Greetings from your state capital.  As we approach the end of our 2023 session, I am advising you of the status of legislation that I introduced this year.  All bills in both bodies must be resolved in their respective bodies by Saturday, February 25, 2023, and the following bills have passed both bodies.

            HB1446 will, for the first time, establish an average minimum number of nurse-to-patient contact hours that will be required in our nursing homes.  This is an issue that has been under consideration for over 20 years.  I’m glad to be able to find a path forward to achieve this critical need.

            HB1447 at the request of the hospital association, will allow our hospitals to better utilize their current Paramedic and EMT employees as part of a patient care team.

            HB1449 will have the Emergency Services Advisory Board to consider a means whereby an EMS provider might assist a patient in taking their own critical medications when the patient is unable to give oral consent.

            HB1450 is a recommendation from the Disability Commission to replace all references in our code to “handicapped” with the term “disabled” or “disability” bringing our code into compliance with Federal language.

            HB1452 will authorize the Attorney General to have some of his Medicaid Fraud Investigation members become sworn police officers to more efficiently allow them to enforce the law.

HB1504 will have the Joint Commission on Technology and Science to consider ways that we can require anyone sending unsolicited text messages to provide an opt out provision that works.  I’m sure many of you, as I, have found it very annoying and frustrating to receive unsolicited texts that never seem to stop.

HB1684 ensures that a business that has misclassified workers under current tax requirements cannot be blocked from future state contracts or be fined until their right to appeal has been concluded.

HB2354 ensures that when an insurance carrier and a health care provider have terminated their contract that the patient will have a longer period of continued service and an assurance of continued health care in certain medical circumstances, such as pregnancy or long-term convalescence.  I am glad that the recent dispute between an insurance carrier and health care system in our area has been resolved but am glad to help put in place more patient protections that may be needed in the future.

            All of these bills will now go to the Governor who will either sign, amend or veto them.  If he amends or vetoes any of these measures, we will consider those actions when we return in April for our one-day veto session.

            Of the other issues that I received the most citizen input, measures related to our current abortion laws gathered the most interest.  There were no changes to the current laws in Virginia on this topic.  The House did pass legislation reinstituting the informed consent provision that existed until 3 years ago and we passed the “Born Alive Act” that would have required a physician to perform any reasonable medical measures to sustain the life of a new born after an attempted abortion.  Neither of these measures passed the Senate.

            Not surprisingly, the topic of guns garnered the next greatest amount of interest.  Again, on this issue there were no significant changes to our existing laws that passed both chambers.

            Many constituents contacted me about a resolution calling for a Federal Constitutional Convention to address our runaway Federal spending and addressing issues related to term limits.  I supported the resolution, but it was subsequently sent back to the Rules committee where it will no longer be considered.  Given that, at the State level, must have a balanced budget, I have grave concerns over the current practices with our federal budget.

            The single most important issue to be resolved is amending our biennial budget.  At present, the House and Senate budget conferees are trying to resolve the differences.    I suspect that these differences will be resolved in the next week, during which time, the rest of the Assembly members will be in recess in our home districts and then return for a one day session to act on the budget.

            Given that the Governor will have possible amendments or vetoes to the budget and other bills sent to him, I will share a final report on major legislative actions and the budget after the veto session.

            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.  As of Monday, February 27, 2023, my local office will reopen on our regular schedule; Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9-12 and Tuesday, Thursday 9-5.  The phone number is (540)891-1322 or email at delborrock@house.virginia.gov.