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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Happy New Year and warmest wishes from the Bulova family!
It is hard to believe that the 2025 General Assembly session is right around the corner. We will gavel in at noon on January 8, continuing a tradition started 406 years ago with the House of Burgesses in Jamestown. This year is a short-session (45 days). In addition to legislation, we will consider changes to the budget. Virginia has a two-year budget, which was adopted last session. As a result, the focus will be on amendments to reflect evolving needs as well as updated budget forecasts.
FAIRFAX DELEGATION PUBLIC FORUM
As your voice in Richmond, I want to hear from you about what priorities the legislature should focus on this year. The easiest way to reach me is by email at info@davidbulova.com. I greatly value the diversity of expertise and perspectives of my constituents.
In addition, the Fairfax Delegation to the General Assembly will hold its annual public forum on Saturday, January 4. The forum is limited to Fairfax residents (both County and City) speaking for themselves and/or a community-based organization. Speakers are allotted up to three minutes.
Date: Saturday, January 4
Time: Starts at 9:00 a.m.
Location: Fairfax County Government Center
Those wishing to speak must register online no later than noon on Thursday, January 2. Click here for more details, including how to register and watch remotely.
STUDIES AND COMMISSION REPORTS
Want a sneak peek into what we will be debating this year? Although Virginia has a part-time legislature, the process of developing legislation happens all year long. There are literally dozens of commissions and joint subcommittees that do a deep dive into issues outside the pressure cooker of session. We rely on these commissions to thoughtfully consider issues and make recommendations for potential legislative action.
I am fortunate to serve on several commissions, including the Housing Commission, Water Commission, Chesapeake Bay Commission, Major Employment and Investment (MEI) Commission, Early Childhood Care and Education Commission, the Joint Subcommittee to Evaluate Tax Preferences, and the Joint Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education Funding.
Many of the bills I will carry this year are recommendations from these commissions. For example, I will be carrying Housing Commission legislation to expand the Virginia Housing Opportunity Tax Credit Program, which is a critical tool to incentivize private developers to build affordable housing.
Another very important commission is the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission. JLARC has professional research staff and conducts program evaluation, policy analysis, and oversight of state agencies on behalf of the General Assembly. This year JLARC has released reports on issues such as data centers and broadband deployment as well as reviews of the Virginia Department of Health, the Virginia Retirement System, and our higher education system.
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you would like to learn more about any of these commissions.
As always, thank you for the opportunity to serve you in the House of Delegates!
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