NEWSLETTER

January 4, 2021

Neighbors, 

I hope your new year is off to a good start and that you continue to social distance, wear masks, and wash hands frequently to stay safe. Next week, we begin the 2021 legislative session, and I want to provide a reminder of my upcoming town hall, share information about Virginia’s COVId-19 response, and give updates about laws that went into effect at the beginning of the year. 

As always, please let me know if I can be of assistance by calling my office at 804-698-1042 or by emailing me at DelKTran@house.virginia.gov. 

Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year!

Take care, Kathy

Delegate, 42nd District

UPCOMING TOWN HALL

Tomorrow 1/5: South County Delegation Tele-Town Hall

Tuesday, January 5 at 7pm

Join South County Delegates Vivian Watts, Mark Sickles, Paul Krizek, and me for a tele-town hall to discuss our priorities for the 2021 legislative session. We will also share updates about Virginia’s response to COVID-19.

Dial-in (605) 472-5239 | Access Code 811044 |  Submit Questions here

COVID-19 UPDATES

COVID-19 Vaccines 

  • I have heard from constituents concerned about the rate at which Virginia is offering COVID-19 vaccines. I share these concerns, and today, I spoke with Dr. Carey, Virginia’s Secretary of Health and Human Resources about Virginia’s COVID-19 vaccination plan. 

  • As I noted previously, Virginia will be following the CDC recommendations in terms of priority groups to receive the COVID-19 vaccines. You can learn more about the CDC’s recommendations at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations.html.

  • At this time, Virginia is offering the vaccine to the CDC individuals under Phase 1a, which are healthcare personnel and residents of long-term care facilities. Local health districts are developing plans to make sure that  non-hospital healthcare personnel are able to get the COVID-19 vaccine.There are about 500,000 Virginians that fit under Phase 1a. 

  • The CDC made recommendations about Phase 1b and 1c, on December 20.  Priority group 1b are people 75 and older and frontline essential workers (non-healthcare workers), and priority group 1c are people ages 64-74, people ages 16-64 with high risk medical conditions, and essential workers not included in group 1b. 

  • At this time, VDH is further developing plans to offer the vaccine to the additional priority groups. I anticipate an announcement will come from Governor Northam shortly about who will be included in 1b and 1c.

  • The Virginia Department of Health has created a website with information about the COVID-19 vaccines and Virginia’s plans for distributing and administering the vaccine. You can learn more at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine/.

  • I will continue to share additional information as it becomes available.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Below are highlights of laws that we passed during the 2020 legislative session and took effect starting January 1, 2021. 

House Bill 66 - Health insurance providers in Virginia are now required to cap the cost of insulin to no more than $50 for a 30 day supply. 

House Bill 264 - Concealed weapon safety and training courses must now be taken in-person. Online and virtual training will no longer meet Virginia’s training requirements to have a concealed weapon permit.

House Bill 874 - It is now illegal to hold a phone while driving. Doing so will result in a $125 fine for the first offense and $250 fine for the second offense. Holding a phone while driving in a highway construction zone will result in a mandatory $250 fine. 

House Bill 1407 - Virginia employers are now prohibited from misclassifying workers as independent contractors, based on IRS guidelines. Businesses that violate this law will be subject to fines and potentially be barred from public contracts. 

House Bill 1251 - Patients will no longer be billed for out-of-network services if they seek emergency and certain non-emergency services at a provider outside of their health insurance network. If a patient pays more than what the service would cost if they were seen at an in-network provider, then the provider is now required to refund the excess amount. This is an important step towards addressing “surprise billing.”

House Bill 1211 - My legislation to establish driver privilege cards so that all Virginians, regardless of immigration status, have the opportunity to drive is now in effect. Applicants must meet DMV’s knowledge and skills requirements, as well as additional qualifications, in order to receive a driver privilege card.