Del. Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke)

Photo of Sam Rasoul
Party
Democratic
District
11: City of Roanoke (part) [map]
Took Office
January 2014
Next Election
November 2019
Committees
Appropriations, Education, Public Safety
Website
sam4roanoke.com
Copatroning Habits
80% of bills he copatroned were introduced by Democrats. Of all of the copatrons of his bills, 74% of them are Democrats. Of all of the copatrons of all of the bills that he also copatroned, 73% of them are Democrats.
Partisanship
?
Tag Cloud ?
ballot climate change commendation constitutional amendment contribution crime curriculum education election elections electricity energy ethics general assembly grant healthcare legislature locality politics prison procurement real estate redistricting regulation school schools social services study tax voting
Bills Passed
50% in 2022
Bio

A healthcare consultant, Rasoul originally hails from Warren, Ohio. He holds a BBA from Roanoke College and an MBA from Hawaii Pacific University. He is married, with three children. Notably, Rasoul was a member of the Virginia Defense Force from 2007–08, and is the only Muslim member of the Virginia General Assembly.

Recent Mentions in the Media

The Roanoke Star: SCOTT DREYER: Month 1: Rasoul Refuses To Retract Anti-Semitic ...

November 24, 2023 | 7:33 am
  

Cardinal News: Del. Rasoul in line to be the only Democratic legislator west of ...

November 9, 2023 | 3:00 am
  

WSET: 'It's not going to be as bad as some people think': Local delegates weigh in on flip of power in House of Delegates

November 8, 2023 | 3:00 am
  

WDBJ: Historic changes ahead for Virginia General Assembly

November 8, 2023 | 3:00 am
  

Roanoke Times: Chris Obenshain wins 41st District state House race

November 7, 2023 | 3:00 am
  

These are all of the video clips of Sam Rasoul’s remarks on the floor of the House since 2014. There are 16 video clips in all.

