Dear Friend,
The new year is underway and the 2023 legislative session is in full swing. Session convened on January 11 and is scheduled to be a 45 day session. During this time, the General Assembly will consider over a 1,500 bills as well as Governor Youngkin’s amendments to the biennial budget that covers state spending from fiscal years 2022-2024. Below, I provide more insight into the going-ons of session, my legislation, and helpful resources.
State of the Commonwealth Address
Governor Youngkin gave his 2023 State of the Commonwealth address on January 11, after the first day of session.
You can read his remarks here.
The 2023 Legislative Session
Session convened January 11, 2023, at 12 noon, with an expected adjournment on February 25.
There are several important topics that will be debated during this session, in addition to thorough deliberation for the best use for Virginia’s surplus funds. Below, I will highlight some important topics and link to helpful articles.
Abortion
The Governor has made it clear he wants to prioritize legislation that bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. A House and Senate bill have been introduced in line with the Governor’s priorities. However, these are not the only bills on the subject. There has also been legislation introduced to put in code that life begins at conception as well as other measures to ban abortion and restrict access to reproductive healthcare.
I will vote against any of these measures and support accessible, confidential, and quality healthcare for all Virginians.
Environmental Protections
Virginia passed three substantial pieces of environmental legislation in 2020 and 2021. These bills committed Virginia to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), outlined the process for transitioning to a carbon neutral energy economy with the Virginia Clean Economy Act, and committed Virginia to clean car standards.
This session, there are a myriad of bills which aim to undermine these environmental protections, and in some cases seek to repeal them entirely. I will continue to champion our environment and oppose bills that undo our important work.
The Virginia Mercury published a helpful round-up of environmental legislation under discussion this session. You can find it at this link.
Gun Violence Prevention
There are several bills to prevent gun violence. Including legislation that would study the effect gun violence has on communities, ban the sale of unserialized “ghost guns,” and strengthen gun storage laws. These measures are vital to ensuring our communities, students and families are safe. I look forward to supporting these pieces of legislation.
Education
Governor Youngkin and several Republican members have initiated legislation to undermine public schools.
Utility Rate Reform
Several bills have been introduced to lower the high power bills Virginians have been paying. These bills are divided in two approaches. One which provides a simple change to allow the State Corporation Commission to review Dominion’s base rates and adjust them as needed. The other bills are a more complicated approach on the issue that address a variety of rules and regulations placed on Dominion, including a provision that has allowed Dominion to reinvest profits into new projects rather than return them to ratepayers. The latter suite of legislation is backed by Dominion and has drawn criticism for eroding State Corporation Commission authority over Dominion.
You can read more about these reforms at this link.
The Governor’s Proposed Budget Amendments
The Commonwealth Institute published their analysis of Governor Youngkin’s proposed budget amendments to the Biennial budget for fiscal years 2022-2024. You can read their helpful side-by-side report at this link.
My Bills
I am excited to carry a variety of bills this session. You can find a complete list of bills that I have introduced at this link. Several are highlighted below.
HB2047: Inclusionary Zoning Practices
This year, I am introducing several bills that implement recommendations from a 2021 Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission (JLARC) study. HB2047 provides a menu of options that localities can adopt in support of affordable housing.
HB2045: Incentive Program for Localities
HB2045 instructs the Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) to create an incentive program for localities that adopt inclusionary zoning practices by awarding them grants to be used for housing or other infrastructure projects.
HB2046: Statewide Housing Plan
Another JLARC bill, HB2046 tasks DHCD with creating and maintaining a statewide housing needs and assessment study to better instruct policy decisions moving forward.
HJ498: LOOP Constitutional Amendment
HJ498 is a constitutional amendment that would give localities the ability to establish a Longtime Owner Occupancy Program (LOOP) to provide tax relief to residents who have been in their homes for an extended period of time, but may not qualify for the senior tax deduction.
HB1738: Virtual Public Access
This bill ensures that the public is able to access state and local meetings remotely. It was heard in subcommittee, who recommended referral to Appropriations to analyze its fiscal impact.
HB1742: No Child Left Inside
This bill tasks the Department of Education with compiling a core curriculum of environmental literacy programs for K-12 education. Engaging children outside of the classroom environment helps support better focus and behavior. It also is vital to ensure the Commonwealth’s next generation is equipped for the unique challenges posed by climate change and environmental preservation. Principal Powell’s program at John B. Cary Elementary is illustrative of what can be accomplished through an environmental literacy program.
HB1744: Home Study Reciprocity for Adoption & Foster Care
HB1744 allows for transferability of home studies done for families seeking to adopt or foster. This bill aims to simplify the process for families looking to adopt or foster children who need families.
HB1745: Predatory Towing
HB1745 is a consumer protection bill which adds to the prohibited acts for tow truck drivers and recovery operators. This bill will prevent non-contracted tow-truck drivers, whose prices are not capped, from taking advantage of vulnerable, stranded drivers.
HB1765: Rehabilitative Support Services for Firefighters
This bill seeks to expand the definition of a fire company to include those companies who provide rehabilitative support services to first-responders at on-going emergency scenes.
HB1773: Bike Safety
This bill clarifies code to allow for bicycles to treat certain stop signs as yield signs, which is a practice that is recommended by a recent state police study.
HB1774: Harm Reduction Training for Law Enforcement
HB1774 implements expanded harm reduction training for law enforcement to help respond to the ongoing opioid epidemic.
HB1785: Reducing Speed Limits
This bill allows localities to lower their speed limits below 25 mph if they choose.
