2020 Legislative agenda
EXPANDING HEALTHCARE
HB 1141: Ensures all new insurance plans will include coverage for pre-existing conditions if the Affordable Care Act is repealed. (Signed into law by Governor Northam)
HB1701: Expands opportunities for Virginians to access telemedicine services. (Signed into law by Governor Northam)
313#35h: Funding to provide overtime for home health aide providers to assist people with disabilities. (Governor recommends considering in future special session after the COVID-19 pandemic)
313 #43h: Directs the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services to exempt live-in caretakers from the Electronic Verification System. (Governor recommends considering in future special session after the COVID-19 pandemic)
STRENGTHENING PUBLIC EDUCATION
HB 1157: Adds a student member with voting privileges to the governing boards of public institutions of higher education. (Failed to pass the House)
HB 1142: Restricts access to alcohol for attendees at public K-12 school sporting events hosted at non-school facilities. (Passed the House but failed to pass the Senate)
HB 1143: Provides local school boards with flexibility to hire licensed behavioral analysts and licensed assistant behavior analysts to support students, particularly those in special education. (Signed into law by Governor Northam)
HB 1208: Requires school boards to develop processes to allow students to apply for a bus pass if they have family members with medical conditions that make it hard for them to provide transportation. (Signed into law by Governor Northam)
36.50#3h: Funding to establish a pre-school at Gunston Hall in the 42nd District. (Not included in the budget conference report)
ADVANCING WOMEN’S RIGHTS
HB 298: Extends the statute of limitations for misdemeanor sexual offenses to give eligible survivors more time to seek justice. (Signed into law by Governor Northam)
385#16h: Funding for the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial, which will honor the women suffragists who fought for women’s right to vote. (Governor recommends considering in future special session after the COVID-19 pandemic)
SUPPORTING OUR SENIORS
HB1222: Allows individuals living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities to use recently expired IDs to notarize documents. (Signed into law by Governor Northam)
340 #1h: Funding to re-establish the Lifespan Respite Voucher Program to help family caregivers take respite from the ongoing care they provide to loved ones. (Not included in the budget conference report)
HONORING VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES
HB203: Provides additional time for our active duty overseas military members to cast their absentee ballot. (Failed to pass the House)
HB 1197: Extends in-state tuition eligibility for students who are using Veterans Choice Act educational benefits (Post 9/11 GI Bill). (Failed to pass the House)
220 #4h: Funding for the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) - Credits to Careers program to allow veterans and active duty military members to explore higher educational opportunities in Virginia. (Not included in the budget conference report)
BUILDING A WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE VIRGINIA
HB 1179: Allows refugees and Special Immigrant Visa holders to be eligible for in-state tuition immediately after resettling in Virginia. (Signed into law by Governor Northam)
HB 1209: Establishes an Office of New Americans to assist with immigrant integration. (Signed Into law by Governor Northam)
HB 1210: Ensures all Virginians, regardless of English language abilities, are able to participate in our democracy by voting. (Signed into law by Governor Northam)
HB 1211: This bill would allow undocumented and other immigrants to be able to drive by obtaining a driver’s privilege card if they pass the DMV vision, knowledge, and roads tests, as well as meet tax and insurance requirements. (Passed the House and Senate. Amendments from Governor Northam to be considered on April 22)
HELPING WORKING FAMILIES GET AHEAD AND ENSURING SAFE WORKPLACES
HB 1198: Gives the Virginia State Board of Workforce Development flexibility to meet Virginia’s dynamic economy and workforce needs. (Signed into law by Governor Northam)
HB 1199: Provides whistleblower protections for employees and independent contractors if they report that the employer is misclassifying workers in order to avoid paying required benefits or other compensation. (Signed into law by Governor Northam)
HB 1200: Ensures that all workers are covered by anti-discrimination protections based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, or age. (Incorporated into House Bill 1163)
HB 1201: Allows localities to establish responsible bidder criteria in their bid requirements for public works projects. (Signed into law by Governor Northam)
HB 1202: Allows localities to require project labor agreements for public works projects. (Incorporated into House Bill 358)
HB 1203: Allows localities to require prevailing wages set by the federal Davis-Bacon Act for public works projects. (Incorporated into House Bill 833)
HB 1228: Requires certain businesses with state contracts of $10,000 or more to inform and train their employees about their sexual harassment policies. (Signed into law by Governor Northam)
HJ 98: Creates a study to identify top growing regional green energy industries and workforce programs to meet those needs. (Failed to pass the House)
PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND HISTORIC SITES
HB 1204: Helps save birds by protecting the fall cankerworm (caterpillar), an important food source during birds’ breeding and migratory seasons. (Failed to pass the House)
HB 1205: Expands the communication methods that will be used to notify Virginians if harmful substances are released into public waters and affect public health. (Passed the House and Senate. Being considered by Governor Northam)
374#4h, #5, #6: Funding for critical staff and infrastructure support for Mason Neck State Park. (Governor recommends funding for two full time staff considering in future special session after the COVID-19 pandemic)
36.50#2h: Funding for the reconstruction and interpretation of one of Gunston Hall’s known enslaved quarters. (Not included in the budget conference report)
243#1h: Funding to assist Gunston Hall and the Virginia Revolutionary 250 Commission in celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. (Not included in the budget conference report)
Funding to remove a derelict barge in the Belmont Bay in the 42nd District. (Included in Governor’s proposed budget but not included in the budget conference report)
STRENGTHENING CONSUMER PROTECTIONS
HB 1215: Requires employers to obtain written informed consent when handling employees’ biometric data. (Recommended for study by the Joint Commission on Technology and Science)
HB 1225: Clarifies when electric utilities are able to terminate power without advanced notice and establishes an appeals process for customers. (Signed into law by Governor Northam)
HB 1226: Prohibits the VCU Health System Authority and UVA Medical Center from aggressively collecting debt unless reasonable efforts have been made to determine if the patient is eligible for financial assistance. (Signed into law by Governor Northam)
HB 1221: Requires the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity to provide new businesses with guidance on requirements for maintaining their business. (Signed into law by Governor Northam)
HB1700: Safeguards personal information that Virginians provide to the Department of Motor Vehicles. (Failed to pass the House)
INCREASING ACCESS TO VOTING
HB 202: Requires election officers to receive increased training about updates to voting laws. (Signed into law by Governor Northam)
HB 1218: Prohibits personal use of campaign funds, except for childcare related to campaign expenses in order to align with the recent Federal Elections Commission ruling. (Incorporated into House Bill 848)
MODERNIZING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
HB 1216: Makes bridges subject to frequent flooding eligible for repair funding. (Failed to pass the House)
HB 1217: Directs the Department of Transportation to study repairs for damaged transportation infrastructure due to flooding in Northern Virginia. (Signed into law by Governor Northam)
HB1702: Directs the Virginia Department of Transportation to assess the speed limit of certain roads in Planning District 8 that are 55MPH and with intersections near schools and road curvatures. (Failed to pass the House)
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
HB 1206: Provides compensation for attorneys appointed as a guardian ad litem in civil actions when compensation is not otherwise provided. (Failed to pass the House)
HB 1207: Allows Virginians to petition for expungement of a misdemeanor or felony charge involving less than $500 of goods if they meet certain criteria. (Recommended for a study by the Virginia Crime Commission)
TAX REFORM
HB 1219: Extends the deadline for taxpayers to file an amended tax return and reduces the timeline for the tax department to collect an overpayment. (Failed to pass the House)
HB 1220: Gives the Virginia Department of Taxation discretion to waive interest on state tax returns if a taxpayer is found to owe additional money because of changes to their federal taxes. (The conference report failed to pass the Senate)
HB1703: Reinstates the Virginia Telework Tax Credit with updates to help business better access the benefits of the program. (Failed to pass the House)