Bills

  • HB105: Catawba Hospital; DGS to study feasibility of transforming into subst. abuse/mental health trtmt.
  • HB1566: Public school teachers and other Standards of Quality-funded positions; compensation.
  • HB1567: Perinatal health; VDH, et al., to evaluate strategies to reduce maternal & infant mortality rates.
  • HB2185: Community services boards and behavioral health authorities; provisions of performance contracts.
  • HB2186: Trespass; other person lawfully in charge of the property includes maint. code official of locality.
  • HB2187: School counselors; required percentage of staff time during school hours, etc.
  • HB2188: School psychologists; staffing flexibility.
  • HB2189: PFAS chemicals; requirements to test, publicly owned treatment works.
  • HB2190: Managed care organizations; data collections and reporting requirements, report.
  • HB2191: Unattended or immobile vehicles; removal by locality.
  • HB2192: Catawba Hospital; substance abuse treatment and recovery services.
  • HB2249: Prisoners; Department of Corrections-issued and jailer-issued identification.
  • HB2314: Health insurance; credits for retired state employees.
  • HJ459: Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters,16-year-olds permitted to vote (first reference).
  • HJ577: Celebrating the life of Barbara Jean Smith Taylor.
  • HJ578: Celebrating the life of Charlene Adele Curtis.
  • HJ579: Commending Hill Street Baptist Church.
  • HJ580: Commending Heather Harper Gunn.
  • HJ581: Commending Sunni Purviance.
  • HJ609: Celebrating the life of the Reverend Monsignor Joseph Patrick Lehman III.
  • HJ655: Commending the Rescue Mission of Roanoke.
  • HJ656: Celebrating the life of Carnis L. Poindexter.
  • HJ657: Commending Adria Cintron.
  • HJ658: Celebrating the life of Gordon Locke Kendall.
  • HJ680: Commemorating the life and legacy of Reuben E. Lawson.
  • HR354: Celebrating the life of the Reverend Paulis Ervin Johnson, Sr.
  • HR355: Commending Bethlehem Bible College.
  • HB105: Catawba Hospital; DGS to study feasibility of transforming into subst. abuse/mental health trtmt.
  • HB291: Income tax, state; creates a nonrefundable tax credit for family caregivers.
  • HB298: Land bank ordinances; disposition.
  • HB309: Limited liability companies; prepayment of annual registration fees.
  • HB312: Virginia Health Benefit Exchange; annual marketing plan.
  • HB315: Roanoke, City of; amending charter, municipal elections.
  • HB323: Local Food and Farming Infrastructure Grant Program; increases grant for certain projects.
  • HB447: Broadband providers; affordable monthly plan.
  • HB469: Electric utilities; clean energy mandates, transitioning workers, etc.
  • HB494: Human donor milk bank licensing; payment of medical assistance and health insurance coverage.
  • HB879: Education, Board of; qualifications of members, Governor shall consider appointing two members.
  • HB1108: Public schools; instruction concerning gambling, report.
  • HJ10: Commending Feeding Southwest Virginia.
  • HJ82: Arab American Heritage Month; designating as April 2022 and each succeeding year thereafter.
  • HJ193: Commending Angels of Assisi.
  • HJ194: Commending Cheryl Hartman, Ph.D.
  • HJ195: Commending the Roanoke 100 Miler.
  • HJ198: Celebrating the life of Harry Graves Johnson, Jr.
  • HJ214: Celebrating the life of Estelle Hunter McCadden.
  • HJ228: Commending Michael C. Maxey.
  • HJ269: Commending Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home and Crematory.
  • HJ270: Commending St. Andrew's Catholic Church.
  • HJ271: Commending the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center.
  • HJ291: Commending Radford University Carilion.
  • HJ305: Commemorating Roanoke College.
  • HJ325: Commending St. John's Episcopal Church.
  • HJ327: Celebrating the life of George Andrew Kegley.
  • HB360: Elections; voter-nominated open primary elections, ranked choice voting for certain elections.
  • HB1036: Preventive services; coverage for outpatient mental health screenings or visits.
  • HB1038: Solid waste management facility; permit for landfill with capacity of more than 35 million tons.
  • HB1040: Naturopathic doctors; Board of Medicine to license and regulate.
  • HB1687: Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund and Grant Program; established.
  • HB1937: Green New Deal Act; establishes a moratorium, effective January 1, 2022, etc.
  • HB1940: Students; guidelines on excused student absences, civic or political engagement.
  • HB1940: Students; guidelines on excused student absences, civic or political engagement.
  • HB1941: Law-enforcement officer; discharge of firearm, etc., release of video or audio recording.
  • HB2039: Physician assistant; eliminates certain requirement for practice.
  • HB2039: Physician assistant; eliminates certain requirement for practice.
  • HB2044: Naturopathic doctors; Board of Medicine to license and regulate.
  • HB2068: Local Food and Farming Infrastructure Grant Program; established.
