We are so excited to share with you the progress we have made, and our plans for the future as we head into the rest of the year. If you have any questions regarding the letter or feedback for what you want included in my office’s correspondence, please email us at DelAReaser@house.virginia.gov, and a member of my staff can help you. We value your input and look forward to hearing from you! 

The post Delegate Reaser’s 2025 End of Session Letter appeared first on Atoosa Reaser for Delegate.

This week marks Sine Die, the adjournment of the regular 2025 Legislative Session! A successful session is a combined effort of advocates from our community, tenacious legislative staff, and Virginians across the Commonwealth working together to put forth needed policy. Through many committee meetings, floor sessions, and winter storms, we were able to pass a portfolio of solutions-oriented legislation, including a budget that centers the economic needs of Virginians. To that end, we also passed a resolution allowing for a special session to continue to remain nimble in responding to the economic uncertainty we face as a result of federal actions.

The General Assembly’s Conference Budget

I believe that the General Assembly budget represents a significant step forward in our efforts to create a brighter future as we unleash the potential of the Commonwealth for all Virginians.

First, our budget includes a permanent tax cut for those who take the standard deduction, extends the earned income tax credit, and provides 25 million dollars for an employer assistance in childcare pilot program. Alongside these measures are a $200 and $400 tax rebate for individuals and joint filers, respectively.

Next, our budget makes major strides in the healthcare arena. It provides $686.1 million over the biennium for Medicaid and children’s health insurance; assists our elderly by adding $10 million to provide operating support for nursing homes and $3.2 million for aging and disability services; and addresses the behavioral health crisis by investing an additional $41.2 million for behavioral health and developmental services.

Moreover, the budget works toward fully funding our schools with a $782.4 million increase in state funding, so local appropriations can go to local needs and keeping residential property taxes lower. To that end, this budget removes a limit on state funding for support staff, by allocating $222.9 million to fund those positions, allowing school divisions to fill crucial needs in staffing.

I hope you will agree this budge demonstrates our unwavering commitment to serving all Virginians, by reducing costs for working families across the Commonwealth while taking care of basic needs. See The Commonwealth Institute’s analysis of the proposed budgets here:

What Happens After Sine Die?

You may be wondering what comes next for the General Assembly, now that we have adjourned “sine die. The answer is the Reconvene Session. 30 days after the primary session gavels out, the General Assembly will come back to Richmond to work through any remaining business that lingered from the first session. 

During those 30 days between the two sessions, the Governor will go through each bill passed by the General Assembly and 1. Sign it into law, 2. Veto the bill, or 3. Send it back to the General Assembly with amendments.

During Reconvene, the GA will respond to the Governor’s actions on bills including possibly overriding a Governor veto. This serves as the official end of the year’s legislative session as all unfinished business has been dealt with.

Bill Update

My team has done great work tackling major issues like affordable housing, education, good governance, veteran’s needs, and gun violence prevention. Peruse the graphics below to see what is going to the Governor’s desk.

I am extremely humbled by the bipartisan support I gathered on HB2055 and HB2679: two bills addressing what I think may be one of the last moments before a student tragically ends their own life, or that of their classmates.

I am hopefully the Governor will agree that providing targeted information at a critical time – when a threat assessment team has evaluated and determined that a student is a risk – will save lives. These teams already exist in schools and may be comprised of law enforcement, mental health professionals, and school administration. Moreover, schools are already required to share these finding with parents and guardians, so adding safe storage and prevention information at the same time is sensible.

HB2055 passed out of both chambers unanimously, and HB2679 passed out of the House on an 86-13 vote and then unanimously out of the Senate.

More Photos from Session 

Academies of Loudoun Superstars

Heading to the Floor

Trailblazing Women of Virginia

Commending Gary T. Settle

Commending A.E. Dick Howard

How My Office Can Help You

Navigating state agencies can be confusing and difficult at times. As your delegate, I can help you communicate with state agencies such as the Virginia Employment Commission, Departments of Taxation, Social Services, Transportation, and more! I can also submit inquiries with those agencies on your behalf and help you engage with the state agency you need. There are limits to what I can do, however. For example, I am unable to expedite cases or force state agencies to favor your inquiry, provide legal advice or recommend a specific attorney, intervene with judicial issues, overturn decisions, or be involved with matters involving private businesses. 

Whether you want to bring an issue to my attention, need my office’s assistance, or want to invite me to a community event, please reach out! If there is any way I can assist you, please let me know here: https://atoosareaser.com/help/.

Yours in Service, 

Atoosa Reaser (she/her)
Virginia House of Delegates 
District 27 (Eastern Loudoun)
Follow | Like | Volunteer | More Info 

The post 2025 Legislative Session Week 7 + Sine Die appeared first on Atoosa Reaser for Delegate.

As the session winds down and the General Assembly begins wrapping up its business, I want to reflect on this session so far. It’s a humbling and deeply gratifying experience to speak with so many Virginians passionate about our Commonwealth and the most important issues it faces. While this is a short session, we have been able to transact the people’s business and continue working to make Virginia an even better place to live and work. Read on to learn more about our penultimate week in Richmond!

