161st Virginia General Assembly

2020–2021 meeting of Virginia legislature February 2025 January 2025 161st Virginia General Assembly File:Richmond_Virginia_Capitol.jpg January 8, 2020 March 2021 160th 162nd Senate of Virginia Senate diagram 2020 State of Virginia.svg 40 nowrap #1100ff darkgray Democratic (21) #f20a02 darkgray Republican (19) President of the Senate Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax (D) Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw (D) Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment (R) Virginia House of Delegates Virginia House of Delegates (2020).svg 100 nowrap #1100ff darkgray Democratic (55) #f20a02 darkgray Republican (45) Speaker of the House Eileen Filler-Corn (D) House Majority Leader Charniele Herring (D) House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert (R) January 8, 2020 March 12, 2020 August 18, 2020 November 9, 2020 January 13, 2021 February 8, 2021 February 10, 2021 March 1, 2021 The 161st Virginia General Assembly, consisting of members who were elected in both the House election and Senate election in 2019, convened on January 8, 2020. It was the first time Democrats held both houses of the Virginia General Assembly and the governorship since the 147th General Assembly in 1993. A special session was called by Governor Ralph Northam for August 18, 2020 to make budget cuts and pass bills for criminal justice reform, racial justice, affordable housing and COVID-19 protections. The special session ended on November 9, 2020. After a shorter 30-day session occurred from January to February 2021, Northam called for another special session which lasted until March. After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the State Capitol was closed to the public and sessions were re-located to alternative buildings. Membership 2019 Virginia House of Delegates election 2019 Virginia Senate election On November 9, 2019, Eileen Filler-Corn was nominated by the Democratic majority caucus for Speaker of the House of Delegates, and upon election by the House on January 8, she became the first woman and first Jew to be elected Speaker. Concurrently, Charniele Herring was elected as Majority Leader, making her the first woman and first African-American to serve as Majority Leader. In addition, Ghazala Hashmi became the first Muslim woman to be elected to the Senate. Incumbent Danica Roem became the first transgender legislator to be re-elected to office in U.S. history. In total, the 161st General Assembly has the highest number of women elected to both bodies, with 30 in the House and 11 in the Senate. Speaker Filler-Corn selected Del. Luke Torian to be the first African-American House Appropriations Chair in state history. This was the first time that an African-American delegate was selected to chair a House committee since William P. Robinson Jr. (D-Norfolk) chaired the Transportation Committee in 1998 and was co-chairman of the panel in 1998, according to House Clerk G. Paul Nardo.https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/incoming-va-house-speaker-makes-top-committee-picks/2019/11/14/5b5f0b14-06f7-11ea-8292-c46ee8cb3dce_story.html Incoming Va. House speaker makes top committee picks Vozzella Laura 14 November 2019 Washington Post en live https://web.archive.org/web/20191114220655/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/incoming-va-house-speaker-makes-top-committee-picks/2019/11/14/5b5f0b14-06f7-11ea-8292-c46ee8cb3dce_story.html 2019-11-14 2019-12-31 Leadership Senate Senate Majority Leader: Dick Saslaw (D) Senate Minority Leader: Tommy Norment (R) Senate Majority Caucus Chair: Mamie Locke (D) Senate President pro-tempore: L. Louise Lucas (D) Senate Majority Caucus Vice Chair: Scott Surovell (D) Senate Majority Caucus Vice Chair for Policy: Jeremy McPike (D) Senate Majority Caucus Secretary: Jennifer McClellan (D) Senate Majority Caucus Treasurer: Ghazala Hashmi (D) Senate Majority Whips: Barbara Favola (D) and Lionell Spruill (D) Senate Majority Sergeant at Arms: Jennifer Boysko (D) Clerk: Susan Clarke Schaar Committee chairs and ranking members The Senate of Virginia has 10 Standing Committees and a Committee on Rules. Legislative Committees Legislative Information System Virginia General Assembly http://lis.virginia.gov/161/com/COM.HTM 2016-01-14 Committee Chair Ranking Minority Member Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Chap PetersenEmmett Hanger Commerce and Labor Dick SaslawTommy Norment Judiciary John S. EdwardsTommy Norment Education and Health Louise LucasStephen Newman Finance and Appropriations Janet HowellTommy Norment General Laws and Technology George BarkerFrank Ruff Local Government Lynwood LewisEmmett Hanger Privileges and Elections Creigh DeedsJill Vogel Rehabilitation and Social Services Barbara FavolaEmmett Hanger Rules Mamie LockeTommy Norment Transportation Dave MarsdenStephen Newman House of Delegates Speaker: Eileen Filler-Corn (D) House Majority Leader: Charniele Herring (D) House Majority Caucus Chair: Rip Sullivan (D) House Minority Leader: Todd Gilbert (R) House Minority Whip: Jay Leftwich (R) House Minority Caucus Chair: Kathy Byron (R) Clerk: Suzette Denslow Committee chairs and ranking members The House has 14 standing committees.http://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/committees/all.php Virginia House of Delegates Committees List virginiageneralassembly.gov February 2, 2018 Committee Chair Senior Minority MemberSubcommittee Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Kenneth R. PlumR. Lee Ware Agriculture Wendy Gooditis Chesapeake Alfonso H. Lopez Natural Resources Kathy Tran Appropriations Luke TorianM. Kirkland Cox Capital Outlay Cliff Hayes Jr. Commerce, Agriculture and Natural Resources David Bulova Compensation and Central Government Roslyn Tyler Elementary and Secondary Delores McQuinn Health and Human Services Mark Sickles Higher Education Betsy B. Carr Transportation and Public Safety Paul Krizek Communications, Technology and Innovation Cliff Hayes Jr. Kathy Byron Communications Danica Roem Technology and Innovation Hala Ayala Counties Cities and Towns Kaye KoryCharles Poindexter Ad Hoc Kathleen Murphy Charters Danica Roem Land Use Steve Heretick Courts of Justice Charniele HerringTerry Kilgore Civil Jeff Bourne Criminal Michael P. Mullin Judicial Joseph C. Lindsey Education Roslyn TylerMark L. Cole Post-Secondary and Higher Education Mark Keam Pre-K-12 Lamont Bagby SOL and SOQ Schuyler VanValkenburg Finance Vivian E. WattsRobert D. Orrock, Sr. Subcommittee #1 Mark Keam Subcommittee #2 Steve Heretick Subcommittee #3 Rip Sullivan General Laws David BulovaThomas C. Wright, Jr. ABC/Gaming Paul Krizek Housing/Consumer Protection Marcus Simon Open Government/Procurement Betsy B. Carr Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process Subcommittee Chris Hurst Health, Welfare and Institutions Mark D. SicklesRobert D. Orrock, Sr. Behavioral Health Marcia Price Health Professions Dawn Adams Health Patrick Hope Social Services Elizabeth Guzman Labor and Commerce Jeion Ward Terry Kilgore Subcommittee #1 Lamont Bagby Subcommittee #2 Steve Heretick Subcommittee #3 Rip Sullivan Privileges and Elections Joe LindseyRobert D. Orrock, Sr. Campaign Finance David A. Reid Constitutional Amendments Marcus Simon Elections Schuyler VanValkenburg Gubernatorial Appointments Kelly Convirs-Fowler Redistricting Marcus Simon Public Safety Patrick HopeThomas C. Wright, Jr. Firearms Jeff Bourne Public Safety Mark Levine Rules Eileen Filler-CornM. Kirkland Cox Joint Rules Eileen Filler-Corn Standards of Conduct N/A Studies Mark Sickles Subcommittee #2 N/A Transportation Delores McQuinnRobert B. Bell Motor Vehicles Jay Jones Transportation Innovation and General Topics Karrie Delaney Transportation Systems Betsy B. Carr Subcommittee #4 N/A Legislation Pre-filing of bills for the 2020 session began November 18, 2019. 828 bills were passed by the House by crossover day on February 12, 2020, an increase from the 603 bills passed under the Republican majority in the 2019 session. Enacted January 27, 2020: HJ 1/SJ 1: Resolution to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution February 24, 2020: HB 35/SB 103: Restores parole eligibility to those serving 20 years of a sentence for crimes committed as a juvenile and for which they received a lengthy sentence March 4, 2020: HB 245: Repeals the crime of fornication March 2, 2020: HB 61: Provides that an adult sentenced for a juvenile offense can earn good conduct credit at the rate of one day for each one day served. March 2, 2020: HB 386: Prohibits the performance of conversion therapy by state-licensed counselors on juveniles under 18 March 2, 2020: HB 587: Requiring the inclusion of space and equipment for changing babies during plans for new state government buildings April 11, 2020: SB 868: Virginia Values Act, Prohibits LGBT discrimination in employment, housing, credit, and public accommodations HB 277: Allowing currently-incarcerated individuals to earn credit towards paying off fines and fees through community work HB 1490: Repealing statutory bans on same-sex marriages and civil unions. HB 696: Provides that localities may prohibit discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations, credit, and education on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity HB 1071: Repeals the crime of profane swearing HB 973/SB 600: Repeals several laws enacted from 1901 to 1960 which encoded racial segregation of students in elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education in Virginia HB 1514/SB 50: Protects hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists from discrimination (see also: CROWN Act) Other legislation Notable bills filed include: HB 1: Legalization of no-excuse absentee voting HB 2: Regulates firearms transfers and sales through background checks HB 3: Prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity HB 4: Legalizes and regulates casino gambling in Virginia through the Virginia Lottery Board HB 961: Banning sale and transport of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines HB 1625: Repealing Virginia's statewide ban on local governments removing or altering Confederate monuments SB 2: Decriminalizing cannabis in Virginia SB 601: Eliminating Lee-Jackson Day and making Election Day a state holiday SB 240: Red flag law HB 177: Joining the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (consideration moved to 2021 session) Equal Rights Amendment HJ 1, prefiled by Jennifer Carroll Foy, and SJ 1, filed by Jennifer McClellan, will make Virginia the 3rd state since 2017 and the 38th overall necessary to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (counting the five that have since voted to rescind their ratifications).https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/06/us/politics/virginia-ratify-equal-rights-amendment.html The Equal Rights Amendment May Pass Now. It's Only Been 96 Years. Astor Maggie 2019-11-06 The New York Times 2019-11-12 en-US 0362-4331 Both bills were given initial approval, with SJ 1 being approved 28-12 in the Senate and HJ 1 being approved 59-41 in the House, and were passed by the other chamber on January 27. All Democrats and several Republicans in both chambers voted in favor of the resolutions. However, experts and advocates have acknowledged legal uncertainty about the consequences of Virginia's potential ratification, due to the expired deadlines and the five states' purported revocations. Events A peaceful protest opposing gun control legislation occurred outside the Virginia State Capitol on January 20, 2020.Virginia pro-gun rally: Despite anger, threats of insurrection, massive rally is carried out peacefully outside state Capitol https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2020/01/20/virginia-gun-rally-updates/ 22 January 2020 Washington Post Changes in membership Del. Chris Collins (R-HD29) resigned on June 28, 2020 to accept an appointment as a judge to Virginia's 26th Judicial District. He was succeeded by Bill Wiley. Del. Joseph C. Lindsey (D-HD90) resigned on November 15, 2020 after being appointed to the Norfolk General District Court. He was succeeded by Angelia Williams Graves. Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy (D-HD2) resigned on December 12, 2020 to focus on her campaign for governor. She was succeeded by Candi King. Senator Ben Chafin (R-SD38) died from COVID-19-related symptoms on January 1, 2021. He was succeeded by Travis Hackworth. See also List of Virginia state legislatures References External links Bills filed for the 2020 Session Category:Virginia legislative sessions Category:2020 in Virginia Virginia Category:2021 in Virginia Virginia