Virginia’s New House Democratic Caucus Chair Rip Sullivan’s Past Bills Were Mostly Killed by Republicans; A Lot of Them Should Have a Good Chance of Passing in 2020

Yesterday, Virginia House Democrats voted to make Del. Rip Sullivan (D-Fairfax/Arlington) their Caucus Chair. What might that mean for legislation in the 2020 Virginia House of Delegates session?

First off, some background: from what I can gather, it’s not clear how powerful the Caucus Chair is – or even what it does exactly. In the U.S. House, the Caucus Chair “presides over caucus meetings, which are composed of all members of the Democratic party.” The Caucus “meets on a weekly basis to discuss party policy,  pending legislative issues, and other matters of mutual concern.” But it’s not clear to me what it does, exactly, in the Virginia House of Delegates. My guess is, to a large extent, it’s how Virginia House leadership overall decides to divvy up power and to organize itself.

Still, Del. Sullivan is a smart, effective, and fairly progressive (see the 2019 VAPLAN scorecard here) and environmentalist legislator who knows what he’s doing. So despite all the caveats listed above, I still think it’s interesting to look at Del. Sullivan’s past “chief patron” bills to see where his priorities might lie, especially now that he’s been elected Majority Caucus Chair. See below for the bills – and note that there’s a TON of great stuff in here, on voting, energy efficiency, solar power, gun violence prevention, etc. – followed by a comment by me after each one. Let’s make sure that this stuff passes in 2020!

Del. Rip Sullivan’s “chief patron” bills from 2019

• HB 1763 Firearms; removal from persons posing substantial risk of injury to himself, etc., penalties. * (Some version of a “red-flag law” is almost certain to pass in 2020)
• HB 1976 Hate crimes; reporting to State Police. * (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; some version of this seems almost certain to pass in 2020)
• HB 1977 Voter identification; accepted forms of identification. * (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; some version of this seems almost certain to pass in 2020)
• HB 1978 Digital Citizenship, Internet Safety, and Media Literacy Advisory Council; established. * (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 1979 Assisted conception; amends statute to provide gender-neutral terminology, etc. * (This passed and was signed into law in 2019)
• HB 2242 Statute of limitations; action based on an unsigned, written contract. * (This passed and was signed into law in 2019)
• HB 2243 Virginia Energy Efficiency Revolving Fund; created. * (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 2244 Firearms; possession or transportation following convictions for certain misdemeanor crimes. * (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 2292 Electric utilities; definitions, energy efficiency programs. * (This passed and was signed into law in 2019)
• HB 2293 Electric utilities; stakeholder process for energy efficiency programs. * (This passed and was signed into law in 2019)
• HB 2294 Electric and natural gas utilities; energy efficiency goals. * (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 2295 Energy Efficiency Fund, Board, and Program; established, report. * (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 2500 Electric utilities; mandatory renewable energy portfolio standard. * (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee, plus conservative Democrat Steve Heretick; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 2692 Multifamily residential building; sale of electricity to occupants. ** (This bill was “stricken from the docket” on a 16-0 vote last year; not sure what the deal was with that exactly or what it means for the bill’s prospects in 2020)
• HB 2709 Early voting; any registered voter allowed to vote early without providing reason, etc. * (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again and that some version of this will certainly pass in 2020)

