The annual Virginia Grassroots Coalition’s Priority Legislation Press Conference was held on Jan. 12 (virtually, hosted by Network NOVA). Led by Luisa Boyarski, Director of the Virginia Grassroots Coalition, the virtual conference highlighted the Coalition's legislative priorities. Boyarski opened up the conference by reminding attendees to track bills, attend lobby days, and write emails as legislation moves through the session. All the work on bills must be completed by Feb. 13, also known as crossover. The session ends on March 9, giving voters a short time to get their views on the legislation to Richmond.
Boyarski expressed optimism about the current session given the Democratic majorities in both the House and the Senate, making it easier to pass legislation.
She provided some atmospherics on the opening of the General Assembly session: there were younger, more diverse members joining the assembly this year. The opening of the session by the first African-American Speaker was also noteworthy.
Five working groups in turn described the priority bills they follow: the Climate and Clean Energy Working Group, represented by Sharon Shutler, with Del. Rip Sullivan who is the patron of multiple bills on climate and clean energy, including solar, electric vehicles, and energy efficiency standards for data centers. Sullivan talked about HB 116 which focuses on the environmental impacts of data centers. “The concept of the bill is, we are going to be building these, we should at least make them as energy efficient as possible. It’s a simple bill. The Data Center world is digesting it still, but it sets what I think are reachable standards. We don’t want old fashioned backup diesel generators.”
Sullivan also talked about HB 638, improving some measures of the Clean Economy Act and HB 106 on shared solar. Sullivan said “I was at Waynesboro a few weeks ago and my favorite conversation was with the farmer on whose land the solar is being built who told me, ‘This program is going to make it possible for me to keep my farm, save my family farm.‘“
The Public Education Working Group, represented by Marianne Burke, listed the group's priority bills and was joined by Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D-15) and Del. Sam Rasoul (D-38). Hashmi and Rasoul made frequent references to the JLARC (Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission) on K-12 school funding, a report they have been awaiting and which put a spotlight on the underfunding of Virginia schools.
The Good Governance Working Group, represented by April Breslaw, presented its priority bills on ethics, instant runoff voting, and when to remove a legislator. Breslaw was joined by Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) patron of a bill to expand electronic meeting access for state, regional, and local public bodies. Bennett-Parker addressed the good government results achieved by expanding equity and access to the diverse voices of public boards and commissions, their staff, and volunteers.
The Families and Workers Working Group, represented by Marie Ann Leyko, presented their priority bills. Leyko was joined by Del. Vivian Watts,(D-39) patron of bills that protect political canvassers and promote equity in the workforce through gender-balanced and diverse corporate boards.
The Campaign Finance Reform Working Group, represented by Nancy Morgan, presented its priority bills. She introduced a video of Del. David Bulova (D-11), patron of a bill that would set campaign contribution limits. Virginia is one of eleven states that impose no contribution limits on individual donors.
The Gun Violence Prevention Working Group, represented by Luisa Boyarski, featured a video of Del. Adele McClure (D-2) speaking about bills that prohibit individuals convicted of domestic abuse (specifically in dating relationships) from possessing a gun. McClure, a freshman legislator, noted how many people are killed by people with a history of domestic violence, and concluded her talk with the strong statement, "No abusive partner should have access to guns."
Boyarski concluded the press conference with a plea to voters: “It is really important for legislators to hear from constituents on these bills because they have said they can cite figures in committee meetings: ‘I heard from 40 constituents’ that this is an important issue to them. Contacting a legislator is only an email away.”
To get an easy summary of bills and lobby days being planned for voters to lobby in Richmond, see: https://www.virginiagrassroots.org
For more on the VA General Assembly see: https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/
To track bills as they go through the legislative process, see: https://www.virginiagrassroots.org/legislation-VA-2024.php?sort=live
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https://lis.virginia.gov/