April 4, 2025 Newsletter
Dear friends,
This week’s newsletter shares information on the Reconvened Session of the General Assembly in Richmond, provides updates from the Virginia Housing Commission, highlights Chesterfield Restaurant Week, and shares select community engagements from this past week. Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter and for staying informed.
Reconvened Session
On Wednesday, April 2, the Virginia Senate and the House of Delegates met for the Reconvened Session to address the Governor’s amendments to the joint budget bill that was presented by the General Assembly at the end of the 2025 Session. We also took up the Governor’s vetoes and amendments to legislation that was agreed to by both Chambers.
The Governor’s 205 proposed amendments to the budget bill largely mirror the budget presented to members at the beginning of session: a budget that underfunded the critical areas of public education that the General Assembly sought to bolster, including lifting the cap on support staff that would help our localities better fund their school districts. The Governor also proposed reduction in new funding for Health Safety Net facilities such as Federally Qualified Health Centers and Free and Charitable Health Clinics. These facilities are more important now than ever before as Donald Trump threatens to cut federal funding of Medicaid and Medicare. The Governor’s amendments also removed opportunities to establish a paid family medical leave program, designed to assist families as they navigate difficult decisions of taking of loved ones or working while struggling with illness. For these reasons, both Chambers rejected a large number of the Governor’s amendments.
In addition to stripping the historic compromise budget of key investments, the Governor also vetoed 157 bills. Overriding a Governor’s veto requires the votes of two-thirds of the members present. The Senate and the House did not have enough votes to override the Governor’s vetoes on legislation that would have improved the lives of Virginians including collective bargaining rights for public service workers such as teachers, home care workers, and firefighters; eliminating the exemptions from Virginia's minimum wage requirements for farm workers; strengthening the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; making our communities safer with commonsense gun safety legislation; and energy policies that would support our growing energy needs while ensuring that Virginia remains on track to meet the goals of the Virginia Clean Economy Act. Many of these bills passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in both Chambers. However the Governor chose to veto them and hinder Virginia’s progress.
We were also tasked with addressing the Governor’s amendments to individual bills. As highlighted in last week’s newsletter, the Governor attempted to amend two of my bills: the Virginia Right to Contraception Act (SB1105) and the Community Energy Act (SB1100). Both bills were stripped of their overall purpose, despite their bipartisan support. The General Assembly rejected the Governor’s amendments to both bills. The Governor has 30 days from the adjournment of Reconvened Session to act on the General Assembly’s motions.
As we continue to face uncertainty here at the state-level due to funding cuts to critical programs and services, mass firings of federal employees, and global economic volatility caused by the Trump Tariffs, the General Assembly will likely convene in a few month’s time to take up the federal impacts during a Special Session.
Virginia Housing Commission
On Tuesday, the Virginia Housing Commission held its first meeting to outline plans for 2025 research and discussion. The Commission began with a presentation from the Henrico County Manager's office on its rezoning ordinance revision to include innovative solutions to make homeownership attainable and desirable using small lot developments. As this model is implemented, the Commission will monitor its progress to determine its applicability to other regions of the Commonwealth . We also received a presentation from Sonya Ravindranath Waddell, Vice President and Economist at the Federal Reserve of Richmond, about Virginia’s economic outlook and the macro state of housing in our Commonwealth compared to the rest of the country. Lastly, the Commission reviewed its 2025 work plan and interim workgroups to bills and letters referred to the Commission during the 2025 legislative session. The full committee meeting stream is available.
Chesterfield Restaurant Week Begins Today
Chesterfield Restaurant Week begins today, April 4, and runs through April 13. This collaboration between the Chesterfield Chamber and Experience Chesterfield highlights the dynamic food scene that exists across the County and our thriving small business community. Chesterfield Restaurant Week will support the Chesterfield Food Bank and Outreach Center (CFBOC), a nonprofit organization that focuses on ending hunger in our communities. Participating restaurants across Senate District 15 are included below. Visit Chesterfield Restaurant Week for a list of participating restaurants.
Select Community Engagements
Last Tuesday morning, I joined General Assembly colleagues, federal-level offices, and local administrative officials for a joint leadership breakfast with The SPAN Center to discuss issues affecting our seniors across the Central Virginia Area. With many federal funding uncertainties and ongoing state-level budgetary discussions, many are concerned about prescription affordability, housing costs, long-term care options, and federal funding cuts to nutrition assistance, Medicaid, and Social Security programs.
Later on Tuesday, I was thrilled to join nearly 100 supporters from across Central Virginia to share the critical work ahead of us, as we respond to the growing attacks on our economy, education, healthcare and values from the Trump-Musk Administration. As Lieutenant Governor, I will continue to fight against policies that hurt our communities, attack our collective values, and make life harder for working families.
Last Thursday, I was pleased to join Delegate Betsy Carr in support of Collette McEachin and her re-election campaign for Richmond City Commonwealth’s Attorney. Commonwealth’s Attorney McEachin is a trailblazer, and I look forward to continuing to support her candidacy.
Last Friday, I joined supporters and community members in Chesterfield County to share the concerns of Virginians across our Commonwealth and my priorities as Virginia's next Lieutenant Governor. With many anxious and fearing the current direction of our state and nation, electing strong and competent Executive leadership for Virginia is vitally important.
On Saturday, I was delighted to join the Virginia Young Democrats (VAYD) in Harrisonburg for its annual convention. Individuals in their 20s and early 30s are being negatively impacted by policies that make housing unaffordable, access to higher education more costly, quality childcare out of reach, and social concerns more critical. Young Dems are poised to reinvigorate our party with fresh ideas and actions that will help to respond to the multiple crises of our times.
Photo credit: Shawn Jones
On Sunday, my Chief of Staff joined staff from the VCU School of Engineering, regional For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) team participants, and corporate partners to celebrate Virginia FIRST Robotics Day. So much of Virginia’s future, whether discovering new renewable energy technology, maximizing the capabilities of artificial intelligence, or revolutionizing health care sciences, will be reliant on the passion, drive, and determination of young people invested in STEM.
For Muslims around the world, Sunday also marked the end of Ramadan – the month of fasting, prayer, and increased charitable efforts. I joined a large gathering of the Muslim community from the Central Virginia area for morning prayers. The Richmond Raceway Expo building provided just enough floor space to accommodate the 1000+ individuals who gathered for the first prayers. I thank our Imam (pictured here) for his words of unity, justice, interfaith efforts, and building community in all contexts.
This week, as we prepared for Reconvened Session, I attended Virginia 21's Annual Leadership Awards on Tuesday night to celebrate students from across our Commonwealth who use their voices to advocate for higher education accessibility, internship opportunities, and other critical issues impacting young people.
Last evening, I joined elected officials, faith leaders, and community members from across Virginia to honor the long-time Co-Executive Director of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, Kim Bobo, upon her retirement. Under Kim’s leadership, thousands of Virginians united together to cultivate racial, social, and economic justice in policy at the Virginia General Assembly and beyond.
I concluded the week by speaking to members of the Richmond City Democratic Committee (RCDC) about my vision for Virginia as Lieutenant Governor and how critical this year’s elections are for our state. We need leadership at the state level that will defend our communities against the Trump-Musk Administration's harmful policies that only seek to benefit the most wealthy and powerful.
Connecting With My Office
My office can be reached at the following:
Email: SenatorHashmi@senate.virginia.gov
Phone: 804.698.7515
If you were forwarded this email, you can sign up to receive my office’s weekly newsletter here.
— Ghazala
