Week Seven and Eight of the 2024 General Assembly Session
As we close out week eight of the General Assembly, we are in the home stretch with just one more week to go. I apologize for not sending out a newsletter last week–I came down with the flu and it took me a few days to get back on my feet. But fret not, this week’s newsletter is jam-packed with updates covering the last two weeks!
Budget Week: “Show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value.”
These last two weeks have been a flurry of budget negotiations as we work out the Commonwealth’s spending plan for the 2024-2026 biennium. Laced in ceremony, this is a process whereby we consider the Government’s introduced budget, then each chamber puts together their own spending proposal using the Governor’s introduced budget as the baseline. Then, each chamber rejects each other’s proposals before convening a “committee of conference” made up of members from both chambers and from both parties who sit on the money committees. By the end of next week, we will be voting on a budget deal – but even then our work will not be done! The Governor will have one last chance to review and propose amendments to the budget, which we will vote on in April during the Reconvene Session. Phew!
The House Appropriations Committee produced a fiscally responsible budget that focuses on meeting the needs of our residents and moving Virginia forward. It is one that ensures we can recruit and retain the best employees throughout our Commonwealth, ensures college remains accessible and affordable for all, provides strategic investments to address the mental health and opioid crisis in Virginia, continues our commitment to environmental protection, and addresses our construction needs to ensure our facilities are state of the art for the people who use them daily.
In the House, Democrats will continue to work to put forth and work on policies that will ensure that every Virginian has the best opportunity to live, work, and raise a family. We believe in legislation, and ultimately a budget, that will invest in our schools, grow our economy, and make sure the wealthiest citizens of our Commonwealth pay their fair share in taxes.
The wonderful team at the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis has prepared this side-by-side, matching up the Governor’s introduced budget, the House budget, and the Senate budget to give a very user-friendly breakdown of the different proposals. Take a look and let me know what you think!
Legislative Progress
Eight of my bills have officially passed the Senate! I am excited that these bills will soon be on their way to the Governor’s desk.
My bill to protect homeowners from shady real estate wholesaling practices;
My bill to expand protections for registrars and election workers;
My bill to expand notification requirements when a polling place has moved or closed;
My bill to prevent price gouging in our Commonwealth’s jails and correctional facilities;
My bill to allow localities to establish historic districts and provide tax incentives to protect said districts;
My bill to protect renters in multifamily buildings from predatory towing practices;
My resolution to designate April 15 as Nepali American Heritage Day in the Commonwealth;
And finally, my bill to make juvenile fines and fees discretionary in traffic cases.
On the topic of juvenile fines and fees, I was particularly moved reading this opinion column by Marcus Jarvis, published in Thursday’s Daily Progress.
I have seven more bills that are still making their way through the legislative process in this last week of session:
My bill to ensure that accessible, trauma-informed care is available for victims of assault on college campuses;
My bill to amend parole board procedures so that it can operate even in the event of long-term vacancies;
My bill to extend the statute of limitations to allow victims more time to prosecute creation or dissemination of nonconsensual sexual images; and
My bill to keep our elections safe by prohibiting guns within 100 feet of a polling place;
My bill to discount inherited SSDI income from counting against disability waiver recipients’ eligibility for services; and
My bill to modify DMAS regulations to lock in pandemic era opportunities for parents to serve as paid caregivers to their disabled minor children.
As that last one continues to work its way through some final legislative hurdles, I am heartened to see Department of Medical Assisted Services pause some of their proposed caregiver regulations before they were set to take effect on March 1. I am deeply disappointed that respite care for Legally Responsible Individuals (LRIs) was not included, but relieved that at the very least, parents will not have to jump through needless administrative hoops to prove that they are the caregiver of last resort.
I look forward to continuing to work on my introduced legislation and getting it across the finish line to create lasting stability and assurances for LRIs who provide such critical care for their loved ones.
Landmark Legislation
It’s been a long and winding road, but the Prescription Drug Affordability Board has passed Senate committee! It’s a step in the right direction to address the cost-prohibitive inflation that’s threatening access to the medications that so many Virginians rely on.
Paid family and medical leave has been a priority of my campaign since the start, so it brings me great joy that my friend and colleague Senator Boysko’s PFML bill has passed both houses. I was a co-patron on this bill because I believe that workers deserve to be able to keep their jobs and be able to put food on the table if they or a family member become ill.
Legislation carried by Senator Ebbin to protect marriage equality regardless of LGBTQ+ status will now be headed to the Governor’s desk. This is a long overdue update to our outdated code and I have been proud to support Senator Ebbin on this journey.
I’m happy to report that Delegate Mundon-King’s bill to do away with the Robert E. Lee license plate that glorifies the Confederacy and its brutal slavery practices has passed the General Assembly.
Meetings
I was so happy to introduce and meet with students from the Korean-American Next Generation Council again—this time in the State Capitol! I was grateful that these future leaders shared their perspective and insights with me so that I can better represent their views in my role as Delegate.
It was so great to catch up with friends from New Virginia Majority after I presented my juvenile fines and fees bills in the Senate Courts of Justice Committee on Monday. I am consistently in awe of the work that they do, organizing, mobilizing and building power for workers and in communities of color across the Commonwealth.
On Monday, we made our annual AAPI Caucus visit to the House Page room! Hearing from these inspirational young people about what drove them to participate in the page program and getting to share what VAAPIC does (and share snacks!) is something I look forward to every session!
It was so great to get the chance to meet with members of For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology about their legislative priorities! This group of accomplished students are advocating for policies that would make STEM more accessible for all.
I was so glad that Rise for Youth came to see me during session. This organization is dedicated to reforming the prison system that offers only punishment to young people, not opportunity to self-advance. I wholeheartedly support their mission, and am happy that they came by to inform me about what I can do.
Presidential Primary
To check your registration status or to find out where you can cast your ballot in the March 5th Presidential primary election, you can visit this site. Polling places will be open from 6 AM through 7 PM in Fairfax County.
It is always wonderful to get a visit from you! Please call my office at 804-698-1008 or email delishin@house.virginia.gov anytime to schedule a visit to my new office in the General Assembly Building, #1115. My door is always open. My entire team - Chief of Staff Kristina, Administrative Assistant Becky, Legislative Interns Mrudula and Carolyn, and Legislative Aide Noor - is ready to assist you however we can. We are grateful for the honor of serving you and our district.
I look forward to continuing to keep you updated on our work in Richmond. Thank you for trusting me to represent the priorities of our community and Commonwealth.
