Veto Session and COVID-19 Update

Dear Friend,

I hope you and your families are staying well. Since my last update, the General Assembly met for their annual veto session, which involves accepting or rejecting the Governor’s amendments to the budget and legislation that passed during the 2020 legislative session. Additionally, the Governor has announced a plan to incrementally re-open Virginia in the coming weeks and months.

Veto Session

On April 22, The House of Delegates met for the reconvene session. With social distancing measures in place, the House session took place outside on Capitol Square, while the Senate met at the Science Museum. General Assembly members wore gloves and were spaced 6 feet apart.
 
As I mentioned in my last update, the Commonwealth’s revenue outlook has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in turn, much of the budget passed during session has been postponed. The state is expected to lose around $1 billion by June 30th.
 
During the veto session, the General Assembly accepted Governor Northam’s recommendations to delay spending on new programs. Some of the changes include delays on increasing the state’s minimum wage and raises for teachers and state employees and diverting money (about $3 billion) to cover costs associated with the pandemic as well as giving the Governor authority to distribute federal grant funding. Keep in mind, that the Governor plans to call a special session later in the summer or early fall to re-enact parts of the budget once we have a better understanding of the state’s financial outlook.
 
The legislative branch also took the following notable actions during the veto session:

  • Rejected the Governor’s proposal to move the May 5th local and special elections to November (the House accepted and the Senate rejected).

  • Adopted the amendment to HB30 authorizing the Department of Corrections to release or move to a lower level of supervision inmates with one year or less left on their sentence, if they have demonstrated good behavior and are not a threat to public safety.

  • Adopted the amendment to HB1420 to cap interest rates for late rent payments at 10 percent.

  • Adopted amendments to HB340 which extends the eviction relief to furloughed federal employees to all renters impacted by COVID-19. Eviction lawsuits will not be heard for at least two months after the state courts re-open and any foreclosure proceedings are delayed for 30-days. Renters and homeowners need to demonstrate loss of income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Adopted amendments to SB421 and HB789 in order to move the effective date from July 1, 2021 to January 1, 2021. The bills cap interest rates on payday loans at 36 percent.

Finally, the Attorney General, Mark Herring, issued an official Opinion confirming that the Governor's recommendations to HB29 and HB30 that were passed into law by the House and Senate during the veto session grant the General Assembly the ability to convene remotely during a declared State of Emergency. You can review the Opinion here.

Updates on COVID-19

On May 4, the Governor announced that Executive Order 53 would expire on May 15th. Depending on the number of new cases and deaths over the next week, this will begin “Phase 1” of the re-opening of the Commonwealth. This is part of the CDC’s three-phase approach and the Commonwealth can begin this process due to expanded testing ability, hospital capacity, an increase in PPE, and the flattening of the curve. Another requirement is contact tracing, which involves public health staff being able to help COVID-19 positive patients recall everyone they have been in close contact with during the time frame when they became infectious. State Health Commissioner, Dr. Norm Oliver said that around 1,000 contact tracers are being prepared throughout Virginia to help track and slow the spread.
 
Phase 1 includes:

  • Safer at Home (especially if you are vulnerable)

  • No social gatherings of more than 10 people

  • Continued social distancing

  • Continued teleworking

  • Face coverings recommended in public

  • Easing limits on businesses and faith communities.

You can review the Governor’s presentation on different phases here.
 
I encourage you to visit the Virginia Department of Health’s website for updated information on COVID-19, including statistics, and to find a testing site near you. For general coronavirus information, you can also call VDH at 877-ASK-VDH3 or 877-275-8343.
 
The Governor extended the closure of DMV office through May 11th and the Virginia State Police will continue suspending the enforcement of motor vehicle inspections through July 31st. The DMV’s online and mail services remain available to customers.
 
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved Virginia to receive three decontamination systems that can sterilize up to 240,000 units of PPE per day for reuse.
 
Please tune in to the Governor’s 2 pm briefings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for important information. On Friday, May 8, the Governor will provide specific details of guidance for Phase 1 re-opening of various retail establishments, including such elements as distancing, occupancy, and cleansing. You can watch it at facebook.com/GovernorVA.

It is an honor to serve you in the General Assembly. If you have any questions or concerns that I can help address, please email me at delegate.carr@betsycarr.org. Additionally, you can call my office at 804-698-1169 and leave a voicemail. My staff and I will respond to you as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Betsy B. Carr