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Town Hall Meeting and Session Update

1/29/2023

The first two and a half weeks of the General Assembly session have been a whirlwind of activity. Floor sessions are now getting longer as legislation starts to report out of the committees. Thanks to the many constituents who visited me in Richmond to advocate for (and against) a wide range of issues.

I am excited to be holding my annual Town Hall meeting next Saturday, February 4 from 9-11 a.m. at Fairfax City Hall. We will be joined by Senator Chap Petersen. The meeting will include an overview of major issues, the status of our legislative initiatives, and lots of time for Q&A.

This past week I spoke on the House floor against HB1485, which would undermine key legislation passed in 2020 to ensure that Virginia meets its Chesapeake Bay restoration targets. The 2020 legislation set a deadline of 2026 for larger agricultural operations to implement nutrient management plans and fence livestock out of streams. HB1485 would move that target to 2030, placing Virginia at risk of not meeting U.S. EPA mandates and risking penalties that would most likely target urban areas like Northern Virginia. While the bill passed on a 52Y-47N vote, I am hopeful that it will either be defeated or significantly amended in the Senate.

Update on My Legislation

So far, three of my bills have made it through committee, including one that has now passed the House and is on its way to the Senate.

HB2095 – Drought Planning. This bill strengthens our region’s drought management and planning efforts. We have not experienced a serious drought in our region since 2002. However, that luck will eventually run out – with a drought occurring on average once every 20 years. The bill passed the full House unanimously.
HB2096 – Invasive Plants. This bill is designed to slow the spread of invasive plants. These non-native, aggressive plants wreak havoc on our ecosystems and create serious headaches for our agriculture and forestry. HB2096 reported out of the Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources Committee unanimously and will be presented on the House floor this Monday.
HB2340 – Out of State Vehicles. This bill deals with the problem of vehicles that are garaged in Virginia but where the owner purposefully fails to license and register the vehicle. This is done to avoid taxes, which means the rest of us pick up the slack. HB2340 increases the penalties to keep up with inflation so that they remain effective deterrents.

Unfortunately, my legislation (HB2102) to address the problem of purposefully loud mufflers failed to report out of subcommittee. However, I am pleased that the chair of the Transportation Committee signaled his intent to create a task force composed of legislators, State Police, and other stakeholders to develop recommendations for next session. I am looking forward to participating on this task force.

Unsung Hero Bill – Nursing Home Standards

While there is no shortage of controversial bills that are highlighted in the news, I like to highlight good bills that often don’t get the attention they deserve. One of these deals with minimum staffing standards for nursing homes.

This issue has been debated in the General Assembly for as long as I’ve served in the House. Virginia is one of only 12 states with no laws setting minimum standards. According to a report from the

Virginia Joint Commission on Health Care, one-fifth of Virginia’s nursing homes do not meet expected staffing levels. Further, more than 60 percent of facilities with low staffing receive poor health inspection ratings, which includes criteria such as medication management and resident quality of life. The impact of understaffing is greatest on low-income residents.

This may finally be the year that we pass minimum standards! HB1446 sets minimum hourly standards for daily care per resident and imposes administrative sanctions on those out of compliance. The bill is up for debate on the House floor this Monday.

Raise the Red Flag Bill – Short-Term Rentals

There are also sleepy bills that could have a big impact on our community if passed. Such is the case with HB2271 dealing with short-term rentals (Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.). When short-term rentals started to become popular in the early 2010s, the General Assembly debated whether to regulate them at the state-level or to empower localities to regulate them based on local needs. The latter argument won out with legislation in 2017. Many localities, including Fairfax County, spent years working with stakeholders to adopt local ordinances.

HB2271 would circumvent these local ordinances if the property is managed by a real estate salesperson licensed by the Real Estate Board. When originally conceived, short-term rentals were presented as a way for a property owner to make some extra money by periodically renting out a room or renting a home out over a weekend. HB2271 would nullify many of these local rules. Specifically, localities would no longer be able to limit the number of days that a home could be rented out or be able to require that the property be primarily occupied by the owner. That basically turns short-term rentals into small hotels. I have nothing against short-term rentals, but I do have a serious concern about commercializing our neighborhoods. The bill is still in committee where I hope it will stay.

Please do not hesitate to send me a note if you want more information on a particular issue or want to advocate for or against legislation. I hope to see you at my Town Hall meeting next Saturday!

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Report from Richmond - My Legislation

1/20/2023

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And we are off! The 2023 General Assembly session sprang to life on January 11 with the crack of the gavel. Thus began our 46-day sprint to consider 1,800+ bills and several hundred proposed amendments to the biennial budget.

Mark your calendar for my annual Town Hall meeting on Saturday, February 4, from 9-11 a.m. This is one of my favorite traditions and I’m excited that we will be returning to Fairfax City Hall. The meeting will include an overview of major issues and then lots of time for robust Q&A.

Thank you to everyone who emailed in response to my last newsletter, where I invited feedback on the Governor’s budget amendments and other priorities. I am still working through responses – but please know that I have read them all and greatly appreciate the input. I also want to share a more comprehensive overview of the Governor’s proposed amendments by our House Appropriations Committee for those who are interested in more details.

