Welcome to week two of the Reaser Report, our newsletter providing weekly updates during the 2024 legislative session, delivered straight to your inbox!
On January 13th, a beautiful sunny Saturday, family and friends traveled to Richmond for my ceremonial swearing-in to the House of Delegates. Thank you to everyone who filled the chamber and joined us online! My son, Liam, held two family holy books and the Constitution, upon which I swore my oath, which was delivered by the Speaker of the House, Delegate Don Scott. It was an amazing day, and I continue to feel grateful for the special moments!
Committee Assignments
Since the first week has wrapped up, all committee and subcommittee assignments have been issued. My committee assignments have been finalized, which you can find below:
Education Committee
- K-12 subcommittee.
Courts of Justice Committee
- Courts Civil Subcommittee
- Courts Judicial Subcommittee
Counties, Cities, and Towns
- Subcommittee #2 focusing on Land Use
Moving Virginia Forward
I made a commitment during my campaign to move Virginia forward, and during my first legislative session, I introduced 11 bills aimed at achieving that goal. These bills were specifically designed to address the needs that our community has been expressing to me.
PROTECTING DEMOCRACY
HB102 Court-appointed counsel raises the limitation of fees
This legislation addresses the low payments that court-appointed attorneys receive when defending a case. Our court-appointed attorneys are working to protect individuals’ constitutional rights, and this bill will allow the first pay increase in over 20 years!
HB 1490 Absentee voting in person; voter satellite offices; days and hours of operation.
This bill will empower localities with greater flexibility to offer more early voting locations that are tailored to the needs of their communities, ensuring that every voter has the opportunity to cast their ballot with ease and convenience.
BETTER BUSINESS
HB383 Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation; real estate board; continuing education.
This bill will strengthen real estate continuing education requirements, providing consumers with more trust in their realtors’ reliability and knowledge of their practice.
HB392 Virginia Petroleum Products Franchise Act; agreements between jobber/distributors and dealers.
Another constituent brought this bill to my attention over the summer as it directly relates to their business and industry. As I continued to look into it, I saw that it impacts many businesses around the Commonwealth. The bill will protect small business owners from unfair contract changes.
HB645 Parking spaces reserved for charging electric vehicles; signs.
HB645 makes EV parking signage easier to read and enforce. This improves EV parking management as more EVs hit the road, which brings us closer to a greener future.
HB105– Resale Disclosure Act; resale certificate, fees.
A commonsense language fix within the Resale Disclosure Act. This bill was brought to me by a constituent on behalf of a broad coalition.
EDUCATION AND SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS
HB719- Public high schools; research-based hazing prevention instruction.
This bill aims to expand hazing prevention education to high school students. I am honored to collaborate on this legislation with the Love Like Adam Foundation and Loudoun County Public Schools.
HB 1307 State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; survey; baccalaureate public institutions.
H.B. 1307 is a bill asking our Virginia public universities to review the application fees they charge students. This is a step towards making higher education more accessible for our students and families.
HELPING VIRGINIA FAMILIES
HB281– Child day programs; use of office buildings; waiver of zoning requirements.
This bill helps working families, businesses, and our economy by allowing for the creation of more child day programs within office buildings. This will help working moms (and dads!) and also address the abundance of unfilled office space many localities are experiencing.
HB 1028 Affordable housing; assisted living facilities.
H.B. 1028 is a bill that requires localities that have adopted an affordable housing program to include affordable rental units in any proposed licensed assisted living facility. This will help make housing more accessible for some of our most vulnerable senior population.
HB 1402 Health insurance; pharmacy benefits managers; reporting requirements; civil penalty.
Prescription drug affordability impacts almost all Virginians. This bill will assist in the transparency of pricing and require pharmacy benefits managers to submit annual transparency reports.
Legislative Updates
We’ve hit the ground running this session! Bills have already been introduced, heard, and reported from committees, including some of my mine.My first two bills have passed through their subcommittees, with one already having passed its full committee!
HB 281 allows office buildings to include childcare spaces. This bill helps working families, businesses, and our economy by allowing for the creation of more mixed-use spaces. This bill has also passed through the Cities, Counties, and Towns full committee, so it’s on its way to the House floor!
HB 383 will strengthen realtors’ training requirements, which will provide consumers with more trust in their realtors’ reliability and knowledge of their practice.
Conversations in the GAB
My staff and I enjoyed meeting advocacy groups and constituents for annual lobby days and Richmond visits. This week, I met with many groups committed to important efforts, such as the MOVE Chamber, Loudoun County Firefighters, and Virginia Economic Developers!
Need Assistance?
We have added a constituent form to my website! If there is any way that I can assist you, please fill out the form on my website here: https://atoosareaser.com/help/.
You can share your stories and concerns with me so that I can better serve you as your Delegate or help you get connected with state agencies for assistance.
Connect with my office!
The best way to contact my team and me while we’re in Richmond for the legislative session, which runs from January 10th with a tentative sine die on March 9th, is to email or give us a call.
You are welcome and encouraged to see how the session is going and visit my office in the newly inaugurated General Assembly Building. If you would like to do so, please reach out to us in advance. To schedule a meeting or discuss a specific topic during this session, contact my Chief of Staff, Caleigh Lynch, at caleigh@atoosareaser.com.
I appreciate your continued support and am honored to represent you in Richmond.
Yours in Service,
Atoosa Reaser
Delegate, HD-27
