GWBOT’s Regional Policy Leadership Series (RPLS) events bring together key policymakers and officials to discuss some of the most important issues facing the region’s business community. Last month, the Board of Trade and our partners held two policy conversations, one with regional labor leaders and another with Virginia and Maryland’s Senate Presidents. In each of these discussions, topics ranged from workforce, education, disruptive technology, and the future of both economic and environmental sustainability.

The first event was a labor-focused discussion expertly moderated by Mac Tisdale, President Mid-Atlantic Region at First National Bank. It brough together Sec. Portia Wu, Dr. Unique N. Morris-Hughes, and Sec. George Slater to discuss topics across the labor and workforce landscape, including workforce development and retention, labor environment, intraregional cooperation, and preparing the region for the future impacts of emerging technologies like AI before taking questions about the potential impacts of a government shutdown on the region’s labor market and economy. Fundamentally, the discussion centered around the notion that the Greater Washington region has one of the most educated workforces in the world and should be in a position to capitalize on the new disruptive technologies changing the national and global economic landscapes and what the region can do to maintain and expand the edge that it currently has in that sector.  

Our though-provoking moderator Steve Proctor, President and CEO of G.S. Proctor & Associates, led our next discussion, which engaged Senate Presidents Lucas and Ferguson on a broad range of topics spanning workforce and education, transit, economic and environmental sustainability, health and wellness, technology, and legislative priorities for Maryland and Virginia in the coming cycle, giving attendees a high-level view into what the upcoming legislative cycle is likely to bring for the region.  

Perhaps the biggest take-away, though, was the common theme through the two sessions of collaboration between jurisdictions. Leaders in both sessions have expressed an understanding of the importance of interjurisdictional intraregional collaboration and signaled a desire to work with one another more closely. Connecting regional leaders and the business community is, in large part, the goal of this series and the opportunity to see, in real time, the beginnings of those conversations and for business leaders to take part in the discussion during Q and A time to shape the conversation is a huge step toward this goal.  

If you were able to attend last month’s sessions, thank you for being a part of the conversations and helping to advance collaboration and cooperation within the region, and if you weren’t, make sure that you are able to attend future events so that you can be a party to the conversation going forward and as informed as possible about changes coming to the region’s policy landscape. 

Want to learn more abou these RPLS discussions?

Learn more here: Regional Senate Presidents

Learn more here: Regional Labor Leaders

Washington DC 

The D.C. Council passed emergency public safety legislation just prior to its departure for summer recess. This comes months after Congress, which has taken more interest in the district’s local affairs than in previous years, voted down the revised criminal code legislation. With violent crime up 37% on the year, considerable pressure was being applied on the D.C. Council to act prior to breaking for summer recess, likely a factor in what turned out to be a 12-1 vote. Also contributing to the bill’s passage was that it was emergency legislation, meaning it is only in effect for 90 days. As the D.C. Council returns from recess in September, a more permanent version of this legislation will need to be considered.  

While the Prioritizing Public Safety Amendment Act of 2023 had several components aimed at reducing violent crime and holding perpetrators accountable, such as creating a new offense for firing a gun in public, the portion of the legislation that stirred the most debate amongst council members and advocates was the pretrial detention of both juveniles and adults accused of certain violent crimes and offenses. It is important to note however that the scope of those eligible for pretrial detention was narrowed from previous proposals in order to get the support necessary to pass the legislation. This will undoubtedly continue to be a contentious area of discussion as a permanent version is debated. 

It remains to be seen what will ultimately be included in the permanent version of this legislation as well as whether it will be an omnibus-like bill or multiple individual bills. While the bill did incorporate components of Mayor Bowser’s original proposal, some measures were not eligible to be included. It is likely that additional portions of Mayor Bowser’s proposal will ultimately be included. Councilmember Brooke Pinto, who sponsored the bill, incorporated some measures of a bill she had previously introduced, the Accountability and Victim Protection Amendment Act of 2023. Additionally, measures to assist with the recruitment and retention of law enforcement personnel have also come up in discussions surrounding public safety efforts and should be considered as the legislation takes shape. 

Upcoming Policy Event with Regional Labor Leaders

Click here to register for this event

Virginia 

The standoff over the Commonwealth’s budget continues, months after Virginia General Assembly members departed Richmond following the conclusion of the legislative session. While an updated spending agreement is not technically required (due to the two-year budget passed last year along with a “skinny” budget earlier this year) billions of unallocated dollars remain, leaving priorities and initiatives of both parties unfunded. Conferees from the Republican controlled House and the Democratic controlled Senate have gone back forth over the past several months but remain at an impasse, all while Governor Youngkin continues to apply pressure to get it done and include permanent tax cuts for individuals and businesses when doing so. 

