Author: PHILIP SCRANAGE

Mt. Vernon, VA – Senate Bill 1182 will raise insurance minimums to compensate for increased medical costs and car prices. 

Richmond, Virginia – Today the Virginia House of Delegates passed Senator Scott Surovell’s legislation to raise Virginia’s auto insurance minimum coverage limits. SB 1182 has now passed out of the Senate and House of Delegates. The legislation awaits Governor Ralph Northam’s signature to become law. 

Virginia’s insurance minimum coverage limits have not changed since Surovell was 4 years old in 1975. They constitute the lowest level of insurance that is required to drive a car. 

“This update to the current minimum limits is long overdue given the increase in the cost of health care, wages, and the value of automobiles over the last 45 years,” Surovell said. “The state with the highest minimums, Maine, has the lowest number of uninsured drivers in America. The state with the lowest minimums, Florida, has the highest number of uninsured drivers. The data would tend to show that the higher minimum policy you have, the fewer people go without insurance so it actually has a positive effect.”  

The legislation will increase minimum car insurance coverage amounts from $25,000 to $30,000 in cases of bodily injury to or death of one person, from $50,000 to $60,000 in cases of bodily injury to or death of more than one person in any one accident, and from $20,000 to $25,000 for property damage coverage. In 2024, the minimums will increase to $50,000, $100,000, and $40,000 respectively.

According to a study conducted by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), this will cost the average Virginian who has this policy about $5 more per month.

This is the second year that Surovell has introduced this bill. 

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Senator Scott A. Surovell represents parts of Fairfax, Prince William, and Stafford Counties since 2015. Prior to his time in the Senate, Surovell served six years in the House of Delegates. Surovell lives in Mt. Vernon with his wife and four children. He practices law and has dedicated his legislative career to fighting for Northern Virginia’s fair share, protecting consumers, and preserving our environment for future generations.

Mt. Vernon, VA – The Senate of Virginia and the House of Delegates passed SB 1165, which repeals the death penalty in Virginia and saves almost $4 million per year that the Commonwealth spends defending people from the death penalty. Governor Northam has stated that he plans to sign this bill into law which would make Virginia the first Southern state to abolish the death penalty. Senator Scott Surovell (D-Mt. Vernon) patroned the legislation.

In the U.S. and Virginia, studies have shown that the most common groups to receive the death penalty are poor and minority defendants. The use of the death penalty in Virginia dates back to 1608 in Jamestown. Since 1976, Virginia has executed 113 people which is more than any other state but Texas during that period. 

“I cannot think of anything that’s more awful, unspeakable and wrong for a government to do than to use its power to execute somebody who didn’t commit the crime they’re accused of. As a 12th generation Virginian, I am proud to be part of bringing our Commonwealth in line with the rest of the developed world and making us a leader again on the right to due process,” Surovell said.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 22 states no longer practice death penalty. Five states have abolished the death penalty in the past decade, including Maryland which passed legislation to abolish capital punishment in 2013 (Nebraska additionally voted to abolish the death penalty in 2015, but it has since been reinstated). 

In the United States, 18 people have been post-humously exonerated after being wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to death since 1989. There is no conclusive evidence that perpetrators of violent crime consider the potential statutory consequences of the crime in advance.

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Senator Scott A. Surovell represents parts of Fairfax, Prince William, and Stafford Counties since 2015. Prior to his time in the Senate, Surovell served six years in the House of Delegates. Surovell lives in Mt. Vernon with his wife and four children. He practices law and has dedicated his legislative career to fighting for Northern Virginia’s fair share, protecting consumers, and preserving our environment for future generations.

Mount Vernon, Virginia – Senator Scott Surovell (D-36) announced that the sixth annual Puller Institute is now accepting 2021 applicants.

Surovell created the Puller Institute to honor his predecessor, State Senator Elizabeth “Toddy” Puller who served in the Virginia General Assembly for 24 years. Senator Puller was an avid advocate for the citizens of Virginia and this program is dedicated to her years of hard work for the 36th District.

Over a decade ago, Mt. Vernon Delegate Kris Amundson created her Young Leader Program. Her program was designed to introduce top high school students in the Mt. Vernon area to the Virginia State Government process. After Delegate Amundson’s retirement, Surovell continued the program and renamed it the Amundson Institute in honor of Delegate Amundson’s commitment to Mt. Vernon’s young leaders. The Puller Institute is modeled on the same program.

“Since the creation of this program, I have met multiple young leaders from the Northern Virginia region with different backgrounds, passions, and interests. They have been an excellent source of inspiration for some of my past legislation and always offer a unique insight into issues within their community along with possible solutions. This is a rare opportunity and I am pleased that I am able to continue it another year,” Surovell said.

Due to COVID-19, the Puller Institute will be held remotely. Students will still meet with policymakers, cabinet officials, journalists, and policy advocates via Zoom. After the program, the selected students will give a presentation on a state policy proposal for Surovell in the spring. These projects are based on an issue that the students are both passionate about and pertain to the 36th District.

In the past, students have met with Governor Ralph Northam, Secretary of Education Atif Qarni, NPR Reporter Michael Pope, Former Delegate Kris Amundson, and Former Delegate Chris Saxman.

For more information on The Puller Institute and to apply for the 2021 session, please complete the application here:

Puller Institute Application

The deadline for all applicants is Tuesday, December 15th at 5:00 PM EST. The remote program will take place on Tuesday, January 19th from 8:00 AM-6:00 PM.

More information: Philip Scranage, Chief of Staff
571.249.4484