March 11th Newsletter
As our session is dragging towards completion (see the budget adoption update below), I have been tempted more than once to suggest that we turn over the reins of control over the legislative process to a group that actually knows how to get things done: the pages! Each session, an eager and ambitious group of young people join us in the General Assembly to support our efforts. Students from across the state apply to join the program and the Speaker of the House selects the House pages; Senate leadership and the Clerk of the Senate select the Senate pages. See more information on the application process and program requirements for the Page program online here.
While the pages are helping us throughout the day, they also are learning the legislative process. And learning it well enough that they then take over their respective chambers for an afternoon of mock lawmaking. We, the members, become the pages and are mostly responsible for running to grab the snacks and other goodies as they debate their bills.
We are approaching the 60-day mark of our session and still are working to finalize dozens of bills. Meanwhile, the House pages met for less than 90 minutes and managed to approve dozens of measures. Yes, a few of their bills were introduced on a lighter note: who could vote against making the Monday after the Super Bowl a holiday? - we all need time to recover after watching the big game. But almost all of the pages’ bills take on the most important issues of the day, some of the same issues that we are trying to address with our legislation. The bills that caught my eye would create laws to: assist animal shelters in becoming no-kill facilities; require gas stations to provide at least one electric charging facility; provide more protections and funding for the homeless; create a mental health day for students in grades K-12; protect students with disabilities in schools; and preserve transgender students access to school restrooms.
I admire both the creativity and thoughtfulness of the pages in their bill drafting and floor presentations. As has happened in the past, one or more of these pages will go on to run for public office and end up serving in this chamber. I think that they will be ready for the job.
If you have any questions or need assistance with a state agency, please contact my office at delrwillett@house.virginia.gov or phone at 804-698-1073, and a member of my staff will be happy to assist you. I also will continue to keep you informed with relevant, accurate information via Twitter, Facebook, and my website. Please stay well and stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Rodney
New Information
2022 Legislative Session Week 9
This week was the “final'' week of the 2022 legislative session. Article IV of the Virginia Constitution establishes the length of our 60-day even year and 45-day odd-year legislative sessions, however, it is not uncommon for us to head into “overtime” for the House and Senate to reach agreements on some of our most important pieces of legislation. Our biennial budget bills HB30 and SB30, are the main source of the disagreements preventing the legislature from adjourning Sine Die.
The budgets passed by the House and Senate have a number of differences but the largest concerns a provision to double the standard deduction on state income taxes, which is only included in the House budget. Both budgets would provide tax relief for Virginians through the elimination of the state sales tax on groceries and hygiene products and one-time tax rebates for Virginia residents. The House version, however, provides a slightly larger one-time tax rebate at $300 per individual and $600 per couple, compared to the Senate’s proposed $250 per individual and $500 per couple. The House budget also includes funding to eliminate the local portion of the grocery tax and provides state funding to hold localities harmless for the projected loss of revenue. The House budget provision to double the standard state income tax deduction would cost Virginia over $2 billion in revenue. A bipartisan group of Senators have advocated for taking a year to study the potential impacts of doubling the standard dedication, rather than taking action in this budget bill. You can see a full breakdown of the House vs. the Senate budget online here.
These differences, combined with smaller spending items create a funding gap of over $3 billion between the competing spending plans. Rules of the General Assembly require that the budget be publicly posted for 48 hours before being voted on by Saturday, March 12th, the last scheduled date of the session, however that rule can be waived. It is possible that an agreement will be reached at any minute, however, at this point, it seems unlikely that we will be able to come to a consensus on a unified budget before the end of our 60-day session.
Should we not make the 60-day deadline, most members will return to their home districts until an agreement is reached by budget conferees in the House and Senate. This could be as soon as early next week, or negotiations could last for several weeks.
Another factor adding to the time crunch that we experienced this week was the nomination of judges to fill regional judicial vacancies around the state. Judicial nominations are notorious for taking up almost an entire day with frequent pauses as we communicate between the House and the Senate. Virginia is one of just a few states where judges are selected by a voting process of the legislature. Judicial candidates typically meet with House and Senate members of a regional delegation during the legislative session to allow those representatives to learn more about each candidate’s background and legal experience. Candidates that have been selected by a locality’s delegation will then participate in judicial interviews conducted by the Joint House and Senate Judiciary Committees.
Throughout this process, I have met with so many incredible attorneys and substitute judges that have been considered for a spot on Henrico’s General District and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts. We are so privileged to have a robust group of candidates willing to serve Henrico County in these positions. I would like to congratulate Marissa Mitchell, who was appointed to the Henrico Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court this week. Ms. Mitchell currently serves as a Deputy County Attorney for Henrico County and I have the utmost confidence in her ability to succeed in this new position.
