Virginia General Assembly, Delegate Israel O'Quinn

Emory and Henry College, Israel O’Quinn

Israel is from Abingdon. He attended Patrick Henry High School in Glade Spring. He has a bachelor's degree in political science and history from Emory and Henry College. He lives with his wife, Emily, in Washington County.

Israel is the director of the office of strategic initiatives at K-VA-T Food Stores, which owns Food City. He used to work for the attorney general Jerry Kilgore and on political campaigns.

Israel O'Quinn currently the state delegate representing the 5th district. He was first elected in 2011 and has been in office for five terms. He is deputy whip and vice chair of the privileges and election committee, the commerce and energy committee, and the rules committee.

Legiscan, SB1323

Opposes transitioning to renewable energy sources, and supports continuing to use natural gas and coal as the state's main energy sources.

Opposes relying on oil imported from other countries.

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that will lower energy bills for Virginian’s by $6-$7 per month by changing the way Virginia’s monopoly energy provider, Dominion Energy, can set prices.

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that would have banned Virginia’s government from banning or restricting the use of natural gas.

- Opposes transitioning to renewable energy sources, and supports continuing to use natural gas and coal as the state's main energy sources. 
- Opposes relying on oil imported from other countries.
- As a state delegate, voted for a bill that will lower energy bills for Virginian’s by $6-$7 per month by changing the way Virginia’s monopoly energy provider, Dominion Energy, can set prices. 
- As a state delegate, voted for a bill that would have banned Virginia’s government from banning or restricting the use of natural gas.

Energy & the Environment

Opposes raising taxes, and opposes new government regulations on businesses.

Supports training Virginians in technical skills that companies are looking for in employees.

Supports promoting tourism as an essential part of Virginia's economy.

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that lowered taxes on groceries from 2.5% to 1%, except for alcohol, tobacco, and prepared hot foods. Diapers and feminine hygiene products were included in the tax decrease.

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that limits the amount of THC in hemp products to 0.3% of the product and 2 milligrams total. Possession of marijuana is decriminalized in Virginia but there is no legal market for sales of THC products.

- Opposes raising taxes, and opposes new government regulations on businesses. 
- Supports training Virginians in technical skills that companies are looking for in employees. 
- Supports promoting tourism as an essential part of Virginia's economy.
- As a state delegate, voted for a bill that lowered taxes on groceries from 2.5% to 1%, except for alcohol, tobacco, and prepared hot foods. Diapers and feminine hygiene products were included in the tax decrease.  
- As a state delegate, voted for a bill that limits the amount of THC in hemp products to 0.3% of the product and 2 milligrams total. Possession of marijuana is decriminalized in Virginia but there is no legal market for sales of THC products.

Economy

As a state delegate, worked to make sure that the Department of Veterans Services had enough staff to process claims by veterans.

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that would have let patients sue hospitals that weren’t transparent about their prices for services.

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that prevents pharmacists from refusing to fill prescriptions because they were prescribed via telemedicine.

- As a state delegate, worked to make sure that the Department of Veterans Services had enough staff to process claims by veterans. 
- As a state delegate, voted for a bill that would have let patients sue hospitals that weren’t transparent about their prices for services. 
- As a state delegate, voted for a bill that prevents pharmacists from refusing to fill prescriptions because they were prescribed via telemedicine.

Healthcare

As a state delegate, voted to spend $12 million for more police officers and security in schools.

As a state delegate, wanted to reduce the amount of standardized testing and supported teaching based on critical thinking, problem solving, and learning by doing projects.

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that would have required school principals to tell parents if their child tells a school employee that they don’t identify with their gender assigned at birth or asks to be identified by another gender.

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that lets companies be sued for publishing or distributing online content that is “harmful to minors” without checking the age of the internet users accessing the content.

- Wants to raise teacher pay. 
- As a state delegate, voted to spend $12 million for more police officers and security in schools. 
- As a state delegate, wanted to reduce the amount of standardized testing and supported teaching based on critical thinking, problem solving, and learning by doing projects. 
- As a state delegate, voted for a bill that would have required school principals to tell parents if their child tells a school employee that they don’t identify with their gender assigned at birth or asks to be identified by another gender. 
- As a state delegate, voted for a bill that lets companies be sued for publishing or distributing online content that is “harmful to minors” without checking the age of the internet users accessing the content.

Education

News 5 WCYB, First responder mental health is a top priority for Del. O'Quinn

Supports the the Public Safety Memorial on Capitol grounds in Richmond, which is a tribute to police officers killed on duty.

As a state delegate, worked to get depression and anxiety covered by worker's compensation to provide payments for police and firefighters who become depressed or anxious because of work.

Plans on prioritizing mental health for police and firefighters.

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that gives people $300 off their taxes if they buy a gun safe or lock box. The credit expires in 2027.

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that would have let drug dealers be charged with murder if one of their customers dies of a drug overdose. The punishment would have been 5-40 years in prison.

- Supports the the Public Safety Memorial on Capitol grounds in Richmond, which is a tribute to police officers killed on duty. 
- As a state delegate, worked to get depression and anxiety covered by worker's compensation to provide payments for police and firefighters who become depressed or anxious because of work. 
- Plans on prioritizing mental health for police and firefighters. 
- As a state delegate, voted for a bill that gives people $300 off their taxes if they buy a gun safe or lock box. The credit expires in 2027. 
- As a state delegate, voted for a bill that would have let drug dealers be charged with murder if one of their customers dies of a drug overdose. The punishment would have been 5-40 years in prison.

Public Safety

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Israel O'Quinn

- The Virginia General Assembly, made up of the House of Delegates and the State Senate, is responsible for creating state laws.  
- Your state delegate serves your local district in the Virginia House of Delegates, advocating for your community's needs and interests.  
- Delegates have the power to write, sponsor, and vote on proposed legislation, including all bills related to the state budget, which begin in the House of Delegates.  
- The House of Delegates consists of 100 members, each elected to represent one district.  
- Delegates serve two-year terms and receive an annual salary of $17,640.