The House Passes Senate Cognates of the Three Constitutional Amendments

On February 13, 2025, the House passed the Senate versions of three pressing constitutional amendments dealing with voting rights, marriage equality, and reproductive freedom (the Senate versions are identical to the House versions we passed earlier in the Session). The United States has historically been a standard-bearer for freedom worldwide, but as we lose federal protections, Virginia’s legislature has become the final protector of fundamental rights. Click below to see the House Democratic Caucus’ statement on the passage of these amendments.

Thank You to the GAB’s Staff

Delegates and Senators may be the most well-known occupants of the General Assembly Building, but hundreds of staff members assist our legislative process every day. They maintain the infrastructure of our legislative body, keep our building clean, help visitors get around Richmond to see their government in action, and so much more! Their contributions to the General Assembly are often overlooked, so I want to take a moment and thank them for their service to the Commonwealth!

The Virginia Page Program

The Page Program brings students from across Virginia to experience the legislative process firsthand. Pages assist visitors, deliver documents, and support floor sessions while gaining civics education, leadership skills, and hands-on experience in state government. Thank you to the 2025 Pages for your dedication, hard work, and commitment to serving the Commonwealth—you are an invaluable part of the General Assembly!

Do you know any 13-14 year-olds interested in Virginia’s government and politics? Keep an eye out for next year’s Page Program application, we would love to have some young superstars from HD27 get to be a part of Virginia history! Click the button below to learn more about the Page Program:

University of Virginia School of Law’s State and Local Government Policy Clinic

UVA law students in this clinic work in teams that assist a vast array of clients, including legislators from both sides of the aisle, government officials, and advocacy groups. These students research pressing policy issues, lobby legislators for their approval, and provide testimony during committee meetings. There are two clinic students that I want to give special attention to: Roland Eberhard and Madhavi Subramaniam.

Roland and Madhavi have “worked” (an inside term for all the steps you have to take to get support for legislation) House Bills 2055 and 2679, which deal with critical guidance for parents of students who are at risk of harming themselves or others. This communication includes information on the safe storage of firearms and medications. We gathered broad bipartisan support for these measures, and I am hopeful the Governor will support this legislation.

If you are interested in learning more about the clinic, click here:

Week Six Legislative Update

Here is the current status of bills introduced during this legislative session:

1256 still pending before the General Assembly
1186 bills have passed the House
938 bills have passed the Senate
700 bills have passed the General Assembly
1340 bills have failed

Here is the current status of my legislation:

3 bills have passed the General Assembly
7 bills are being heard before the Senate
3 bills are currently in the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee

If you are interested in looking at the legislative history and bill text of my proposals, you can view them on the Virginia Legislative Information System (LIS).

Supporting our Veterans

House Bill 2736: This bill extends the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) program to military spouses. This bill passed out of committee on a 15-0 vote and is in the Senate Finance.

Healthcare

House Bill 1945: Allows telehealth visits at schools that choose the option to offer it. A bipartisan recommendation of the Joint Commission on Healthcare, it improves access and reduces missed class time for families who may not have adequate broadband technology at home or nearby health providers. This bill reported 15-0 out of committee and is headed to the Senate floor!

Affordable Housing

House Bill 2054: Our seniors need affordable assisted living, and this bill empowers localities to negotiate for it. This bill has passed out of the General Assembly on a 35-3 vote in the Senate!

Gun Violence Prevention

House Bill 2055 and 2679: These bills direct schools to provide information to parents of a student found at-risk for harming themselves or harming others, respectively, on the existing safe storage of firearms laws, as well as material on safe storage of medications. HB 2055 passed out of committee on a 14-0, and HB 2679 passed out of committee on a 11-3 vote. These bills are headed to the Senate floor!

Education

House Bill 1915: Clarifies that tenured teachers must give notice of non-continuation before the school year ends while maintaining the school division’s authority over dismissal of tenured teachers. This bill passed out of committee on a 15-0 vote and is headed to the Senate floor!

House Bill 1936: Directs the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to create an index of each teacher training to allow us to better understand the subject, frequency, and total hours we expect our educators to spend training. This bill passed out of committee on a 15-0 and is headed to the Senate floor!

House Bill 2032: This bill directs the VDOE to collect data on English language learners to ensure our students have the support they need to excel, and to direct adequate state funds, thereby lessening the tax burden on local residents. This bill passed out of committee on a 9-6 vote and is headed to the Senate Finance.

House Bill 2053: Empowers the VDOE to develop a rubric for each institution of higher education to utilize in conducting a self-assessment to make sure their teacher preparation programs are in line with the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA). This bill passed out of committee on a 8-5-1 vote and is headed to the Senate floor!

Good Governance

House Bill 1912: Increases dollar amounts relating to wills, estates, trusts, fiduciaries, guardianships of minors, and guardianships of those who are incapacitated to reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index. This bill has passed out of the General Assembly on a 38-0 vote in the Senate!

House Bill 1913: Stipulates that a clerk of court will only assess one fee for recording a document, such as a mortgage. This bill passed out of committee on a 14-1 vote and is in the Senate Finance.

House Bill 2056: Gives localities the option to expand early voting days and times, within the parameters already set by the General Assembly. This bill has passed out of the General Assembly on a 21-14 vote in the Senate!

