SALT LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

• Increasing TANF Benefits 10% each Session (341 #3s) to bring the benefit level up to the Virginia General Assembly mandated 50% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Patron: Senator Barbara Favola.  Read more>> 

• Strengthen TANF as a Lifeline with the passage of partial family sanctions and the ending of full family sanctions. Read more>> Strengthen TANF as a Lifeline—Vote Yes -- Budget Amendment Item 341 #2s. Patron: Senator Barbara Favola.

• Adjust the “TANF Earned Income Disregard” -- Virginia Welfare reform requires “incentive to work.”  Patron: Senator Ghazala Hashmi. Budget Amendment -- Item 341 #1s.

• SB 923 -- Kinship as Foster Care Prevention Program by Senator Favola. READ MORE>> Kinship Care Family First FACT Sheet by VPLC.

• Public utilities -- delay of termination of service for certain residential customers -- Family Delinquent Utilities HB 1875 -- Patron: Delegate Dan Helmer.

• Supplemental SNAP Benefits for Seniors -- House Item #346 #2h -- Patron: Delegate Bennet-Parker; Senate Item 346 #2s -- Patron: Senator Hashmi -- increase SNAP  benefits for seniors.

• HB 2025 (10Y -0N) -- Patron: Delegate Danica Roem---free & reduced school lunches.

• VEITC—HB 1653 Income Tax, State -- eligible low income taxpayers can claim a refundable tax credit -- Patron: Delegate Marcia Price –laid on the table by Finance  Subcommittee (5Y – 3N). 

SALT CRIMINAL JUSTICE UPDATES

• HB 2487 -- Solitary Confinement/Restrictive Housing -- Patron: Delegate GlennDavis—passed the full Public Safety Committee unanimously and reported from Appropriations (22 Y – 0 N).

• SB 887 -- Use of Isolated Confinement -- Patron: Senator Joe Morrissey -- passed Senate Rehab and Social Services (8Y-5N) -- referred to Finance & Appropriations.

• SB 994 --Create Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman. Patron: Senator David Marsden.

• SB 1274 -- Patron: Senator Jennifer Boysko -- HB 1914 -- Patron: Delegate Patrick Hope -- End Profiteering in Virginia Prisons -- Virginia’s DOC forces incarcerated people to pay private providers for everything from emails to toothpaste.  Includes provisions for free telephone call times. 

• SB 842 -- the "Second Look" bill allows state prisoners to have their sentences reviewed after serving at least 15 years.  The bill reported from the Finance &  Appropriations with amendments passed (13-3) through committee; now it goes to the full Senate.  Patron: Senator Chap Petersen.

SALT Webinar on Best Advocacy Practices to Follow and Pitfalls to Avoid When Advocating During the 2023 General Assembly Session -- facilitated by David Smith -- click here to view.

Helpful Links to Reference During the 2023 Virginia General Assembly Session