I introduced HB 1429 which specifies that farm machinery, farm equipment, and farm implements used by an indoor, closed, controlled-environment commercial agricultural facility are a class of farm machinery and farm implements that a locality may exempt from personal property taxation. Governor Youngkin signed it into law on March 14th, 2024.

I introduced HB 1277, which allows applicants for employment and applicants to serve as volunteers to work in certain child day centers, family day homes, and family day systems pending the results of a full background check, provided that (i) the applicant has received qualifying results on a fingerprint-based background check through the Central Criminal Records Exchange or the Federal Bureau of Investigation and (ii) the applicant is supervised at all times by a person who received a qualifying result on a full background check within the past five years. Governor Youngkin signed it into law on April 4th, 2024.

The General Assembly is divided into a number of standing committees, whose primary job is to consider and vote on bills and issues and oversee agencies, programs, and activities within their jurisdictions. I currently sit on three committees:

The Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee considers matters concerning agriculture; air and water pollution; solid waste disposal; conservation of land and water resources; matters of environment; forest; fresh and saltwater fishing; game; mining; parks and recreation; petroleum products; and tourism. We also deal with legislation that concerns the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

The Education Committee is responsible for considering legislation and issues related to education within the state. This includes, but is not limited to, the following areas: K-12 Education, Higher Education, Educational Standards and Curriculum, School Funding, Teacher Certification and Employment, Student Health and Safety, and Educational Equity.

The Finance Committee is responsible for overseeing matters related to the financial operations and fiscal policy of the state. Its primary functions include: tax policy, revenue estimation, state budget, debt management, economic policy, public pensions, and tax exemptions and credits.

Within these committees, I also sit on a number of subcommittees: I am a member of the Agriculture and Chesapeake subcommittees on the Agriculture Committee, the Higher Education subcommittee within the Education Committee, and the Finance Committee’s Subcommittee #2, which primarily deals with new tax proposals.

I serve on a number of commissions and boards, which meet year-round to work on a variety of issues facing our Commonwealth, act as formal liaisons between the government and the public, publish legislative studies and updates, and oversee the operations of various government agencies, activities, and partnerships. My appointments include:

The purpose of the Appalachian Region Interstate Compact Commission is to study, develop, and promote plans for the design, construction, financing, and operation of interstate facilities of strategic interest to the Commonwealth of Virginia and other state signatories.

The Center for Rural Virginia works to promote and sustain economic growth in the rural areas of the Commonwealth.

I am proud to serve as the Chair of Virginia’s Disability Commission. The Commission’s main function is to identify legislative priorities for the disability community and recommend policies that provide ongoing support for services and funding related to Virginians with physical and sensory disabilities. During the 2024-2025 year, our work is primarily focused on addressing concerns at the intersection of disability and transportation, workforce development, housing, and voting rights.

The Frontier Culture Museum commemorates the contribution that 18th and 19th century pioneers and colonial frontiersmen made to the creation and development of the United States.

This committee studies the challenges faced by rural counties and small towns in accessing quality health care and recommends policies to alleviate those problems, including quality of care concerns, workforce issues, staffing shortages, lack of broadband access, and travel/transportation issues.

The Block Grants Committee ensures the continued receipt of federal funds pursuant to the Preventive Health and Human Services Block Grant, the Community Services Block Grant, and any other federal block grant program requiring legislative public hearings.

Our work will focus on understanding the policies in place at Virginia’s colleges and universities that allow students to exercise their protected right to free speech while maintaining campus safety. We will also work to identify areas where the legislature can improve state policies in order to mitigate incidents of unrest and arrest.

JCAR is the primary means of legislative oversight on the regulatory process and reviews 1) existing agency rules or regulations and 2) agency rules or regulations during the promulgation or final adoption process. JCAR may advise the Governor and General Assembly on the suspension, modification, repeal, and adoption of government rules and regulations.

The Foundation encourages the economic development of Southwest Virginia through the expansion of cultural and natural heritage ventures and initiatives related to tourism and other enterprises.

The State Water Commission studies water supply, water quality, water allocation, and water-based ecosystem problems in the Commonwealth. They coordinate the legislative recommendations of all other state entities having responsibilities with respect to water supply and allocation issues and also have primary oversight responsibilities over issues related to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

The Virginia Women’s Monument recognizes the full range of women’s achievements, representative of Virginia’s 400-year history, that have made the Commonwealth what it is today. The Commission meets annually to discuss monument maintenance and preservation concerns and to review names submitted for inclusion on the Wall of Honor.