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** Session Weekly Update
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Friends,

As the dust settles from the first week of the 2024 Virginia General Assembly session, I wanted to provide a quick update on what has been happening here at the Capitol, and let you know about all the work we are doing and the issues that matter most to you. There are a lot of new faces in the Senate. Following the 2023 election, 19 of the 40 senators are Republicans, putting the GOP in the minority. However, we look forward to working in a bipartisan manner with our counterparts across the aisle on areas where we can agree. But nearly half of the Virginia Senate are new members, so many in the chamber are learning as they go on procedure, decorum and the process of bill consideration. Another change is that we are all working out of a new General Assembly building. If you have visited your legislators in previous years, be ready for a whole experience as everyone, me included, finds our way around this new facility. Some new building kinks are still being worked out, which always happens
with a large project, but the new building is citizen friendly for Virginians to participate in the process of state Government.

On Wednesday, we gaveled in the start of session, forming up in each chamber, establishing rules of order between the House and Senate, and welcomed our new Senate pages who assist us in doing our work. Later, on the first day, Governor Glenn Youngkin addressed a joint Session of the Senate and House and delivered his annual State of the Commonwealth speech. In it, the Governor discussed his administration’s accomplishments and laid out his vision for Virginia in the coming years.

The Governor laid out an ambitious agenda. This includes legislation to keep Virginians safer from violent crime and destructive street drugs, a proposal to allow students to earn career credentials while completing their high school diplomas, and improvements to our mental health care system, to name a few. In the coming weeks, He also put forth his reasoning for realigning our state tax code in order to be more competitive with other states in bringing industry and jobs to the Commonwealth, while at the same time providing needed tax relief to Virginians through his proposal to eliminate the car tax. I will closely review the Governor’s proposals as they go through the legislative process. I look forward to working with the Governor to improve our schools, make our neighborhoods safer, and ensure every Virginian has the skills and the opportunity to obtain a good job.

Hitting the Ground Running

The pace in Richmond is fast, and our team has been busy attending committee meetings, engaging with colleagues, and advocating for your priorities. We've met with constituents, community leaders, and stakeholders to gather feedback and ensure our work is reflective of your needs.

Senate Bill 5 Moves Forward

I'm pleased to announce that one of our top legislative priorities, Senate Bill 5, has cleared its first hurdle! This critical bill, which focuses on allowing the Virginia Department of Education, will provide grants to public schools in the Commonwealth to help them start or support STEM+C competition robotics teams. This is an effort to encourage interest in STEM+C-related subjects and provide students with opportunities to participate in extracurricular STEM+C activities. It received a warm reception in the Senate Committee on Education and Health and is now on its way to the powerful Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee for further review. We're confident that this bill will make a significant difference in providing students across our great Commonwealth with tremendous opportunities to seek advancements in a field they are passionate about, and we'll keep you updated on its progress every step of the way.

Our Bills

Here are a few of the many legislative proposals I have written and filed in this year’s General Assembly session:

* SB 27: Preparing Tomorrow's Leaders: The Trades Education Investment for High-Demand Careers by re-establishing Vocational Technical Training in our public high schools.
* SB 492: Establish robust standards for sourcing materials used in EVs, ensuring child labor is never tolerated in our clean transportation future.
* SB 93: Building safer communities for animals by fostering local accountability with publicly accessible records of animal abuse.
* SB 28: Giving individual school boards the power to decide whether cell phones and other handheld devices (such as tablets, game consoles, etc.) should be permitted during regular school hours.

Other Highlights

As we set the procedural resolutions for the operation of the Senate, I delivered a passionate floor speech on the fact that we here in Southside Virginia are no longer represented on the Senate Finance Committee after the devastating announcement that Senator Ruff was retiring due to health concerns.

Here is the link to watch that argument ([link removed])

We're actively monitoring several other bills that could impact our district and our way of life, such as SB 99, prohibiting the open carry of assault firearms, including semi-automatic pistols. We will keep you up to date and informed each week about the proposed legislation that matters the most to our community.

Staying Connected

The Session is off and running and should be in full swing next week. Committees will all be meeting, and legislation should begin to come to the floor for consideration by the full Senate. Please let me know where you stand on legislation. And, if you are in Richmond, please come by my office at the General Assembly building. I am in Room 514, and while my schedule is often hectic and subject to change, I would love to say hello to you. We want to keep you informed and engaged throughout the legislative session. Please visit our website, www.senatorstanley.com, and follow us on social media for updates, resources, and opportunities to get involved. You can also reach out to our office directly at (804) 698-7507, or email us at [email protected] with your questions and concerns.

Thank you for your continued support. I am proud to represent you here in Virginia’s Capitol. I’ll be in touch next week with another update from the General Assembly. Have a wonderful week!
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