House Bill 2553: This legislation amends the Code of Virginia to allow the advisory Board for Professional and Occupational Regulation to advise on the regulation and potential deregulation of professions and occupations overseen by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). This bill passed out of committee on a 14-0 vote and is headed to the Senate floor!

Photos from Session

Bills before the State Senate

Winter in Richmond

HB 2056: Affordable Assisted Living

Furry Friends at the GAB!

General Assembly Friends

ICYMI

Resources to take part in the Legislative Session
Are you interested in watching the hearing for a bill you are particularly passionate about? Are you looking for a way to give testimony for bills that support or oppose? Are you wondering what’s in the state’s budget? The General Assembly has these services and more to allow you to participate and view the entire General Assembly Session!

Virginia Legislative Information System (LIS)

The Virginia Legislative Information System tracks bills from their introduction to their passage! You are able to create lists of bills that interest you through the lobbyist in a box feature, look through the calendar to find when important bills are being heard, and see the overall stats of this session.

Virginia General Assembly Website

The General Assembly website streams every floor session, committee, and subcommittee meeting, gives a detailed explanation on how a bill becomes a law in Virginia, and showcases the history of the General Assembly and the Capitol Building. If you are interested in watching meetings of the General Assembly or learning more about our legislative process, you can find it on the link below.

How My Office Can Help You

Navigating state agencies can be confusing and difficult at times. As your delegate, I can help you communicate with state agencies such as the Virginia Employment Commission, Departments of Taxation, Social Services, Transportation, and more! I can also submit inquiries with those agencies on your behalf and help you engage with the state agency you need. There are limits to what I can do, however. For example, I am unable to expedite cases or force state agencies to favor your inquiry, provide legal advice or recommend a specific attorney, intervene with judicial issues, overturn decisions, or be involved with matters involving private businesses. 

Whether you want to bring an issue to my attention, need my office’s assistance, or want to invite me to a community event, please reach out! If there is any way I can assist you, please let me know here: https://atoosareaser.com/help/.

Yours in Service, 

Atoosa Reaser (she/her)
Virginia House of Delegates 
District 27 (Eastern Loudoun)
Follow | Like | Volunteer | More Info 

The post 2025 Legislative Session Week 6 appeared first on Atoosa Reaser for Delegate.

This week marks the last full week before Crossover, meaning that our committee dockets and floor calendars are getting longer and longer, as we work to finish the House’s business before we consider Senate legislation. It’s been a productive week, and I can’t wait to share all of the details with you!

American Airlines Tragedy 

On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, a military helicopter and an American Airlines jet collided, causing both aircraft to crash into the Potomac River. This tragedy is heartbreaking for our community as many neighbors, friends, and family were sadly lost. My office is actively in communication with emergency management officials to receive updates on recovery operations, as we await investigation findings. Our prayers continue to go out to everyone affected by this awful accident.

Honoring the Legacy of Senator Henry Marsh

On January 21, 2025, Senator Henry Marsh passed away at 91 years of age. The Senator leaves behind a vibrant legacy as a true trailblazer, civil rights lawyer, and public servant. Senator Marsh served as the first African-American mayor of Richmond in a time when vestiges of the Jim Crow South were deeply entrenched and Virginia was beginning the process of coming to terms with its racial legacy.

Henry Marsh was later elected to the Virginia State Senate and served there for 22 years. Senator Marsh was a pillar of strength in the General Assembly, working to build up the Commonwealth. His legacy of service is an example to all of us, as we continue his work to make Virginia an even better place.

Week Four Wrap-Up

Here are the current stats from the legislative session:

1893 bills are still pending
223 passed the General Assembly
435 have passed out of the House of Delegates
490 have passed out of the State Senate
617 have failed
64 have been incorporated into other bills

At the beginning of next week, both the House and Senate will have long sessions to complete the rest of their scheduled business. These two sessions will see the most legislation get through each chamber and mark the end of the first half of this year’s session.

Update on my Legislation and Budget Amendments

I am happy to report that my legislation is moving smoothly from subcommittee, to committee, to the House Floor. As of Friday, January 31, 2025, all of my bills have been reported favorably out of committee! Here are the stats for my legislative portfolio.

7 Bills are headed to the Senate!
6 Bills will be heard on the House floor next week.

If you are interested in looking at the legislative history and bill text of my proposals, you can view them on the Virginia Legislative Information System (LIS).

Gun Violence Prevention

House Bill 2055 and 2679: these bills direct schools to provide information to parents of a student found at risk for harming themselves or harming others, respectively, on the existing safe storage of firearms laws, as well as materials on suicide prevention and the safe storage of medications. These bills passed out of the Education Committee and are currently on the House floor.

Education

House Bill 1915: Clarifies that tenured teachers must give notice of non-continuation before the school year ends, while maintaining the school division’s authority over dismissal of tenured teachers with due process. This bill is headed to the Senate!

House Bill 1936: Directs the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to create an index of each teacher training to allow us to better understand the subject, frequency, and total hours we expect our educators to spend training. This bill is headed to the Senate!

House Bill 2032: This bill directs the VDOE to collect data on English language learners to ensure we direct adequate state funds for them, thereby lessening the tax burden on local residents and providing our students with the support they need to excel. This bill is headed to the Senate!

