HB1370, introduced by Delegate Karrie Delaney, prohibits medical providers from reporting medical debt to consumer reporting agencies.   VPLC supports this bill which has passed the House and a Senate committee. Why did Delegate Delaney introduce this bill and  Why is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau concerned about health care debt?  “The fact that the CFPB is involved in what seems like a health care issue is because our system is so dysfunctional that when people get sick and they can’t afford all their medical bills, even with insurance, it ends up affecting ev ..read more

Read the Black History Month Proclamation, signed by Governor Yougkin: WHEREAS, February is recognized and commemorated in the United States as Black History Month, and we recognize the people, historic events, and the cultural moments that have shaped American and world history and our society today; and WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia at Fort Monroe was the site where the first Africans were brought in shackles to America as slaves, and later Fort Monroe served as the first legal safe haven for freedom seekers before the Emancipation Proclamation; and WHEREAS, throughout American histo ..read more

In honor of Black History Month, we’re sharing a list of twenty black attorneys who were truly the firsts of their time. Their fearless determination opened doors for many, for generations to come. by Angelica Cesario, Lawline Austin T. Walden In 1965, Austin T. Walden became the first black man appointed to a judgeship in the state of Georgia since the Reconstruction Period. Prior to becoming a judge, he served as a civil rights attorney, litigating equal pay cases for black educators and education desegregation cases concerning the Atlanta public school system and the University of Georgia ..read more

To download this sheet as a PDF, click here. The post LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ALERT! VPLC’s 2024 Housing Advocacy appeared first on Virginia Poverty Law Center ..read more

To download this fact sheet as a PDF, click here. The post LEGISLATION ALERT! Support Language Access Improvement in Virginia appeared first on Virginia Poverty Law Center ..read more

Help Get Rid of Zombie Mortgage Foreclosures HB 184 by Delegate Simon amends Virginia law concerning foreclosures. A second mortgage holder must detail what is owed and must prove they have sent monthly statements to the property owner to recover fees and interest covered by the period the mortgage appeared to be dead. To download this fact sheet as a PDF, click here. The post LEGISLATION ALERT! Zombie Mortgage Foreclosures appeared first on Virginia Poverty Law Center ..read more

Make probate loans comply with the Virginia Fairness in Lending Act HB 648 by Del. Coyner deals with yet another attempt to evade the 2020 Virginia Fairness in Lending Act, which passed the House in a bipartisan 62-30 vote. VPLC believes that the Virginia General Assembly should determine what is a loan, not the company pushing their product. To download this fact sheet as a PDF, click here. The post LEGISLATION ALERT! Enforce Fairness in Lending appeared first on Virginia Poverty Law Center ..read more

Disclose all Mandatory Fees and Charges VPLC supports HB1320 (McClure) and SB388 (Pekarsky), which would require the disclosure of all mandatory fees and charges included in the advertised and displayed price of any good or service. This would create a clear, upfront picture of the total cost of a product. To download this fact sheet as a PDF, click here. The post LEGISLATION ALERT! Dump the Junk Fees appeared first on Virginia Poverty Law Center ..read more

Vote YES to House Bill 418 (Sponsor) The Virginia General Assembly passes laws to properly regulate marketplaces and protect individuals but many times those laws are not effectively enforced because government agencies may lack the necessary resources. Virginia and Mississippi are the only states in the country that do not allow class action lawsuits. Virginians are deprived of their right to use the courts to seek relief for a violation of their rights if the cost of litigation exceeds the potential benefit. Claims that are too small to cover the cost of litigation will not be pursued in cou ..read more

The Virginia Food Access Coalition (VFAC) has released an updated version of the Virginia Roadmap to End Hunger for 2024. It covers the coalition’s (including VFAC member VPLC) work and goals surrounding child nutrition, emergency allotments, the farm bill, community food access, and more. A few fast facts from the roadmap: End of pandemic-era programs and waivers resulted in higher food insecurity in 2023. Virginia food banks reported 5-10% increase in demand at pantries compared to the end of 2022. Food banks are experiencing declines in food donations and a decline in the volume of commodi ..read more