Week Three of the 2024 General Assembly Session
As unseasonably warm weather arrives, legislative activity is intensifying quickly here in Richmond. I am pleased to provide some updates on the progress of my introduced bills through subcommittees this week as they advance through the legislative process.
Multiple Bills Out of Subcommittee
On Tuesday, the Labor & Commerce Subcommittee #3 voted to report my bill, HB906, with bipartisan support. This legislation would prohibit utility disconnections for nonpayment of bills during extreme weather events and public health emergencies. This protection for our most vulnerable residents ensures access to essential utility services during the hottest and coldest days. The bill then passed the full Labor & Commerce Committee on Thursday, again with bipartisan support, and will reach the House floor next week.
Additionally HB912, addressing price gouging in local and regional jails, is advancing after three years of determined effort. This moves us one step closer to guaranteeing any profit is reinvested in educational, recreational, and rehabilitative programs for those incarcerated.
Three of my other bills also successfully reported from subcommittees this week. HB913 would enable the Virginia Parole Board to maintain operations even when seats are vacant. Parole is an essential component of our justice system, and we must ensure the appointment process does not hamper the Board's work. Meanwhile, HB917 would provide oversight of the real estate wholesaling industry by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation to improve consumer protections.
And finally, my bill HB1263, which would eliminate court costs, fines, and fees for minors, successfully passed out of the Courts of Justice Criminal Subcommittee this week. I believe our criminal justice system is flawed in the way it often fails to deliver equitable justice, particularly for Black and brown youth. Under the current system, minors whose families cannot afford court fees can end up accumulating exorbitant debt as interest and collection fees compound. Eliminating these fines and fees will allow judges to instead leverage alternatives like community service to teach accountability, while ensuring a young person's financial means alone does not determine their future success. This bill has been in the making since 2022, and I am grateful to all the partners who have helped along the way – TCI, Rise for Youth, NVM, and the students at the State and Local Government Policy Clinic at UVA Law School.
Other Legislation
Speaking of Virginia’s children… The landmark Cover All Kids Act passed out of the Social Services Subcommittee this week, extending health insurance coverage to all minors in Virginia regardless of immigration status. I was honored to temporarily chair the subcommittee during this bill hearing while my colleague and bill patron, Delegate Kathy Tran, presented this impactful bill. As a child who grew up without health insurance myself, I am thrilled to see this legislation continue on.
The House also voted to remove the farmworker exemption which currently allows for farmworkers to be paid less than the established state minimum wage, ensure marriage equality protections, provide resources for students experiencing homelessness, and conserve Virginia's trees.
On gun safety, several critical bills are making their way through the House of Delegates: banning assault weapons, closing dangerous loopholes to keep guns out of the hands of convicted domestic abusers, prohibiting untraceable "ghost guns", and outlawing auto sears. Our continued efforts to prevent gun violence remain urgent.
Meetings
I loved getting to reunite with my friends and neighbors visiting us from Herndon and representing the Service Employees International Union VA 512. Kirk Jones, president of APRI Central Virginia Chapter, and Julia Newton, with SEIU, are dear colleagues and co-conspirators I feel lucky to work alongside to build a Commonwealth that work for everyone and prioritizes working families. I enjoyed meeting with representatives from Virginia Promise Partnership and discussing the affordable childcare crisis we are all facing in our communities.
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 and I stand ready to assist you however we can. We are grateful for the honor of serving you and our district.
P.S. - A Note on Casinos
Our office has heard from hundreds of our neighbors who have reached out to oppose SB675, proposing a casino in Fairfax County. And I concur.
Communities should have an opportunity to weigh in on decisions that will impact their day-to-day lives, and this bill was introduced without such input. If this bill should pass, it would also be the first time that the state granted authority to call for a casino referendum that the locality did not ask for. I will continue to stand with the residents and voters who have made their stance clear — the people of Fairfax County do not want a casino.
Resources
