2025 General Assembly Week Four Newsletter!
Getting ready for Crossover!
This week has been a flurry of activity and late night committee hearings as we approach crossover. By Tuesday, February 4, all bills must pass their chamber of origin – House bills through the House, Senate bills through the Senate – to remain viable for the rest of the legislative session. This deadline marks the halfway point of our legislative work, and any bills that successfully pass will "cross over" to the opposite chamber starting Wednesday, February 5. The past week has seen an intense rush of committee meetings and bill presentations as legislators work to meet this important deadline.
With that in mind, I presented my remaining bills this week. Five of them have now advanced to the House Floor:
HB 2087, which expedites the construction of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the Commonwealth;
HB 2089, which empowers homecare workers to collectively bargain for fairer wages and working conditions;
HB 2742, which expands testing to include fentanyl for patients presenting with overdose symptoms;
HB 2743, which establishes prevailing wage rates for underground projects; and
HB 2779, which expands the membership and impact of the Office of New Americans Advisory Board.
Three of the bills that I introduced this year did not make it out of committee, but I look forward to continuing to work with stakeholders and advocates in the off-season so I can bring them back again next year.
HB 2086, which sought to create a tax credit for homebuilders who build energy efficient homes;
HB 2758, which would have barred utility rate increases during the three coldest months of the year; and
HJ 451, which would have commissioned a study into land value tax policy and what impact a land value tax policy would have if implemented, especially in the Town of Herndon.
Bill Spotlight: I’m pleased to share that HB 2742 (Malcolm’s Law) reported out of the full House Health & Human Services Committee this week with unanimous, bipartisan support. Today, a patient presenting with overdose symptoms seeking care at an ER might be tested for 5 drugs—but not fentanyl. HB2742 will change that and save lives. During the subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, I was joined by Ms. Thurraya Kent who shared with us her family story. I am holding the Kent family—and every family that has been impacted—in my thoughts as we work to combat the fentanyl crisis. I’m proud that we’ve made it through the House committee process and I look forward to getting this bill through the Senate and signed into law.
For a full summary of the legislation I am carrying this session, please visit the Legislative Information System website!
I loved meeting with constituents and advocates this week, including:
Labor partners including SEIU, LiUNA and AFL-CIO
Radford University students
The Alzheimer’s Association
Herndon Mayor Keven LeBlanc
Herndon Town Councilmembers Mike Lloyd and Naila Alam
The Fairfax Education Association
And more!
I was particularly touched to receive a 2024 Public Service Award from Autism Speaks, a wonderful organization that lifts up the voices and experiences of individuals living with autism. I partnered closely with Autism Speaks and many others from the disAbility community in 2024 on two bills: HB 908 ensured that inherited social security disability income can’t disqualify financial eligibility for disabled adults under the Developmental Disability Waiver program and HB 909 (pending CMS approval) aims to expand opportunities for parents to serve as paid caregivers for their eligible children under the Home & Community Based Services Medicaid Waiver program. It was fun to welcome some of those same partners back to the Capitol on Monday!
Hearing from constituents, advocates, and industry leaders is incredibly important to me as I work to best represent YOU and work to craft and advance strong policy that keeps Virginia moving forward.
No matter the time of year, my staff and I are available to assist you!
From navigating state agencies such as the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the Virginia Unemployment Commission, and the Department of Social Services to developing policy that strengthens our community, my team and I are here for you. If you have any questions or need help, please reach out to my office anytime. You can reach us at delishin@house.virginia.gov or (703) 677-8334.