Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Delegate Amy Laufer of Virginia’s 55th District joined Morning News to discuss this week on legislative progress, highlighting key bills moving through the General Assembly. Among them is HB 2543, which expands telehealth mental health services for school counselors and students. Laufer expressed optimism about its advancement. “We were talking about how proud we are that it sponsored both houses… it’s going to the governor’s desk, which means we will still have to get through that hurdle.” she said. 

Laufer also emphasized efforts to improve maternal healthcare, particularly in rural areas. She worked with the Rural Healthcare Task Force and Delegate Candy Mundon King to address disparities in Black maternal health. “This was a perfect kind of match-up of these two groups to come together and bring forth lots of legislation,” Laufer explained, highlighting a bill for remote monitoring of pregnant women with diabetes and high blood pressure. 

Additionally, she discussed firearm safety legislation and voter protection efforts. While her bill proposing a civil penalty for firearms left in vehicles was absorbed into another measure, she remains focused on achieving the policy goal. Another bill, HB 2002, aims to protect Virginia service members stationed overseas from being improperly removed from voter rolls. “This bill is to say that the only way a person is removed from the voter rolls is if that person requests to be, or a state agency that’s been approved by the Department of Elections gives the information to the Department of Elections” she stated.  

As the session progresses, Laufer continues to advocate for policies related to healthcare access, public safety, and voter protections. 

Listen to the full conversation here: