Dear Friends,

I want to thank the employees and officials who worked tirelessly over the past week to restore water access to the Richmond Metro and surrounding areas, allowing us to get work done. After going “at ease” due to the lack of water, we hit the ground running the week, hearing bills in subcommittee and committee. FIVE of my bills have have already passed out of committee!

Here is the current status of those bills:

19 Bills have passed the House
59 Bills have passed the Senate
39 Bills have passed both chambers
2034 Bills are pending
415 bills have failed
Two bills have been incorporated

Total Numbers: 2086 Bills and 405 bills continued from last session


Week #2 Wrap Up

I am happy to report that we had an incredibly successful second week of session. I have had five bills pass out of committee with three going to the floor and two heading to the Appropriations Committee, five are currently awaiting a subcommittee hearing, and the rest are currently pending committee referral. If you are interested in looking at the legislative history and bill text of my proposals, you can view them on the Virginia Legislative Information System (LIS).

Additionally, the majority of the filed bills were introduced this week. We will have the final number of bills next week, but currently the total are:

1221 House Bills
79 House Joint Resolutions
35 House Resolutions
690 Senate Bills
36 Senate Joint Resolutions
25 Senate Resolutions
Total Numbers: 2086 Bills and 405 bills continued from last session

Affordable Housing

HB 2055 and HB 2679: these bills direct schools to provide information to parents of a student found at-risk for harming themselves or harming others, respectively, on the existing safe storage of firearms laws, as well as material on safe storage of medications. Assigned to the Education K-12 Subcommittee. These bills will be heard on Tuesday.

Healthcare

House Bill 1945: Allows telehealth visits at schools that choose the option. A bipartisan recommendation of the Joint Commission on Healthcare, it improves access & reduces missed class time for families who may not have home adequate broadband technology, or nearby health providers. Reported out of the House Education Committee, referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

Education

House Bill 2032: Directs VDOE to collect data on English language learners to assist students and direct state funds to support them, lessening the tax burden on local residents.Reported out of the House Education Committee, referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

House Bill 1915: Clarifies that tenured teachers must give a notice of non-continuation and schools must give due process of non-continuation, not mere notice.Reported out of the House Education Committee, will be heard on the House Floor. 

Good Governance

House Bill 1912: To help the average person administer a small estate matter, this bill increases certain thresholds taking into consideration the Consumer Price Index Passed out of the full Courts of Justice Committee!


The House passes Three Constitutional Amendments

Reproductive Rights

In 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in one of its most consequential rulings to date in the case of Dobbs v. JacksonDobbs gave states the authority to determine the laws on abortion. Time and time again, community members remind me that they don’t want the government monitoring their most private and personal medical decisions.

The fight for reproductive and health care autonomy had a major victory today as the House of Delegates voted to pass the Reproductive Freedom constitutional amendment. I am proud to have voted for this amendment and will continue to advocate for your right to make your own health care decisions, in our Commonwealth!

Voting Rights

As a lawyer, I have the responsibility of making the law work for Virginians. It is why I became qualified by the Virginia Supreme Court to serve as a guardian ad litem, why I served as a prosecutor and Deputy Town attorney for Herndon, and why I serve on the Courts of Justice Committee. Our criminal justice system should work to bring citizens back into society after they finish their sentence, but for too long Virginians who have left prison are denied our most sacred responsibility as American citizens: the right to vote.

In its current form, our state constitution takes away the responsibility and right to vote from people who have finished their sentence. To get back the most fundamental right of our democratic government, former offenders must appeal to the Governor to have their rights restored.

I believe that voting is the cornerstone of a democracy and making sure that every citizen can vote ensures an investment that engages community members as they reintegrate into society. Virginians should not be locked out of our political process after they have done their time and returned to citizens.

Marriage Equality

In 2015, the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges stated that marriage discrimination violated the due process clause of the 14th amendment. That ruling has been the law of the land for the past 10 years, however it is now under threat from some Supreme Court justices who have commented on repealing this fundamental freedom.

If this ruling is overturned by the Supreme Court, a defunct clause in the Virginia state constitution banning same-sex marriage will go back into force, turning the clock back on the progress we have made our Commonwealth. 

Everyone should have the right to build a family in safety without fear. I will always stand up against the forces of bigotry and fear attempting to take us back in time.


Photos from Session  

Subcommittees, Committees, floor sessions, oh my!

During our first full week of legislative work, five of my bills passed out of committee to either the floor or the appropriations committee!

Happy Birthday Governor Wilder!

The General Assembly wished former Governor Doug Wilder a Happy 94th Birthday! He made history in many ways, including as the first ever black governor elected in the nation.

A Night among the Stars!

It was educational to attend the IATSE & the Virginia Production Alliance event, where they showcased the movies and shows filmed in Virginia! Our production workers are the real stars who make movies come to life!

Resources to take part in the Legislative Session

Are you interested in watching the hearing for a bill you are particularly passionate about? Are you looking for a way to give testimony for bills that you support or oppose? Are you wondering what’s in the state’s budget? The General Assembly has these services and more to allow you to participate and view the entire General Assembly Session!

Virginia Legislative Information System (LIS)

The Virginia Legislative Information System tracks bills from their introduction to their passage! You are able to create lists of bills that interest you through the lobbyist in a box feature, look through the calendar to find when important bills are being heard, and see the overall stats of this session.

Virginia General Assembly Website

The General Assembly website streams every floor session, committee, and subcommittee meeting, gives a detailed explanation on how a bill becomes a law in Virginia, and showcases the history of the General Assembly and the Capitol Building. If you are interested in watching meetings of the General Assembly or learning more about our legislative process, you can find it in the link below.

UVA Sorenson High School Leaders Program (HSLP)

The Sorenson Institute for Political Leadership is seeking civic-minded students from across Virginia to apply for the 2025 High School Leaders Program (HSLP)!

The HSLP is a two-week summer program designed for Virginia high school students who have a passion for public service and leadership. The HSLP curriculum covers the foundation public policy and effective civic engagement, while connecting students with peers of different backgrounds and philosophies from around the state. Admitted students live on the UVA Grounds, attend field trips, and network with current leaders in Virginia’s public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

The online application for the 2025 HSLP is open through March 17, 2025 and supplemental materials are due by March 21, 2025.


How My Office Can Help You

Navigating state agencies can be confusing and difficult at times. As your delegate, I can help you communicate with state agencies such as the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC), Departments of Taxation, Social Services, Transportation, and more! I can also submit inquiries with those agencies on your behalf and help you engage with the state agency you need. There are limits to what I can do, however. For example, I am unable to expedite cases or force state agencies to favor your inquiry, provide legal advice or recommend a specific attorney, intervene with judicial issues, overturn decisions, or be involved with matters involving private businesses. 

Whether you want to bring an issue to my attention, need my office’s assistance, or want to invite me to a community event, please reach out! If there is any way I can assist you, please let me know here: https://atoosareaser.com/help/.


Come Visit Me In Richmond!

If you or your group are coming to Richmond to speak to legislators, see the floor session, or stop in for a day trip, come by my office! My staff and I would enjoy speaking with you about ideas for improving our community and addressing concerns facing our region!

The best ways to get in contact with my office are through the district email (DelAReaser@house.virginia.gov) and the phone number for the Richmond office ((804) 698-1027).

Yours in Service, 

Atoosa Reaser (she/her)
Virginia House of Delegates 
District 27 (Eastern Loudoun)
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