Countdown To Sine Die (Adjournment Of Session)

As always, my team and I are here to support you. Do not hesitate to reach out to us by using the link below.

Bill tabled indefinitely in House Appropriations Subcommittee

Video of SB 982 in House Appropriations Subcommittee

There are many ways a bill can die in the House of Delegates. While a failure to receive a majority of the votes on the House floor may be the most cinematic death, the vast majority of bills meet their end in a committee or subcommittee room.

On Wednesday, February 13, the House Appropriations Commerce, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Subcommittee voted to pass the casino legislation by for the day. 

Since the subcommittee is not scheduled to meet again this year, this vote effectively "killed" the bill.

You can watch a full video of the subcommittee hearing here. 

I had been working hard lobbying colleagues against the bill, and was thrilled by the vote. From the beginning I have been opposed to the casino legislation. If it ever comes back, that will not change.

To paraphrase Miracle Max (Billy Crystal) in one of my favorite movies, Princess Bride, "It's only mostly dead."

Though the failure of the bill is a great outcome, you can never be too sure about anything in the General Assembly, until we gavel out on February 22nd. 

The next big policy announcement to keep your eyes out for is the conference budget report agreed upon by the House and Senate, which should be coming out next week.

I will continue to monitor the situation and keep you all updated. 

I met some future history makers from Longfellow Middle School at this week's Virginia History Day at the General Assembly, put on by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.  

It was great fun to meet and watch these young scholars present their history projects.  They were terrific representatives of McLean here in Richmond.

If you find yourself in Richmond during this year's session, be sure to stop by Room 908 and say hello to me and my team and sign our visitor log.

Even when a mom and baby are perfectly healthy, dangerous and unexpected complications can arise seemingly at any moment. The risks are even greater for women of color and women in undeserved communities.

At a time when 80% of maternal deaths are preventable, we cannot sit on our hands. I am proud of my colleagues who are leading these efforts and excited to support them.

When you look at the numbers, the crisis is everywhere. According to a report published by the Virginia Maternal Mortality Review Team in 2023, pregnancy-associated death rates were consistently higher in urban areas than in rural areas.

According to the March of Dimes, 30% of Virginia counties lack a birthing center within a half-hour drive.

In the past few years, multiple birthing centers have closed in rural Southwest Virginia.

This concern for maternal health led many of my colleagues to introduce a suite of bills and budget amendments collectively known as the Virginia MOMnibus, with its focus on reforming systems, expanding access to care, economic support, and technology.

This package includes:

• Increased Medicaid payments for midwives
• Doula coverage to support postpartum parents
• Expedited Medicaid enrollment for pregnant people

• A women’s health commission focused on developing targeted maternal health policies
• Medicaid coverage for diapers and limited baby supplies

The MOMnibus represents a breakthrough for maternal health outcomes in the Commonwealth, and I am proud to support it in the House of Delegates.

To learn more, listen here to my colleagues talk about this important initiative or listen to recent coverage of it by Virginia Public Media.

Rule number one in the General Assembly is to never fall in love with any of your bills. But for me, it is hard not to when I am dealing with legislation that was brought to me by students.

I am excited about HB 1777, which helps inform foster youth about important resources available to them.

What's The Problem?

In 2022, Virginia launched the Office of the Children's Ombudsman.

One of its main goals is to assist families and foster kids attempting to navigate the foster care system and create an office where reporting of trouble and even potentially illegal actions with relation to foster youth can be reported.

The Virginia Poverty Law Center held an advocacy workshop with foster youth in the Great Expectations Student Success program at Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke. I learned from that group many were unaware that the Ombudsman even existed. 

What Does HB 1777 Do?

HB 1777 will to ensure foster kids are aware of the Office of the Children's Ombudsman through annual notifications, and that any concerns they raise with the office will be confidential.

Let me know what you think about this legislation by using the link below. 

In The News: Energy Storage Legislation Moving Forward in General Assembly

Recently my HB 2537, relating to developing energy storage in Virginia, received some great coverage from the Virginia Mercury. 

Legislators on both sides of the aisle have supported this effort, as it is a way to ensure grid reliability, keep energy costs down for ratepayers, and optimize intermittent renewable energy sources. 

Both my bill and Senator Bagby's version, SB 1394, are alive and moving through the process. Click the link below to read the full article from the Virginia Mercury. 

Invite Rip to Speak at Your Event

Are you a member of a PTA, HOA, Synagogue, Church, Temple, Youth Group, Neighborhood Association, or any other group of 6th District neighbors interested in getting a recap of the General Assembly? If so, I would enjoy providing you with an in-person legislative update after session wraps. 

Use the link below to reach out, and my team can help coordinate.

Video Gallery

This week has been a busy one presenting legislation I hope to pass before the end of next week. If you would like to listen in, here are videos of my recent bill presentations for your convenience. 

HB 1791 - Senate Commerce and Labor Committee Testimony and Vote

HB 1775 - Senate Courts of Justice Committee Testimony and Vote

Best,

Rip Sullivan

Office of Delegate R
PO Box 994
McLean, VA 22101
United States

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