As you may already be aware, the 2019 General Assembly Session concluded this past Sunday. While this session is referred to as the “short session” consisting of only 46 days in length, between the controversies surrounding our Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General, it honestly felt much longer. But despite those horrible events, the legislative branch was able to consider over 2600 bills as being able to consider amendments to the second year of the two-yea state budget, as well as passing a tax bill that will benefit all Virginia taxpayers.
The tax reduction legislation was historic, in that for the first time, all Virginia tax payers will be receiving a refund check in their mail box by this October. The Republican controlled legislature was committed from the very beginning to creating tax legislation that actually benefits you the Virginia taxpayer.
The new tax legislation provides for refunds of up to $110 for individual taxpayers and $220 for married couples. The legislation will also give future tax relief to nearly 2 million taxpayers by raising the standard deduction by 50 percent from $3000 to $4500 for individuals and from $6000 to $9000 for married couples. Each year from this day forward, and over the objections of the Democrat minority, Virginians will pay less in state income taxes than they have in previous years.
After numerous meetings and extensive negotiations between the Senate and the House of Delegates and then with the Governor ultimate approval, the “emergency” tax legislation was finalized with the Governor to sign it into law just in time for this year’s tax filing deadline.
Additionally, the new tax legislation conforms the Virginia tax code with that of the Federal Government. This allows for tax payers to continue benefiting from the new standard deduction levels.
The windfall revenue of nearly $1 billion was generated by the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed last year. The Democrats in the State Senate and the House of Delegates, along with the Governor, had originally insisted that the windfall be plowed into government programs instead of returning it to the hard working tax payers of Virginia – an argument that Republicans not only disagreed with, but also ultimately rejected.
One issue we’ve been tackling this session is the rising cost of healthcare and healthcare coverage. Combined, Senate Republicans filed 33 bills to address rising healthcare costs in Virginia this legislative session.
Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (more commonly referred to as Obamacare), millions of Americans – especially those who had always purchased their own coverage – have found healthcare coverage offered on the exchange unaffordable. Premiums that used to be in the low hundreds of dollars doubled and, in some cases, tripled. Deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses went from $1,000 or $2,000 annually to $5,000 and $6,000.
Virginia is not without options. The federal government has offered states some flexibility to give their citizens greater choice at lower cost. Some of our neighboring states have taken advantage of some of these options, but Virginia has not. We’ve now passed legislation to allow organizations and associations to pool together to offer lower cost group plans to their members or employees. A Senate Republican caucus measure to allow more individuals to purchase lower cost catastrophic care plans won widespread, bipartisan approval, too.
This General Assembly also focused on new amendments to the 2018-2020 Biennial Budget which were approved this Friday as negotiators on behalf of the House and Senate reached a final agreement. Remarkably, the final bill was close to what the Senate had originally approved.
Included in the budget is a well-deserved and long overdue 5% pay raise for Public school teachers, millions more for school construction, a raise in pay for our state supported local employees, a big boost in funding for behavioral health including opiate addiction treatment, and more funds to expand broadband to underserved regions, which will bring much needed high speed internet services to our region. We also added money to enhance school safety and increased the availability of certified and credentialed Opportunity Grants at our community colleges. We dedicated 52 million dollars to hold the rising costs of college education in check, put 18 million dollars to educate our citizens in the high tech job fields creating a Virginia “Tech Talent Pipeline” also here in our area.
Unfortunately for all Virginians, the political unrest surrounding the circumstances of our Governor, our Lt. Governor and the Attorney General remains an undercurrent of uneasiness and uncertainty here at the Capitol. And while the legislators continued in earnest with the task at hand to finalize all new legislation before adjournment, it remains unclear as to how and when the current issues will be resolved. Without question however, the Commonwealth’s 400 years of the people’s democracy will prevail and the citizens of Virginia will rise above this quagmire and grow from this unfortunate chapter in our history.
After all the debating and voting in both Chambers, six of my bills have been sent to the Governor for his approval review and approval. Others that didn’t make it out of the House of Delegates, some of which I am committed to reintroducing next year.
I’m especially proud of my animal protection bills that have been sent to the Governor for his signature. SB 1276 which was later incorporated into a similar bill, SB 1604. This legislation makes any violation relating to cruelty to an animal a Class 6 felony, and especially when such violation is carried out with the intent to threaten, intimidate, coerce, harass or terrorize a family or household member. Too often, the innocent and defenseless pet is injured by an estranged member of the family in retaliation in domestic dispute. Going forward, those found guilty of such cruelty will be punished under this new law.
Another animal protection bill that also passed both Chambers is my SB 1653 legislation that build on my previous year’s legislation requiring Veterinarians to better control the dispensing of opiate prescriptions as a means to prevent such controlled substances from getting into the hands of abusive pet owners. SB 1653 allows veterinarians to be more efficient in their dispensing while also simplifying the process for the pet owner. I believe that it is our humane responsibility that we protect the welfare of those companion animals that cannot care for themselves without us.
I am also particularly proud of SB 1015 which expands the Education Improvement Scholarships tax credits program by including needy children living in under-served areas and who are enrolled in or attending nonpublic pre-kindergarten programs. This bill will award scholarships to deserving and needy students to attend private pre-kindergarten classes in order to give them a good start at their future education. Studies consistently show that Pre-K programs are critical to the long term growth of children as they advance through the k-twelve school systems. I fully support all opportunities to make the Pre-K experience possible for all children as they represent the future growth and prosperity of our district, and I firmly believe that all parents should be empowered with the ability to make educational choices for their children, regardless of their financial status or zip code.
On the public school modernization front, I proposed three bills, and one (SB 1398) that allows for our school divisions to enter into public-private contracts that will significantly reduce the cost to build new schools, and/or modernize their older schools is now on the Governor’s desk awaiting his signature. I will continue to fight to modernize our out of date schools in both our region and throughout the Commonwealth, so that every child will receive the same high-quality 21st century education regardless of their zip code.
One of my bills that didn’t succeed was SB 1013. For sure, I will re-introduce legislation next year as it would have prohibited the suspension of a driver’s license of anyone who was unable to pay in full the fines or fees related to a traffic offense. It met its fate in the House of Delegates Courts of Justice sub-committee after overwhelming approval by the full Senate. As a practicing attorney, I have first-hand knowledge and a thorough understanding of the hardships placed on those who need to retain their driver’s license in order to travel to and from work before they are able to pay the fines or fees. It’s common sense and is a “win-win” for all stakeholders to change the current law. I was disappointed that over six hundred thousand citizens remain unable to routinely travel to and from the workplace as a result of the rejection of SB 1013. I can guarantee that I will re-introduce this same legislation next year as it makes common sense to implement this law.
Also to be re-submitted in next year’s General Assembly will be SB 999, my grocery investment bill to resolve the food deserts that exist in rural Virginia, and SB 1014 which will define the funding for the I-73 corridor.
My sincere thanks to everyone who have made the trip to Richmond throughout this session. I thoroughly enjoy meeting and visiting with so many friends from the 20th district. It’s always a pleasant change from the daily committee and Chamber meeting schedule to hear firsthand ideas and suggestions about our district. As always, it is a distinct honor to serve you and everyone who lives in the Senate 20th District.
I plan to return to Richmond for the scheduled veto session on April 3rd. Feel free to contact my District Office directly with questions that you may have by calling (540) 721-6028, or
district20@senate.virginia.gov.
