Legislative Session Wrap Up, Contd.

from 2023 Spring Town & Country Call Newsletter

Session Wrap Up

In addition, the bill requires any animal testing facility operated by an institution of higher education that receives a citation for critical noncompliance, as defined in the bill, under the Animal Welfare Act or its regulations, to notify the leadership of such institution, including the president, dean, and board of visitors or board of trustees. The provisions of the bill do not apply to any federal facility or privately owned licensed veterinary practice. The VVMA worked with the Delegate to exempt private veterinary practices in an abundance of caution.

The biggest takeaway from the 2023 Session is the historic number of legislative retirements - 28 members with over 400 years of legislative experience. With 19 House members and 9 Senators leaving the General Assembly, and all 100 House and all 40 Senate seats up for re-election, the 2024 Session is shaping up to be a wild one! The loss of institutional memory and the retirement of key committee chairs will make next year's General Assembly a challenging experience for lobbyists and legislators alike With more announcements likely, below is the list of legislators who have publicly announced their retirement to date:

Delegate Dawn Adams (D-Richmond)

Delegate Les Adams (R-Chatham)

Delegate Timothy Anderson (R-Virginia Beach)

Delegate John Avoli (R-Staunton)

Delegate Rob Bell (R-Albemarle)

Delegate Kathy Byron (R-Lynchburg)

Delegate Jeff Bourne (D-Richmond)

Delegate Jeff Campbell (R-Wytheville)

Delegate Glenn Davis (R-Virginia Beach)

Delegate James Edmunds (R-Halifax)

Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax)

Delegate Kaye Kory (D-Fairfax)

Delegate Wendy Gooditis (D-Loudoun)

Delegate Mike Mullin (D-Newport News)

Delegate Kathleen Murphy (D-Fairfax)

Delegate Ken Plum (D-Fairfax)

Delegate Margaret Ransone (R-Westmoreland)

Delegate Roxanne Robinson (R-Chesterfield)

Delegate Will Wampler (R-Abingdon)

Senator John Bell (D-Loudoun)

Senator John Edwards (D-Roanoke)

Senator Janet Howell (D-Reston)

Senator Lynnwood Lewis (D-Accomack)

Senator Tommy Norment (R-James City County)

Senator Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax)

Senator Jill Vogel (R-Fauquier)

Senator Steve Newman (R-Lynchburg)

Senator John Cosgrove (R-Chesapeake)

There are a number of tremendous VVMA supporters on this list, particularly Delegate Rob Bell, Delegate Kathy Byron (co-patron of last year's sales tax exemption bill), Delegate James Edmunds, Delegate Margaret Ransone, and Delegate Roxann Robinson We will actively monitor all of these changes in the legislature and work to forge new friendships and relationships with the next wave of delegates and senators resulting from the November 2023 elections

As always, thank you for your interest in the legislative process and for your support of our advocacy efforts

We are excited to introduce our 2023-2024 Power of 10 class! These doctors will spend the next year enhancing their interpersonal, leadership & communication skills and experiencing first-hand the significance of organized veterinary medicine.