FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: LaTwyla Mathias, Communications Consultant
803-463-1865
LaTwyla@virginiaintefaithcenter.org

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Richmond, Virginia – With the upcoming legislative session on the horizon, the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP) introduced its updated priorities alongside a new narrative vision: “Faith in Virginia Communities: Building A Future For Everyone.” Together, these goals outline a path forward to address urgent needs, uplift communities, and move bold solutions to the forefront of state policy.

This year’s priorities translate VICPP’s narrative vision into concrete policy action.

VICPP is championing legislation that promotes health equity so that everyone in the Commonwealth can have access to healthcare; advancing proposals to make housing more affordable to ensure that we have sustainable communities; fighting for economic justice so that the Commonwealth can have a thriving workforce; and supporting new reforms to the criminal justice system to help returning citizens reenter society. Each initiative is designed to move us closer to a future for everyone.

The following bills represent the core policy actions we’re championing to turn our narrative vision into real change:

Health Equity  

• Reducing Bias (SB22). This bill would require evidence-based bias reduction training for health care professionals with the goal of improving outcomes and reducing racial disparities. (Patrons: Sen. Locke and Del. Hayes, Sen. Head supports) 
• Expanding access to Midwives. This budget amendment will direct DMAS and VDH to convene a work group that brings stakeholders together to study barriers that prevent Virginia moms on Medicaid from accessing Cardinal Care with all midwives that are licensed by the state upon entry into care. (Patrons: Sen. Deeds, Del. Willett) 
• Increase access to nurses in schools (SB33). This budget amendment allows school districts with at-risk add-on funding to use some of that money to pay for a school nurse. (Patrons: Sen. Favola and Del. McQuinn) 

Affordable Housing 

• Expediting Affordable Housing. VICPP is leading on a bill to allow localities to streamline the zoning approval process for increased density when developing affordable housing. (Patron: Del. Simonds) 
• State-wide YIGBY/ Faith and Housing. VICPP is co-leading a bill that would automatically allow congregations to build multi-family housing on land that they own. (Patrons: Sen. Carrol-Foy and Del. Cole) 

Criminal Justice Reform 

• Higher Education in Prison. VICPP supports a bill to expand access to college programs in state prisons, establish a state-level Advisory Group, and include educational data from VDOC in the Virginia Longitudinal Data System (VLDS) to enable assessment of employment impacts. (Patron: Del. Carr)  
• Protect the mother/baby in a pregnancy with substance exposure. This is a bill to encourage Virginia moms to enter prenatal care. Virginia’s law currently triggers child abuse and neglect referrals when an infant is born affected by substance use, even when the mother is engaged in medication-assisted treatment (MAT), or when the substance involved, such as cannabis, has been decriminalized. (Patrons: Sen. Locke and Del. Hayes)  

Working Family Supports 

• Paid Sick Days (HB 5). VICPP is working to require five days off for all workers to use when they are sick. Workers accrue the time based on hours worked. (Patrons: Sen. Favola and Del. Convirs-Fowler)  

To build momentum behind this agenda, VICPP will convene a statewide lobby day called A Day for All People, on January 21^st at the Capitol, mobilizing supporters to call for progress on these bills. More information can be found here.

For further information regarding the VICPP Legislative agenda, please contact Rev. LaKeisha Cook, lakeisha@virginiainterfaithcenter.org 

About Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy: Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP) is a multi-faith, nonprofit, non-partisan organization with a statewide base that includes over 20,000 people of faith and good will in every legislative district in Virginia, working together with hope for and focus on a more just society.