House Bill 2053: Empowers the VDOE to develop a rubric for each institution of higher education to utilize in conducting a self assessment to make sure their teacher preparation programs are in line with the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) This bill passed out of the Education Committee and is currently on the House floor.

Healthcare

House Bill 1945: Allows telehealth visits at schools that choose the option to offer it. A unanimous bipartisan recommendation of the Joint Commission on Healthcare, it improves access and reduces missed class time for families who may not have adequate broadband technology at home or nearby health providers. This bill is headed to the Senate!

Good Governance

House Bill 1913: Stipulates that a clerk of court will only assess one fee for recording a document, such as a mortgage. This bill is headed to the Senate!

House Bill 2056: Gives localities the option to expand early voting days and times, within the parameters already set by the General Assembly. This bill passed out of the Privileges and Elections Committee and is heading to the House floor.

House Bill 2553: This legislation amends the Code of Virginia to allow the advisory Board for Professional and Occupational Regulation (BPOR) to review, advise, and recommend on the regulation and potential deregulation of professions and occupations, as well as the budget overseen by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). This bill passed out of the full General Laws Committee and is headed to the House floor.

Supporting our Veterans

House Bill 2736: This bill extends the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) program to military spouses. This bill passed out of the full General Laws Committee and is headed to the House Floor.

Budget Amendments

124 #37h: $30,000 to assist in the construction of handicap access improvement at Meadowland ES. Although the county has earmarked funding for improvements at Meadowland, they will not become available until FY 2029. With an allocation from the state, the county could move the project to an earlier date and those earmarked county funds could still go to improve accessibility, beyond just ramps and curb cuts at the bus lot.

331 #22h: $100,000 to help fund Anna Sudha Community Kitchens, who work to support our community through free meals and professional training. Anna Sudha Community Kitchens is a non-profit organization of 300 volunteers (including disabled and special needs volunteers) addressing food insecurity in an innovative way. Anna Sudha Community Kitchens currently operates at a deficit funded personally by the founder, since its inception.

Budget Sunday

On Sunday, February 2nd, the Money Committees of the General Assembly (House Appropriations and Senate Finance & Appropriations) will publish their versions of the amended budget. The amendments are meant to address community needs that were not addressed in the initial biennial budget or new opportunities that have only recently presented themselves.

Following both chambers passing their version of the amended budget, conferees will be selected to create a unified conference report. Negotiations regarding the budget will continue as the Governor and General Assembly work to create the final budget for this biennium.

Photos from Session  

In Subcommittee, Committee, and on the Floor!

UVA Law State Policy Clinic

 Loudoun County Public Schools

Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington

Resources to take part in the Legislative Session

Are you interested in watching the hearing for a bill you are particularly passionate about? Are you looking for a way to give testimony for bills that support or oppose? Are you wondering what’s in the state’s budget? The General Assembly has these services and more to allow you to participate and view the entire General Assembly Session!

Virginia Legislative Information System (LIS)

The Virginia Legislative Information System tracks bills from their introduction to their passage! You are able to create lists of bills that interest you through the lobbyist in a box feature, look through the calendar to find when important bills are being heard, and see the overall stats of this session

Virginia General Assembly Website

The General Assembly website streams every floor session, committee, and subcommittee meeting, gives a detailed explanation on how a bill becomes a law in Virginia, and showcases the history of the General Assembly and the Capitol Building. If you are interested in watching meetings of the General Assembly or learning more about our legislative process, you can find it on the link below.

How My Office Can Help You

Navigating state agencies can be confusing and difficult at times. As your delegate, I can help you communicate with state agencies such as the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC), Departments of Taxation, Social Services, Transportation, and more! I can also submit inquiries with those agencies on your behalf and help you engage with the state agency you need. There are limits to what I can do, however. For example, I am unable to expedite cases or force state agencies to favor your inquiry, provide legal advice or recommend a specific attorney, intervene with judicial issues, overturn decisions, or be involved with matters involving private businesses. 

Whether you want to bring an issue to my attention, need my office’s assistance, or want to invite me to a community event, please reach out! If there is any way I can assist you, please let me know here: https://atoosareaser.com/help/.

Come Visit Me In Richmond!

If you or your group are coming to Richmond to speak to legislators, see the floor session, or stop in for a day trip, come by my office! My staff and I would enjoy speaking with you about ideas for improving our community and addressing concerns facing our region!

With session resuming this week, the best ways to get in contact with my office is through the district email (DelAReaser@house.virginia.gov) and the phone number for the Richmond office ((804) 698-1027).

Yours in Service, 

Atoosa Reaser (she/her)
Virginia House of Delegates 
District 27 (Eastern Loudoun)
Follow | Like | Volunteer | More Info 

The post 2025 Legislative Session Week 4 appeared first on Atoosa Reaser for Delegate.

It’s hard to believe that we are already in the third week of the 2025 Legislative session. It feels like we just got to Richmond, but time flies when you are working hard and having fun! I am happy to report another successful week as we begin to wrap up the first half of this year’s session. 

