SB1031 Religious Exemption to be Heard TODAY
Last Friday (January 17), SB1031, Senator Pekarsky’s (D-26) bill to dismantle religious exemption, was punted to TODAY, Monday, January 20, 2025.
SB1031 is scheduled to be heard this afternoon.
Here are the details:
WHAT: Senate Public Education Subcommittee
WHEN: 12:30 p.m. (15 minutes after the Senate adjourns)
WHERE: Senate Room C, 3rd Floor, Room 311 of the General Assembly Building (201 North 9th Street, Richmond).
BE INFORMED
Additional details include a comparison between current law and SB1031 and background about the legal precedence of Virginia’s religious exemption.
HEAV’s Facebook page has been a flurry of activity and discussion about SB1031.
PARKING
Since today is a holiday, several groups have their lobby day. Expect to park farther away than usual, so bundle up and allow time to walk over and get through security.
If you cannot attend, watch “Education and Health: Public Education Subcommittee” online.
ANOTHER FAMILY OPTION
If you can’t make it to Richmond today, HEAV’s ever-popular Day at the Capitol (DATC) has a few open spots on Tuesday (TOMORROW) and Wednesday. Given the most serious attack on homeschool freedom and parental rights in over 30 years, your presence at the Capitol and visiting members of the General Assembly is palpable.
Warm regards,
Callie Chaplow
Director of Government Affairs
TODAY
Please call Senator Pekarsky (SB1031’s sponsor) and Senator VanValkenburg (subcommittee chairman) AGAIN—or email if you can’t call.
- Request that they withdraw the bill completely.
- State that substituting a different version is unacceptable.
Email your own delegate and senator (click here), letting them know
- you are a registered voter in their district
- you strongly oppose SB1031
- you want to know how they intend to vote
Forward this alert and post to your social media
Forward this alert and post to your social media.
MONDAY, January 20, 2025, at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Richmond
- Plan to testify before the Senate Public Education Subcommittee. (Location TBD)
- Encourage your children to say a couple of words to the subcommittee.
- If you’re not a speaker, wear red and bring a sign supporting your parental rights and homeschool freedom.
- Bring a friend and make it a field trip.
