows veterans and active duty military members to explore higher educational opportunities in Virginia.
ADVANCING WOMEN’S RIGHTS
HB 2491 – Recognizing that women have the constitutional right to make healthcare decisions about their own bodies, this bill aligns with the US Supreme Court decision Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt and eliminates medically unnecessary and unduly burdensome requirements that make it difficult for women to access abortions.
HB 2525 – This bill extends the statute of limitations for misdemeanor sexual offenses to give survivors more time to come forward and seek justice.
374#5h Funding for the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial (TPSM), which will be located int he 42nd District and will honor the women suffragists who fought for women’s right to vote.
HELPING WORKING FAMILIES GET AHEAD
HB 2496 – This bill prohibits certain employers from discriminating against their workers based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, including lactation, or age.
303#13h - Funding to provide overtime for home health aide providers to assist people with disabilities.
344#6h - Funding to exercise an option under the federal SNAP program by expanding participation to automatically include individuals who receive TANF program, with incomes below 138% of the poverty level.
PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL TREASURES
HB 2495 – This bill helps to save our birds and butterflies by protecting the fall cankerworm (caterpillar), an important food source for birds and their young during their breeding and migratory season.
HB 2792 - This bill helps fight climate change and save tax payers money by making it easier for counties, cities, and towns to use solar and other green energy to power locally owned, operated, or leased buildings and land.
377#2h - Funding to remove a derelict barge in the Belmont Bay in the 42nd District
SAFE COMMUNITIES
HB 2492 – This bill is Governor Northam’s proposal to ban assault weapons in Virginia in order to keep our communities safe.
CONSUMER PROTECTION
HB 2537 – This bill protects consumers by clarifying when electric utilities are able to unilaterally terminate power and also establishes appeals process for customers.
BECOMING MORE WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE
HB 2025 – This bill would ensure that immigrants, regardless of status, are able to obtain authorization to drive if they are able to prove Virginia residency and pass the DMV’s knowledge, road, and vision test.
391#18h - Funding for costs associated with HB 2025.
391#38h - Funding for costs associated with HB 2025.
439#4h - Funding for costs associated with HB 2025.
HB 2494 – This bill protects Virginians’ religious identity by prohibiting the Commonwealth from sharing any religious data with the federal government if that data is going to be used to create a religious database.
CIVIL RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY
HB 2774 - This bill ensures that all Virginians, regardless of English language abilities, are able to participate in our democracy by voting.