My Legislation

This year I have introduced 14 bills dealing with a wide range of issues. Below are a few highlights. Click here for the full list.

Workers Compensation for Dispatchers. HB1631 would enhance workers compensation benefits for our emergency dispatchers. Specifically, it would make it easier for dispatchers suffering from PTSD to get help. Dispatchers work under extremely stressful situations – being on calls with victims in burning homes, burglaries in progress, suicide attempts, armed robberies, fatal auto accidents, sexual assaults, and more. A recent study found that 8% of dispatchers themselves had recent thoughts about suicide. Making sure that these public servants get the help they need should be a priority.
Tenant Protections. When a tenant moves into a rental unit, at the very least it should be safe and habitable, right? Unfortunately, there are people who get the keys to a new unit and find it uninhabitable due to serious safety and health problems. Right now, that person is faced with two options – move into an unsafe situation or find another place to live while they try to hold the landlord accountable. HB1635 makes it clear that a tenant deserves to move into a habitable unit and allows them to break the lease and get their deposit back when the unit is unsafe.
Invasive Plants. HB2096 is designed to slow the spread of invasive plants that have taken over so many of our stream valleys and open spaces. This bill would require state agencies (including VDOT, public universities, parks, etc.) to lead by example by prohibiting invasive plants in new landscaping. It would also require landscaping contractors to inform a property owner when they propose to use an invasive plant – therefore giving the customer the opportunity to say “No thanks!” I was thrilled that a local native plant enthusiast dropped off a native fringed loosestrife as a thank you. Sorry Gretchen, it is not our color scheme but you will love the flowers!
Drought Planning. HB2095 strengthens our region’s drought management and planning efforts by recognizing the Potomac River as its own planning unit and making sure that our interstate plans are coordinated with state-wide plans. Two-thirds of our water comes from the Potomac River and 60% of the watershed is outside of Virginia – making interstate cooperation essential. I am pleased that this bill has passed committee and will come to a vote in the full House on Monday.
Livable Homes. HB2099 would increase the total cap on the Livable Homes Tax Credit program from $1 million to $2 million. This great program is designed to help people with mobility issues stay in their homes by providing a tax credit for retrofits. Retrofits include things like ramps and widening doorways. While very successful, the program cannot keep up with demand. The total amount has not been increased since it was established in 1999. Click here for more information about the Livable Homes Tax Credit. In addition, I have put in a budget amendment for the Emergency Home and Accessibility Repair Program. This is similar to the tax credit but uses grants to help people with limited income.
Loud Vehicle Exhaust Systems. HB2102 deals with the issue of mufflers that have been purposefully altered to make our roads sound more like racetracks. These startle fellow motorists, rattle windows, and wake people up in the middle of the night. I even had a constituent email me at 2:00 in the morning because one of these vehicles woke up their infant. While I was pleased to be chief co-patron of legislation that reinstated the ability of police to pull these vehicles over, there is no way we will be able to ticket our way out of the situation. HB2102 would prohibit the issuance of a safety inspection approval sticker on any vehicle equipped with these unlawful devices. To me, that is the fairest, most effective way to deal with the situation since you have a vehicle up the rack and a mechanic qualified to determine if the muffler has been illegally modified. Many thanks to Braddock Supervisor James Walkinshaw for testifying on behalf of the bill in subcommittee.

In addition to these bills, I have also introduced several budget amendments. Highlights include the following.

Chesapeake Bay Restoration. I was pleased that the Governor’s introduced budget includes significant funding for Chesapeake Bay restoration, including agricultural water quality best practices and wastewater treatment upgrades. This funding is essential for Virginia to meet a USEPA-mandated deadline to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. Missing, however, is funding to clean up polluted urban stormwater. I’ve introduced an amendment for $9.9M to the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund to rectify that situation!
Housing Trust Fund. The Housing Trust Fund is Virginia’s most important funding source to promote affordable housing and leverage private funding. While it has grown significantly in the past few years, it is still very small compared to the need. I’ve introduced an amendment to increase the fund by $75M. According to the Virginia Housing Alliance, this investment will result in approximately 6,000 affordable homes being created or preserved.
Brain Injury Services. Like many key public services, our brain injury service providers are struggling to attract and retain personnel. In Northern Virginia, salaries for those working in brain injury services are on average $10,000 less than jobs with comparable skill levels. I’ve introduced a $1M budget amendment to increase salaries so that we can attract and retain quality case managers and service providers.
Teacher Mentoring and Retention. Virginia faces a serious teacher shortage. According to a Virginia Joint Legislative Audit Review Commission report, 10,900 teachers left in school year 2021/2022, while only 7,208 joined the profession. REACH Virginia is an innovative mentoring program designed to support new teachers and maximize the chance they will succeed in the long-term. Right now the program is only in Northern Virginia. My budget amendment ($630,000) will make the program more robust and expand it to serve teachers state-wide.

