How successful were Henrico legislators in advancing their bills during General Assembly's first half?

Henrico Democratic legislators found more success passing their bills through their own General Assembly chamber compared to the average rate for the entire General Assembly so far this session. 

During the first half of the session, the House of Delegates passed 444 bills, while the Senate passed 618 bills, according to the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project. Of all bills introduced in both chambers this session, 45% passed before Tuesday’s Crossover Day deadline, which was a lower percentage than last year.

The six Democrats who represent Henrico – Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, Del. Destiny LeVere Bolling, D-Henrico, Sen. Lashrecse Aird, D-Henrico, Del. Delores McQuinn, D-Henrico, Del. Rodney Willett, D-Henrico and Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico – saw 73% of their bills pass in their respective chambers.

Meanwhile, 28% of the bills proposed by Henrico's Republicans – Del. Buddy Fowler (59th District), Del. David Owen (57th District) and Sen. Luther Cifers (10th District) – passed their chambers. During this 30-day session, Democrats control both the Senate and the House of Delegates.

Bagby introduced the most bills from Henrico at 18 and saw 16 pass, the most out of Henrico’s legislators. Just before the deadline, Bagby’s SB1259 – an effort to reform the system of authority over the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System – passed unanimously.

Beyond Bagby’s legislative efforts, Henrico’s lawmakers also have focused on health care and education, with several bills addressing medical services, school policies and instructional materials.

As lawmakers continue into the second half of the session, the Senate will consider the bills that passed out of the House and vice versa. 

HB1918, introduced by Bolling, passed unanimously in the House on Jan. 31. It would create a women’s menstrual health program within the Virginia Department of Health to help people who have symptoms of menstrual disorders by providing training for healthcare providers and public educational resources.

“This is a critical step forward in addressing menstrual health and associated conditions that impact countless Virginians,” Bolling said on the House floor Jan. 30.

Fowler proposed HB2525, which would require health insurance carriers to provide links online to real-time patient out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs. The bill passed unanimously in the House.

Aird and Willett both passed bills directed at the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services. Aird’s SB1418 would require it to include a payment for postpartum doula care in the state plan for medical assistance services. Willett’s HB1900 would require the department to include a payment for rapid whole genome sequencing for inpatient babies at intensive care units. Both bills passed unanimously in their chambers.

“This bill makes comprehensive genetic testing including rapid genome sequencing accessible to critically ill infants who are in NICU’s,” Willett said on the House floor Monday. “Its aim is to expedite the diagnosis of rare diseases.”

McQuinn introduced a bill that would address school discipline issues and give grants to schools for the development of plans meant to integrate restorative practices. HB2196 passed in the House by a 51-48 vote. Bolling and Willett supported the bill but Fowler and Owen voted against it. 

“The program will improve school climate, foster students’ correctness, positively impact students’ health and well-being,” McQuinn said on the House floor Monday. “As a former school board member, I know first-hand the need to address an issue that seemed to be on-going.”

VanValkenburg, who is a teacher at Glen Allen High School, also introduced an education-related bill that passed unanimously. SB955 would require the Virginia Department of Education to evaluate its textbook review process by Nov. 1 to identify ways to include high-quality instructional materials. 

High school graduation requirements could be altered after this session because of a bill Bagby proposed.

SB1462 would require the Board of Education to allow for the substitution of African American history and African American studies courses to satisfy history and social studies credit requirements. The bill passed in the Senate Monday by a 30-9 vote. VanValkenburg voted to pass the bill; Cifers voted against it but said that he had intended to vote for it.

All the bills that Henrico’s legislators have kept alive next will need to earn approval from the opposite chamber before Gov. Glenn Youngkin has the chance to sign them into law.