Del. Rip Sullivan’s “chief patron” bills from 2018

• HB 32 Hate crimes; reporting to State Police (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 54 Renewable energy property; tax credit for property placed in service. (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 74 Early voting; any registered voter allowed to vote early in any election in which he is qualified. (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again and that some version of this will pass in 2020)
• HB 92 Absentee voting; eligibility of certain caregivers. (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 191 Voter identification; accepted forms of identification. (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again and that some version of this bill will pass in 2020)
• HB 198 Firearms; removal from persons posing substantial risk, penalties. (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again and that some version of this bill will pass in 2020)
• HB 199 Digital Citizenship, Internet Safety, and Media Literacy Advisory Council; established. (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 204 Energy benchmarking; access to data on energy usage in covered buildings. (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee, plus conservative Democrat Steve Heretick; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 205 Redistricting; criteria for remedial plans. (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 421 Multi-family residential building; sale of electricity to occupants. (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 436 Electric utilities; mandatory renewable portfolio standard. (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 522 Criminal sexual assault; establishes safe reporting. (This bill was killed mostly on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I don’t know much about it, but it seems like it has a decent shot of getting out of subcommittee in 2020)
• HB 560 Virginia Energy Efficiency Revolving Fund; created. (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 629 Firearms; purchase, possession, or transporting by fugitive. (This bill was killed by Republicans in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 963 Electric and natural gas utilities; energy efficiency goals. (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 964 Electric utilities; energy efficiency programs. (A version of this bill appears to have passed and been signed into law in 2019)
• HB 965 Energy efficiency programs; definition of benefit-cost ratio and total resource cost test. (A version of this bill appears to have passed and been signed into law in 2019)
• HB 1319 Mass transit; makes numerous changes to administration of and revenues for transit. (This bill was incorporated and passed into law.)
• HB 1451 Public school divisions; SCC to establish pilot program for schools generating electricity. (This bill was passed and signed into law.)
• HB 1520 Alcoholic beverage control; exemptions from licensure certain nonprofit swim clubs. (This bill was passed and signed into law.)
• HJ 5 Constitutional amendment; criteria for electoral districts (first reference). (This bill doesn’t seem to have gone anywhere; I’d expect it to get more consideration in 2020)
• HJ 21 Constitutional amendment; Virginia Redistricting Commission, criteria to redraw certain districts. (This bill doesn’t seem to have gone anywhere; I’d expect it to get more consideration in 2020)

Del. Rip Sullivan’s “chief patron” bills from 2017

• HB 1462 Voter identification; accepted forms of identification. * (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; some version of this seems almost certain to pass in 2020)
• HB 1463 Delinquent taxes; publication of list by governing body or treasurer. * (This bill passed and was signed into law.)
• HB 1464 Felony conviction; compensation for wrongful incarceration. * (This bill was killed by Republicans; I’d expect it to have a much better chance in 2020)
• HB 1465 Electric energy; consumption reduction goal, annual progress reports. * (This bill was killed by Republicans; I’d expect it to have a much better chance in 2020)
• HB 1603 Absentee voting; eligibility of certain caregivers. * (This bill was killed by Republicans in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 1631 Elections; early voting. * (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again and that some version of this will pass in 2020)
• HB 1632 Renewable energy property; tax credit for property placed in service. * (This bill was killed by Republicans in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 1633 Careless driving; cause of injury to vulnerable road user. * (This bill was killed by Republicans in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 1634 State agencies; criminal background checks for certain positions, annual report to DHRM. *(This bill was killed, but I’m not sure exactly why or what its prospects might be in 2020.)
• HB 1635 Historic rehabilitation; limits amount of tax credits that may be claimed by each taxpayer. * (This bill was killed, but I’m not sure exactly why or what its prospects might be in 2020.)
• HB 1636 Energy efficiency programs; total resource cost test. * (This bill was killed, but I’m not sure exactly why or what its prospects might be in 2020. Seems like something that could and should pass.)
• HB 1650 Relief; Keith Allen Harward. * (This bill passed and was signed into law)
• HB 1702 Hate crimes; reporting to State Police. * (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; some version of this seems almost certain to pass in 2020)
• HB 1703 Electric and fnatural gas utilities; energy efficiency goals. * (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 1758 Firearms; removal from persons posing substantial risk, penalties. * (Some version of a “red-flag law” is almost certain to pass in 2020)
• HJ 581 Constitutional amendment; criteria for electoral districts (first reference). (This bill was killed largely on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d expect that won’t happen again in 2020.)