The latest proposal came from the Senate last week, which was in response to the House proposal made three weeks prior. It includes both one-time rebates along with the more controversial ongoing cuts that have been proposed. Whether or not it is enough to satisfy the House is yet to be seen, as a response from House Appropriations Chair Barry Knight is expected soon.  

Multiple factors are likely contributing to the delay in getting it done. Concerns regarding the economic uncertainty the future holds, specifically as it relates to permanent cuts, have been raised throughout the debate. However, these concerns have been somewhat mitigated by the updated revenue projections that have been released over the course of the last few months, showing the Commonwealth is currently in a strong financial position. The upcoming elections in November are also impacting the negotiations, as elected officials dedicate increased time to campaign efforts. As noted in a previous blog post, Virginia is experiencing historic turnover within its general assembly, not just in raw numbers but perhaps more importantly in experience. In the event an agreement is not reached, control of the House and Senate which will be determined in November will be all the more significant. 

Maryland 

Earlier this month, appointments to the Maryland Commission on Transportation Revenue and Infrastructure Needs were announced, along with the date of their first meeting on August 24th. The Commission is a result of SB 24, passed this past legislative session, whose 31 members consist of legislators, local elected officials, cabinet secretaries, industry, labor, and environmental organizations. The Commission will review, evaluate, and make recommendations concerning:  

• the current State funding sources and structure of the Maryland Transportation Trust Fund, including major trends in revenue including the general funds; 
• the methods other states are employing to fund state transportation operating and capital programs including toll revenue, vehicle-miles-traveled fees, fees on zero-emission vehicles, and non-transportation-related revenue options; 
• short-and long-term construction and maintenance funding needs for transit, highway, pedestrian, bicycle, heavy rail, shipping, air travel, and other transportation needs; 
• options for public-private partnerships, including partnerships with local governments, to meet transportation funding needs including funding options; 
• changes in transportation technology and trends that will impact transportation infrastructure needs and costs to the State; 
• existing practices for prioritizing project funding and options to better prioritize needs, including local and legislative priorities; 
• the structure of regional transportation authorities and ability of these authorities to meet transportation needs in various regions of the State; 
• options for sustainable, long-term revenue sources for transportation; and 
• options for improving the Maryland Department of Transportation’s ability and capacity to deliver major capital projects. 

With Governor Moore advancing the Red Line in Baltimore, which was projected to cost roughly $2.9 billion nearly a decade ago, funding for projects in our region such as the American Legion Bridge 495/270 and addressing WMATA’s impending fiscal cliff, will be difficult to identify. 

The Greater Washington Board of Trade hosted our Communications and Public Relations discussion featuring guest speaker Greg Kihlstrom, a published author, customer experience expert, and marketing technology transformation consultant, who spoke to our members about the impacts of artificial intelligence to the communications profession.

As we gathered to explore the various categories of AI and its impact on industries, it became evident that AI’s potential is boundless, offering innovative solutions and revolutionizing the way we approach automation.

One of the key highlights of the event was the introduction to Generative AI. Systems like ChatGPT and Dall-E Midjourney can generate content like text and images based on prompts. Witnessing the AI’s creativity in real-time left us in awe, and we couldn’t help but envision the endless possibilities for businesses and creative endeavors alike.

We also dived deep into Predictive Analytics, which intrigued everyone with its data-driven insights. The ability of AI to make accurate predictions about future outcomes using historical data and statistical modeling is nothing short of remarkable. From customer segmentation to churn prediction, the potential applications of Predictive Analytics left us inspired.

Going beyond traditional marketing automation, we explored the human touch of AI through Personalized Customer Journeys. This AI category focuses on delivering tailored experiences to individual customers based on their behaviors and preferences.

Workflow Automation, also known as Robotic Process Automation (RPA), was another engaging topic during the event. Learning how AI could automate routine tasks like report generation and customer service left us contemplating how much time and effort this could save for businesses, allowing employees to focus on more strategic and meaningful work.

As we discussed the potential of AI, it was crucial to address the concerns and risks associated with this technology. The threat of biases in decision-making and the need for transparency in machine learning models raised important ethical considerations. However, it was reassuring to see that these concerns could be managed and mitigated with responsible and thoughtful implementation.

