MINIMUM WAGE, NEW SCHOOL REVENUE FROM SKILLED GAMES PASS SENATE COMMITTEE
January 15, 2024
January 15, 2024
Bills on minimum wage and skilled games bills pass the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee today. Get a run down of these bills below.
S.B. 1 – sponsored by Sen. Louise Lucas increases the minimum wage from the current rate of $12.00 per hour to $13.50 per hour effective January 1, 2025, and to $15.00 per hour effective January 1, 2026. S.B. 1 passed the Commerce and Labor by a vote of 9 to 6 and was referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
S.B. 212 sponsored by Sen. Aaron Rouse establishes the Virginia Small Business Economic Development Act for the purpose of providing a regulatory and registration scheme for skill game machines in the Commonwealth. The bill directs the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill and directs the Department of Taxation to collect a monthly tax of 15 percent from the gross revenue of each skill game machine from each skill game distributor. Ten percent of the revenue would go to the School Construction Fund and ten percent would be appropriated to provide additional basic aid funding for public schools. S.B. 212 was passed by the Commerce and Labor Committee by a vote of 10-5 and referred to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee.
The following press release is shared with all VEA members, as VEA is a member of the the Virginia Labor Coalition.
Virginia AFL-CIO Applauds Advancement of Bill to Raise Minimum Wage Out of Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia AFL-CIO expresses strong support for Senate Bill 1 (SB1) as it successfully reported out of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee today. SB1 re-enacts Virginia’s minimum wage to meet a $15 per hour minimum by 2026. Since the enactment of legislation in 2020, Virginia’s minimum wage has incrementally increased from $7.25 per hour to $12 per hour over the last three years.
This momentum is supported by the majority of Virginians, as highlighted in a Wason Center poll in 2021. A majority (53%) of Virginians supported raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Notably, this issue extends across party lines, with 66% of independents and 61% of moderates in support.
Virginia AFL-CIO emphasizes the critical need to index minimum wage increases to inflation, rectifying the disparity between wages and the rising cost of living. The minimum wage has failed to keep pace with inflation, leading to a decline in real wages over the past 45 years.
Virginia AFL-CIO President Doris Crouse-Mays issued the following statement:
“As we commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today, it is fitting that we are taking a step towards fair pay in Virginia. Dr. King’s dream encompassed not only civil rights but economic empowerment. SB1’s passage on MLK Day resonates with the spirit of equality and justice, moving us closer to realizing the dream where all workers, no matter their race or background, can live with dignity and prosperity.”
As Virginia pushes forward with SB1, Virginia AFL-CIO stands resolute in its call for a fair and indexed minimum wage – one that ensures a dignified standard of living for all workers in the Commonwealth and keeps our workers afloat in the face of rising costs and economic challenges.
COMMITTEE SCHEDULES FOR JANUARY 16,2024
| 7:30 a.m. | House Education-K-12 Subcommittee; House South Subcommittee Room-210, General Assembly Building (Provide Comment) (sub-committee info) |
| 7:30 a.m. | Senate Finance General Government Subcommittee; Senate Finance & Appropriations Room, 13th Floor, General Assembly Building |
| 8:30 a.m. | Outdoor Recreation Caucus; House Subcommittee Room 9, General Assembly Building |
| 8:30 a.m. | House Health and Human Services; House Committee Room C-206, General Assembly Building (Provide Comment) (committee info) |
| 9:00 a.m. | House Transportation; House Committee Room B-205, General Assembly Building (Provide Comment) (committee info) |
| 9:00 a.m. | Senate Finance and Appropriations; Senate Committee Room A, 3rd Floor, #305, General Assembly Building |
| 9:00 a.m. | Press Conference: House Democratic Caucus; House Briefing Room, General Assembly Building |
| 10:30 a.m. | Press Conference: Second Look Legislation with Senator Creigh Deeds & Delegate Rae Cousins and ACLU; Senate Briefing Room, Room 400, General Assembly Building |
| 11:00 a.m. | House Democratic Caucus; House Room 1, The Capitol |
| 11:00 a.m. | Press Conference: Voices for Virginia Children: Virginia’s Youth in Action with Senator Deeds; Senate Briefing Room, Room 400, General Assembly Building |
| 12:00 p.m. | House Convenes; House Chamber, The Capitol |
| 12:00 p.m. | Senate Convenes; Senate Chamber, The Capitol |
| 15 min aft | Senate Privileges and Elections; Senate Room B, General Assembly Building – 15 minutes after adjournment (committee info) |
| 30 min aft | Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources; Senate Room A, General Assembly Building – 30 minutes after adjournment (committee info) |
| 1/2 hr aft | House General Laws; House Committee Room B-205, General Assembly Building – 1/2 hour after adjournment of House (committee info) |
| Adj full | House General Laws – ABC/Gaming; House Committee Room B – 205, General Assembly Building – Immediately upon adjournment of full committee (sub-committee info) |
| 2 hrs aft | House General Laws – Procurement/Open Government; House Committee Room B – 205, General Assembly Building – 2 hours after adjournment of full committee (Provide Comment) (sub-committee info) |
| 1/2 hr aft | House Labor and Commerce; House Committee Room A-008, General Assembly Building – 1/2 hour after adjournment of House (Provide Comment) (committee info) |
| Adj full | House Labor and Commerce – Subcommittee #1; House Committee Room A-008, General Assembly Building – Immediately upon adjournment of full committee (Provide Comment) (sub-committee info) |
As we gear up for the Fund Our Schools (FOS) Lobby Day on February 19, FOS (a coalition that includes VEA) is offering online training for those interested in learning more about political advocacy. Two sessions are available, one dealing with General Assembly basics and one with lobbying, at the times below. They will also be recorded and made available for later viewing.
And if you haven’t already, sign up to attend the FOS Lobby Day and rally!
Exciting news! The 2024 Virginia General Assembly session kicks off today, and VPAP’s mobile app is your guide to follow along and navigate through it all seamlessly.
In the VPAP General Assembly app, you will find information for visiting the new General Assembly building. You can also get to know your legislators with:
Teacher shortages are a serious issue across the country. Here in Virginia, there are currently over 3,648 unfilled teaching positions. (FY23)
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