Senator Creigh Deeds

Proudly Serving the People of Virginia's 25th District

Senator Creigh Deeds

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Thank you for all of your support and encouragement. You can read my weekly Session Newsletters on this website and track legislation on Virginia’s Legislative Information System website. The General Assembly website has a wealth of information about our state legislature.

It continues to be my high honor to serve you in the Senate of Virginia. Should you have concerns, questions or views you wish to share, please contact me at (434) 296-5491 or [email protected]. I  look forward to hearing from you.
Creigh Deeds

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Special Session: Six Weeks In

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The special session began almost six weeks ago. We are finally getting down to the heart of the matter as budget discussions ramp up.

We are operating without a joint operating agreement, a procedural resolution, between the House and the Senate. The agreements stipulate the rules and parameters to govern conduct. The Senate is meeting a few days a week in person, and the House is meeting remotely for committee meetings and floor sessions. So the session goes on.

There is good news on the budget. [Read more…]

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The Special Session Continues

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We knew back in April that we would need to return to Richmond for a special session to address budgetary issues. The pandemic dramatically reduced the amount of revenue flowing into Virginia’s tax coffers. We experienced a $2.7 billion budget shortfall and have seen nearly every aspect of state government impacted by the pandemic. Budgetary matters, for the most part have yet to be considered. The first few weeks of this special session has been consumed by other issues, such as the eviction crisis and utility bills, and by criminal justice reform. [Read more…]

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Reconvened Session Update

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The Reconvened Session of the General Assembly met in Richmond on Wednesday, April 22.  The purpose of the Reconvened Session under the Constitution of Virginia is to consider amendments and vetoes offered by the Governor.  It has been part of the Virginia process since the 1971 Constitution. Before that time, the legislature did not have an opportunity to override or consider the Governor’s actions.

The age of social distancing made it an interesting day.  Without question, we all want to get back to work and get back to normalcy as quickly as possible.  However it is also clear that social distancing is working.  We are slowing the spread of the virus, and therefore saving our medical assets and lives.  We are all in this together, and we must be patient.  Knowing all of that did not make the Reconvened or Veto Session any easier.

Because of the social distancing rules, the House and Senate could not meet in their chambers in the state Capitol.  The Senate arranged for us to meet in a spacious room at the Science Museum of Virginia on Broad Street in Richmond.  In that room, we had desks that were spaced six feet apart.  We were all required to wear masks, and we were equipped with gloves and hand sanitizer. Debate, questioning and presentation while wearing a face mask made it even more unusual. [Read more…]

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