  • HB2068: Local Food and Farming Infrastructure Grant Program; established.
  • HB2079: Pharmacists; initiation of treatment with and dispensing and administering of drugs and devices.
  • HB2079: Pharmacists; initiation of treatment with and dispensing and administering of drugs and devices.
  • HJ86: Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters, 16-year-olds permitted to vote.
  • HJ550: Glass-Steagall Act; memorializing Congress to reinstate Act and develop an infrastructure bank.
  • HJ551: Constitutional amendment; qualification of voters, 16-year-olds permitted to vote (first reference).
  • HR337: Celebrating the life of John R.F. Lewis.
  • HR792: Commending Eboni Harrington.
  • HB77: Green New Deal Act; fossil fuel projects moratorium, clean energy mandates, civil penalties.
  • HB99: Va. Fair Housing Law; status as a victim of family abuse, etc.
  • HB360: Elections; voter-nominated open primary elections, ranked choice voting for certain elections.
  • HB361: Family caregiver; tax credit.
  • HB362: Physician assistant; capacity determinations.
  • HB378: Comprehensive harm reduction programs; public health emergency, repeals sunset provision.
  • HB753: Social-emotional learning; DOE to develop guidance standards.
  • HB1034: Local Food and Farming Infrastructure Fund and Grant Program; established.
  • HB1036: Preventive services; coverage for outpatient mental health screenings or visits.
  • HB1037: Health insurance; short-term limited-duration medical plans, definitions, effective date.
  • HB1038: Solid waste management facility; permit for landfill with capacity of more than 35 million tons.
  • HB1039: Felony homicide; repeals the crime.
  • HB1040: Naturopathic doctors; Board of Medicine to license and regulate.
  • HB1257: Drinking water supplies and waterworks; maximum contaminant levels, effective date, report.
  • HB1355: Community schools; establishment, community programs, etc.
  • HB1449: Physicians; medical specialty board certification options.
  • HB1687: Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund and Grant Program; established.
  • HB5091: Law-enforcement officers; required release of video or audio recording, discharge of firearm, etc.
  • HJ55: Commonwealth Corridor passenger rail service; DRPT to study feasibility of an east-west service.
  • HJ86: Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters, 16-year-olds permitted to vote.
  • HJ87: Glass-Steagall Act; infrastructure bank.
  • HJ88: Virginia's Mental Health Region; designating as Roanoke and New River Valleys.
  • HJ152: Commending Virginia Organizing.
  • HJ279: Commending the Texas Tavern.
  • HJ280: Commending Sherman P. Lea.
  • HJ281: Commending the Kiwanis Club of Roanoke.
  • HJ282: Commending Local Colors.
  • HJ283: Commending the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission.
  • HJ284: Commending the Virginia Emergency Management Association.
  • HJ285: Commending Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare.
  • HJ286: Commending the West End Center for Youth.
  • HJ479: Celebrating the life of Harry Clarke Curtis.
  • HJ492: Commending the William Fleming High School 800-meter sprint medley relay team.
  • HJ494: Commending ARCH Roanoke.
  • HJ495: Commending Morning Star Baptist Church.
  • HB1635: Fossil fuel projects moratorium; clean energy mandates.
  • HB1654: Prohibited public carrying of certain firearms in public areas; penalty.
  • HB1744: Smoking; unlawful in motor vehicle with a minor present.
  • HB1854: Education, Department of; workgroup on social and emotional learning.
  • HB1902: Solar Demonstration Projects Grant Program; established, Solar Energy Special Fund created.
  • HB1967: Physicians; allowing for competition and additional entities.
  • HB1975: PACE program; DMAS to develop and implement a plan to provide client education.
  • HB2501: Greenhouse gas emissions; inventory.
  • HB2502: Landlord and tenant; maintenance standards.
  • HB2503: Public utilities; transactions with affiliates, fuel procurement arrangements.
  • HB2521: Assisted living facilities; staffing during overnight hours.
  • HB2645: Electric Utility Regulation; Refund Act.
  • HB2761: Cave and karst protection; penalty.
  • HB2775: Community schools; best practices to transition existing schools.
  • HJ577: United States Constitution; ratifies Equal Rights Amendment.
  • HJ668: Restoring Representative Government; free and fair elections, limiting corporate personhood.
  • HJ669: Glass-Steagall Act; infrastructure bank
  • HJ678: Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters, 16-year-olds permitted to vote.
  • HJ724: Green New Deal; recognizing need for clean energy economy.
  • HJ738: Commending the Local Office on Aging.
  • HJ946: Celebrating the life of John George Liakos.
  • HJ947: Celebrating the life of William Garfield Dabney.
  • HJ949: Commending Sherley Stuart.
  • HJ950: Commending Evelyn Bethel and Helen Davis.
  • HJ951: Commending Jamie Follin Nichols.
  • HJ952: Commending Robert A. Clement, Jr.
  • HJ953: Commending George Miller.
  • HJ954: Commending Sue Ranson.
  • HJ1056: Commending On Our Own.
  • HR426: Commending the Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project.
  • HB6: Security freezes; elimination of fees.
  • HB96: Electric utility regulation; suspension of reviews of earnings, transitional rate period.
  • HB120: Unemployment compensation; wage offset.
  • HB121: Community schools; development of program to establish schools.
  • HB148: Prescription Monitoring Program; requirements of prescribers, prescriptions for opioids.
  • HB149: Child support order payee; change in physical custody of child, orders involving DSS.
  • HB157: Right to Treat Act; requirement of Maintenance of Certification prohibited, etc.
  • HB159: Family life education curricula; local school board to implement in grades kindergarten through 12.
  • HB240: Wage or salary history; inquiries prohibited, civil penalty.
  • HB275: Campaigns, certain; voluntary public financing.
  • HB276: Virginia Interim Redistricting Commission; criteria for remedial redistricting plans.
  • HB382: Voter precincts; precincts contained wholly within congressional or state legislative district.
  • HB1112: Voter registration at the DMV; REAL ID compliant applications.
  • HB1129: Elections; establishes voter-nominated open primary elections.
  • HB1130: Assisted living facilities, etc.; licensure of facilities operated by agencies of the Commonwealth.
  • HB1133: Prisoners; medical and mental health treatment of those incapable of giving consent.
  • HB1136: Aboveground chemical storage tanks; local ordinance, inspection.
  • HB1141: Interstate natural gas pipeline; Virginia Water Protection Permit, etc., regulations.
  • HB1294: Interstate natural gas pipeline construction; water quality impact bond.
  • HB1295: Prescription Monitoring Program; disclosure of info to a public institution of higher education.
  • HB1296: Statewide public defender system and appellate defender officer; established.
  • HB1394: Firearms show; list of vendors or exhibitors submitted to State Police.
  • HB1483: Virginia Consumer Protection Act; open-end credit plans.
  • HB1490: Fossil fuel projects moratorium; establishes, clean energy mandates.
  • HJ33: Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters,16-year-olds.
  • HJ34: Constitutional amendment; initiatives, referendums, and recalls.
  • HJ395: Celebrating the life of Tom Cain.
  • HJ463: Commending Yodie Swain.
  • HJ464: Commending St. John's Episcopal Church.
  • HJ465: Commending Virginia Prosthetics and Orthotics.
  • HJ466: Commending Center in the Square.
  • HJ467: Commending Jefferson College of Health Sciences.
  • HJ468: Commending Child Health Investment Partnership of Roanoke Valley.
  • HJ469: Commending Community High School.
  • HJ470: Commending the Reverend Kirk Ballin.
  • HJ473: Celebrating the life of Julien H. Meyer, Jr., M.D.
  • HR1: Glass-Steagall Act; memorializing Congress to reinstate portions of Act.
  • HB1035: Elderly care savings trust accounts; established, administered by the Virginia College Savings Plan.
  • HB1444: Minimum wage; increases minimum wage from its current federally mandated level.
  • HB1759: Redeemable beverage containers.
  • HB1789: Emergency vehicles, privately owned volunteer; requirement for flashing lights and sirens.
  • HB2153: Durable Do Not Resuscitate Orders; reciprocity.
  • HB2154: Running bamboo; locality may, by ordinance, provide for control, civil penalty.
  • HB2155: Workers' compensation; modifications to employee's home and automobile.
  • HB2156: Child welfare agencies; licensure for agencies operated by the Commonwealth.
  • HB2157: Family abuse protective order; third or subsequent violation of order.
  • HB2158: Dumping trash; increases penalty.
  • HB2159: Litter; adds cigarette or cigar butts to definition.
  • HB2160: Virginia Interim Redistricting Commission; criteria for remedial redistricting plans.
  • HB2434: Community schools; Department of Education to establish taskforce for pilot program.
  • HB2443: Electoral fusion; form of ballot, candidate's name appearing more than once for same office.
  • HJ541: Constitutional amendment; top two open primary election (first reference).
  • HJ554: Celebrating the life of Jean Alexandria Glontz.
  • HJ584: Commending the Roanoke Catholic School football team.
  • HJ585: Study; State Council of Higher Ed; rates of in-state and out-of-state undergraduate admissions.
  • HJ622: Constitutional amendment; General Assembly term limits (first reference).
  • HJ631: Commending Peter Allen Lewis.
  • HJ642: Memorializing Congress; reinstatement of Glass-Steagall Act.
  • HJ701: United States Constitution; application for a convention of the states; free and fair elections.
  • HJ811: Commending E. Wade Whitehead, Jr.
  • HJ812: Celebrating the life of Elizabeth Florence Kennedy LaGrua.
  • HJ838: Celebrating the life of Steven Charles Buschor.
  • HJ839: Celebrating the life of Gus George Pappas.
  • HJ854: Commending Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home.
