February 17, 2025 Newsletter
Dear friends,
We have wrapped up our fifth week of the session at the General Assembly, and we are now in the final stretch of the 2025 Session. In this newsletter, I share the progress of some of my bills as well as engagements from the past week. Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter and for staying informed.
Bills
As I shared in a previous newsletters, my bills that successfully passed the Senate were delivered to the House of Delegates at the time of Crossover. These bills have now been going through the same process of consideration in a variety of House Committees. Here is an update on some of my legislation:
SB1081 - This bill dissolves the TPA-Formulary and the TPA-Formulary Committee which has now become obsolete. The Board of Optometry makes decisions on essential concerns for professionals of optometry, and the Board is bound by the standards and scope of practice for optometrists. This bill was passed unanimously on floor in the House of Delegates and will soon be on the way to the Governor’s desk.
SB1105 - This bill is The Right to Contraception Act, which protects the rights of Virginians to access FDA-approved contraception and provides legal protections from the interference of state actors. The bill successfully passed both Chambers last year; regrettably, the Governor vetoed the legislation. This year, Delegate Price and I introduced the legislation once again. With attacks from Washington regarding contraceptive health care, it is vital that this bill passes in Virginia. This past week, the bill successfully passed on the Floor of the House of Delegates.
SB981 - This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care, and it directs the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to submit an annual report on certified community health workers employed through VDH and local health departments. The bill was referred to Appropriations from the Health Professions Subcommittee, after which was reported out of the Health and Human Services Committee on the House side (17-4).
SB1064 - This bill expedites the process for the Certificate of Public Need for the addition of psychiatric beds in facilities and clinics to meet the increasing need for mental health services. After being reported out of the Behavioral Health Subcommittee, it reached a unanimous vote in Health and Human Services in the House of Delegates (22-0) and will be up for vote on the House Floor.
SB1377 - The bill directs the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, to develop and implement a plan to incentivize and facilitate participation in the Commonwealth Mental Health First Aid Program. It was passed with unanimous support in both the House Health and Human Services Committee and the House Appropriations Committee and will be up for vote on the House Floor.
SB1100 - This bill requires Dominion Energy to seek the approval of the State Corporation Commission (SCC) for the establishment of a pilot program for virtual power plants. Virtual power plants enable us to meet growing energy demands by combining a network of small-scale, distributed energy resources (DER) such as rooftop solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles. The Virtual Power Plant connects and manages these DERs in a system that enables them to act as a single large power plant, allowing them to collectively respond to grid demands and provide stability to the electricity supply. The bill successfully passed the Labor and Commerce Committee in the House of Delegates (16-4).
Press Conference on the Momnibus Legislative Package
On Wednesday, I joined my Senate and House of Delegates colleagues to celebrate our success in passing legislation that protects Virginians’ access to health care, improves maternal health care outcomes, provides support for quality child care and access to early childhood education, and provides relief for working families. From protecting Medicaid to expanding doula coverage, we will continue to advocate for underrepresented families. Lowering the maternal mortality rate in Virginia is a critical concern here in Virginia, as it disproportionately affects Black women and those in low-income communities. With Medicaid once again on the chopping block in Congress and with the support of the Trump administration, protecting health care for Virginians is more essential now than ever before. I will continue to push for Medicaid protections, other vital health care provisions, and support for families as we respond to the escalating dismantling of federal agencies.
This Week’s Engagements with Visitors to the General Assembly Building
Even as we reach the final days of Session, the General Assembly Building continues to be busy with visitors, advocacy organizations, affiliated groups, students, and many members of the public engaged with the work of the legislature. Here are a few highlights from this week’s engagements:
On Monday morning, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture showcased the state winners of the History on the Hill Day program. Some of the winners included students from Robious Elementary and Al-Madina School, schools in Chesterfield and Richmond, and I had the opportunity to learn about the history of Sputnik and Barbara Johns’ fight for the right to education.
On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of speaking with the 2025 Class of Senate Pages, along with Senators Saddam Salim and Kannan Srinavasan. We got to share our own individual journeys to elected office and discuss the issues that are our priorities. Every year’s Class of Senate Pages has been remarkable; these young people are truly inspiring.
On Wednesday, my staff met with the Virginia Community Action Partnership to discuss the importance of self-sufficiency for all Virginians. VCAP has been able to help 95,000 low-income individuals in the state, nearly half of whom are children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Supporting vulnerable groups with access to education, housing, and social services is essential.
On Friday, I was delighted to introduce my two Session interns, Emily and Davit, to the Senate. Their work, curiosity, and passion for civics have been invaluable to our office throughout this legislative session.
On Sunday afternoon, I held my third Session Roundtable, which focused on education and workforce development. Joining me were Chesterfield County School Board Chair, Dot Heffron and Richmond City School Board Member, Wesley Hedgepeth. Mike Asip, Policy and Legislative Chair at the Virginia Council of Administrators of Special Education (VCASE), moderated our discussion.
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