Committees & Caucuses
This session I continue to serve on the General Laws, Transportation, and Appropriations Committees.
In addition to legislative committee meetings and appointments with constituents and special interest groups, legislators participate in special caucuses during the session. For instance, the Military and Veterans Caucus and the Sportsmen Caucus meet one early morning each week.
We learned that Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been identified in deer in Virginia posing threats to our wildlife and recreational economy. If you hunt or enjoy eating venison, you may want to check here.
At the Military and Veterans Caucus we learned, among other things, how Virginia's National Guard will be sending troops soon to Eastern Europe for the first time in a number of years.
Helpful Resources for Session
Session convenes each day at noon. You can watch a live stream and recordings of previous sessions and committee meetings at this link.
You can find copies of introduced bills and track their progress at this website. Additionally, under the meeting tab of that website, you can find the schedule for committees, caucuses, commissions and session.
If you would like to testify in favor or opposition of a bill either virtually or in-person, you can sign up to do so here.
Reading a bill is a skill that can take some time to develop. Review the below graphic for help on how.
Finally, the language of session can be tricky, see below for a glossary of some common terms and motions used in session and in committees.
Definitions of Common Terms & Motions
Patron: The Delegate or Senator who introduced a bill
Co-Patron: The Delegate or Senator who supports the bill
First Reading: The bill is placed on the House floor calendar
Second Reading: The bill is open for discussion on the House floor
Third Reading: The bill is voted on the House floor
Crossover: When all the bills that passed one body (House or Senate) “crossover” to the other body
Sine Die: The House and Senate have completed their work and session adjourns
Committee motions:
Report: This motion is made to vote on the passage of a bill in committee.
Refer: This motion is made when a bill is being reported and referred to another committee for review and consideration.
Pass by for the Day: When a bill is still up for consideration but the committee or the patron need more time to work on the bill. It is considered again during the next committee meeting. This motion can also be made on the House floor.
Lay on the table: This means the bill fails to pass.
Pass by Indefinitely: This means the bill fails to pass.
Continued: The bill fails to pass but will be considered next year after more research/discussion, often accompanied by a workgroup that convenes between sessions.
Groups, in addition to constituents, that I have met with since Session began:
William & Mary Leadership
Community Bankers
Virginia Bike Federation
Apartment Managers
Virginia Nurses Association
VCU Representatives
Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association
Virginia Educators Association
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
Virginia Citizens Defense League
Teachers from Richmond Public Schools
Chesterfield Educators Association
Norfolk State University Leadership
Virginia21, Young Adult Advocacy Group
Birth in Color, Doulas
Heritage Credit Union
Equality Virginia
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
American Academy of Pediatrics
Cristo Rey High School Representatives
Judicial Candidates
New Virginia Majority
Children’s Health Defense Virginia Chapter
United Federation of Campus Workers
Church World Service
Voices for Virginia’s Children
Richmond Association of Realtors
I value your concerns and commitment to protecting our community. I hold that same value and promise to commit to and respect issues brought to me by fellow constituents.
Current Issues I am hearing from constituents:
Protecting and maintaining funding for education
Providing affordable housing
Decreasing rent spikes for rental tenets
Protecting the LGBTQ community
Protecting abortion rights
Measures to prevent gun violence
I enjoy meeting with constituents and advocacy groups, feel free to contact me at delegate.carr@betsycarr.org with any legislative priorities, or visit in-person.
Dominion Bill Assistance
Dominion Energy provides several bill payment assistance programs for its customers. You can view their entire list of programs at this link, which includes housing assistance and scam awareness resources.
Community Events
The Science Museum of Virginia features live science and dome shows. Today, January 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Science Museum of Virginia will host a Teacher Open House. View more demonstrations and events on their website.
The Children Museum will host Lunar New Year arts and crafts today, January 21, in their art studio. Visit their website for more information.
The Virginia Holocaust Museum is hosting two film screenings in January. On January 25, 7 PM, at the Byrd Theater, “Prosecuting Evil: The Extraordinary World of Ben Ferencz.” Then, on January 29, 2 PM, at the VMFA, there will be a screening of “Valiant Hearts.”
The Valentine Museum has current exhibitions of the Wickham House and the Valentine First Freedom Center and Monument. Visit the Valentine's website for more information.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden has half-price admission days from now until January 28. Visit their website for more information.
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has several classes for adults and youth, in addition to their exhibits. Visit their website for more information.
The Visual Arts Center offers art classes for adults and children on topics such as woodworking, sewing, drawing and much more. Visit their website to see the schedule.
The Branch House Architectural Museum has several exhibits open, including “Characters: Type + Progress” which examines the relationship of typography and social movements. Visit their website for more information.
The Virginia Museum of History & Culture has family-friendly first Fridays and other special events in addition to exhibitions. Current exhibits include “Landscapes of America” and “The Story of Virginia.” Visit their website for more information.
The American Civil War Museum features exhibits and events such as book discussions and history happy hours. Check their website for more information.
The Black History Museum’s “Forging Freedom, Justice and Equality,” exhibition commemorates the Museum’s 40th anniversary. More information is available here.
Altria Theater: On Saturday, February 4, 2023 starting at 7 p.m. RVA Sports Awards will be hosted at the Altria Theater. For more information visit their website.
Richmond Chocolate, Wine & Whiskey Festival: On Saturday, February 11, 11:30 AM to 9 PM TasteUSA will hold a Chocolate, Wine & Whiskey Festival at Main Street Station with fine desserts and unlimited wine or whiskey. This event is for constituents 21 and older. For tickets and more information visit their website.
Thank You
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