May Legislative Update

Dear Friend,

I hope you and your loved ones are enjoying the end of spring and gearing up for a fun and safe summer season as we kickoff with Memorial Day Weekend. The General Assembly will convene on Wednesday, June 1, at 10:00 a.m. to work on the budget and other outstanding legislation.

For bill information and the meeting calendar, visit lis.virginia.gov.

To watch the House or Senate livestream, visit virginiageneralassembly.gov.

National Gun Violence Awareness Day - June 3

It was absolutely devastating to learn of the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, earlier this week. After so many countless and senseless gun-related tragedies, it is not enough to offer “thoughts and prayers” when what we also need is true policy change.

In 2020, the General Assembly passed a number of common sense gun reform laws including universal background checks on gun sales, eliminating loops holes, requiring gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms, granting judicial officers the authority to issue an emergency Substantial Risk Protective Order, reinstating the one-gun-per-month limit, and so on. It is important to protect the progress we made in order to keep Virginians, particularly our precious children, safe.

You can read coverage of the seven gun control measures passed in 2020 from the Washington Post here. Additionally, Giffords Law Center has helpful information about what gun reform laws Virginia has passed versus what still needs to be done (as well as information on other states’ laws) here.

On the federal level, Senators Kaine and Warner reintroduced the “Virginia Plan” to reduce gun violence at the federal level, modeled after Virginia’s gun reform laws. I encourage you to join me in urging other members of Congress to support this Act.

Additionally, please note that June 3 is National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Every Town for Gun Safety requests that gun violence prevention supporters wear orange. Orange is the color that Hadiya Pendleton’s friends wore in her honor when she was shot and killed in Chicago at 15 years old, just one week after performing at President Obama’s 2nd inaugural parade in 2013. Visit wearorange.org for more information.

I know it is difficult to talk about gun violence and other sensitive topics with children. RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras provided these resources in one of his recent updates:

Finally, if you or someone you know needs help, please use the resources below:

Legislative Updates

DMV’s New Mileage Choice Program

Starting July 1, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will offer an alternative, mileage-based road charge program for drivers of fuel-efficient and electric vehicles. The Mileage Choice Program is a voluntary option for drivers of eligible vehicles to pay their highway use fee on a per-mile basis instead of all at once at the time of registration renewal. Customers in the program will only pay for the miles they drive - so if they drive less, they pay less. However, if they drive more, they’ll never pay more than their annual highway use fee. Eligible drivers can sign up for the program beginning July 1. Visit dmvNOW.com/VAMileageChoice for more detailed information.

New Telework Policy for State Employees

In early May, the Governor announced that state employees would soon be operating under a new telework policy with the goal of having employees back in the office by July 5. Individuals with telework agreements in place would have to apply again and any request for more than 2 days of remote work would need to be approved by the Governor’s Chief of Staff. The deadline to apply for a telework request was last Friday, May 20. Ahead of the deadline, I submitted a letter to the Governor requesting a delay in the telework policy so that state employees have more time to plan, particularly those with families who need to arrange for care. The Commonwealth employs some of our best and brightest workers and it is important to retain this talent by offering competitive wages, good benefits, and flexibility - like the option to work from home.

You can review my letter to the Governor here.

New Broadband Availability Map

The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) announced the launch of the new broadband availability map, Commonwealth Connection. This tool will enable local governments to identify gaps in broadband service and develop solutions to reach unserved areas. To learn more and access Commonwealth Connection, click here.

Changes to Virginia Eviction Laws

Over the past couple of years, renters experiencing COVID-related hardships have been protected from eviction due to nonpayment of rent. This program will end on July 1, 2022. Until then, the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act requires landlords to provide 14 days for tenants to pay late rent after a “pay or quit” notice is served. Landlords that own more than 4 units must also offer tenants a payment plan.

After July 1, landlords will no longer have to offer a payment plan and only have to give 5 days for a tenant to pay late rent before moving toward an eviction.

If you are at risk of an eviction, you can see if you qualify for the City of Richmond Eviction Diversion Program. Click here for details.

Community News and Events

Good News from Richmond Public Schools:

Green Ribbon Schools

In April, U.S. Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, announced the nation’s 2022 Green Ribbon Schools (watch the video here). Of the 27 winners across the country, 2 were from Richmond Public Schools - John B. Cary Elementary School and Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts. Congratulations to both schools on this outstanding award. The award recognizes schools that help the environment, improve the health and wellness of students and staff, and educate children about sustainability.

I worked with John B. Cary’s Principal Michael Powell to develop legislation to encourage environmental literacy in school curriculums based on his successful implementation of outdoor learning. I look forward to introducing this legislation in 2023.

Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Ms. Kiara Thompson from T.C. Boushall Middle School who was nominated as the 2022 Teacher of the Year. From Superintendent Kamras:

“She pushed [students] to achieve more than they ever have before and supports them every step of the way. She is serious about learning, and, in the words of one of her students, is also ‘really funny.’ She brings her full self to the classroom - her mind, her heart, and her soul.”

Thank you for your outstanding work and service to our community, Ms. Thompson. Check out this heart-warming clip of Superintendent Kamras, Mayor Stoney, and Ms. Thompson’s family and friends as they congratulate her in her classroom.

