Senator warps up legislative season

By State Sen. Todd Pillion

On Monday Gov. Glenn Youngkin completed his actions on more than 1,000 bills passed during the 2024 legislative session. The General Assembly will convene next week at its annual “Reconvened Session” to consider a record 153 vetoes and 116 bills returned with governor’s amendments. 777 bills were approved, most of which will officially become law on July 1, 2024.

Twelve bills that I sponsored have been signed into law, ranging in matters from education and healthcare to agriculture and workforce.

Some highlights include:

• SB726 which requires each public school to have a supply of lifesaving opioid antagonists to be administered in emergency situations. The bill also requires school boards to develop a program of instruction on opioid overdose prevention and reversal and a plan to encourage each high school student to complete such program prior to graduation. 
• SB626 is a workforce and behavioral health bill that permits the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, providers of substance abuse or mental health services to adults, and community services boards and behavioral health authorities to hire applicants convicted of certain barrier crimes provided that such conviction occurred more than four years prior to the application date for employment.
• SB620 makes modifications to long-term services and support, commonly known as LTSS, which are screenings required by Medicaid when individuals request enrollment in the Program for All Inclusive Care (most commonly known as PACE). This legislation will enable the screenings to be performed by the PACE assessment teams which have qualified reviewers already in place. This will enable the assessments to be completed on a timely basis so individuals can get the appropriate level of care they need. 
• SB614 provides that any person who knowingly manufactures, sells, gives, distributes, or possesses with the intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute the substance xylazine, when intended for human consumption, is guilty of a Class 5 felony. Under the bill, any person who knowingly possesses xylazine, when intended for human consumption, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill provides exceptions for legitimate veterinary use. 
• SB725 renames the Drug Treatment Court Act as the Recovery Court Act to better reflect the intended goals of the program. 
• SB613 provides flexibility to institutions like the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center with regard to campus security services. 
• SB616 transfers the Office of Farmland Preservation and its powers and duties and reporting requirements to the Department of Forestry and renames it to the Office of Working Lands Preservation. Combining the VDACS Office of Farmland Preservation with the Department of Forestry’s forestland conservation work would allow very similar programming to be streamlined and offered to landowners in a more efficient and effective manner. 

A complete list of legislation is available here.

Additionally, Governor Youngkin has sent down 233 amendments to the state budget which we passed at the end of the regular session a month ago. These amendments will be considered at next week’s reconvened session.

The General Assembly and governor have a shared responsibility to deliver a sound and balanced budget for all Virginians. The amendments presented by Governor Youngkin this week are another important step in that process. We all understand that the budget bill is the single most significant piece of legislation that we produce and I remain committed to working with all parties to ensure we have a final budget that invests in Virginians and our future.

It is an honor to serve Southwest Virginia in the State Senate. If I may be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (276) 220-1209 or [email protected].