Virginia has been overwhelmed by the devastating impact of the COVID-19 virus and our office has attempted to respond quickly to anyone with questions or needs. Our Senate office will remain open to provide support to constituents. Our number one priority is to keep people well. We are also very sensitive to the impact that this is having on families, individuals, businesses, and our local governments. We continue to communicate with the Governor and other state and federal agencies to determine how best to provide support.

Most questions we receive are about public gatherings and how businesses must function. Governor Northam directed Virginians to avoid non-essential gatherings of more than 10 people. This restriction does not apply to normal operations of essential services such as transportation services, grocery stores, pharmacies, manufacturing, or medical facilities. Individuals with chronic health conditions and 65 and older remain advised to self-quarantine. Consult vdh.virginia.gov for information about the virus and updated numbers on the outbreak here. Also, please be aware of the following recent announcements:

Department of Motor Vehicles - All of Virginia's DMV offices are closed. Online services will remain available, and anyone needing to renew a license or vehicle registration may do it online. For those who cannot renew online, or who have a license or registration that expires before May 15th, the DMV will grant a 60-day extension.

Virginia State Courts - From March 16th to April 6th, all district and circuit courts have stopped non-essential, non-emergency court proceedings unless there is a specific exemption. This includes a prohibition on new eviction cases for tenants who are unable to pay rent as a result of COVID-19.

Utilities - The State Corporation Commission ordered utilities (natural gas, electric, and water companies) to suspend service disconnections for 60 days to provide immediate relief for customers who may be financially impacted by the virus.

Prisons and Jails in Virginia - Visitation is currently cancelled at all facilities. Off-site video visitation is still available. A dedicated COVID-19 public information line with an updated, recorded message is operational. The phone number is (804) 887-8484.

Employers affected by current changes – Virginia activated regional workforce teams to assist employers that slow or stop operations. Employers will not be financially penalized for an increase in workers requesting unemployment benefits. The Governor is authorizing rapid response funding through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act for employers eligible to remain open during this emergency.

Workers impacted by current changes - The Virginia Employment Commission will waive the one-week waiting period to ensure that workers receive benefits as soon as possible. Workers may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits if an employer needs to temporarily slow or cease operations due to COVID-19. If a worker has been issued a notice to self-quarantine by a medical official and is not receiving paid medical leave from their employer, they may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits. A worker may be eligible for unemployment benefits if they must stay home to care for an ill family member and are not receiving paid family medical leave. Affected workers receiving unemployment insurance will receive special consideration on deadlines, mandatory re-employment appointments, and work search requirements.

2020 Legislative Session – The legislative session ended two weeks ago. The House and Senate considered 3,910 bills and resolutions, with 2,218 passed and sent to the Governor for action. The bills make broad changes to energy, criminal law, transportation, public safety, education, healthcare, agriculture, and employment laws among others, with the most significant being the passage of the state's two-year budget. We will return in April for the Veto Session and may reconvene for a special session to address the impacts of the COVID-19 virus.

I am pleased that my bills passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, the majority passing 40-0. I appreciate those in our community who traveled to the Capitol and were so critical in their success. Bills include:

SB 531 Workers' comp coverage for certain cancers for firefighters and first responders;
SB 540 Reporting unprofessional conduct of health professionals;
SB 541 Revising Middleburg's town charter;
SB 556/557 Traffic calming on U.S. Route 17;
SB 561 Workers' comp for firefighter and law-enforcement officer PTSD;
SB 633 Licensure of music therapists;
SB 687 Cyclist highway safety;
SB 689 Expanding ABC special event privileges for localities;
SB 903 Hospital screening for substance use-related emergencies;
SB 904 Higher ed stakeholder group to improve dyslexia, literacy training;
SB 913 Opioids disposal for home hospice;
SB 1039 Tax rebate for solar energy and recycling equipment; and
SB 1040 City of Winchester school board compensation authority.

I also introduced measures that passed in the budget, including funding for Winchester Public Schools Innovation Center; Laurel Center Women's Shelter and intervention for sexual/domestic violence; Winchester Armory/Shenandoah University/Lord Fairfax Hub for Technology and Entrepreneurship; and raises for teachers among others.

Overall the budget includes a balance of Rainy Day Fund and cash reserves of $2.1 billion. Other highlights are increased funding for personal care workers, nursing homes and developmental disability waivers - increasing 1,385 waiver slots over 2 years; increased funds for Water Quality Improvement Fund and Soil and Water Conservation Districts; $1 billion for highway construction, transit and passenger rail; 4% teachers raise over 2 years; 3% state employee bonus, 3% salary increase in the second year; state supported local employees 2% bonus first year, 3% raise in second year; state police 2% raise first year, 3% raise in second year; and overall the budget reduces the amount of state-authorized debt by $528 million. The budget was built on careful forecasting and substantial cash reserves, all of which must now be revisited given the economic impact of the coronavirus that hit just as we concluded the budget. Much of what we did may have to be revised.

These are challenging times for all Virginians. Our office is available to help. If you need assistance, please email jillvogel@senate27.com.