Update on my Legislation and Budget Amendments

We had an incredibly active week with some bills just starting their journey and others making it onto the House floor! I am excited to add to my already diverse portfolio last session, with new legislation that addresses pressing economic issues like affordable housing and fees, as well as health care, education, good governance, and gun violence prevention. The current status of my bills follows:

2 are headed to the Senate
3 are currently on the floor of the House
1 has passed out of full committee
6 are waiting to be heard in subcommittee next week

If you are interested in looking at the legislative history and bill text of my proposals, you can view them on the Virginia Legislative Information System (LIS).

Gun Violence Prevention

HB 2055 and HB 2679: these bills direct schools to provide information to parents of a student found at-risk for harming themselves or harming others, respectively, on the existing safe storage of firearms laws, as well as material on safe storage of medications. Assigned to the Education K-12 Subcommittee. These bills will be heard on Tuesday.

Affordable Housing

HB 2054: Our seniors need affordable assisted living and this bill empowers localities to negotiate for it. Successfully passed out of the House on January 23rd! Passed by a vote of 75-21 and is waiting to be heard in the Senate. Read about it in Loudoun Now.

Education

HB 1915: Clarifies that tenured teachers must give notice of non-continuation before the school year ends while maintaining the school division’s authority over dismissal of tenured teachers. Passed out of the Education Committee 11-10. This bill is currently being heard on the House floor.

HB 1936: Directs the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to create an index of each teacher training to allow us to better understand the subject, frequency, and total hours we expect our educators to spend training. Passed out of the Education Committee 21-1. This bill is currently being heard on the House floor.

HB 2053: Empowers the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to develop a rubric for each institution of higher education to utilize in conducting a self-assessment to make sure their teacher preparation programs are in line with the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA). Assigned to the Education K-12 Subcommittee to be heard on Monday.

Other Legislative Updates

On Thursday, House Bill 1716 (guarantees the right to contraception), which I co-patroned, passed out of the House. While other states are taking away a right to contraception and little progress is being made federally on this issue, Virginia is taking another step forward to safeguard access to contraception. Passage of House Bill 1716 would be another major victory, as Virginia continues to be a sanctuary in the South for those who want the freedom to make this personal choice without government interference.

Budget Amendments to the State Budget

During this past Monday, my colleagues and I presented our proposed amendments to the state budget. You can find them at the link below:

124 #37h: $30,000 to assist in the construction of handicap access improvement at Meadowland ES. 

Although the county has earmarked funding for improvements at Meadowland ES, they will not become available until FY 2029. With an allocation from the state, the county could move the project to an earlier date and those earmarked county funds could still go to improve accessibility, beyond just ramps and curb cuts at the bus lot.

331 #22h: $100,000 to help fund Anna Sudha Community Kitchens, a non-profit organization of hundreds of volunteers (including disabled and special needs volunteers) addressing food insecurity in innovative way. Anna Sudha Community Kitchens currently operates at a deficit funded personally by the founder, since its inception. 

Photos from Session  

On the House Floor

Loudoun County Professional Firefighters

MOVE Chamber of Commerce and Muslim Day of Advocacy

Hamkae Center

ICYMI

Meet our Session Intern Natalie!

Natalie Bertrand is our Virginia Commonwealth University intern, this session. Natalie is double majoring in Political Science and Homeland Security, and will be graduating this spring. She hopes to attend law school in the near future and work in some capacity surrounding constitutional law. Originally from Woodbridge VA, she has lived in Richmond for the last three years. In her free time, Natalie enjoys hiking and spending time with her friends and family.

Resources to take part in the Legislative Session

Are you interested in watching the hearing for a bill you are particularly passionate about? Are you looking for a way to give testimony for bills that you support or oppose? Are you wondering what’s in the state’s budget? The General Assembly has these services and more to allow you to participate and view the entire 2025 Session!

Virginia Legislative Information System (LIS)

The Virginia Legislative Information System tracks bills from their introduction to their passage! You are able to create lists of bills that interest you through the lobbyist in a box feature, look through the calendar to find when important bills are being heard, and see the overall stats of this session.

Virginia General Assembly Website

The General Assembly website streams every floor session, committee, and subcommittee meeting. It also gives a detailed explanation on how a bill becomes a law in Virginia, and showcases the history of the General Assembly and the Capitol Building. If you are interested in watching meetings of the General Assembly or learning more about our legislative process, use the link below.

How My Office Can Help You

Navigating state agencies can be confusing and difficult at times. As your delegate, I can help you communicate with state agencies such as the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC), Departments of Taxation, Social Services, Transportation, and more! I can also submit inquiries with those agencies on your behalf and help you engage with the state agency you need. There are limits to what I can do, however. For example, I am unable to expedite cases or force state agencies to favor your inquiry, provide legal advice or recommend a specific attorney, intervene with judicial issues, overturn decisions, or be involved with matters involving private businesses. 

Whether you want to bring an issue to my attention, need my office’s assistance, or want to invite me to a community event, please reach out! If there is any way I can assist you, please let me know here: https://atoosareaser.com/help/.

Come Visit Me In Richmond!

If you or your group are coming to Richmond to speak to legislators, see the floor session, or stop in for a day trip, come by my office! My staff and I would enjoy speaking with you about ideas for improving our community and addressing concerns facing our region!

The best ways to get in contact with my office are through the district email (DelAReaser@house.virginia.gov) and the phone number for the Richmond office ((804) 698-1027).

