The 2024 legislative session has come to an end! Last Saturday, March 9th, the Virginia General Assembly adjourned, and I am back in Loudoun County continuing my work!
I am over the moon to share that VPAP reports I had the top freshman batting average for bills passed (and that all but one of them passed with bipartisan support). Now that bills have passed out of the General Assembly, they will be sent to the Governor for consideration. Bills that are signed into law or where the Governor takes no action will go into effect on July 1st, 2024. However, if they are vetoed or amended, those recommendations will be considered when the General Assembly reconvenes in Richmond on April 17th.
If the House and Senate accept the changes, the bill is passed. If the changes are rejected, the Governor can either sign the bill into law with no changes, veto the bill, or take no action and let the bill become law.
Budget Breakdown
On Thursday, March 7th, House Appropriations Chairman Luke Torian and Senate Finance and Appropriations Chairwoman L. Louise Lucas announced an agreement on the budget. The budget is treated the exact same way as a bill, and that’s because it is! It’s just a very large one. Included in the budget is:
Public Safety
$18 million over the biennium for the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Program.
Through our collective efforts, we have successfully secured funding for my bill that increases the statutory caps on court-appointed defense counsel pay – for the first time since the turn of the century! This is a significant step in protecting constitution rights, and promoting fairness and justice in our legal system. The budget has allocated $8.5 million in the first year and $17.0 million in the second year to support this noble cause!
Education:
3% salary increase each year in the biennium for our public school teachers.
$2.5 billion in additional funding for K-12 public education.
$72.1 million to provide support for higher need students.
The allocation of $500,000 for the Loudoun County Recovery High School this year, followed by $250,000 in 2025, demonstrates a powerful commitment to supporting students who are facing substance abuse challenges. This funding will enable the school to provide individual and group counseling, peer recovery programs, mentoring services, and parent education to guide students on a path toward recovery and success. The goal of transitioning students back to their home schools is a testament to the potential for growth and change, and I am proud to be a part of the effort to support our community’s youth.
Economy:
$79.5 million over the biennium to support increasing the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by January 2026.
$175 million for the Virginia Housing Trust Fund to support the creation or preservation of affordable housing.
Health
$30.5 million over the biennium to combat the opioid epidemic in our Commonwealth.
Staff Spotlights
And, I did save the best for last. To conclude our staff spotlights, here is a feature on my Chief of Staff, Caleigh Lynch. Caleigh has been with the team since August 2023 and will be available through my office even after the session. If you have not met her, she is a breath of fresh air! Always professional, always helpful, extremely authentic and the reason for any small success I can claim. (And now you know I wrote this because she would never compliment herself.)
Meet our Chief of Staff, Caleigh!
- What song would you describe as your song for this session? For Emma by Bon Iver
- What is your biggest takeaway from this Session? I learn something new every single day that I can’t believe I didn’t know before!
- Favorite bill Delegate Reaser was carrying this year? HB 102! I loved working closely with the VA Defenders, JLARC, Senate, and money committees! It was really important work, and I am happy with the result of the bill.
- Favorite bill in all of session? Too difficult to pick just one! I would say all the bills that addressed protecting access to reproductive freedom in Virginia.
- Quote you live by? Do good.
Conversations in the GAB
It was a great last week of the 2024 legislative session. Even though I’ve been spending long days on the House floor I met Luca, the Virginia State Capitol Police K-9! Thank you to all the officers who protect the State Capitol of Virginia daily!
Session is over. What happens now?
Thank you for reading the Reaser Report each week! Fortunately, it will not be going away. I will be traveling throughout HD-27 and Loudoun for the remainder of the year and will continue to keep you informed with my monthly newsletter.
As a friendly reminder, please feel free to contact my office with any questions, requests for visits or constituent meetings, or to share your legislative ideas. You can reach my office at delareaser@house.virginia.gov, or you can contact my Chief of Staff, Caleigh, directly at caleigh@atoosareaser.com.
I am grateful for your ongoing support, and I can’t wait to see you back in Loudoun County!
Yours in Service,
Atoosa Reaser
Delegate, HD-27
