Recently, the state of Virginia joined the Counseling Compact, which is an organization that allows licensed counselors to practice in other states. According to a survey by the Institute of Education Sciences, 40 percent of schools have had difficulties filling counselor positions.

“I think the primary focus of the new Virginia counselor law is to address the nationwide shortage of counselors in schools,” school counselor Elizabeth Palmer said.

The new counseling law is significant because it will open more job opportunities for licensed school counselors, which will help reduce the nationwide shortage.

“This law is important because it would allow reciprocity within this compact with over 20 states, but I think it’s important because it would allow ease of hiring,” Palmer said.

In Virginia, the legislative process is relatively quicker than many other states. This process consists of dealing with a couple of thousand laws, in which the delegates have to decide whether or not they will send it to the governor. Then, it involves passing a budget, which costs about 70 to 80 billion dollars each year.

“[The legislative process] is very fast in Virginia,” Delegate Patrick Hope said. “Our sessions are about two months long, and we have to complete the work of what a lot of states take a good part of the year.”

Currently, the delegates are in session for the next 45 to 50 days, and they are working to address other healthcare-related laws.

“We’re going to put some more funding into healthcare, mental health, substance abuse, and people with intellectual disabilities,” Hope said.

Recently, the state of Virginia joined the Counseling Compact, which is an organization that allows licensed counselors to practice in other states. According to a survey by the Institute of Education Sciences, 40 percent of schools have had difficulties filling counselor positions.

“I think the primary focus of the new Virginia counselor law is to address the nationwide shortage of counselors in schools,” school counselor Elizabeth Palmer said.

The new counseling law is significant because it will open more job opportunities for licensed school counselors, which will help reduce the nationwide shortage.

“This law is important because it would allow reciprocity within this compact with over 20 states, but I think it’s important because it would allow ease of hiring,” Palmer said.

In Virginia, the legislative process is relatively quicker than many other states. This process consists of dealing with a couple of thousand laws, in which the delegates have to decide whether or not they will send it to the governor. Then, it involves passing a budget, which costs about 70 to 80 billion dollars each year.

“[The legislative process] is very fast in Virginia,” Delegate Patrick Hope said. “Our sessions are about two months long, and we have to complete the work of what a lot of states take a good part of the year.”

Currently, the delegates are in session for the next 45 to 50 days, and they are working to address other healthcare-related laws.

“We’re going to put some more funding into healthcare, mental health, substance abuse, and people with intellectual disabilities,” Hope said.

Hope also wants to create new laws that address the salary of teachers in Virginia.

“We know that we don’t pay teachers the national average, and we want to do a better job of doing that,” Hope said. “So, I expect a big emphasis on K-12 and higher education.”

Also, this year, a new healthcare law was passed that brings some changes to healthcare policies because it aims to make smooth transitions for patients during treatments. If your doctor is removed from your insurance plan, you still have the right to receive care from them for at least 90 days. This is not a major change from before because it only requires healthcare providers to notify enrollees if their insurance is removed.

“For 2024, there hasn’t been any major changes,” Nora Mallet, co-president of the Young Democrats Club said. “It’s just a lot of administration changes and changes to healthcare.”

Although new climate change laws have not been passed yet, the Virginia House of Delegates is working to address the problems with our environment.

“Hopefully, [new laws] on emissions and clean energy will have a good impact on some of the impacts of climate change,” Mallet said.

Hope also wants to create new laws that address the salary of teachers in Virginia.

“We know that we don’t pay teachers the national average, and we want to do a better job of doing that,” Hope said. “So, I expect a big emphasis on K-12 and higher education.”

Also, this year, a new healthcare law was passed that brings some changes to healthcare policies because it aims to make smooth transitions for patients during treatments. If your doctor is removed from your insurance plan, you still have the right to receive care from them for at least 90 days. This is not a major change from before because it only requires healthcare providers to notify enrollees if their insurance is removed.

“For 2024, there hasn’t been any major changes,” Nora Mallet, co-president of the Young Democrats Club said. “It’s just a lot of administration changes and changes to healthcare.”

Although new climate change laws have not been passed yet, the Virginia House of Delegates is working to address the problems with our environment.

“Hopefully, [new laws] on emissions and clean energy will have a good impact on some of the impacts of climate change,” Mallet said.