Yours in Service, 

Atoosa Reaser (she/her)
Virginia House of Delegates 
District 27 (Eastern Loudoun)
Follow | Like | Volunteer | More Info 

The post 2025 Legislative Session Week 3 appeared first on Atoosa Reaser for Delegate.

I want to thank the employees and officials who worked tirelessly over the past week to restore water access to the Richmond Metro and surrounding areas, allowing us to get work done. After going “at ease” due to the lack of water, we hit the ground running the week, hearing bills in subcommittee and committee. FIVE of my bills have have already passed out of committee!

Here is the current status of those bills:

19 Bills have passed the House
59 Bills have passed the Senate
39 Bills have passed both chambers
2034 Bills are pending
415 bills have failed
Two bills have been incorporated

Total Numbers: 2086 Bills and 405 bills continued from last session

Week #2 Wrap Up

I am happy to report that we had an incredibly successful second week of session. I have had five bills pass out of committee with three going to the floor and two heading to the Appropriations Committee, five are currently awaiting a subcommittee hearing, and the rest are currently pending committee referral. If you are interested in looking at the legislative history and bill text of my proposals, you can view them on the Virginia Legislative Information System (LIS).

Additionally, the majority of the filed bills were introduced this week. We will have the final number of bills next week, but currently the total are:

1221 House Bills
79 House Joint Resolutions
35 House Resolutions
690 Senate Bills
36 Senate Joint Resolutions
25 Senate Resolutions
Total Numbers: 2086 Bills and 405 bills continued from last session

Affordable Housing

HB 2055 and HB 2679: these bills direct schools to provide information to parents of a student found at-risk for harming themselves or harming others, respectively, on the existing safe storage of firearms laws, as well as material on safe storage of medications. Assigned to the Education K-12 Subcommittee. These bills will be heard on Tuesday.

Healthcare

House Bill 1945: Allows telehealth visits at schools that choose the option. A bipartisan recommendation of the Joint Commission on Healthcare, it improves access & reduces missed class time for families who may not have home adequate broadband technology, or nearby health providers. Reported out of the House Education Committee, referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

Education

House Bill 2032: Directs VDOE to collect data on English language learners to assist students and direct state funds to support them, lessening the tax burden on local residents.Reported out of the House Education Committee, referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

House Bill 1915: Clarifies that tenured teachers must give a notice of non-continuation and schools must give due process of non-continuation, not mere notice.Reported out of the House Education Committee, will be heard on the House Floor. 

Good Governance

House Bill 1912: To help the average person administer a small estate matter, this bill increases certain thresholds taking into consideration the Consumer Price Index Passed out of the full Courts of Justice Committee!

The House passes Three Constitutional Amendments

Reproductive Rights

In 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in one of its most consequential rulings to date in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson. Dobbs gave states the authority to determine the laws on abortion. Time and time again, community members remind me that they don’t want the government monitoring their most private and personal medical decisions.

The fight for reproductive and health care autonomy had a major victory today as the House of Delegates voted to pass the Reproductive Freedom constitutional amendment. I am proud to have voted for this amendment and will continue to advocate for your right to make your own health care decisions, in our Commonwealth!

Voting Rights

As a lawyer, I have the responsibility of making the law work for Virginians. It is why I became qualified by the Virginia Supreme Court to serve as a guardian ad litem, why I served as a prosecutor and Deputy Town attorney for Herndon, and why I serve on the Courts of Justice Committee. Our criminal justice system should work to bring citizens back into society after they finish their sentence, but for too long Virginians who have left prison are denied our most sacred responsibility as American citizens: the right to vote.

In its current form, our state constitution takes away the responsibility and right to vote from people who have finished their sentence. To get back the most fundamental right of our democratic government, former offenders must appeal to the Governor to have their rights restored.

I believe that voting is the cornerstone of a democracy and making sure that every citizen can vote ensures an investment that engages community members as they reintegrate into society. Virginians should not be locked out of our political process after they have done their time and returned to citizens.

Marriage Equality

In 2015, the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges stated that marriage discrimination violated the due process clause of the 14th amendment. That ruling has been the law of the land for the past 10 years, however it is now under threat from some Supreme Court justices who have commented on repealing this fundamental freedom.

If this ruling is overturned by the Supreme Court, a defunct clause in the Virginia state constitution banning same-sex marriage will go back into force, turning the clock back on the progress we have made our Commonwealth. 

Everyone should have the right to build a family in safety without fear. I will always stand up against the forces of bigotry and fear attempting to take us back in time.

Photos from Session  

Subcommittees, Committees, floor sessions, oh my!

Happy Birthday Governor Wilder!

A Night among the Stars!

Resources to take part in the Legislative Session

Are you interested in watching the hearing for a bill you are particularly passionate about? Are you looking for a way to give testimony for bills that you support or oppose? Are you wondering what’s in the state’s budget? The General Assembly has these services and more to allow you to participate and view the entire General Assembly Session!

Virginia Legislative Information System (LIS)

The Virginia Legislative Information System tracks bills from their introduction to their passage! You are able to create lists of bills that interest you through the lobbyist in a box feature, look through the calendar to find when important bills are being heard, and see the overall stats of this session.

