“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” Ephesians 5:11
The Virginia General Assembly Session is TWO MONTHS in length this year. This year, the session runs from January 14 to March 14.
Given the extremely short time our lawmakers are in Richmond, Concerned Women for America (CWA) of Virginia plans to send weekly e-alerts with crucial information on bills scheduled for hearings and votes.
With your help, this week, we will oppose four very dangerous bills and support one. Please make every effort to join us, and encourage others to join us, in both action and prayer on these vital issues. We have made it easy to send five emails.
Sentencing for Violent Crimes: House Bill 863 (HB863): This very dangerous bill proposes to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for violent crimes, including violation of a protective order, assault and battery, gang activity, malicious injury to law enforcement and first responders, rape, forcible sodomy, and many others. It also removes the language “shall not have all or any portion of the sentence suspended” from these sections, which would allow violent criminals to avoid jail time at a judge’s discretion.
Position: OPPOSE
Status: HB863 has been assigned to the House Courts of Justice Committee and is expected to be heard very soon.
Action: Email the committee members as a group and ask them to OPPOSE HB863. Simply copy and paste the committee members’ email addresses below into the “To:” field of your email. Be sure to let the committee members know that you are receiving updates from Concerned Women for America of Virginia.
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GAMBLING: House Bill 1272 (HB1272) and Senate Bill 661 (SB661) are identical bills that would establish regulations and taxation for slot machines in Virginia. These so-called “skill games” are already in many convenience stores despite a current ban. Most Virginians (67%) oppose these machines. Because owners target vulnerable populations, the games amount to a voluntary tax on low-income people. Furthermore, the bill imposes no limit on the number of games a business may operate.
Position: OPPOSE
SB661 Status: The Senate version of this bill has already passed out of committee and is expected to be voted on the Senate floor soon.
Action: Email and/or call your Senator and ask him/her to oppose SB661. Click here to find out who your senator is and how to contact him/her. Be sure to let them know that you are receiving updates from Concerned Women for America of Virginia.
HB1272 Status: The House version of this bill has been assigned to the House General Laws Committee and is expected to be voted on soon.
Action: Email the committee members as a group and ask them to OPPOSE HB1272. Simply copy and paste the committee members’ email addresses below into the “To:” field of your email. Be sure to let the committee members know that you are receiving updates from Concerned Women for America of Virginia.
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EDUCATION TAX MONEY: House Bill 359 (HB359) is a very dangerous bill that imposes public education standards on private schools that accept tax-exempt scholarship funds. In addition to erasing the distinctions between public and private schools, this bill sets a dangerous precedent by asserting that the state can control a nonprofit that accepts tax-exempt donations.
Status: This bill has been assigned to the House Education Committee and is expected to come to a vote soon.
Action: Email the committee members as a group and ask them to OPPOSE HB359. Simply copy and paste the committee members’ email addresses below into the “To:” field of your email. Be sure to let the committee members know that you are receiving updates from Concerned Women for America of Virginia.
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BALLOT QUESTION CLARITY – Finally, a bill to SUPPORT!
House Bill 1419 (HB1419) establishes readability, fairness, and transparency requirements on ballot questions, ensuring that voters understand what they are voting for or against.
Position: SUPPORT
Status: HB1419 has been referred to the House Privileges and Elections Committee and is expected to come to a vote soon.
Action: Email the committee members as a group and ask them to SUPPORT HB1419. Simply copy and paste the committee members’ email addresses below into the “To:” field of your email. Be sure to let the committee members know that you are receiving updates from Concerned Women for America of Virginia.
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Please JOIN with us in prayer: Father God, You have made things very clear to us during this Virginia General Assembly Session. There are two distinct paths before our legislators—one that advances good legislation to strengthen families and protect children, and another that would bring harm to our citizens and ultimately wound families across Virginia.
We ask that our legislators would surrender their will to Yours, seek Your wisdom above all else, and walk in humility and truth. We pray for unity within both the House and the Senate in the days ahead and for courage to do what is right. In Jesus’ name, amen.
