Dear Friends,
This week, we hit the Crossover mark of the 2025 legislative session. It is hard to believe that there are only two weeks left! I am grateful for success in advancing a diverse portfolio of important legislation addressing key issues like affordable housing, community safety, and our world-class public education system. At the same time, my team and I continue working on constituent cases, and liaising with our local and federal representatives to serve the district and all of the Commonwealth.
Emergency Committee on Federal Workers and Funding Reductions
The Speaker of the House, Don Scott created an Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workers and Funding Reductions, to adopt measures to protect Virginia families and mitigate impact on the state budget.
Loudoun County and all of Virginia face economic hardship in the face of the federal administration’s stated intent to drastically reduce the federal workforce and shift remaining workers from the Metro D.C. region to other areas of the country, with a 10% goal of reduction in force.
I commend Speaker Scott for immediately mobilizing to defend the 144,483 hardworking federal employees who call Virginia home! These workers provide critical services that support 8.7 million Virginians and 335 million Americans. Alongside our federal workers, Virginia has received $106 billion in awarded federal contracts. I look forward to updating you on the progress we make and the protections we put in place.
To see my full statement regarding the emergency committee, click the button below:
Black History Month
February marks the beginning of Black History Month, a time to acknowledge, study, and celebrate the contributions of black Americans in both Virginia and the United States at large. The history of the USA is punctuated and illuminated by the stories and experiences of black Americans, from bondage in slavery to the Jim Crow South to the rich cultural tapestry. Knowing the history of Black America is knowing the history of America.
Click the button below to see the Commonwealth’s website on Black History Month, which features biographies of black Virginians, historical resources, and a list of Black History Month attractions throughout the Commonwealth.
House Budget Amendments
The House Appropriations Committee released its approved amendment to the State Budget, which was voted out favorably on Thursday. The Senate also approved their version of the budget, meaning the House and Senate budget conferees will begin meeting to hammer out a final budget for the rest of the biennium.
The House budget is a major step in the right direction by putting additional funds up to assist working families. These amendments are based on the following three principles:
Family First Economy: Families across Virginia are feeling the strain of rising costs, so we are focused on real solutions—reducing housing prices, lowering tuition, expanding childcare, and putting more money in Virginians’ pockets.
World-Class Education: Virginia deserves world-class schools, top teachers, and a quality education for all. The House and Senate have budgets that remove the support cap that was implemented a decade ago, so school staff will be paid appropriately.
Strong Communities: We are dedicated to protecting rights and building strong, safe, and connected communities by safeguarding freedoms, improving roads, and enhancing public safety.
Additionally, I am thrilled to see my budget amendment for Anna Sudha Community Kitchen included in the House Budget Amendments. This is a Sterling-based organization that trains volunteers with developmental disabilities to prepare and deliver thousands of meals to local homeless shelters. Click the button below to learn more about their work and how you can get involved!
2025 Halftime Report
On Wednesday the fifth, House and Senate bills that have passed their respective chambers have officially moved across the capital for their second round of hearings. Here are some general statistics regarding the amount of legislation that passed out of each chamber:
In the House: 1,459 bills were introduced and 618 are crossing over (42%).
In the Senate: 901 bills were introduced and 444 are crossing over (49%).
The overall survival rate for bills has fallen across the board from last year’s session.
With the session halfway through, I am excited to say that 100% of my bills have successfully passed the House of Delegates and are headed over to the Senate. Circa 75% of my bills advanced on a bipartisan basis, with half earning unanimous support. I have already started presenting these bills in the Senate!
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).
Gun Violence Prevention
House Bill 2055: Directs schools to provide information on the safe storage of firearms to parents/guardians of a student found at risk for suicide. This bill will be heard Monday in the Senate!
House Bill 2679: Directs schools to provide information on the signs of danger and the safe storage of firearms to parents/guardians of a student found at risk for harming others. This bill will be heard on Monday in the Senate!
Education
House Bill 2053: Ensures teacher preparatory programs are training future teachers with the tools they need to meet the Virginia Literacy Act’s requirements. This bill will be heard Monday in the Senate!
Good Governance
House Bill 1912: Increases thresholds to help those administering small estates This bill passed the Senate committee and is going to the floor.
House Bill 2056: Allows localities the option to respond to community needs in setting early-vote hours for satellite locations. This bill is heading to the Senate!
House Bill 2553: Allows the board of professional and occupational regulation to advise the General Assembly & Governor on regulation and deregulation of professions overseen by DPOR. This bill is headed to the Senate!
Supporting our Veterans
House Bill 2736: This bill extends the Virginia Values Veterans program to military spouses. This bill is headed to the Senate!
Photos from Session
Crossing Over to the Other Side!
Loudoun County and HD27 Constituents
Northern Virginia Aging Network
Loudoun Chamber of Commerce
ICYMI
UVA Sorenson High School Leaders Program
The Sorenson Institute for Political Leadership is seeking civic-minded students from across the Commonwealth to apply for their 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 of 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.
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 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 on the link below.
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/.
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, 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/.
Yours in Service,
Atoosa Reaser (she/her)
Virginia House of Delegates
District 27 (Eastern Loudoun)
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