Fox Elementary’s First Day at Clark Springs

On May 9, Fox Elementary students officially went to school in their new home at Clark Springs. Thank you to all the leaders, teachers, staff, parents, volunteers, and members of our community who worked to get Fox students in their new home in such a short time frame.

Top 10 High Schools in Virginia

Two of the top 10 high schools in Virginia are in RPS. The latest U.S. News & World Report rankings show Open High School in Oregon Hill in the #4 spot and Richmond Community High School in the #9 spot. Nationally, out of nearly 18,000 high schools, Open ranked #177 and Community ranked #364. Congratulations to the principals, teachers, staff and students at Open and Community High Schools.

STARS Summer Challenge for High School Students

Supporting Tech Achievement for Richmonds Students, or STARS, is an exciting summer data science program for RPS high school students. This is a great opportunity to learn from and collaborate with experts in the field and gain valuable experience. The opportunity is free and registration closes on June 10. For more information and registration, visit this link.

COVID News

Unfortunately, we are not done with COVID. Over the past few weeks, Virginia has averaged nearly 3,000 new COVID cases per day. The FDA and CDC authorized a booster dose of the Pfizer COVID vaccine for children aged 5-11 as long as they received their second vaccine dose at least five months ago. Please make sure your eligible children get their booster. You can contact your pediatrician’s office, make an appointment at a local pharmacy, or check out RHHD’s upcoming vaccination events.

Last week, President Biden announced that all households can request an additional eight free at-home COVID test kits. To order from USPS, click here.

If you would like the latest, up-to-date information on COVID, you can visit COVID.gov and the Virginia Department of Health’s website.

Baby Formula Shortage

As you have likely read in the news, the United States is experiencing a nationwide baby formula shortage. This is a critical issue for families with infants and a result of many factors including supply chain issues and the closure of a major formula distributor. President Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to prioritize resources to formula manufacturers and has already brought large shipments of infant formula from overseas to address the issue. While it is expected to take several weeks to see infant formula well-stocked on the grocery store shelves, the US Department of Health and Human Services compiled a list of resources for families.

The Virginia Women, Infants & Children Program (WIC) expanded its list of approved formula options. Remember to always consult your pediatrician about appropriate feeding alternatives.

Virginia Space Grant Consortium - Private Pilot School

The Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) is hosting and offering a free online, semester-length Private Pilot Ground School (PPGS) course for high school students across the Commonwealth. The course is offered in partnership with Thomas Nelson Community College. Students who complete the course will be eligible to receive the instructor’s signature on their FAA Private Pilots License application enabling them to take the FAA knowledge exam. VSGC will admit 100 students who aspire to be commercial pilots. Applications for the summer program are closed, but there will be additional sessions in the fall 2022. For more information, visit this link. You can also email Ian Cawthray, VSGC Education Program Coordinator, at icawthra@odu.edu.

Spike Alert System to Prevent Opioid Overdoses

Localities in the greater Richmond area are working together to start the Metro Richmond Spike Alert, a system to notify the general public when spikes in opioid overdoses occur. A spike in overdoses can signify that illegal or diverted prescription drugs are more present in the community; these drugs may be more potent or likely to cause overdoses. Keeping individuals and loved ones informed may prevent injury or death. When a spike is observed, the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) will issue an alert to individuals who signed up by email. They will also communicate on social media. To sign up for the Spike Alert and learn more about opioid overdose prevention, visit rhhd.gov/spikealert.

Additionally, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) recently announced that they’ve hired a new Health Director for RHHD. Dr. Elaine Perry will join RHHD on July 10, with Dr. Melissa Viray (who served as interim director) remaining as the Deputy Director. Dr. Perry comes to RHHD with a wealth of local, state and federal public health experience at VDH, the US Navy, and the pharmaceutical industry.

Clean the Bay Day

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is hosting their annual “Clean the Bay Day” for the 33rd year. Each year, thousands of Virginians come together to remove tons of debris from waterways, parks, and shorelines across the Commonwealth. This year, Clean the Bay Day has expanded to a six-day event from May 30 until June 4. Visit this link to find a clean-up site near you and a time that suits your schedule. You can also DIY (Do It Yourself) by conducting your own clean-up on a smaller site, like your private property or anywhere else you have permission. More information on cleaning the bay your way here.

RVA Street Art Festival

Save the date for September 16-18 - after more than a two year hiatus, the RVA Street Art Festival is returning to the Power Plant building along the Haxall Canal. They will be painting over the existing murals and adding new ones. Be sure to snag one last photograph of the old murals when you are downtown! For more information, visit https://www.rvastreetart.com/.

Benefit for Ukraine

Lift Up Ukraine, a nonprofit charitable organization aimed at helping Ukrainians, invites you to save the date for their charity event, “Benefit for Ukraine.” The proceeds from the event will support humanitarian aid service professionals, assist territorial defense units with protective gear and help Ukrainian people. The event will be on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 6 p.m. at the Jefferson Hotel. Visit http://liftupukraine.org/ for more information.

Thank You

Wishing you and your loved ones an enjoyable Memorial Day weekend. May we all take time to reflect, remember, and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

If you would like to participate in a Memorial Day service, the Virginia War Memorial is hosting the Commonwealth’s 66th annual Memorial Day Service at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 30. More information here.

It is an honor to serve in the House of Delegates. Please never hesitate to contact me at delegate.carr@betsycarr.org or 804-698-1069 if I can be helpful to you.

Sincerely,

Betsy