You can see my full list of budget amendments here.

Thank you to the many constituents who came down to Richmond this week to visit and advocate for a wide range of issues. It is an honor to serve you in the General Assembly!

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Public Hearings and Proposed Budget Amendments

1/2/2023

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Happy New Year! I hope you and your loved ones have a joyful and prosperous 2023.

It is hard to believe that at high noon on January 11 we will gavel in for the 2023 General Assembly session. Odd years are “short” sessions, meaning we will complete (hopefully) our business in 46 days. Virginia packs a lot into these short sessions. On average, over 2,000 bills are introduced. In addition, General Assembly members and the Governor have an opportunity to propose amendments to Virginia’s biennial budget.

You can help shape this year’s session by sharing what is important to you. The easiest way is to email me. I greatly value the diversity of expertise and perspectives of my constituents. Hearing from you helps me to make more informed decisions. Send me a note anytime at info@david bulova.com.

In addition, you can participate in two upcoming forums designed to receive community feedback.

Public Hearings on Proposed Budget Amendments

The House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations committees will hold virtual public hearings on the Governor’s proposed budget amendments (see below for details). There are four hearings, including one specifically for Northern Virginia. Speakers are asked to limit comments to three minutes or less.

Date: Thursday, January 5
Time: Start at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Virtual

Those wishing to speak must register on Wednesday, January 4. Visit hac.virginia.gov to register and for more information.

If you are unable to attend, you may submit comments electronically. The public hearings will be livestreamed on the Virginia General Assembly web site.

Fairfax Delegation Public Forum

The Fairfax Delegation to the General Assembly will also hold its annual public forum. The forum is limited to Fairfax residents speaking for themselves and/or a community-based organization. Speakers are allotted three minutes on a first-come first-served basis.

Date: Saturday, January 7
Time: Start at 9:00 a.m.
Location: Fairfax County Government Center in Conference Room 11

Those wishing to speak must register by noon on Thursday, January 5. More information (including how to register and how to watch remotely) can be found here.

Governor Youngkin’s Proposed Budget

Last month, Governor Youngkin presented his proposed budget amendments for consideration by the General Assembly. You can read his proposed budget at this link or you can watch the Governor’s remarks here. In addition, we received a report on the economic outlook from the Secretary of Finance. The key takeaway is “caution.” While FY2022 ended on a revenue high note, the budget assumes a recession beginning at the end of Q3 of FY 2023 and lasting two to three quarters.

In addition to the Governor, each member of the House and Senate may also introduce amendments. It is then ultimately up to the General Assembly to pass a budget. As often quoted in state capitals everywhere “The Governor proposes; the legislature disposes.”

Below is a summary of amendments proposed by the Governor. As always, there are things I agree with and disagree with – with the devil often being in the details. And, just because something is a good idea, it doesn’t make it a priority. In Virginia, we must balance the budget every year.

Tax Cuts – $1 billion in tax cuts in addition to the $4 billion agreed to last year. Includes lowering the top individual income tax bracket rate from 5.75% to 5.5%, reducing the corporate tax from 6% to 5%, providing small business tax relief, and increasing the standard income tax deduction.
Economic Development – $450 million for the business-ready sites program and $60 million for workforce development. Virginia’s lack of large-scale sites ready for industrial development has been a key factor in losing projects to competing states.
Education – $50 million for laboratory schools in addition to $100 million in the current budget. New funding to expand the Virginia Community College System’s dual enrollment program, increase reading specialists in 4th and 5th grade, and hire math specialists in schools with poor math performance.
Public Safety – $100 million for initiatives to enhance law enforcement recruitment and fund violence intervention initiatives.
Natural Resources – $550 million for Chesapeake Bay restoration and climate resiliency, including $200 million for the Resilient Virginia Revolving Loan Fund (which was my bill from last year). The fund allows localities and private entities to take out low-cost loans for flood resiliency.
Mental Health – $150 million to reform Virginia’s struggling mental health safety net. This includes funding for prevention, crisis intervention, and post-crisis care services.
Washington Commanders – $500,000 to further investigate a bid for the Washington Commanders to relocate to Virginia.
Hemp-Derived Products – $2.1 million to bolster consumer protections for hemp-derived compounds like delta-8 THC. This includes testing and inspections as well as enforcement of rules to prevent edibles from emulating products popular with children.

New Laws – Grocery Tax Decrease

Most laws passed by the General Assembly go into effect July 1. However, some laws have delayed enactments for a variety of reasons. This is the case for a decrease in the grocery tax, which went from 2.5% to 1% effective January 1. The tax cut includes food for home consumption and specific personal hygiene items. Click here for a full list of eligible items. The 1.5% that was eliminated is the state’s portion of the grocery tax. The General Assembly left in place the 1% local sales tax that goes fund local programs.

It is an honor to represent you in the General Assembly! Watch for updates on my legislation and our annual Town Hall meeting in early February.

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Town Hall Meeting and Session Update

Report from Richmond - My Legislation

Public Hearings and Proposed Budget Amendments

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