Assessing government services for minority and underserved Virginians
Requires each state agency to submit its annual report assessing the impact of its diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic plans on the populations served by the agency and on the agency’s workforce and budget to the General Assembly, in addition to the Governor, by July 1 of each year.
Strengthen and protect Virginia’s fisheries
Establishes the Fisheries Innovation for Sustainable Harvest Fund for the purposes of supporting and promoting the economic growth and development of Virginia’s seafood economy. The Fund shall be administered by the Marine Resources Commission for the sole purpose of supporting and promoting the economic growth and development of Virginia’s seafood economy while enhancing the sustainability […]
Eliminate tax-exempt status for Confederacy-related organizations
Eliminates the exemption from state recordation taxes for the Virginia Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and eliminates the tax-exempt designation for real and personal property owned by the Virginia Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the General Organization of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Confederate Memorial Literary Society, […]
Ensure HBCU representation on State Council of Higher Education
Requires the membership of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to include at least one nonlegislative citizen member who has served as a chief executive officer of one of the Commonwealth’s historically black colleges or universities. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.
Ensure that all schools conduct annual safety audits
Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety; school safety audits; list of items required to be reviewed. Requires the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety to include specific technology systems in the list of items to be reviewed and evaluated in required annual school safety audits.
Ensure the needs of marginalized communities are met in emergency disaster planning
Delegate Askew worked with the Virginia Emergency Management Association to protect minority and other vulnerable communities across Hampton Roads — a region that is prone to disasters and flooding from storms.
Require all state agencies to implement a diversity, equity and inclusion strategic plan
House Bill 1993, sponsored by Delegates Alex Askew and Delores McQuinn, requires state agencies to establish and maintain comprehensive diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic plans in coordination with the Governor’s Chief Diversity Officer. “The comprehensive emphasis on equity-minded legislation throughout the 2021 General Assembly session has been historic,” said Secretary of Administration Grindly Johnson. “This […]
Supported the continued development of the VB Sports and Entertainment Project
Rather than the space sitting vacant, Virginia Beach will develop the former Dome site into large multi-use sports, entertainment, residential, and commercial space for residents and visitors, which will generate millions of dollars in economic activity and jobs for local residents. Read about the project here: https://www.pilotonline.com/government/local/vp-nw-dome-site-studies-0127-20210126-jauwnuei4rcxbph2kyfpwsoo2a-story.html
Required schools and daycares to have carbon monoxide detectors
From the Virginian Pilot: Legislation that will require schools and daycares in Virginia to have at least one carbon monoxide detector sailed through the state Senate Monday, sending the bill to Gov. Ralph Northam for his expected signature. The bill was sponsored by local Democratic Dels. Alex Askew and Kelly Convirs-Fowler, whose districts cover parts […]
Secured funding for the development of a Joint School of Public Health between ODU and NSU
Delegate Askew secured $1.5 million for both ODU and NSU to develop a Joint School of Public Health. Per the Virginian Pilot: “Amid the worst pandemic in modern U.S. history, Old Dominion and Norfolk State universities want to launch a joint school centered on the study of public health. The universities announced their intentions to […]