Virginia General Assembly Website

The General Assembly website streams every floor session, committee, and subcommittee meeting, gives a detailed explanation on how a bill becomes a law in Virginia, and showcases the history of the General Assembly and the Capitol Building. If you are interested in watching meetings of the General Assembly or learning more about our legislative process, you can find it in the link below.

UVA Sorenson High School Leaders Program (HSLP)

The Sorenson Institute for Political Leadership is seeking civic-minded students from across Virginia to apply for the 2025 High School Leaders Program (HSLP)!

The HSLP is a two-week summer program designed for Virginia high school students who have a passion for public service and leadership. The HSLP curriculum covers the foundation public policy and effective civic engagement, while connecting students with peers of different backgrounds and philosophies from around the state. Admitted students live on the UVA Grounds, attend field trips, and network with current leaders in Virginia’s public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

The online application for the 2025 HSLP is open through March 17, 2025 and supplemental materials are due by March 21, 2025.

How My Office Can Help You

Navigating state agencies can be confusing and difficult at times. As your delegate, I can help you communicate with state agencies such as the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC), Departments of Taxation, Social Services, Transportation, and more! I can also submit inquiries with those agencies on your behalf and help you engage with the state agency you need. There are limits to what I can do, however. For example, I am unable to expedite cases or force state agencies to favor your inquiry, provide legal advice or recommend a specific attorney, intervene with judicial issues, overturn decisions, or be involved with matters involving private businesses. 

Whether you want to bring an issue to my attention, need my office’s assistance, or want to invite me to a community event, please reach out! If there is any way I can assist you, please let me know here: https://atoosareaser.com/help/.

Come Visit Me In Richmond!

If you or your group are coming to Richmond to speak to legislators, see the floor session, or stop in for a day trip, come by my office! My staff and I would enjoy speaking with you about ideas for improving our community and addressing concerns facing our region!

The best ways to get in contact with my office are through the district email (DelAReaser@house.virginia.gov) and the phone number for the Richmond office ((804) 698-1027).

Yours in Service, 

Atoosa Reaser (she/her)
Virginia House of Delegates 
District 27 (Eastern Loudoun)
Follow | Like | Volunteer | More Info 

The post 2025 Legislative Session Week 2 appeared first on Atoosa Reaser for Delegate.

At long last, the 2025 session has begun! I am excited to be back in Richmond, working to continue our progress from last year expanding economic opportunity, improving community safety, and supporting excellence in public education. It is truly the honor of a lifetime to represent our district in the General Assembly. My team and I are ready to tackle this year’s legislation head on and to advocate for working families!

During the legislative session, I will release weekly newsletters detailing my legislative portfolio, major bills that are impacting our community, and overall developments in state government.

Current Situation in Richmond

This year’s session began in an unprecedented manner. On Wednesday, January 8th, the General Assembly met to convene the 2025 session and fulfill the body’s constitutional responsibilities. Due to Winter Storm Blair, there have been major issues with Richmond’s water system causing the body to go “at ease” until clean water is restored. No legislative business including subcommittee, committee, or floor sessions will take place, in the meantime.

If you had a planned meeting with my office, my staff is working to reschedule those meetings. This situation is a reminder of the difficulties families who are precariously housed face on a regular basis. My hope is that the session will allow us to address the affordable housing crisis and rising costs overall.

Current Legislative Portfolio

I am excited to share some of the bills that I have filed so far! Each bill is attached with a link to their page on the Virginia Legislative Information System (LIS) website where you can follow each bill as they make their way through the General Assembly.

Health Care:

House Bill 1945:

Directs each school board to consider developing and implementing policies for permitting any public school student in the school division to schedule and participate in telehealth services on school property during regular school hours with parental permission. While telehealth access benefits everyone, it is especially helpful to communities where patients have to drive a long distance for care.

Education:

House Bill 1936:

This bill requires the Department of Education to establish an index of each training in which any public elementary and secondary school teacher in the Commonwealth is required to participate, to allow us to better understand the frequency, subject and total hours we expect our educators to spend on annual training. 

House Bill 2032:

Increases the financial support the state provides to local school divisions to support English language learners. This bill also requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a data collection process related to English language learner expenditures, student English proficiency levels, and to identify other options to support English language learners.

House Bill 2053:

Requires the Department of Education to conduct a baseline audit of each education preparation program compliance with requirements of the Virginia Literacy Act to ensure our new teachers are ready to teach reading.

Gun Violence Prevention:

House Bill 2055:

This bill requires that parents of students who are assessed as at-risk of suicide be given information regarding existing safe firearm storage laws. Firearm based suicides make up more than 50% of youth suicides and this bill would provide a further spread of critical information to counter youth suicides.

Good Governance:

House Bill 1912:

Increases various dollar amounts relating to wills, estates, trusts, fiduciaries, guardianships of minors, and guardianships of incapacitated persons to reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index.

House Bill 1913:

Stipulates that a clerk of a circuit court will not assess separate recording and indexing fees for one document, such as a record of a mortgage.

Affordable Housing:

House Bill 2054:

Allows localities to negotiate affordable assisted living housing, allowing lower income elderly people more opportunity to live in an assisted living facility.

Voting Rights:

House Bill 2056:

Gives a local option to expand early voting hours This option makes it easier for local governments to go beyond the established minimum for early voting to best suit their communities.

Pictures from Session!  

Arriving in Richmond

Beginning of the 2025 Legislative Session

On the House Floor

How My Office Can Help You

Navigating state agencies can be confusing and difficult at times. As your delegate, I can help you communicate with state agencies such as the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC), Departments of Taxation, Social Services, Transportation, and more! I can also submit inquiries with those agencies on your behalf and help you engage with the state agency you need. There are limits to what I can do, however. For example, I am unable to expedite cases or force state agencies to favor your inquiry, provide legal advice or recommend a specific attorney, intervene with judicial issues, overturn decisions, or be involved with matters involving private businesses. 

Whether you want to bring an issue to my attention, need my office’s assistance, or want to invite me to a community event, please reach out! If there is any way I can assist you, please let me know here: https://atoosareaser.com/help/.

Come Visit Me In Richmond!

If you or your group are coming to Richmond to speak to legislators, see the floor session, or stop in for a day trip, come by my office! My staff and I would enjoy speaking with you about ideas for improving our community and addressing concerns facing our region!

With session resuming this week, the best ways to get in contact with my office is through the district email (DelAReaser@house.virginia.gov) and the phone number for the Richmond office ((804) 698-1027).

Yours in Service, 

Atoosa Reaser (she/her)
Virginia House of Delegates 
District 27 (Eastern Loudoun)
Follow | Like | Volunteer | More Info 

The post 2025 Legislative Session Week 1 appeared first on Atoosa Reaser for Delegate.

“Families can’t wait” on childcare funding; Democrats delivered by investing in our workforce and expanding the availability of reliable childcare.

During the recent legislative session, House Democrats prioritized making childcare more accessible and affordable for Virginia families with an unprecedented number of bills and new investments designed to boost economic growth and full employment.

Childcare has been a top concern for voters since a lack of daycare options has prevented many people from returning to work post-pandemic. The final budget sent to the Governor’s desk contained historic investments of $421 million in early education and childcare funding, which would fund over 45,000 childcare slots by 2026. Funding for early childhood education surpassed the Governor’s introduced budget by over $117 million.

“These investments are so important because we know families can’t wait,” said Education Committee Vice Chair Delegate Shelly Simonds. “They are spending 26% of their income on childcare and need help right now.”

Democratic House members offered and passed a number of common-sense, bipartisan bills to improve access and affordability, including legislation to make it easier to set up daycares in office buildings, reinforce safe sleep practices in home daycare settings, and help the Commonwealth plan for future child care needs.

”With the passage of HB281, expanding childcare options helps working moms and dads, creates additional workforce, and helps utilize unused commercial space,” said Del. Atoosa Reaser. “It’s a win-win-win!”

“I’m really proud of the way Democrats continue to move the ball forward on our commitment to early childhood care and education by creating a mechanism to annually project the general funds needed to support a quality system in Virginia,” said Del. David Bulova. His bill, HB419, creates a new planning tool in the Department of Education to determine future childcare needs in the Commonwealth so that we understand and address the funding gaps in early childhood care and education and better support the needs of working parents.

A number of Delegates also had legislation addressing workforce shortages in the childcare sector, including bills to make it easier to do background checks, share certification information, and reduce red tape when accessing federal dollars for childcare programs.

“We hear from families and local businesses all the time about how a lack of childcare is holding back employment and business expansion in the Commonwealth. Women, especially, are impacted by a lack of options. I’m so glad the Democratic House Caucus has prioritized our littlest learners this session,” said Del. Debra Gardner.

“Childcare is a crucial component to growing our economy. Children are our future, and they deserve this investment in quality childcare,” said Del. Amy Laufer.

“If we want to turbocharge our economy and strengthen early childhood education, universal access to quality affordable childcare is essential,” said Del. Phil Hernandez. Concerns about the high costs of childcare were something I heard about all the time on the campaign trail, which is why we worked on so many of these bills this session, often in bipartisan fashion, to help families across Virginia.”

• HB407 from Del. Phil Hernandez makes it easier for families to qualify for the Child Care Subsidy Program.
• HB281 by Del. Atoosa Reaser permits zoning waivers for the operation of a child day program in an office building.
• HB358 by Del. Shelly Simonds requires the state to update its safety checklist for families that offer childcare in their homes to include safe sleep practices.
• HB1277 from Del. Amy Laufer makes it easier to hire childcare workers who are awaiting the results of a full background check, provided that they are supervised and passed a background check in the past.
• HB419 by Del. David Bulova creates a new planning tool in the Department of Education to determine future childcare needs in the Commonwealth so that we understand and address the funding gaps in early childhood care and education and better support the needs of working parents.
• HB472 by Del. Debra Gardner increases government efficiency by eliminating duplication and extra reporting requirements for the Department of Social Services when accessing federal funding for child care services under the TANF program.
• HB508 by Del. Laura Jane Cohen addresses childcare worker shortages by making it easier for child day programs to share employee certification information, with the goal of creating a new child day program substitute staffing system.

The post “Families Can’t Wait” appeared first on Atoosa Reaser for Delegate.