Weekly Update: What you Need to Know at the Mid-Way Point!
This past Friday was “crossover” at the General Assembly, which is when the bills passed by the House and Senate move to the other chamber for consideration. As expected, Governor Northam announced there will be a special session beginning at the conclusion of the current 30-day regular session. While any bills not acted on from this point forward could potentially be taken up during the special session, it will most likely be used to address the budget.
We are excited to report that the General Assembly did not take up some bills that we had been warning you about, like: an amendment to the Virginia Constitution to enshrine abortion on demand; repealing parental consent for minors to obtain an abortion; legalizing physician assisted suicide; and expanding abortion funding through Medicaid and private insurers. For that, we are extremely grateful to God for His sovereign guidance and control.
Nevertheless, there are plenty of issues to be concerned about as we approach the second half of the regular session, including legalized marijuana, allowing abortion to be covered through the Health Exchange, repealing important religious conscience protections as well as the marriage amendment, and directing private citizens choices on who they select to be their child’s nanny.
Here’s where things stand on some of the bills we’ve been telling you about:
Good bills still alive!
Prohibit Anonymous Teen Sex Text Lines - SB 1235 (R-Peake) would prohibit the Virginia Department of Health or local department, and any entity it contracts with, from promoting and facilitating dangerous programs (like the Teen Sex Text Hotline) that involve contacting children about sex, sexuality, human reproduction, and other topics found in subsection B of Va. Code § 22.1-207.1 without parents’ consent or knowledge. Passed the Senate 20–19.
In-Person Learning Option - SB 1303 (R-Dunnavant) would require every public school district to give parents the option for their child to attend either in-person or virtual schools, like some localities are offering. Passed the Senate 26-13.
Ensuring Pastor Visitation - SB 1356 would require the Boards of Health and Social Services to include in its regulations a requirement that each hospital, nursing home, certified nursing facility, hospice, and assisted living facility allow patients or residents to receive visits from a rabbi, priest, minister, or clergyman upon request during a declared public health emergency. Passed the Senate 39-0.
Bad bills that died
Abortion Funding Omnibus - HB 1922 (D-Price) would seek to add payment for abortion, contraception, and sterilization to Virginia’s Medicaid program, as well as require this coverage in virtually all private health insurance plans. Left in Committee.
National Popular Vote Compact - SB 1101 (D-Ebbin) and HB 1933 (D-Levine) would add Virginia to the National Popular Vote Compact that would allocate Virginia's electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote, regardless of the candidate Virginians choose. It would effectively end the Electoral College by joining Virginia into a compact with some of the deepest blue states, such as California and New York, to do the same. SB 1101 stricken by patron; HB 1933 left in committee.
Reinstating the “Death Tax” - HB 2157 (D-Watts) would reinstate the estate tax (AKA “death tax”) for persons dying after July 1, 2021. This is a regressive tax that punishes families who have worked hard to build or maintain a family business or farm or who prudently invested and saved their finances to build a nest egg for their decedents. Stricken at the request of the patron.
“Workplace Harassment” based on SOGI - SB 1360 (D-McClellan) would punish virtually all private employer/ees for dissenting over the LGBTQ ideology. It would make any “direct or indirect” and “verbal or nonverbal” conduct on the basis of “sexual orientation,” or “gender identity”, etc. “workplace harassment” - even when the alleged act occurs outside the workplace. Sent back to the Judiciary committee (to die) 20-18.
Still fighting these dangerous bills
Repeal Religious Conscience Protections for Foster Care / Adoption Agencies - HB 1932 would repeal conscience protections for faith-based child placement agencies that allows them to work with prospective foster and adoptive parents who share the same beliefs. It is now headed to a Senate committee, where it is likely to be voted on as soon as next week. Passed the House 53-43.