Moreover, we couldn’t ignore the impact of AI on the job market. Contrary to common fears of massive job displacement, our discussion highlighted a more collaborative future. AI is expected to augment human capabilities, not replace them entirely. While repetitive tasks may be automated, humans will play a crucial role in curating AI-generated ideas and defining desired outcomes for AI optimization.

Overall, participants left this AI-focused discussion optimistic about the future of technology and its potential to transform industries for the better. We are excited to continue exploring AI’s possibilities and its responsible integration into our lives, maximizing its benefits, and creating a brighter, more efficient world.

The Communications & PR cohort is led by board members, Michael Akin, President of LINK Strategic Partners and Beth Johnson, Founder and CEO of RP3 Agency. Each roundtable session brings together communication professionals to discuss industry trends and share best practices. Share your thoughts on this series by filling out this survey.

Virginians will head to the polls Tuesday, June 20, to cast their votes in the primary, ahead of November’s general election in which every seat of the Commonwealth’s legislature will be on the ballot. This year’s election is unique for several reasons, the most notable being that it is the first since the new legislative districts were drawn. 

Redistricting has had significant impacts: 

Virginia adopted a constitutional amendment in 2020 that established a bipartisan redistricting commission, composed of state legislators and political appointees, who were tasked with drafting and approving new state and federal district maps. However, the commission was unable to reach a consensus on either the state or federal maps, resulting in the Supreme Court of Virginia having to step into the matter. The Supreme Court appointed two “special masters,” one from each of the two political parties, to draw the maps in an “apolitical and nonpartisan manner.” In December 2021, the Supreme Court approved the final drawings of the three maps (State House, State Senate, and U.S. Congress), setting the stage for the next decade of political battles in the Commonwealth.  

The new maps were composed without considering incumbent residency, resulting in multiple sitting Delegates (44) and Senators (19) being pitted against their fellow colleagues and other seats with no incumbents. This left many legislators in a tough position by potentially having to face a contested primary or a general election against a fellow sitting member of the General Assembly. Ultimately, these new dynamics resulted in many state lawmakers choosing not to seek reelection, while some moved into a district with a more favorable political environment.  
 
Veteran lawmakers out as a result of redistricting:
 
Nearly a third of the 140 districts in the Commonwealth will not have an incumbent represented in the primary election next week. To put this into perspective, you would have to look back to the 2011 election to find a cycle where even half that many districts were open-seat primaries. Remember this represents the minimum number of new General Assembly members, as some incumbents could lose in their respective primary or general election.  

While the turnover in Virginia’s legislature will be historic in terms of raw numbers, another influential factor at play is who those incumbents not seeking reelection are and the leadership positions they hold. Delegate Kathy Byron, Republican Chair of the House Commerce and Energy Committee, Delegate Rob Bell, Republican Chair of the House Courts of Justice Committee, and Delegate Margaret Ransone, Republican Chair of the House Privileges and Elections Committee are all retiring.  

The Senate will face even greater leadership changes, with the retirements of Democratic Majority Leader and chair of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee Senator Dick Saslaw along with Republican Minority Leader Senator Tommy Norment. Senator Louise Lucas, president pro tempore and Democratic Chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee and the Senate Rules Committee, is facing a hotly contested primary against Senator Lionell Spruill, Democratic Chair of the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee. Additionally, Senator Janet Howell, Democratic Chair of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, Senator John Edwards, Democratic Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Lynwood Lewis, Democratic Chair of the Senate Local Government Committee are also retiring.  
 
Northern Virginia shaping diverse representation and influence in House & Senate: 

Northern Virginia will look a lot different in terms of representation in the General Assembly come the start of next session – Jan. 10, 2024. With the Commonwealth’s population shifting, Northern Virginia added two new Senate and two new House districts through the redistricting process. This gives it 12 out of 40 Senate districts and 30 out of 100 House districts.  

However, with the turnover and retirement of incumbent legislators, namely that of Senator Saslaw, it is unclear if Northern Virginia will wield the same level of influence in Richmond than it has in the past. Priorities of these newly elected officials, not just those in Northern Virginia, are also worth keeping an eye on. This year’s pool of candidates from both parties is more diverse by gender, race, and experience. It makes sense to assume that their policy initiatives and priorities could shift from their predecessors, even if they are from the same party.  

 We will have to wait until November to see who controls the House, currently held by the Republicans, and the Senate, currently held by the Democrats. With such tight margins and so much uncertainty created from the redistricting process, it is anyone’s guess as to what will happen. What is certain though, is that there will be a considerable number of new legislators in Richmond and new names in many leadership positions come next session.