As the General Assembly reaches the halfway point of the legislative session, House Republicans are working around the clock to consider hundreds of bills that will impact Central Virginia. The House of Delegates must complete its work on House legislation by Tuesday, February 7 – a deadline colloquially referred to as “Crossover” within the halls of the Capitol.
As families and small businesses struggle to overcome record inflation levels over the past year, House Republicans came to Richmond with a plan to provide immediate tax relief and make everyday costs more affordable. I am happy to report that we are making significant progress to fulfill that commitment.
We have already passed several key pieces of legislation to reduce your tax burden and ensure you keep more of your hard-earned money in your pockets. This week, we advanced more legislation that will lower costs and provide additional financial relief.
Another busy week in the General Assembly! Thanks to everyone who stopped by the office to share their thoughts on a variety of issues. As we gear up for crossover next week, we’ll be working hard to get legislation from the House over to the Senate for consideration.
School Funding
Earlier this week, the Department of Education disclosed an error in their funding calculations to school divisions that resulted in a $200 million overestimation in the amount that schools expected to receive from the state. In light of this error, I want to be very clear: No school divisions will see any budgetary cuts. In fact, Virginia is in a financial situation that allows us to expand our investments in our schools while resolving the funding error through the budget process.
In the next fiscal year, schools will get an additional $77.5 million, and the Governor has proposed an additional $441.0 million in his amendments. If you are doing the math, it comes out to $240.3 million above the amount that was overestimated. In addition, since no payments were made as a result of the miscalculation, school systems do not need to return a single penny back to the state.
House Republicans are committed to sending more money to our schools – not less – to ensure students and teachers have the resources they need to succeed.
Providing Tax Relief
Virginia is fortunate enough to be in a strong financial situation that enables us to take care of essential services while returning money back to where it belongs – the taxpayers. Last week, every House Republican voted to do just that by passing legislation (HB 2138 & HB 2319, McNamara) that provides over $1 billion in tax relief over the next two years in addition to raising the standard deduction. The reductions in individual income tax mean 86 percent of taxpaying Virginians will enjoy the benefits of a lower top tax rate and an additional 14,000 Virginians will pay no state income taxes.
While taxpayers will benefit greatly from these tax cuts, the long-term ripple effect on businesses will be significant. These changes will generate economic development, bring in more talent, spur innovation, and encourage more people to establish their roots in Virginia for years to come. Ultimately, the legislation will ensure that Virginia is ready to compete in the marketplace of the future.
There is more tax relief legislation making its way through the House of Delegates this week. On the heels of successfully cutting the state grocery tax last year, we are pushing even further to exempt groceries from sales taxes on the local level. We're also working on legislation that will ensure local governments are transparent when rising property values create a stealth tax hike on homeowners in Virginia.
Lowering Costs
Rampant inflation has been a burden on households across the Commonwealth. While the General Assembly cannot control the rate of inflation, House Republicans are working to alleviate its effects by lowering costs on a variety of monthly expenses.
We are advancing legislation to lower prescription costs (HB 1782, O’Quinn) by ensuring savings from prescription rebates are passed directly to consumers at the pharmacy counter. This proposal will make healthcare more affordable without adding unnecessary regulatory burdens or taxpayer expenses.
Virginians should have the freedom to purchase a car that fits their budget. We passed legislation (HB 1378, Wilt) to make that a reality by disconnecting us from California emissions mandates that would have forced Virginians to purchase electric vehicles in the very near future. In many cases, electric vehicles are simply too expensive and impractical due to a lack of sufficient charging infrastructure, especially in rural areas. The passage of HB 1378 ensures Virginians – rather than California bureaucrats – can make their own financial decisions.
Meanwhile, several pieces of legislation have been proposed by House Republicans aimed at reducing your monthly electric bill without compromising the reliability of the electric grid to keep the lights on. These legislative proposals are moving through the legislative process over the next few days.
In Virginia, parents have every right to be involved in their child’s education. My bill, HB1893, will improve accountability, curriculum transparency and trust by requiring school boards to post a list of the textbooks that will be used for the academic year. Parents have a right, and a responsibility, to be involved in what is being taught to their kids.
Sponsored Legislation Update
As this year is a "short" 45 day session, we were limited to submitting 15 total bills. This year, I've sponsored legislation focused on parental rights, public safety, deregulation, and making government more efficient in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Below is an update on some of my bills that I have filed:
Most of my bills are off the floor and will be headed to the Senate for consideration as early as tomorrow. As these bills are heard in the Senate, I will make sure to keep you updated as we move along. If you’d like to view a complete list of my legislation that I've sponsored and co-sponsored, feel free to click here. You can also track any other legislation in the General Assembly at www.lis.virginia.gov.
Share Your Thoughts
I am truly grateful for your unwavering support and trust you have placed in me to represent our community in Richmond. I will never stop fighting for our great Commonwealth and its people. As always, if you have any questions about what is going on in Richmond, want to share a legislative idea, or would like me to know where you stand on a specific issue, please do not hesitate to contact me at wendell@wendellwalker.org.
My office is here to serve you! If you are having any issues with a state agency (DMV, Employment Commission, Veterans Services, etc.), please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
Kind regards,
Delegate Wendell S. Walker Virginia House of Delegates
Paid for and Authorized by Walker for Delegate
P.O. Box 3331
Lynchburg, VA 24503
