Welcome to week five of the Reaser Report! This newsletter will provide weekly updates during the 2024 legislative session, delivered straight to your inbox!
This week, legislators worked hard to ensure all bills were heard before Crossover. This might have meant long hours on the floor and in committee meetings, but the opportunity to hear every piece of legislation is important so we can advance the items that best serve the people of the Commonwealth.
Black History Month
Throughout February, we honor Black individuals’ achievements, struggles, and contributions throughout history. Throughout the month, delegates gave moving testimonies highlighting the importance of recognizing and celebrating Black excellence. All floor speeches regarding Black History Month have been posted to the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus YouTube page; you can check out the videos here.
Black History Month is a time to amplify Black voices, uplift Black stories, and commit to building a more inclusive and equitable future for all.
Legislative Updates
So much has happened this week with bills!
This week, we have had:
– 3 bills PASS the House
– 5 bills report out their full committees
3 bills PASSED the House: HB 383 strengthens the continuing education of real estate brokers and agents by focusing on ethics, agency, contracts, and legal updates without increasing the burden of total hours; HB 1402 will help bring transparency to the cost of prescription drugs; HB 1028 allows localities to include affordable housing in assisted living facilities.
5 bills reported out their full committees: HB719 reported out of Education and will expand hazing prevention education to high school students. HB 645 reported out of Transportation and helps clear up busy EV parking signs that can be difficult to read, making them more enforceable. HB 392 reported out of Labor and Commerce and mandates minimum terms for initial and subsequent agreements concerning marketing premises between jobbers/distributors and dealers. HB 1490 reported out of Privileges and Elections and will empower localities with greater flexibility to offer early voting locations tailored to their communities’ needs. Finally, HB 102 reported out of Appropriations and addressed the low payments that court-appointed attorneys receive when defending a case. Our court-appointed attorneys protect constitutional rights for individuals, and this would be court-appointed counsel’s first pay increase in over 20 years!
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 JCRC of Greater Washington, Dulles Area Realtors, the Civil Air Patrol Virginia Wing, and NASA on their Aerospace Day!
Session Terminology
| Chief Patron vs. Co-Patron Chief patron is a term used for the legislator who introduces a piece of legislation, sometimes referred to as the sponsor. When you visit LIS, you can find all the bills that I am patroning at the top of the page. These bills include but are not limited to HB102, HB105, HB281, etc. On the other hand, co-patron is a term used for another legislator who wishes to show their support by signing onto the bill. When the bill is presented on the House floor, I also have the opportunity to speak to the bill. You can find the co-patron section when you visit LIS and look at my bills. Some examples of these bills are HB174, HB360, HB626, and so on. |  |
Want to Connect?
I want to hear from YOU!
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 in which I may assist you, please let me know 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 connect with state agencies for assistance.
Find yourself in Richmond? Come stop by!
If you need to reach me or my team during the legislative session in Richmond, do not hesitate to drop us an email or give us a call. We would love to hear from you!
If you are interested in seeing how the session is going and would like to visit us in person at our office in the General Assembly Building, we would be more than happy to have you. Please reach out so we can reserve a time for you. You can contact my Chief of Staff, Caleigh Lynch, at caleigh@atoosareaser.com. Looking forward to hearing from you soon!
I am grateful for your ongoing support and feel privileged to be your representative in Richmond.
Yours in Service,
Atoosa Reaser
Delegate, HD-27