Del. Rip Sullivan’s “chief patron” bills from 2016

• HB 26 Congressional and state legislative districts; standards and criteria for drawing districts. (This bill was killed in subcommittee by Republicans; I’d expect that won’t happen again in 2020.)
• HB 32 Voter identification; accepted forms of identification. (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; some version of this seems almost certain to pass in 2020)
• HB 35 Hate crimes; reporting to State Police. (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; some version of this seems almost certain to pass in 2020)
• HB 67 Voter registration; automatic voter registration. (This bill was killed by Republicans in subcommittee; I’d expect that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 68 Elections; early voting. (This bill was killed by Republicans in subcommittee; I’d expect that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 234 Nonstock corporations; action without board of directors meeting. (This bill passed and was signed into law.)
• HB 235 Absentee ballots; electronic transmission by general registrars. (No idea why this was killed by Republicans in subcommittee, but seems like a no-brainer to pass in 2020)
• HB 398 Sales and use tax; refunds. (This bill passed and was signed into law.)
• HB 399 Income tax, state; withholding taxes, penalties. (This bill was killed in subcommittee; not sure exactly why or what its prospects are in 2020)
• HB 480 Renewable energy property; tax credit for placing into service. (Killed by Republicans in subcommittee; seems like it should have a good chance of passing the House in 2020)
• HB 493 Virginia Energy Efficiency Revolving Fund; created. (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 575 Energy efficiency programs; total resource cost test. (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 576 Electric and natural gas utilities; energy efficiency goals established, report. (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 647 Tree conservation; locality to post signs on private property that is proposed to be redeveloped.  (This bill passed and was signed into law)
• HB 700 Claims; Michael Kenneth McAlister. (This bill passed and was signed into law)
• HB 701 Felony conviction; compensation for wrongful incarceration. (This bill was killed by Republicans; I’d expect it to have a much better chance in 2020)
• HB 1173 Careless driving; cause of injury to vulnerable road user, penalty. (This bill was killed by Republicans in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 1174 Electric energy; consumption reduction goal, report. (This bill was killed by Republicans in a Senate committee; I’d expect it to have a much better chance in 2020)

Del. Rip Sullivan’s “chief patron” bills from 2015

• HB 1485 Congressional and state legislative districts; standards and criteria. * (This bill was killed in subcommittee by Republicans; I’d expect that won’t happen again in 2020.)
• HB 1494 State Police; reporting hate crimes. * (This bill was killed in subcommittee by Republicans; I’d expect that won’t happen again in 2020.)
• HB 1495 Voter identification; accepted forms of identification. * (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; some version of this seems almost certain to pass in 2020)
• HB 1496 Voter registration lists; interstate cross-checking programs. * (Reported out of subcommittee but tabled in the Privileges and Elections committee for whatever reason; seems like this bill should pass easily.)
• HB 1497 Absentee voting; registered voter using absentee ballot. * (This bill was killed by Republicans in subcommittee; I’d expect that won’t happen again and that some version of this bill will pass in 2020)
• HB 1508 Higher educational institutions; memorandum of understanding and policies. *
• HB 1509 Hospitals; required notice to patients. * (Killed on a mostly party-line vote; seems like it would have a lot better chance in 2020)
• HB 1622 Electric utilities; net energy metering. * (Killed by Republicans in subcommittee; should have a good chance of passing out of the House of Delegates in 2020)
• HB 1728 Renewable energy property; establishes beginning in 2015 a tax credit to be placed in service. * (Killed by Republicans in subcommittee; should definitely be able to pass in 2020)
• HB 1729 Distributed electric generation; establishment of community solar gardens. * (Killed by Republicans in subcommittee; should definitely be able to pass in 2020)
• HB 1730 Electric & natural gas utilities; energy efficiency goals required for investor-owned utilities. * (This bill was killed on a party-line vote in subcommittee; I’d assume that won’t happen again in 2020)
• HB 1731 Natural Resources, Secretary of; required to report on certain environmental issues. * (Appears to have been killed by Republicans; seems like it should have a good chance in 2020)
• HB 1982 Commonwealth Transportation Board; voting. * (Not sure what the current status of this is, but it was killed in subcommittee in 2015)
• HB 1983 Remote access to land records; indemnification. * (Passed and signed into law)
• HB 2307 Withholding taxes; employer may request a waiver from Tax Commissioner. ** (Passed and signed into law)
• HJ 546 Bostic v. Rainey; gender-specific references, report. (Seems to have been killed by Republicans; should have a much better chance in 2020)
• HJ 551 Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters, residency requirements (first reference). (Seems to have been killed by Republicans; should have a much better chance in 2020)