February 24, 2025 Newsletter
Dear friends,
The General Assembly adjourned Sine Die on Saturday, February 22. During the 2025 Session, the Assembly considered over 3100 pieces of legislation and passed a budget that reflects our collective priorities of supporting hardworking Virginians and their families. We adjourned with the understanding that we will soon go into a Special Session to grapple with the unprecedented actions unfolding daily in the Trump Administration, including large scale firings of the federal workforce in numerous agencies, threats to Medicaid and Medicare, the unraveling of the Department of Education, the loss of federal funding for vital grants-based programs, and so much more.
In this newsletter, I explain the historic investments included in the budget agreed to by the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, share my final legislative update for the 2025 session, and highlight our recent “Shadowing the Senator” participant and engagements from this past week. Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter and for staying informed.
Budget Agreements
The Senate and House of Delegates agreed to and passed the budget bill (HB1600) on Saturday, on time and with considerable strong agreement across party lines and between the two Chambers. The negotiated budget is actually a series of amendments to the current two-year state budget. The budget bill has now been sent to the Governor for his review and actions. This budget represents the culmination of discussion and compromise that began in the first week of January. The agreements reached by the Senate and House give economic relief to working families, build on historic investments in public education, fund critically-needed early childhood education and child care priorities, support higher education affordability, and prioritizes access to quality health care.
My budget amendments that were incorporated in the final budget include the following:
- $222.9 million to raise the support cap and $52.8 million to fund a special education add-on, both of which are critical priorities outlined in the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission’s (JLARC) report on the K-12 Funding Formula
- $25 million for an employer cost-share pilot program to address childcare needs and support for working families
- $12 million to support mathematics education in our K-12 schools by establishing the Office of Mathematics Improvement and supporting other resources
- $600,000 for workforce retention within the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, ensuring quality services for people living with brain injuries
- $500,000 to complete the build of a YWCA campus, which will include 25 secure housing units, 24/7 hotline resources, mental health counseling space, legal support, court advocacy, and a mixed income early education and childcare center so domestic violence survivors can access care in crisis, establish their stability, and recover from the trauma of domestic violence
- $5,138,000 to support the statewide learning management system for Virginia’s K-12 Schools
Legislative Updates on Bills Sent to the Governor
This session, I passed nine bills successfully out of both Chambers; they have now been sent to the Governor and await his actions::
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.
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.
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.
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.
SB1104 - This bill establishes key guidelines and protections for student-athletes engaged in outdoor training and sports under conditions of extreme heat.
SB1105 - The Right to Contraception Act protects the rights of Virginians to access FDA-approved contraception and provides legal protections from the interference of state actors. With federal action poised to repeal the right to access contraception, this legislation is vital to protect Virginians’ ability to obtain and use essential medication, as well as birth control methods such as IUDs.
SB1106 - This legislation supports the Virginia National Guard Tuition Assistance Program in order to strengthen the recruitment and retention of Guard members.
SB1377 - This 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.
SB1380 - This bill directs the Department of Education to develop and share guidelines on virtual or remote learning. In addition, it directs the Commonwealth’s K-12 schools to annually review their plan for closure due to a public health emergency.
Shadowing the Senator Program
During our final week of session, my office hosted a “Shadowing the Senator” program participant: Jack. Currently a high school student, Jack became interested in my office’s Shadowing Program after attending one of my community town halls. While participating during this busy Session day, Jack met with advocacy groups, held a 1:1 meeting with my staff and with me, and attended the Senate session when we gaveled in for the day. My office loves the opportunity to interact with young individuals, particularly during the legislative session, and to listen to their ideas about government, policy work, and politics. Jack shared these thoughts on his experience:
“Shadowing Senator Hashmi was a truly inspiring experience that helped me gain insight into the hard work and dedication she and her office put in daily to help their constituents. I sat in on constituent meetings and helped Senator Hashmi at events. I also had the opportunity to learn more about her journey in public service and her motivations for serving her community. This shadowing experience offered a hands-on learning experience into the legislative process and is an experience I will never forget.”
This Week’s Engagements with Visitors to the General Assembly Building
Even in the final days of session, the General Assembly Building continued 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, we were visited by representatives and members of Edu-Futuro, a program that empowers immigrant youth and families through education, mentorship, and leadership development. It was wonderful to host Edu-Futuro on their advocacy day and learn more about the critical work they are doing for Virginians.
Also on Monday, I met with members of Virginia Young Democrats (VAYD) from across the Commonwealth for their annual lobby day. These engaged young adults shared their legislative priorities which include addressing the climate crisis, pushing for housing affordability, protecting reproductive healthcare, and ensuring access to educational opportunities. We discussed some of the most impactful bills of the Session and the importance of advocacy groups in the process.
On Presidents Day, hundreds of community members gathered in Capitol Square. I attended the March for Working Families, led by SEIU, New Virginia Majority, the Virginia Education Association, AFL-CIO, and other organizations focused on championing voting rights, housing affordability, education, and union jobs. At a time when so many protections, services, and supports for individuals and their families are under threat at the federal-level, I continue to work with my colleagues to ensure Virginians have the support and resources they need.
Representatives from Communities in Schools of Richmond visited the General Assembly this week to advocate for legislation to advance its mission to provide students and families with the resources they need to succeed in the classroom and in life.
Middle school students, faculty and staff from Al Fatih Academy, a private Islamic school, held their civic engagement day on Tuesday. I shared my own experiences as the first Muslim to be elected to the Virginia Senate and the ways in which such representation matters. The students had the opportunity to hear from several of my colleagues as well.
That day, I also met with constituents and advocates from Power Over Parkinson’s; these advocates were visiting the General Assembly to raise awareness about the illness and champion policies to fund and expand both research and access to care.
Also on Tuesday, students from Virginia Union University visited our offices for their annual lobby day. Supporting Virginia’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) is essential; HBCUs play a vital role in providing access to higher education and opportunity.
On Tuesday evening, I joined the Virginia Latino Caucus (VLC) and the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia (DLOV) for their legislative reception. The work of these two organizations is critical to ensuring that state and federal policy support our diverse communities.
On Friday, members of the Iranian American community presented me with a beautiful gift of thanks. This session, the Assembly passed a resolution designating March as Persian Heritage Month in Virginia.
Yesterday, I joined the Chesterfield County Democratic Committee (CCDC) for The Making of Black History Roundtable. Delegate Mike Jones, Chesterfield County School Board Member Dominique Chatters, and civic leader LeQuan Hylton discussed current issues and concerns facing Virginians and Black Americans. Ms. Kathryn Crosby moderated the compelling conversation.
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
