On Saturday, the 2024 Virginia General Assembly’s regular legislative session ended as we adjourned sine die. We will reconvene later this year, on April 17th, for a veto session to address Governor Youngkin’s recommendations on passed legislation and the Commonwealth’s biennial budget.
Budget Update
I am pleased to announce that we crafted a state budget that preserves our shared priorities in education, health and human resources, public safety, and protecting Virginia’s environment. This is the first time in many years that the General Assembly has passed a budget on time. I thank my colleagues in the House and Senate, as well as the House Appropriations staff, for their tireless work on this budget. Below are some of the key takeaways from what is included:
Education
- 3% salary increase each year in the biennium for our public school teachers.
- $2.5 billion in additional funding for K-12 public education.
- $527.8 million over the biennium to support early childhood education.
- $371.3 million over the biennium to implement several JLARC recommendations.
- $72.1 million to provide support for ELL students.
- $205.4 million over the biennium to increase access, affordability, and degree production for public colleges and universities. This works to limit in-state undergraduate tuition increases and includes $40 million in support for HBCUs.
Economy/Working Families
- $79.5 million over the biennium to support increasing the state’s minimum wage to $15/hr. by January 2026.
- 3% salary increase each year of the biennium for state-supported employees.
- $175 million for the Virginia Housing Trust Fund to support the creation or preservation of affordable housing.
- $40 million over the biennium for the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program.
- $243.1 million over the biennium to backfill revenue lost from the removal of the grocery sales tax.
Health/Mental Health
- $30.5 million over the biennium to combat the opioid epidemic in our Commonwealth, including:
- $11 million for the Virginia Department of Health to purchase opioid reversal agents and test kits.
- $400,000 for the Virginia Department of Health to conduct a waste water demonstration project to test for fentanyl and norfentanyl.
- $100,000 to equip public schools with naloxone to combat the deadly opioid epidemic.
- $191.4 million to add additional DD waiver slots and a 3% rate increase each year of the biennium for DD services.
- $126 million over the biennium in additional mental health services.
- $6.2 million over the biennium to fully fund community health workers in local health departments.
- $40 million over the biennium to incentivize higher staffing for nursing homes.
Public Safety
- $75.1 million over the biennium for community violence intervention initiatives, including….
- $18 million over the biennium for the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Program.
- $10 million for the Operation Ceasefire Grant Program.
- $7 million over the biennium to add Roanoke to the Safer Communities program.
- $6 million in additional support over the biennium for youth community violence programs.
- $21.3 million over the biennium to backfill and maintain funding for the VOCA Victims Services Grant Program and maintains funding for the Victim Witness, Sexual Assault, and Domestic Violence Victim and Victim Services grant programs.
Natural Resources/Infrastructure
- The budget directs the Governor to reenter the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
- $149.5 million over the biennium to improve our transportation system and ease the burden of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
- $100 million for the Community Flood Preparedness Fund.
- $400 million to meet Chesapeake Bay improvement goals.
- $25 million for the City of Norfolk for Coastal Risk Storm Management Projects.
You can view every version of the state budget, as well as every budget amendment and conference report that has been submitted, at budget.lis.virginia.gov.
Legislative Round-Up
My bill, House Bill 711, passed the General Assembly unanimously during this session. Again, this bill authorizes the issuance of bonds up to $124,285,000 for revenue-producing capital projects at James Madison University, Virginia State University, and The College of William and Mary in Virginia. My colleague Senator L. Louise Lucas (SB 599) carried the Senate version of this legislation.
House Bill 712 passed the General Assembly unanimously this week. This bill modifies the requirements for the six-year financial plan to ensure a structural balance between projected revenues and expenditures for the six years.
House Bill 715 also passed the General Assembly unanimously this week. This legislation updates the six-year capital outlay plan for projects to be funded entirely or partially from general fund-supported resources.
House Bill 713 garnered board bi-partisan support this session and is now headed to the Governor’s desk. Again, this legislation will require higher education institutions to create campus safety and emergency preparedness training for all first-year and returning students.
My bills, House Bill 716 and House Bill 717, were rolled into other members’ pieces of legislation. House Bill 716, which required the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity to conduct a disparity study every five years, was rolled into Delegate Jeion Ward’s House Bill 1404. While my House Bill 717, which increases the number of authorized juvenile and domestic relations district court judges in the Thirty-first Judicial District in Prince William County from five to six, was rolled into Delegate Patrick Hope’s House Bill 310. Del. Ward and Del. Hope’s bills passed the House and Senate and are now awaiting action by the Governor.
In addition, I co-patroned several successful bills and resolutions. These include:
House Bill 736 (Delegate Briana Sewell) creates the Veterans’ Service Protection Act to prohibit any person from receiving compensation for preparing, presenting, prosecuting, advising, consulting, or assisting any individual regarding any veterans’ benefits matter except as permitted under federal law.
House Bill 673 (Delegate Michael Feggans) provides that the Department of Conservation and Recreation shall give additional weight to projects located in low-income geographic areas and projects that incorporate nature-based solutions when distributing loans or grants from the Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund to particular local governments.
House Bill 1269 (Delegate Marcia Price) creates an exception to the barrier crime rules for employment at an adult substance abuse or mental health treatment program.
House Bill 1381 (Delegate Chris Runion) renames the Center for Rural Virginia as the Senator Frank M. Ruff, Jr. Center for Rural Virginia.
As always, I am grateful for the support of the people of the 24th District throughout this session.
Don’t hesitate to contact our office if you have questions or concerns. Feel free to contact us directly at the district office; our email is info@delegatetorian.com, and our telephone number is 703-785-2224.