Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – As the Virginia General Assembly session intensifies, Delegate Katrina Callsen of the 54th District joined Morning News to discuss the demanding workload. With committee meetings starting as early as 7 a.m. and running late into the evening, the legislative schedule has been grueling. “It’s a lot of work shoved into a very short period,” Callsen shared, noting that even small schedule adjustments, like a delayed committee meeting, provide rare moments of relief. 

Despite the demanding pace, Callsen has made progress on several legislative initiatives, including a tax assessment bill for affordable housing, an advanced math education policy, and a reform targeting pharmacy benefit managers. “I have this tax assessment for affordable housing that I didn’t think was going to make it. … but somehow, I managed to get it off that and I ended up picking up a lot of bipartisan support,” she explained. The bill aims to ensure affordable rental housing is taxed fairly, reflecting income-based valuations rather than market rates. 

As the session nears its final week, Callsen remains focused on shepherding her bills through the Senate. With all her proposed legislation now under Senate committee review, she anticipates an intense final push. “Now all my bills are in the Senate, and this week is when they’re all being heard in committee,” she noted. Balancing her roles on the Courts, Finance, and Counties, Cities, and Towns committees, Callsen continues to advocate for policies she believes will benefit Virginians across the Commonwealth. 

Listen to the full conversation here: