2021 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

STRENGTHING OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAMS

House Bill 2035: Expands employment opportunities for Virginians receiving TANF benefits. (Passed the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Northam)

House Bill 2036: Makes it easier for the Virginia Employment Commission to use emails and other electronic communications to get in touch with Virginians about their unemployment benefits. (Passed the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Northam)

House Bill 2037: Allows unemployed Virginians to keep their unemployment benefits and protects them from returning to work if they have a COVID-19 diagnosis, is caring for a family member with COVID-19, or believes their workplace is not complying with Virginia’s COVID-19 workplace safety standards. (Passed the House of Delegates; failed in the state Senate)

Item 52 #5h: Establishes a workgroup to develop recommendations on helping refugees fully participate in Virginia’s workforce. (Included into the updated budget that passed the General Assembly and was signed into law by Governor Northam)

Item 52 #2h: Prioritizes workers from the fossil fuel industry for employment services under the federal Workforce Innovations and Opportunities Act programs. (Was not included in the updated budget)

ENHANCING CONSUMER PROTECTIONS

HB 2160: Eliminates automatic profit bonuses for Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power. (Passed the House of Delegates; failed in the state Senate)

HB 2163: Protects all customer data provided to the DMV by requiring written agreements to be in place for the sharing of DMV data, restricting how third parties can access DMV data, and requiring a lawful judicial order, subpoena, or warrant to obtain information for civil immigration enforcement. (Passed the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Northam)

SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

HB 2162: Establishes a right for individuals with disabilities to be able to have a designated support person provide them assistance at hospitals, outpatient surgical hospitals, and hospice facilities licensed by the Virginia Department of Health. (Passed the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Northam)

Item 66 #1h: Requests a workgroup to identify and disseminate model policies and resources to make teleworking more inclusive for people with disabilities. (Was not included in the updated budget)

Item 313 #15h: Provides funding, upon approval from the federal government, to allow Virginians receiving a Medicaid waiver to be accompanied by their personal care attendant for up to 30 days when hospitalized. (Was not included in the updated budget)

BUILDING A WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE VIRGINIA

HB 2161: Protects military service members, military spouses, and their dependents from discrimination in public accommodations, employment, and housing. (Passed the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Northam)

Item 52 #4h: Requests recommendations on how to improve language access across state government. (Included in the updated budget passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Northam)

Item 355 #1h: Requests $7.5 million to improve translation and interpretation services for the 2-1-1 hotline and to provide grants to organizations serving immigrants in Virginia to respond to COVID-19 and meet other needs. ($200,000 included in the updated budget passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Northam)

SUPPORTING OUR STATE PARKS

Item 374 #6h: Requests $1.5 million to connect Mason Neck State Park to the public water system. (Included in the updated budget passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Northam)

RELIEF FOR TAX PAYERS

Item 282 #1h: Eliminates the $275 filing fee currently required for taxpayers to request a ruling letter or opinion from the Virginia Department of Taxation. (Was not included in the updated budget)

Item 3-5.22 #1h: Requests $11.8 million to refund taxpayers the interests and penalties they incurred by following the federal tax timelines and fully paid their 2019 taxes between June 1-July 15, 2020. (Was not included in the updated budget)