The Legislative Committee of VASP takes suggestions from membership, the VASP Board, and legislators for new legislation that can promote and advocate for our profession and service delivery. We are busiest when the General Assembly is in session but also work throughout the year. VASP is fortunate to have a professional lobbyist to help us achieve our goals. We sponsor Advocacy Action day each January to encourage members to meet in person with their legislators. We also strive to provide training on advocacy at the Fall conference. We welcome anyone interested in supporting and learning more about advocacy on the state and local levels and any suggestions!

Recent bills that have passed include: 2023 HB 2124 (Delegate Tony Wilt) School psychologists; staffing flexibility, DOE to ensure process & criteria to obtain licensure. Requires DOE to consult VASP to ensure that the process and criteria for provisionally licensed school psychologists to obtain full licensure as school psychologists appropriately address the challenges that are unique to school psychology training requirements and the school psychology profession generally.

2025 HB1674 (Delegate Amy Laufer) Directed the Board of Education to change accreditation requirements to allow an alternative to the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation for school counselor or school psychologist to use a specialized accrediting agency. In short, NASP programs were completing two accreditations and now they only have to do NASP.

Contact our Legislative Committee