Richmond, Va. – Virginia Organizing has released its list of legislative priorities for the 2020 General Assembly session. Chairperson Del McWhorter released the following statement,

“Tomorrow, January 8, state legislators will meet for the opening of our 60-day legislative session. Unless a special session becomes necessary, this is the only time they will meet in 2020. The laws passed this winter will have an impact on the Commonwealth for years to come. 

“Please see this one-pager with our legislative priorities. As in past years, we don’t push particular bills at the beginning of the session. We know that they will quickly change as they move through committees.

“We have three areas that our members have decided to highlight:

1. Environmental Justice: We want to bring back effective regulation on the power companies. We also want to see climate change addressed in a way that puts low income and minority communities at the center of any transition to renewable resources.
2. Driver’s licenses for all resident adults, regardless of their immigration status: It’s in everyone’s interest to make sure immigrants can work, care for their families, and be trained to drive in their communities. We also want to see immigrants receive in-state tuition.  
3. Education Justice:  We want to decriminalize disorderly conduct for students in school settings. We also need appropriate training for School Resource Officers. These measures will help dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline.

“In addition to these issues, we will be working for criminal justice reform, increased access to health care, economic justice (especially a universal living wage), the passage of the ERA, and the elimination of the death penalty.“

To ask questions or arrange an interview with Del McWhorter, please contact Rosemary Gould at rosemary@virginia-organizing.org or 434-962-7261.