Emergency Management Professionals Week.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rob Bloxom

Designates the first full week of June each year as Emergency Management Professionals Week in Virginia to recognize and raise public awareness of emergency management professional

Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ507ER)

Overview

HJ507ER designates an annual recognition period called Emergency Management Professionals Week in Virginia. Specifically, it designates the first full week of June, beginning in 2025 and in each succeeding year, as Emergency Management Professionals Week. The resolution is a ceremonial expression of appreciation for emergency management professionals and a call to raise public awareness about their role.

Purpose and Intent

Acknowledge the essential leadership, management, and operational contributions of emergency management professionals.

Promote public outreach and education about emergency preparedness, response, and recovery.

Align the recognition with the broader goal of building resilient communities and effective collaboration among government, private sector, nonprofits, and the public.

Key Provisions

Designation: The General Assembly designates the first full week of June, starting in 2025, and each year thereafter, as Emergency Management Professionals Week in Virginia.

Communication: Requires the Clerk of the House to transmit a copy of the resolution to the Virginia Emergency Management Association to inform its members of the designation.

Website Update: Requires the Clerk to update the General Assembly’s website to reflect the designation.

Who/What Is Affected

Emergency management professionals across Virginia, including those who lead or support emergency operations, training, warning/alerts, resource acquisition, and interagency coordination.

Localities and state agencies involved in emergency management and preparedness.

The Virginia Emergency Management Association as a recipient of the designation communication.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduced: January 17, 2025.

House actions: Engrossed February 3, 2025; Passed the House on February 3, 2025 (96 yeas, 0 nays).

Senate actions: Read third time and agreed to by the Senate on February 18, 2025; final enrollment followed.

Enrolled status: The bill text after both chambers’ action is designated HJ507ER (enrolled).

Effective/operative moment: As a concurrent resolution, it serves as a ceremonial designation and public-facing recognition rather than a substantive law requiring implementation or funding.

Context

The resolution notes that Virginia already designates Emergency Management Professionals Week (previously the third week of March) and asserts that the first week of June better aligns with hurricane season and public awareness opportunities.

The measure emphasizes public education, preparedness, and the public-private-government network essential to effective emergency management.

Fiscal/Policy Impact

No new funding or regulatory requirements are created.

The measure primarily affects recognition, messaging, and public awareness activities, with minimal to no direct fiscal impact.

If you’d like, I can provide a brief comparison to similar recognition efforts in other states or a one-page layperson-friendly explainer for public distribution.

Bill