Dear Friend,
I hope you and your family are staying safe and well and that you are enjoying the longer days as we approach Spring. The General Assembly completed their work on Saturday at 11:12 p.m. and adjourned Sine Die on Monday. I am proud and honored of the work achieved during this historic session.
2021 Legislative Highlights
Year two into the first Democratic majority in the General Assembly in two decades, my colleagues and I have passed progressive legislation focused on protecting our families, keeping Virginia healthy, rebuilding our economy stronger, and creating a more inclusive Virginia.
A More Inclusive Virginia
Prohibits discrimination in voting and elections (HB1890)
Automatically restores voting rights to convicted felons upon completion of their sentence. This is a constitutional amendment and will need to pass the General Assembly again before going to a statewide referendum (HJ555)
Expands Virginia Human Rights Act to individuals with Disabilities (HB1848)
Requires state agencies to establish and maintain a comprehensive diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic plan (HB1993)
Prohibits the LGBTQ+ panic defense (HB2132)
Education
Requires schools boards to offer in-person instruction under CDC guidelines (SB1303)
Establishes the Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back fund for Virginia Community Colleges (HB2204)
Permits the State Corporation Commission to provide broadband capacity to unserved areas in the Commonwealth (HB2304)
Criminal Justice Reform
Abolishes the death penalty (HB2263)
Legalizes simple possession of marijuana July 1, 2024. Also provides automatic expungement of marijuana-related offenses and economic investment opportunities within the newly created cannabis industry for communities disproportionally impacted by the war on drugs, and reinvests revenues in communities harmed by prohibition and over-policing (HB2312)
Keeping Virginia Healthy
Expands Virginia’s vaccination capacity (HB2333)
Allows telemedicine to be covered by health insurance carriers (HB1987)
Directs the Department of Health to provide transparent pharmaceutical drug pricing (HB2007)
Requires employers to provide paid sick leave for home healthcare workers (HB2137)
A comprehensive review of the 2021 legislation can be found online. You may also read these articles in the Richmond Times-Dispatch outlining a summary of the Session.
-Assembly Wrap Up
-26 Reasons Why the General Assembly Session Mattered
My Legislation
As I mentioned in my previous email update, all seven of my bills passed the House and Senate and are on their way to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law. I am especially pleased by the passing of HB1902, which prohibits food vendors from using styrofoam containers by 2025. Constituents approached me about some horrific traffic accidents so I introduced HB1903 which allows localities to reduce speed limits in residential and business districts to 15 miles per hour. HB2299 is a consensus bill that implements several of JLARC’s recommendations of K-12 special education in Virginia to improve the quality of education for those students to make sure we are meeting their needs.
You may review a complete list of my legislation on Virginia's legislative information system's website.
Budget
It is a privilege to serve on the House Appropriations Committee, which each year works on the budget. The budget is the most important bill we pass since it determines how tax payer money is utilized. We passed a $141 billion bi-partisan budget and I am delighted that we were able to restore so much of the funding that was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On top of that funding, we were able to put $130 million into the revenue reserve fund. These are the highlights:
COVID-19 Response: A total of $329.5 million was allocated for COVID-19 relief.
$41.6 million in continued supplements for nursing homes
$16 million for VEC (Virginia Employment Commission) enhanced customer service and systems changes
$37.6 million to allow deductibility of tax-free PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) grants
$20 million for Rebuild VA grant programs
Education: A number of budget items were passed to provide further support to Virginia's students, teachers, and staff.
$231.4 million for 5% teacher pay raises and SOQ-recognized support staff
$51.1 million for COVID-19 learning loss
$26.6 million in funding for school counselors
$36 million to implement the G3 Community College Initiative
$19.1 million at Norfolk State University & Virginia State University
$8.5 million for TAG Grants
Worker’s Rights/Workforce Equity: Several measures were introduced to protect and compensate Virginia's business and workers.
3.5% pay raise for state employees
$10 million for funding to support lending and grants to businesses in low-income and distressed communities hard hit by the pandemic
Funding for healthcare workers and first responders who were killed or injured due to COVID-19
Other Budget Items
$5 million for capitalization funds to fund electric vehicle rebates
$69.4 million for the Water Quality Improvement Fund
Savings reinvested from abolishing the death penalty into indigent and public defense programs
Funding for continued improvements to I-64 between Richmond and Hampton Roads
I am particularly pleased and excited that we are able to fund 5% raises for teachers and 3.5% raises for state employees. These dedicated essential workers were long overdue for this raise and I am committed to continuing to look for ways to improve their circumstances.
The final budget report broken down by subject can be viewed here
COVID-19 Updates
COVID-19 hospitalizations and infection rates continue to decline in Virginia. The Commonwealth has given out more than two million vaccines. However, we are still above the threshold of concerns and must continue to do our part to wear masks, social distance, and keep up other mitigation practices. Governor Ralph Northam has amended Executive Order 72 with the following changes:
Social gatherings increase from 10 to 25 people for outdoor settings, remains 10 for indoor settings
Increased capacity for certain outdoor sports and entertainment venues
Alcohol sales and consumption extended to midnight at dining establishments, breweries, wineries, etc.
Overnight summer camps will be able to open with strict mitigation measures as of May 1
As COVID cases decline, vaccinations are steadily increasing. I am working with the Virginia Department of Health to ensure that vaccines are accessible and equitably distributed. I am happy to announce that Walgreens has been added to the list of sites to obtain a vaccine in the Southside of Richmond. Ephesus Adventist Church on Midlothian Turnpike is slated to be used as a vaccine site. A date will be released soon. Additionally, Virginia is getting 69,000 doses of Johnson&Johnson vaccine. I will continue to advocate for our communities to ensure access for all. I was pleased to work with the Governor to start a phone center so those without internet or difficulty accessing the websites can sign up for shots. Virginia is predicted to finish vaccinating the 1b population by the third week of April.
Please continue to contact our office with any questions and concerns related to COVID-19 vaccinations. Or visit the Virginia Department of Health website for the most up-to-date news on COVID-19 and vaccinations or call their hotline at 877-275-8343.
It is an honor and privilege to serve you in the General Assembly. Please never hesitate to contact me if I can be helpful to you. You can email me at delegate.carr@betsycarr.org or call my office at 804-698-1169. I look forward to staying in touch.
Sincerely,
Betsy B. Carr