Senate Bill 270, Virginia’s recovery housing bill, is scheduled to be heard in committee this Friday, Feb. 6.
Members of the public are able to weigh in, but productive participation might be complicated by a lack of transparency around last-minute changes.
Sponsored by Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg (D-Henrico), the bill addresses oversight and resident rights in recovery housing. But as of now, the public might not know which version of the bill will actually be presented until the hearing takes place.
On Feb. 3, VanValkenburg’s office met with undisclosed members of the SB838 workgroup to make revisions to the legislation at their request. Those changes have not been shared publicly and might not be released until the committee hearing.
I had been scheduled to discuss the bill with VanValkenburg last week, but that meeting was moved to Friday afternoon — after the bill will have been heard in committee.
Given this uncertainty, members of the public might wish to be as specific as possible when submitting written comments or reaching out to legislators, clearly identifying which provisions they support or oppose. Anyone planning to testify at the hearing should also be prepared to adapt their remarks, depending on any changes introduced at the last minute.
How to follow and comment on the bill
SB 270 will be heard Friday, Feb. 6, before the Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee in Senate Room A of the General Assembly Building. The meeting starts at 8 a.m., though the bill itself might not be heard immediately.
Watch the hearing remotely: Virginia Senate Youtube
Submit written comments to the committee: Email comments with the bill number (SB 270) to committeeoperations@senate.virginia.gov. (Written comments are not posted publicly.)
Contact your legislator: If your senator serves on the committee, you may wish to reach out to their office directly.
- Current committee membership: Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services
- Find your representative: Who’s My Legislator?
Testify remotely: Sign up via the Senate Committee page. (A link will appear to register 30 minutes before the meeting.)
Testify in person: Attend the meeting and wait for the public comment period.
The bill’s counterpart in the House of Delegates, HB 931 (Del. Marcus Simon, D-Fairfax County) has been assigned to the House Health and Human Services Subcommittee on Behavioral Health but has not yet been scheduled.
I will post another update when more information becomes available.
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