2020 Legislative Agenda

I’m thrilled to unveil our 2020 legislative package that focuses on consumer protection, racial equity in the Code of Virginia, criminal justice reform and public safety, good governance, and alternative energy.

Chief among the bills that we’re excited about this year is HB 1132 or the Fair Energy Bills Act (“FEBA”). This bill will allow the State Corporation Commission (“SCC”) to accurately assess our electric utility’s earnings in the 2021 rate case for the first time since 1992. The passage of FEBA would return billions of dollars to the pockets of all Virginians where the money rightfully belongs and restore the power of the SCC that has been eroded over nearly three decades.

We’re also reintroducing the Earned Income Tax Credit (“EITC”) as HB 1435. The EITC seeks to reduce the tax burden on middle and low income citizens and put their hard earned money back into their hands. Working families across the Commonwealth will benefit from the establishment of the EITC and we are pushing hard to make this a reality.

Moreover, HB1131, HB1133, and HB1434 aim to increase and facilitate alternative energy generation in Virginia. I believe we can become a leader in generating wind and solar energy — there is no better time than now for us to lean into this opportunity. Further, HJ131 requests the Department of Environmental Quality to study the impact of electric vehicles and develop a Clean Transportation Plan.

Finally, we’re focusing on public safety. In the 2019 session I introduced a bill that mandated comprehensive and uniform training standards for school resource officers (“SROs”). We were elated when the 2019 bill passed, but this year we’re going even further with HB1419. I’m proud to have Delegate Jeff Bourne as chief co-patron on this measure, as we worked tirelessly last year to put these standards into place. I look forward to increasing and expanding SRO training standards this year because we must have properly trained SROs in our schools in order for our children to be safe and secure.

I’ve also introduced HB750 which prohibits concealed weapons in public spaces in certain circumstances. We’re long overdue for commonsense gun safety measures in Virginia and I’m proud to do my part to keep our communities safe.

You can find a complete list of the bills we’ve introduced HERE.

I expect that the 2020 General Assembly session will be full of progress and landmark legislation that will move our Commonwealth in the right direction. I’m incredibly lucky to play a small part in this and I’m grateful for your support along the way.

Please do not hesitate to contact our office at [email protected] or 804–698–1089 if you have questions, concerns, or ideas for legislation.

Follow us on Twitter at @jonesjay and on Facebook at @jayccjonesva and head to www.jayjones.com for continued updates.