Greetings from our state capitol.  As we approach the mid-point of our 2022 session, I will advise you of the status of legislation I introduced this year.  All bills in both bodies must be resolved in their respective bodies by Tuesday, February 15, 2022.

Of the 17 bills I introduced, 11 will be sent to the Senate, 1 was incorporated in another Delegates bill, 2 were carried over to the 2023 session for further consideration, and 1 is being addressed through agency directive.  Here are more details on the 11 bills that have passed the House.

Six of my bills are related to improving health care access, quality, or accountability.  HB1323 will make it easier for pharmacists to administer certain vaccines, HB910 will help the legislature to understand emergency department utilization and help us to find ways to encourage patients go to a  primary care physician rather than an emergency department, HB234 will look for ways to improve the oversight of our nursing homes and assisted living facilities and to ensure adequate patient care, HB912 will require a study to ensure patients can continue to receive medical care when his insurance carrier is no longer recognized by their previous health care provider, HB917 will ensure that our medical public assistance dollars are allocated to those with the highest priority financial needs, and HB235 will work to ensure that needed out-patient services (such as; rehabilitation, therapy, home health care) are arranged before a patient is discharged.

HB236 will give the Dept. of Education the flexibility to extend a teacher’s time to be recertified by one year if the teacher has had difficulty, due to Covid-19, in fulfilling all of the requirements by the current deadline.

HB231 will allow our dedicated Va. National Guard members additional days of paid leave from their civilian job if they are called into Guard duties.

HB238 will ensure state-wide uniformity in local government recertification of agricultural land-use tax eligibility for our farming community.

HB911 will allow local governments to consider additional ways to encourage and reward volunteer community service participation such as fire, rescue, auxiliary police, and others.

HB919 will ensure that our water supply systems comply with all Federal standards and will allow additional regulations to be considered but not be implemented without thorough investigation.

Next week I will address more of the broader measures that the House considered.

As always, I appreciate the contact that I’ve received on many of the issues before us, and I encourage your continued input.  Further, if I can be of assistance in any manner relating to our state government, I welcome the opportunity.