Bill HB 159
Reform Virginia Sex Education
Virginia House Education Committee
Monday, Feb. 5, 2018 | Richmond, VA
Bill HB 159: Medically Accurate Sex Education
Arlington Parents for Sex Education Reform
Advocating for Sex Ed Reform
Town Hall, Alexandria, VA
January 27, 2018
Take a look at my statement and question on HB 159 during a Town Hall Adam Ebbin and Mark Levine at Mount Vernon Community School, Alexandria, Virginia.
UPDATE
Monday, February 5th, 2018
House Education Votes NO on HB 159 for
Medically Accurate Sex Education
Watch Hearing Testimony | Monday, Feb. 5
Delegate Rasoul (Chief-Patron), Graham Weinschenk (bill proposal author), Pablo Moulden and other advocates

Passed By Indefinitely: Action to allow a committee to reconsider legislation at a later meeting. If the committee takes no further action, the bill is dead. In this case, the committee voted to take no further action.
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Virginia General Assembly
STEPS TO PASSING BILL HB159
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We need the House of Delegates full Committee on Education to pass the Bill in order to allow it to be voted on the House floor. It is made up of 7 Republicans and 4 Democrats. This committee meets on Wednesdays. They give us a 12-24 hours notice before the hearing with the agenda of Bills that are up for vote.
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During the hearing they allow a person to testify on the importance of the Bill. Additionally they allow "witnesses" to say whether they support the Bill and a short statement as to why. We need people to show up in support of the Bill in order to persuade the committee members to pass the Bill to the House floor. Please click the "Sex Ed Bill | Rapid Response Team" to get updates on coordination efforts and ways to participate.
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We need the House of Delegates to vote for and pass the Bill. Currently the House is made up of 49 Democrats and 51 Republicans. We need a majority vote. All Democrats are likely to vote yes (but they need to hear from Virginians!) which means we will need at least two Republicans to vote yes in order to pass the Bill.
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If the House passes the Bill then the vote goes to the Virginia Senate. The Senate is currently made up of 19 Democrats and 21 Republicans. All Democrats are likely to vote yes (we still need Virginians to call their representatives regardless of party) which means we need at least 2 Republicans to vote yes in order to get a majority.
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Lastly the Governor either signs or vetoes the Bill. Governor Ralph Northam has recently expressed support for sexual health education reform.
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Many people read this legislation and think no work needs to be done. That this is common sense and all that needs to happen is for the Bill to get on the floor for a vote. This is so incorrect. We need to pass it through the committee which is mostly Republicans who tend to vote against any sex education reform that includes removing sex avoidance from our curriculum. It will require a lot of Virginians calling them to ask for their support and for in-person advocacy. Same goes for the House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate.
THIS BILL WILL NOT PASS IF WE DO NOT WORK TO GET SUPPORT FOR IT.
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Virginia needs your help. Get involved today.