I will keep you informed with the latest news regarding the end of the 2022 Legislative Session through my newsletters and social media accounts on Twitter and Facebook. I will also send out another newsletter once the session has adjourned to provide a final update. Once our work is completed, I will return to the regular schedule of bi-weekly newsletters. As always, please never hesitate to contact my office if you have any questions or concerns about the legislative process.
Virginia to Receive $530 Million Through Opioid Agreement
Attorney General Jason Miyares recently announced that Virginia expects to receive $530 million of the $26 billion opioid agreement between Cardinal, McKesson, and Amerisource Bergen with Johnson & Johnson. Those companies will start releasing funds to a national administrator on April 2nd, and money will begin arriving to state and local governments in the second quarter of 2022.
The agreement marks the culmination of three years of negotiations to resolve more than 4,000 claims of state and local governments across the country. It is the second-largest multistate agreement in U.S. history, second only to the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. State negotiations were led by Attorneys General Josh Stein (NC) and Herbert Slatery (TN) and the attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Fifty-two states and territories have signed on to the agreement as well as thousands of local governments across the country. In Virginia, all 95 counties and all 38 independent cities have signed onto the agreement. As a result, Virginia expects to receive its full share of approximately $530 million. A majority of the funds will go to Virginia’s Opioid Abatement Authority, which provides grants and loans to Virginia agencies and localities to support efforts to reduce, prevent, and treat opioid use disorder and fight the opioid epidemic.
The Opioid Abatement Authority was established in 2021 through legislation from Delegate Charniele Herring (HB2322) and Senator George Barker (SB1469). The legislation created a structure and framework for ensuring that “opioid abatement” funds recovered as part of ongoing lawsuits and investigations against opioid manufacturers and distributors are used to fund opioid abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery. It helps bring order and predictability to the distribution process if funds are secured, rather than forcing the Commonwealth to wait for a potentially significant influx of money, and then having to decide how to handle it. See more information on the structure and purpose of the Opioid Abatement Authority online here.
Applications Open for 2022 Governor’s Fellows Program — Deadline March 27
Governor Youngkin announced this week that applications are now being accepted for the 2022 Governor’s Fellows Program. The Governor’s Fellows Program is a prestigious opportunity for rising college seniors and recent graduates to get a firsthand look at the executive branch in action. Since 1982, fellows have worked alongside the Governor’s Cabinet and staff, learning about state government and assisting in essential work for the Commonwealth.
During their time in service to the Commonwealth, Governor’s fellows have the opportunity to learn from special guest speakers who are leaders in state government and beyond. Fellows also experience state government on the road, visiting state government agencies and historic sites that have shaped our past and are improving our future.
Qualified applicants must be rising college seniors, graduating seniors, or graduate students. All Virginia college and university students are eligible to apply. Virginia residents who attend out-of-state colleges and universities are also eligible. Both public and private college and university students are encouraged to apply.
The deadline to apply for the Governor’s Fellows Program is Sunday, March 27, 2022. Interviews will begin on March 30, 2022. Applicants will be advised on decisions beginning on April 18, 2022. The program runs from Monday, May 30, 2022 to Friday, July 29, 2022.
To apply, visit the Governor’s Fellows Program website and send the required recommendation letters to the address below:
Governor’s Fellows Program
Post Office Box 2454
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Provide Feedback for Henrico County Public Schools Through 2022 Survey
This week, Henrico County opened its 2022 School Survey. By sharing perspectives and experiences, parents, guardians, staff members and students can help their schools — and the entire school division — improve and make important decisions for the future. Parents and guardians should receive an email today with a link to this year’s edition of the survey, which will take about 15-20 minutes to complete and can be submitted through April 1.
This feedback will influence decisions such as what new programs are necessary, how to improve current ones, and how to allocate funds and personnel. The results will help the division measure its progress in a range of areas related to the four cornerstones outlined in HCPS’ strategic plan, “Destination 2025: The Plan for HCPS.” The cornerstones are safety and wellness; academic growth; equity and opportunity; and relationships. For more information and to complete the survey, please visit www.henricoschools.us/surveys/.
Free and Low-Cost Internet Available for Low-Income Families
Congress recently created the Affordable Connectivity Program, a long-term, $14 billion program, which will replace the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program created during the COVID-19 pandemic to make broadband more affordable for low-income families.
The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
A household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if the household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if a member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:
Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline;
Participates in Tribal specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations;
Participates in the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision;
Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or
Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income internet program.
Eligible households can enroll through an approved provider or by visiting ACPBenefit.org.
