First Week of Session 2024!

With the first week of the 2024 Session officially behind us, I wanted to send you some information about the General Assembly and updates from the past few days. We kicked off on Wednesday, January 10th and will be in session for 60 days, as it is a budget year. I am thrilled to be back in Richmond and especially happy to be in the new General Assembly Building, which is not only beautiful but also welcoming and accessible. I am proud to have joined my colleagues in electing the first Black Speaker of the House of Delegates, Delegate Don Scott, and I look forward to all that the new Democratic House Majority will accomplish under his leadership.

During session, you can keep an eye on the committee goings-on through this House Comittee Streaming site. All of the committee rooms in the General Assembly Building have been outfitted with modern audio/video equipment and all of our hearings will be streamed live. Additionally, I am so excited to share with you my committee assignments, two of which are new to me this year:

Communications, Technology and Innovation (CTI)

I am honored to have been appointed the Vice Chair of CTI, overseeing legislation related to issues like data governance, privacy, and cybersecurity.

NEW: Health and Human Services (HHS)

I am incredibly proud to have been appointed to the committee on Health and Human Services, formerly known as Health, Welfare and Institutions. Here, I will have the opportunity to work on and vote for bills on behavioral health, healthcare professions, prescription drug costs, and more. This committee assignment is especially meaningful to me as healthcare access and affordability is core to my story and consistently ranks as a top issue for the residents of the 8th District.

NEW: Labor and Commerce (L&C)

As a member of the Labor and Commerce Committee, I will get to work on legislation related to workers’ rights and protections, as well as many of the other issues under this committee’s broad purview. From shared solar, to insurance costs, to consumer protections, a number of impactful bills will come before this committee and I look forward to getting to work.

Counties, Cities, and Towns (CC&T)

I am pleased to report that I’ve been appointed as the Chair of Subcommittee #1. As the Delegate for the Town of Herndon and representing Fairfax County, one of the most populous counties in the Commonwealth, I am glad I get to continue my work on CC&T to support local communities and their elected bodies.

My 2024 Legislative Agenda

This session, I am carrying a number of bills – more than I’ve ever introduced! My legislation spans a broad spectrum, from voting access to consumer protection. I’ll send more details about my bills in next week’s newsletter, but you can get a sneak peek by visiting my page on the LIS website.

Sharing Your Legislative Priorities

If you want to learn about all that’s going on in the Virginia legislature but don’t know where to start, LIS is a wonderful and helpful resource. It stores information about bills and bill numbers, committee assignments, and more.

If you have thoughts you’d like to share on legislation, bills, or even the state budget, please don’t hesitate to give my office a call at 804-698-1008 or email us at delishin@house.virginia.gov. If you find yourself in Richmond between now and the end of session, I hope you will stop by my office in the new General Assembly Building (office #1115)! I am always happy to meet with constituents and advocacy groups. Hearing from you helps me to better understand the issues in our community and represent you in Richmond.

I would encourage any constituent of mine to make their voice heard by testifying in front of a committee about a bill. The House of Delegates offers both in person and virtual opportunities. These sites have some basic guidelines and information to register. For any additional guidance, please do not hesitate to contact our team and we are happy to help.

Don’t forget to follow our accounts on X, Facebook, and Instagram for updates from the Capitol. I remain grateful to the voters of the 8th District and for their trust in me, and can’t wait to deliver for the people of our great Commonwealth.