focus on education, tax relief, mental health

RICHMOND, Va. (WSET) — The Virginia General Assembly is officially back in session, after a multi-day delay from Richmond’s boil water notice.

Thousands of pieces of legislation are expected to come across the Capitol floor, spanning multiple issues: from tax relief to health care and education. Delegates in our area said they’re ready to work for the constituents while they’re in the Capitol.

SEE ALSO: Youngkin delivers final State of the Commonwealth address of governor term

ABC13 spoke with Republican Delegate Wendell Walker and Democratic Delegate Sam Rasoul, after Governor Youngkin’s ‘State of the Commonwealth’ address Monday morning.

Delegate Walker said he’s excited to get to work over the 45-day session. He said he’s listening to his constituents and bringing the issues they care about to Richmond.

Tax relief, education, public safety, and addressing mental health. So, these are some of the major issues that people have asked us to address, and that’s what I’m working on,” Del. Walker, 52nd District, said. “We want to make sure that what we’re doing as legislators here in Richmond is representing what the citizens of my district are concerned about. So, it’s important to listen to my constituents and then respond to those needs to the best of our ability.”

Del. Rasoul said he’s focused on many of the same things, including education and mental health. As chair of the education committee, Rasoul said there’s a lot of work to do this session.

Trying to improve public education. We know that we’ve got to be paying our teachers at least the national average. So many students are struggling with mental health, so we need some increased investments there,” Del. Rasoul, 38th District, said. “And then also, the cost of living. Especially utility costs, they’re just skyrocketing. So, we’ve got to find innovative ways of talking about that and taking it head-on.”

Rasoul and Walker both said they’re excited to bring legislation to the floor that would make needed changes for our area.

Del. Walker said he’s bringing back a sexual extortion bill that would create a Class Five felony penalty for landlords who threaten eviction as sexual coercion. He told ABC13 that it’s an issue Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney, Bethany Harrison, has seen in the Hill City.

“It was a bill that I put forth last year. It didn’t even get a hearing. This is dealing with sexual extortion here, property owners, you know, for tenants who may be behind on payments or other things like that,” Walker said. “This has been growing across the Commonwealth. This is a bill I’m going to put forth on behalf of the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.”

For Rasoul, he’s eager to bring several education bills forward.

“Changing the way that we approach investing in schools with regards to helping students with disabilities. Also, ensuring that our schools that happen to have a high number of poor students are going to be able to get the support that they need,” Del. Rasoul said.

Democrats hold a slim majority in the House. Both Rasoul and Walker said they’re confident they’ll be able to work across the aisle to get things done in Richmond.

In the legislature, I’ve always been able to work with my republican colleagues. Regionally, we have a great relationship. I’m trying to make sure that we’re working hard for southwest Virginia, and I’ll continue to do that,” Rasoul said.

Walker said there are certain issues the parties will never agree on, but the two sides will come together where they can throughout the session.

If we’re going to get anything done we have to find some bipartisan approach. There’s some things we can agree on, whether a Democrat or Republican,” Walker said. “I’ve been able to work in a bipartisan way the last serval years down here to get bills passed.”

The session will run for 45 days. Legislation that passes both the House of Delegates and the Senate will go to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law or vetoed.