Virginia General Assembly Update – Week 6
Virginia General Assembly Update – Week 6
The second half of session is well underway. Here is a look at yet another week of session through the rearview mirror.
Flurry of floor votes: On Monday and Tuesday, the Senate and House raced through hundreds of bills to meet the crossover deadline. A number of these votes will be detailed in our customary end-of-session vote report. There were some especially disappointing outcomes this week: (1) the passage of bills to require health plans to cover contraceptives, abortion-inducing drugs, IVF and embryo banking, and (2) the passage of legislation to legalize the sale of marijuana in Virginia.
Bishops’ statement: Last week we reported the good news that committees in both chambers decided not to proceed with assisted suicide legislation. Bishop Burbidge and Bishop Knestout issued a joint statement expressing gratitude for the outcome and appreciation to all who contacted their representatives to express their concerns. As the bishops observed, “Many legislators on both sides of the aisle recognized the serious risks this measure would have imposed upon vulnerable Virginians – including people with disabilities, people with mental illnesses, the elderly, and those who lack access to healthcare.”
Focus turns to budget: This Sunday is “budget Sunday” – the day on which the House and Senate money committees will reveal their respective proposals for the two-year budget that begins July 1. Floor votes will occur later next week, soon followed by negotiations between the two chambers over differences. One of the issues we hope will be addressed in the budget process over these last few weeks of session is the need for better access to affordable housing.
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The Virginia Catholic Conference is the public policy agency representing Virginia’s Catholic bishops and their two dioceses.
