NEWSLETTER

JANUARY 30, 2021

Neighbors, 

We are expecting snow and winter weather for the next few days. The Virginia Department of Transportation urges everyone to avoid travel on Sunday and Monday. Please stay safe! You can find inclement weather resources, including real-time information on road conditions and snow plows, on my website here.


Thanks to everyone who joined my virtual Town Hall earlier today! Dr. Danny Avula, Virginia’s COVID-19 vaccine coordinator, gave an update on the distribution of vaccines, and Senators Barker and Surovell and I provided legislative updates.

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We have concluded the second full week of the 2021 legislative session. We are working quickly to meet next week’s “Crossover” deadline, when the House of Delegates and Senate must take final action on legislation introduced in our respective chambers. Below, please find legislative updates for this week.

Thanks to everyone who has been reaching out to share your priorities for this legislative session. As always, please let me know if you have any questions or need assistance. You can reach me by email at DelKTran@house.virginia.gov or call my office at 804-698-1042.

Best, Kathy

Delegate, 42nd District 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

My Legislative Agenda

Most of my bills began the legislative process last week: 

  • House Bill 2035 my bill to expand employment opportunities for TANF recipients unanimously passed the House Committee on Health, Welfare, and Institutions. I worked with the Department of Social Services on this bill and had the support of Voices for Virginia’s Children and the Virginia Poverty Law Center. 

  • House Bill 2036 my bill to make it easier for the Virginia Employment Commission to communicate with Virginians about their unemployment insurance claims passed unanimously from the House of Delegates. I worked with the Chief Workforce Development Advisor on this bill and had the support of The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, the Legal Aid Justice Society, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, and the National Federation of Independent Business.

  • House Bill 2037 my bill to allow unemployed Virginians to keep their unemployment benefits and not have to return to work if they have a COVID-19 diagnosis, are caring for a family member with COVID-19, or believe their workplace is not complying with Virginia’s COVID-19 workplace safety standards passed the House Committee on Labor and Commerce with bipartisan support. I am thankful for the support of The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, the Legal Aid Justice Center, the Northern Virginia Labor Federation, and the AFL-CIO. 

  • House Bill 2161 my bill to protect military service members, military spouses, and their dependents from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations unanimously passed the House Committee on General Laws. I appreciate the support of Blue Star Families, Veterans of Foreign Wars, multiple business chambers, Governor Northam, and Attorney General Mark Herring. 

  • House Bill 2162 my bill to establish a right for individuals with disabilities to have a designated support person provide them assistance at certain medical facilities unanimously passed the House Committee on Health, Welfare, and Institutions. I worked with many constituents and a broad coalition of advocates for people with disabilities on this important issue. 

  • House Bill 2163, my bill to protect all DMV customer data, including limiting the use of this data for civil immigration enforcement, passed the House Committee on Communications, Technology, and Innovation. I partnered with numerous advocates for immigrant rights and consumer privacy on this bill. 

You can view my complete 2021 legislative agenda here. 

Bills that Passed the House of Delegates

The entire House of Delegates voted on approximately 150 bills this week. I noted a few bills below to give you a sense of the breadth of issues that we are addressing. These bills have passed the House of Delegates and will now be considered by the Senate. 

COVID-19 Response 

  • House Bill 2333 as I mentioned previously, this bill breaks down barriers for healthcare professionals to be able to provide vaccinations. It also establishes processes to set up more community vaccination sites. Lastly, it requires the Department of Health to collect additional data to ensure vaccines are being administered on an equitable basis. I co-sponsored this bill to ensure Virginia has the infrastructure to quickly get vaccines administered.

Services During a Public Health Emergency

  • House Bill 1828 gives the DMV Commissioner authority to extend deadlines, such as expirations of licenses and vehicle registrations, during a declared public health emergency. I have heard from many constituents concerned about the need to conduct DMV transactions during this pandemic, and I am pleased to co-sponsor this bill to provide flexibility for Virginia drivers.

  • House Bill 1999 would grant the Virginia Tax Commissioner the authority to waive interest on taxes during a declared public health emergency. This is an issue I heard about from many constituents earlier this spring, and I am proud to co-sponsor this bill to provide relief to taxpayers. 

Healthcare Access

  • House Bill 1737 allows nurse practitioners to practice autonomously through July 1, 2022 if they have 2 years of experience.

  • House Bill 1896 removes the prohibition on insurance coverage of abortion care for plan sold on the health exchange in Virginia. 

  • House Bill 2154 allows patients to use an intelligent personal assistant while receiving inpatient services at hospitals, nursing homes, and nursing facilities. These devices, also known as virtual or digital assistants, have been a tremendous support for families during the pandemic.

Food Security

  • House Bill 2203 establishes the Virginia Agriculture Food Assistance Program. Virginia farmers and food producers will be able to donate or sell agriculture products to charitable food assistance organizations and receive some assistance in covering the costs of doing so. 

  • House Bill 2013 prohibits local school boards from suing parents of students that owe a school meal debt. 

Workforce/Education

  • House Bill 2204 establishes the Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back Fund for the Virginia Community College System. The Fund would provide financial assistance to eligible Virginians enrolled in educational programs leading to employment in a high-demand field.

Civil Rights

  • House Bill 2208 requires the removal of the statue of U.S. Senator Harry F. Byrd, a prominent supporter of racial segregation, from Capitol Square. 

Environment

  • House Bill 1804 requires the Department of Conservation and Recreation to make recommendations on dedicated, stable funding sources to support our state parks.

See the many ways you can follow the legislative session and share your priorities here.