Virginia General Assembly Update – Week 5
Virginia General Assembly Update – Week 5
The last full week before crossover is now in the books. Here are some highlights.
Invocation on House floor: This morning, Bishop Knestout delivered the invocation at the beginning of the House of Delegates floor session. Here is an excerpt from the prayer he offered: “We give You thanks, O God, for the heritage of this Commonwealth—a place where religious liberty was first championed as a sacred right, rooted in the conviction that conscience is answerable to You alone. May that same spirit of freedom inspire these legislators today: not freedom for its own sake, but freedom ordered toward the service of all, especially those most in need.”
Assisted suicide: Last week, the Senate assisted suicide bill was defeated in an 8-7 committee vote. This week, the House assisted suicide bill also failed to advance. The committee to which it was assigned voted to defer consideration of the legislation until next year. Therefore, neither measure will move forward during the 2026 session. We are very grateful for this outcome and we thank everyone who acted on our alert!
Crossover is coming: Next Tuesday, February 17, is the General Assembly’s crossover day. After midnight on Tuesday, with the exception of the budget bill, the House can only consider bills that have passed the Senate, and the Senate can only consider bills that have passed the House. There will be numerous floor votes in the Senate and House on Monday and Tuesday to meet the crossover deadline. We will keep you informed!
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In prayer and in public, your voices are urgently needed to bring Gospel values to bear on vital decisions being made by those who represent you.
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The Virginia Catholic Conference is the public policy agency representing Virginia’s Catholic bishops and their two dioceses.
