End of Session Newsletter
The 2025 General Assembly has officially adjourned! Over the past 46 days we have debated, negotiated, and passed legislation that will have a real impact on our community. This Session brought both challenges and opportunities, and I'm proud of what we achieved. I want to take a minute to reflect on our accomplishments and update you on the bills that I voted for.
Legislative Highlights: Bills I Introduced
HB 2779/HB 2280: (Passed) I introduced the bill at the request of the New Americans Advisory Board which would increase membership from 18 to 21.
HB 2660/HB 2499: (Passed) I introduced this bill to increase home affordability and lower property tax by increasing local government efficiency in the approval process.
HB 2279: (Failed) I introduced the bill to give the Attorney General the original jurisdiction to prosecute any RICO/racketeering violations that grow out of a human trafficking investigation. Unfortunately, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle refused to give this bill a hearing.
Legislative Highlights: Education
HB 1600: Budget Bill; Teacher Pay increase by 3%
HB 1910: (Co-Patron) Prohibits synthetic food dyes in school meals.
HB 2774: School-connected overdoses; parental notification and response.
HB 1954: Creation of At-Risk Program; English Language Learners; Special Education funding.
HB 2018: (Co-Patron) Teachers; career and technical education, alternative pathway to provisional licensure.
Legislative Highlights: Supporting Mothers
HB 2519: (Co-Patron) Income tax deduction for in vitro fertilization.
HB 2328: Requires the court to consider pregnant mothers who have recently given birth when determining whether bail shall be admitted.
HB 2083: Pregnant qualified individuals; Va. Health Benefit Exchange to establish a special enrollment period.
HB 2235: Local and regional correctional facilities; treatment of prisoners known to be pregnant.
Legislative Highlights: Healthcare
HB 2097: Health insurance coverage for prostate cancer screenings.
HB 1828: Health insurance; prevents health insurance carriers from imposing cost-sharing for diagnostic breast examinations and supplemental breast examinations.
HB 2371: Health insurance; coverage for contraceptive drugs and devices.
Legislative Highlights: Public Safety
HB 2051 (Co-Patron): School safety audit committees; annual meetings on school grounds with local law enforcement permitted.
HB 1815: Line of Duty Act to include campus police officers.
HB 1844: Baby Food Protection Act; testing and labeling for toxic heavy metals.
HB 2015: (Co-Patron) Increases mandatory minimum from five to 10 years for a display of a firearm during the commission of certain felonies
HB 1583: (Co-Patron) Threats to discharge a firearm within or at buildings or means of transportation; penalties
HB 2296: (Co-Patron) Illegal fentanyl; reckless exposure to certain persons; penalty
Other Legislation
Throughout the Session, I worked in a bipartisan manner to address critical issues facing our community. Working across the aisle, we were able to move forward with numerous policies that prioritize the needs of our district. Below are bills that I signed onto as a co-patron.
HB 1646: Practice of chiropractic; amends definition to include recommending the use of vitamins, minerals, and food supplements.
HB 1663: Public schools; guidelines and policies on student-athlete extreme heat safety and protection.
HB 1686: Campaign finance; prohibits personal use of campaign funds.
HB 1898: Optometry; TPA-Formulary; TPA-Formulary; dissolution.
HB 1899: License to teach dentistry; foreign dental program graduates; repeal sunset.
HB 1904: Department of Health; coverage for nursery services; certified nurse midwives; licensed certified midwives; nurse practitioners.
HB 1905: Compounding drugs; exceptions for distribution within hospital or health system.
HB 1933: Workers' compensation; presumption as to death or disability from throat cancer.
HB 2195: Virginia Consumer Protection Act; mold remediation and inspections.
HB 2322: Appointment of two public defenders to those punishable by a mandatory minimum of confinement for life.