  • HJ855: Celebrating the life of James A. Lewis, Jr.
  • HJ858: Celebrating the life of Joel Willis Richert.
  • HJ871: Celebrating the life of W. Alvin Hudson, Jr.
  • HJ876: Commending Diane Kelly.
  • HR458: Commending Christopher P. Morrill.
  • HB53: Juvenile offenders; sentence modification procedure.
  • HB82: Elections; changes definition of 'party' or 'political party.'
  • HB103: Consumer finance loans; caps maximum rate of interest.
  • HB302: Elephants; prohibits use of devices for training, etc., that inflict pain or cause physical injury.
  • HB303: Virginia Interim Redistricting Commission; criteria for remedial redistricting plans.
  • HB319: Health regulatory boards; continuing education for certain individuals.
  • HB1035: Elderly care savings trust accounts; established, administered by the Virginia College Savings Plan.
  • HB1037: Voting systems; prohibits use of direct recording electronic machines on or after July 1, 2017.
  • HB1038: Motor vehicle safety inspections; window tinting.
  • HB1040: Voter-nominated primary elections; established for offices of Governor, etc.
  • HB1041: Marijuana offenses; driver's license forfeiture.
  • HB1043: Reckless driving; raises threshold for speeding.
  • HB1045: Threats of death or bodily injury; penalty.
  • HB1046: Youth services citizen boards; clarifies membership.
  • HB1047: Alcohol; use of premises for illegal consumption, civil penalty.
  • HB1049: Firearms show; list of vendors or exhibitors submitted to State Police.
  • HB1050: Solar thermal system tax credit.
  • HB1258: Minimum wage; increases wage from federally mandated level to $8.50 per hour.
  • HB1295: Abuse or neglect of child; definitions, penalty.
  • HJ13: Commending Pilgrim Baptist Church.
  • HJ18: Constitutional amendment; term limits for members of the General Assembly.
  • HJ51: Celebrating the life of Jesse Clingenpeel.
  • HJ71: Commending Temple Emanuel.
  • HJ108: Medicaid; JLARC to study electronic sources of data, etc.
  • HJ118: Celebrating the life of Alphonzo LaSalle Holland, Sr.
  • HJ137: Driver's license; suspension upon conviction of marijuana offense.
  • HJ216: Celebrating the life of Carol Willoughby.
  • HJ217: Celebrating the life of Charles Wesley Day.
  • HJ237: Commending Apostolos Dallas, M.D.
  • HJ310: Commending Geanina Poff.
  • HJ311: Celebrating the life of Ray Wayne Gandee, M.D.
  • HJ353: Commending the Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke.
  • HJ451: Commending Chris Perkins.
  • HJ457: Celebrating the life of Sheila Sachs Strauss.
  • HB1159: Political contributions; prohibitions during procurement process.
  • HB1297: Machinery and tools tax; production of renewable energy.
  • HB1344: Flashing lights on motor vehicles; 'move over' law.
  • HB1399: Flood insurance; escrow accounts.
  • HB1463: Elections; changes definition of 'party' or 'political party.'
  • HB1464: Equines; report on animal cruelty.
  • HB1465: Redistricting; certain population data to be used.
  • HB1726: Enterprise zone real property; investment grants.
  • HB1860: Collection receptacles for clothing, household items, etc.; required disclosures.
  • HB1862: Wrongful death action; distribution of award.
  • HB1863: Court-appointed counsel; waivers for compensation.
  • HB1864: Firearms show; State Police list of vendors or exhibitors.
  • HB1881: Social Services, Department of; opportunities for certain programs to compete for grant funds.
  • HB2358: Continuing education for prescribers; substance abuse, addiction, and related pain management.
  • HJ540: Commending Ted Edlich.
  • HJ545: Constitutional convention; congress to call for an amendment to U.S. Constitution.
  • HJ584: Constitutional amendment; Virginia Redistricting Commission, redistricting criteria and process.
  • HJ647: Virginia Housing Commission; affordable housing for people reentering society.
  • HJ761: Celebrating the life of Lular Ree Clarke Lucky.
  • HJ762: Celebrating the life of the Honorable George W. Harris, Jr.
  • HJ828: Celebrating the life of Jim Bullington.
  • HJ913: Commending the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building.
  • HR310: Commending Total Action for Progress.
  • HR311: Commending Burrell Memorial Hospital.
  • HB1128: Cooperative career & technical education; school boards to provide to middle & high school students.
  • HB1154: Misdemeanors; expungement of criminal record for charges dismissed.
  • HB1159: Political contributions; prohibitions during procurement process.
  • HB1182: A-to-F school grading system; exemption for schools with alternative accreditation plans.
  • HB1226: Stalking; penalty.
  • HJ5042: Commending the Roanoke Tribune.
  • HJ5048: Celebrating the life of Lucy Martin Harmon.
  • HJ5054: Celebrating the life of William Elry Gilbert.
  • HJ5081: Commending the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Roanoke Alumnae Chapter.
  • HJ5089: Celebrating the life of Anthony M. Reed.
  • HJ5174: Commending Roanoke Sister Cities, Inc.
  • HJ5206: Celebrating the life of Harry Lee Dull.