This past week was “crossover” at the General Assembly, meaning both the House and Senate completed work on bills introduced by their own members and sent approved legislation “across the hall” to the other chamber for consideration. Five of my bills passed the House by the crossover deadline: House Bills 814, 815, 820, 821, and 822.
HB814 directs the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD) to annually review state agencies’ plans to enhance procurement from small, women- and minority-owned businesses. HB815 will establish a mentorship pilot program for start-up women- and minority-owned businesses. HB820 asks SBSD to conduct a business disparity study every five years. HB821 adds a judge to the 31st Judicial Circuit, increasing the maximum number of judges in Prince William County’s Circuit Court from six to seven. HB822 will modernize the Town of Occoquan’s charter, bringing its local elections in line with the rest of Virginia.
These bills must now be heard by the appropriate subcommittees and committees in the Senate.
Hearing from Constituents
Last Saturday, I joined Senator Scott Surovell, Senator Jeremy McPike, and Delegate Candi Mundon King for an Eastern Prince William legislative town hall. The event was livestreamed on Facebook; you can watch a recording here.
I was also privileged to attend the National Coalition of 100 Black Women – Prince William County Chapter’s virtual Legislative Day. We discussed the latest updates in Virginia’s redistricting process as well as NCBW-PWCC’s legislative priorities.
VGEA at the General Assembly
On Thursday, representatives from the Virginia Governmental Employees Association visited the General Assembly. I was glad to meet with them to discuss their priorities for the 2022 General Assembly session.
Looking Forward
On Sunday, the House Appropriations Committee will report its revised draft of Governor Northam’s On Sunday, the House Appropriations Committee will report its revised draft of Governor Northam’s outgoing budget. Watch the presentation live at 1pm. We have been working diligently to craft a fair and balanced budget given the dramatic cuts to state revenue proposed by the new Administration. Following the Appropriations Committee’s report, the full House of Delegates will vote on its version of the budget before sending it to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee for consideration.
Did you know? You can view every version of the state budget, as well as every budget amendment that has been submitted, at budget.lis.virginia.gov.
If you have any questions or comments about the General Assembly Session, please reach out to my office at info@delegatetorian.com or 703-785-2224.