January 2024 Email Update

PARTNERSHIP HOLDS 2024 LOBBY DAY

With the 2024 General Assembly session in full swing, we were thrilled to hold our 2024 Virginia Promise Partnership Lobby Day earlier this month. During the event, 

parents, providers, and champions from across the state convened in Richmond to share their stories with members of the General Assembly and underscore the importance of investing in child care.

When meeting with lawmakers, Promise Advocates shared a two-pager outlining the Partnership's priority bills and budget amendments, as well as our storybook highlighting the perspectives of parents from across Virginia. Following meetings with legislators, advocates were introduced on the House and Senate floors by House Education Committee Chair Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke City) and Senate Education & Health Committee Chair Ghazala Hashmi (D-Midlothian). 

Check out some highlights from the lobby day event below! Over the coming weeks, the Partnership will be sharing additional advocacy opportunities to advance our efforts in the General Assembly - be on the lookout for upcoming action alerts! 

Senate Education & Health Committee Chair Ghazala Hashmi (D-Midlothian) introduces Virginia Promise Partnership advocates on the Senate floor during our 2024 lobby day. 

House Education Committee Chair Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke City) introduces Virginia Promise Partnership advocates on the House floor during our 2024 lobby day. 

GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPDATES

The Partnership has been hard at work tracking legislative and budget items that will impact Virginia’s child care and early education system. Find updates on priority legislation from the past week below! 

LEGISLATION

• Thursday, Jan. 25: Sen. Mamie Locke's (D-Hampton) Senate Bill (SB) 54 was reported unanimously out of the Senate Education and Health Committee with a substitute (15-Y 0-N). This legislation would ensure and maximize sustainable, stable funding for Virginia's child care system that is responsive to parent choice by (1) establishing a funding formula to ensure predictable child care funding, (2) creating a non-reverting Early Childhood Care and Education Fund to safeguard and maximize child care funds, and (3) establishing the RecognizeB5 early childhood educator incentive program. The bill was rereferred and will now be considered by the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee. (MORE HERE)
• Monday, Jan. 29: Del. David Bulova's (D-Fairfax) House Bill (HB) 419 was reported out of the House Education Committee (17-Y 5-N). This legislation is a "companion bill" (same language) to Sen. Locke's SB 54. The bill was rereferred and will now be considered by the House Appropriations Committee. (MORE HERE) 
• Monday, Jan. 29: Del. Carrie Coyner's (R-Chesterfield) HB 475 was incorporated into Del. Amy Laufer's (D-Charlottesville) HB 1277, which was reported from the House Education Committee (20-Y 2-N). This bill would improve and streamline the background check process to address child care staffing shortages while upholding the safety of Virginia’s children. After incorporation, we will now be following HB 1277. Next, HB 1277 will be considered on the House floor. 

BUDGET AMENDMENTS

• To achieve a total investment of $275 million in FY25 and $325 million in FY26 necessary to maintain current services and support parent demand under the Child Care Subsidy and Mixed Delivery programs, the Virginia Promise Partnership supports:
  • An additional investment of $26M in FY25, with $20M to support the Child Care Subsidy Program and $6M to support the Mixed Delivery program.
  • An additional investment of $51M in FY26, with $40M to support the Child Care Subsidy Program and $11M to support the Mixed Delivery program.
  • This funding request is captured in the following budget amendments:
    • Locke (Item 117 #9s, Item 124 #40s)
    • Pillion (Item 117 #5s, Item 124 #37s)
    • Bulova (Item 117 #29h, Item 124 #77h)
    • Coyner (Item 117 #11h, Item 124 #21h)
• The House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees are in the process of reviewing and considering proposed budget amendments in their respective chambers. Check out a full list of relevant budget amendments through our 2024 General Assembly Tracker!  

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

The Virginia Promise Partnership together with member organization the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy compiled a collection of firsthand stories highlighting the ongoing child care struggles faced by parents and families across the Commonwealth. Read the full 'Parents Speak Up!' storybook here!

Interested in sharing your story? Contact us as info@vapromisepartnership.com! 

CHILD CARE IN THE NEWS

• WHSV | Gov. Youngkin’s childcare initiative to help parents, providers around VA
• Axios | Where the jobs recovery is lagging: child care
• The New York Times | Opinion | What the Child Care Crisis Does to Parents
• WTVR | Sen. Warner visits Richmond, discusses funding of Virginia childcare programs
• Fast Company | U.S. families are spending 24% of their annual income on childcare
• The 74 | Virginia Lawmakers Propose Long-Term Fixes to Child Care Affordability
• Virginia Mercury | With child care increasingly unaffordable, Virginia lawmakers propose long-term fixes

You are receiving this email as a member of the Virginia Promise Advocate community.

Virginia Promise Partnership
1703 North Parham Road, Suite 110
Richmond, VA 23229
United States

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.