| RICHMOND—Governor Northam today unveiled his administration’s key priorities for the upcoming Virginia General Assembly special session, set to begin on Tuesday, August 18th.
Legislators will reconvene to address Virginia’s biennial budget, which has been severely impacted by the ongoing global pandemic. In addition, Governor Northam is proposing several measures to advance equity, reform policing, and protect the safety, health, and welfare of Virginians during this crisis.
“Virginians are hurting, and the Commonwealth is stepping up,” said Governor Northam. “Our country is battling both a health crisis and an economic crisis at once, so Virginia is advancing new programs to help people stay in their homes, care for the ones they love, and feel safe in the community.
“This starts with sound fiscal management and smart investments in our future. Careful planning has kept us from having to gut critical services or lay off state workers, like other states have done. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the General Assembly to advance long overdue police reform and pass record investments in affordable housing and broadband, so we can continue to support Virginians during this unprecedented time.”
Below are several of Governor Northam’s priorities for the upcoming special session. Additional priorities will be announced at the Governor’s annual speech to the General Assembly Joint Money Committees, scheduled for 9:30AM on Tuesday, August 18th.
Safe, Affordable Housing
Access to safe and stable housing is critically important, particularly in the midst of the ongoing health crisis. That is why Governor Northam is proposing $88 million in state funding to combat evictions and to expand access to affordable housing. These investments include a historic $85 million investment in the Virginia Housing Trust Fund, which will complement federal CARES Act funding to expand access to affordable housing, reduce homelessness, and protect Virginians from eviction. The Governor is also proposing $3.3 million in funding to establish an Eviction Prevention and Diversion Pilot Program to reduce evictions in communities across the Commonwealth.
In addition, Governor Northam is proposing a pause on evictions until at least April 30, 2021, tied to the requirement that landlords and tenants work together on a payment plan and seek out financial assistance, including through Virginia’s statewide Rent and Mortgage Relief Program.
While Virginians remain safely housed, they also need access to critical utility services. The Governor’s package includes a moratorium on utility disconnections for electric, water and natural gas utilities until 60 days after the current state of emergency ends.
Access to Broadband
A recent SCHEV report found that nearly 200,000 K-12 students and 60,000 college students across Virginia lack access to broadband at home. This disparity is particularly troubling as many school districts across Virginia plan a virtual start to the school year. To address this, Governor Northam is proposing a record $85 million to expand access to broadband for unserved communities. This historic investment in the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) will fund last-mile broadband infrastructure across the Commonwealth during this time of need.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically Black Colleges and Universities play an essential role in reducing educational inequities, many of which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. That is why Governor Northam is proposing a $15 million investment in Virginia’s public HBCUs. This funding will increase support for underserved students and will fund needed technology upgrades.
Police and Criminal Justice Reform
In July, Governor Northam directed the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Virginia African American Advisory Board, and the Commission to Examine Racial Inequity in Virginia Law to develop policy recommendations and share input with the administration. Governor Northam has also communicated regularly with activists, community leaders, and law enforcement officials, and incorporated their feedback into his policy priorities.
The Governor’s special session priorities include measures to:
- Expand the criteria for which a law enforcement officer can be decertified, to include officers who are terminated due to law or policy violations or resign during an ongoing investigation;
- Empower Virginia’s Criminal Justice Services Board to initiate decertification proceedings when de-certifiable conduct is brought to the Board’s attention, regardless of written notice from a local law enforcement department;
- Require law enforcement officers to intervene when they see a colleague engaging in or attempting to engage in unlawful use of force;
- Standardize law-enforcement training across Virginia through development of statewide minimum training standards, curriculum, and lesson plans, to include use of force tactics;
- Mandate information-sharing between hiring agencies and previous employers and strengthen the vetting process of newly-hired officers;
- Create best practices for Civilian Review Panels and empower localities to establish review panels;
- Diversify the Criminal Justice Services Board’s Committee on Training to include representatives from civil rights and community organizations, and require opportunities for public input into the development of training standards.
In addition, Governor Northam and his administration are working closely with legislators on measures not outlined above, including proposals related to behavioral health, fair and free elections, and racial equity. Additional proposals will be announced at the Governor’s annual speech to the General Assembly Joint Money Committees, and the Governor looks forward to continued discussions with lawmakers throughout the special session. |
How about no more internal investigations but instead outside entities to investigate deaths doe to force or while inside the jails.
How about including Babies Lives Matter and vote against full term abortions? After all, you are a pediatrician.
Gov. you are the worst governor this state has ever had. The liberal house and senate is filled with people who don’t have a clue as to what the people want them to do.
Awesome I as a Virginia resident would like to see most if not all implemented
I hope that something is going to be done to ensure that we are going to be able to votr
Seems all governor is worried about is police. Did he ever think that if people of any color didnt get in trouble all the time there wouldnt be a problem. We have bigger problems than all this protesting with these thugs tearing down the country. Nobody has respect for people
...read more...Meanwhile here in good ole Virginia we listen to what the governor tells us to do.we set back and watch all the ma and pop shops and local businesses crumble and places like Walmart succeed because they and the other big named stores will be the only ones left. I
...read more...I agree with the agenda with emphasis on policing and justice reform. The Justice reform aspect should include increased funding in legal aide representation for the population that is financially unable to make bail and are disenfranchised thru unjust plea deals when the court appointed attorney case load exceeds a
...read more...You suck as a governor and you only have the big cities in our state in your window frame. What about the rural areas of the state. And you dictate who can or can't see their loved ones in hospitals and nursing homes and babies lives don't matter. You mandate
...read more...#sayhisname Cannon Hinnant Why no one will talk about this five year old child being murdered by a black man. CNN, ABC, CBS, MSNBC, THE NEW YORK TIMES or THE WASHINGTON POST have not covered this story. Is it because a young black man who has an extensive criminal record
...read more...I think Governor Northam is doing a very good job. Why do I think that? Because I have the capacity to imagine how hard his job is, and despite how difficult his job is, he does it thoughtfully, paying attention to science and reason, and without an overly dramatic public
...read more...How about working on UNEMPLOYMENT and appeals. How do you think people who are told to quarantine are supposed to make ends meet. People are hurting and you could give a damn. How can a family maintain with a 158.00 per week? I know it’s Congress who hold the purse
...read more...I am thankful we have a doctor as governor. You have a tough job and will never make everyone happy! Keep listening to the scientists. Virginia is in much better off with Covid than most other southern stated. Friends in Florida are moving back to VA because if their governor!
...read more...Mr.Govenor..You are Virginias worst by far.How can you support full term abortion?That makes you a murderer the way I see it...So with every abortion that's performed here in Va you've got you're hand in everyone of them...Ive noticed you jumped up after Blackface and started acting and implementing a lot
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