Legalized Marijuana - SB 1406 (D-Ebbin) and HB 2312 (D-Herring) would legalize the recreational use of marijuana. The evidence from various studies and the experiences of other states clearly show that doing so will lead to more addiction, mental illness, suicide, traffic deaths, and much more. The two massive bills contain significant policy differences, which means they will likely end up going to a conference committee to resolve any differences before final votes. (Click HERE to learn more about the dangers of legalized marijuana.). And Click here to listen to Del. Leftwich's testimony on the bill. HB 2312 Passed the House 55-42; SB 1406 Passed the Senate 23-15.
Repealing and Replacing Natural Marriage - HJ 582 (D-Sickles) and SJ 270 (D-Ebbin) seek to amend the Virginia Constitution to remove language affirming natural marriage and replace it with language that would recognize all marriage licenses “regardless of sex or gender of the parties to the marriage.” These would enshrine in the state constitution the right to “marriage” between individuals of the same sex even if the 2015 Obergefell opinion is ever overturned by the newly comprised Supreme Court. HJ 582 Passed the House 60-33; SJ 270 Passed the Senate 24-12.
Health Exchange Coverage of Abortion - SB 1276 (D-McClellan) and HB 1896 (D-Hudson) would allow coverage of abortion on demand in health insurance plans in Virginia's Obamacare health exchange. Taxes pay for managing the exchange and for subsidizing health plans in many cases. SB 1276 Passed the Senate 20-17; HB 1896 Passed the House 55-45.
“Nanny State” Bills - HB 1864 (D-Price) and SB 1310 (D-McClellan) would treat anyone who hires just one person, even if it’s part-time (a few hours a week), as an in-home nanny, babysitter, or tutor for their child, as an “employer” and open them up to civil lawsuits under the Human Rights Act from the Attorney General and/or disgruntled applicants or former employees. SB 1310 goes even further by authorizing the Health Department “to enter without delay” the home/premises “to inspect, investigate, and take samples,” and it creates numerous requirements for families hiring a “domestic worker.” (Click HERE to read more.) HB 1864 Passed the House 55-44; SB 1310 Passed the Senate 21-18.
“Workplace Harassment” based on SOGI - HB 2155 (D-Watts) is the House version of SB 1360 (see above). HB 2155 Passed the House 54-44.
Conscience Protections for Genetic Counseling - SB 1178 (D-Ebbin) seeks to eliminate the religious conscience protections for genetic counselors who assist a patient in understanding certain genetic tests and any inheritable diseases, which could be used to choose an abortion or the destruction of a human embryo.(Click HERE to read more.) Passed the Senate 24-14.
Suicide Decriminalization - HB 1951 (D-Simon) repeals the common-law crime of suicide, which will remove legal obstacles that could open the door to physician-assisted suicide. Passed the House 66-34.
Expanding Who Can Become a Parent - SB 1321 (D-Boysko) would amend current law to allow “a person with a legitimate interest” to file a petition to the circuit court for adoption of a child. This bill could potentially allow a live-in boyfriend or same-sex partner to be able to petition the court for adoption. Passed the Senate 24-13.
Prioritize Aging Services on SOGI - SB 1366 (D-Barker) and HB 1805 (D-Adams, D) would require the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services to prioritize aging services to older persons with the greatest economic or social needs, including “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” SB 1366 Passed the Senate 23-16; HB 1805 Passed the House 56-43.
Cultural Competency Training - SB 1196 (D-Locke) and HB 1904 (D-Jenkins) would require any teacher, principal, and division superintendent evaluations to include an evaluation of "cultural competency." SB 1196 Passed Senate 22-16; HB 1904 Passed the House 59-41.
Despite fewer bills introduced, this session has still been very challenging given the virtual environment and almost secretive nature with which the majority party is governing. And there’s no better quote that illustrates that than this one from Senator Barbara Favola (D-Arlington) on Friday: “Because you haven’t read the 250 page document, I wouldn’t let that alone concern you.” Doesn’t that sound familiar?
Now more than ever, we need to be praying for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
