We just wrapped up the 6th week of the 2023 Session! With one more week to go, we are coming close to the end! This newsletter contains updates and news on the Commonwealth and the 93rd district. Keep reading to learn more about what happened in Richmond this week, our legislative priorities, and more!

The 6th Week of Session in Review

The annual Massey Capitol Square Classic celebrated its 15th year this Monday! The highly anticipated basketball game is a bi-partisan competition between the Virginia Senate, House, lobbyists, and the Governor’s office. The annual game takes place at the VCU Siegel Center as a fundraiser for the VCU Massey Cancer Center. This year, the House alone raised over $11,900, and in total we raised $60,188 for cancer research! Once again, team Youngkin beat the lobbyists, and the House team beat the Senate 39-26! It was an exciting night, as well as a successful fundraiser for a great cause.

On Tuesday, I gave a speech on the house floor to celebrate an all-time great pitcher and prodigious Virginian, Billy Wagner, and to express my discontent with the Baseball Writers Association of America for passing over him for the Hall of Fame once again. Billy Wagner is a Virginia native with one of the most successful pitching careers in Major League history. When the seven-time all-star retired in 2010, he had a 47-40 record, a 2.31 ERA, and almost 1,200 strikeouts over 850 games. He went on to coach baseball at the Miller School of Albemarle, leading the team to three Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II championships. For these reasons, the General Assembly presented Billy Wagner with a Commending Resolution!

Click HERE to watch my full speech!

This was the last week to act on any bills with a fiscal impact and most House committees held their last hearings for Senate bills. Senate legislation was either left in committees or sent to the House floor for voting. Some Senate bills had amendments that one of the two chambers decided to reject. These bills are sent to conference committees to hammer out compromises, and the resulting bill will return to both chambers for a final round of votes before heading to the Governor’s desk. The House and Senate insisted on keeping their respective budget bills, so they are now in conference. We also worked to elect our first round of Judges around the Commonwealth.

Team Mullin’s 2023 Legislative Priorities

• HB 1959– allows courts to move forward by means of a report instead of a hearing in those instances where someone has already been found unrestorably incompetent because of an ongoing and irreversible medical condition.
  • Passed the House (100-Y 0-N)
  • Referred to Senate Committee on the Judiciary
• HB 1961– protects victims of domestic abuse by allowing courts to award them control of cell phone or computer passwords. It also prevents electronic snooping on devices like Ring cameras by abusers.
  • Passed the House (98-Y 1-N)
  • Refered to Senate Committee on the Judiciary
• HB 1962– changes the City of Newport News’ charter to make applying for relief with the board of review a prerequisite to filing for relief in the circuit court on real estate assessments.
  • Passed the House (100-Y 0-N)
  • Reported from Senate Local Government (14-0)
  • Passed Senate with amendment (40-Y 0-N)
  • Senate amendment agreed to and adopted by House (98-Y 0-N)
• HB 1964– changes the City of Newport News’ charter amendment so that the city waterworks advertising requirements are the same as the rest of the city.
  • Passed the House (96-Y 0-N)
  • Referred to Senate Committee on Local Government
• HB 1968– creates roadside markers commemorating places mentioned in the “Green Book,” which was a Jim Crow Era travel guide used by African Americans to find safe passage through areas of the South.
  • Passed the House (100-Y 0-N)
  • Reported from Senate Agriculture, Conservation & Natural Resources (15-0)
  • Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)

*See a full list of our bills HERE

Item 136 #67h Security Renovations in Newport News– $1.5 million school security improvements to immediately renovate Richneck Elementary and enclose classrooms that do not have walls and doors.

Item 386 #12h Preservation of Archaeological Evidence Near James Fort– $500,000 to prevent sea level rise and flooding at Jamestown Island and the historic archaeological work at James Fort.

Item 126 #6h Historic Study of the Green Book in Virginia– $100,000 to conduct and accelerate a study of “Green Book” sites being done across the Commonwealth.

*See a House & Senate Comparison HERE

Highlights From the Week

In the News:

WVTF: The General Assembly has a long way to go on the budget

Wavy: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library now available in Newport News

The Virginian-Pilot: Opinion: Virginia must reduce drug costs, close health care gaps

WSET: Budget battle on capitol hill: House and Senate proposals $1 billion apart

WTKR: Hampton Roads programs receive $4.5 million in funding to combat learning losses

Peninsula Chronicle: African-American Heritage Trail takes step forward with federal grant

Richmond Times-Dispatch: ‘Green Book’ bill continues to advance in General Assembly

WRIC: Virginia Senate panel derails Petersburg’s pursuit of $1.4B casino project

CBS 19 News: Senate panel defeats two bills restricting trans students

WCVE-FM: Youngkin won’t commit to legalizing retail cannabis while in office

Associated Press: Prospects fade in Virginia for prison reform legislation

Richmond Times-Dispatch: Youngkin: I’ll think about a special session on the budget

MSNBC – Virginia House compromises and passes gun-related bill

As always, thank you for reading! Keep connected with our office by calling (757) 525-9526, emailing DelMMullin@house.virginia.gov, or @mikemullin4va on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. If my office can ever be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Be well,

-Mike