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After the Special Election on January 9th and going to work in Richmond the very next day, there was little time to think about future goals. Now I can focus on my long-term goals for the 9th District. Throughout the year, I plan on traveling to all eight localities I represent to learn more about the needs of those I represent.
In the meantime, I continue to review the vetoes that the Governor is sending down on some bad bills that passed both chambers this year and made it to his desk. While there were proposals this year that Republicans and I could not support, there were some issues on which we could find common ground. Some of these positive pieces of legislation will significantly enhance the lives of all Virginians.
One positive bill we successfully worked on was SB 207. This bill codifies Governor Youngkin’s “Option 5” provision from the Operation Bold Blue Line initiative into law, offering opportunities to bring out-of-state police officers, in good standing, into Virginia to fill crucial vacancies in our law enforcement agencies. While we still have a long way to go in addressing the staffing shortage, I am glad that we were able to help cut the red tape and hope that the Governor signs this into law soon.
Next, we have HB 1504, which will require the Board of Education to establish guidelines to notify parents in the instance of an overdose at a school while giving them as much information about the incident as possible to keep them fully informed. Parents are on the frontlines of their children’s well-being, and it is important to keep them aware and involved in what is going on at their child’s school. For these reasons, I was proud to have supported this bill.
Finally, there is HB 1443, which will help protect jurors from being harassed after they perform their duties during a trial. It is the right of every American to have a fair trial by jury. We cannot allow our jurors to be influenced by outside factors or fear of retaliation for a decision they make during a trial. To help remedy this, this bill will create a Class 1 misdemeanor for anyone who intentionally intimidates a juror after they have finished their duty.
In addition to continuing review of the passed budget for amendments and vetoes, the Governor is now reviewing all the legislation that passed the General Assembly this year. To date, he has vetoed twenty-four bills and proposed amendments on twelve others.
The Governor vetoed bills that infringe on your constitutional rights, put children at risk of abuse, and overregulated businesses, among others. These were all bad bills that I voted against when they were originally presented on the Senate. I look forward to voting to uphold the Governor’s vetoes when the General Assembly comes back into session next month.
By then, the Governor will also have finished reviewing thousands of other pieces of legislation that have been sent to him. I expect some of them to be vetoed and many more to be amended. I will work with the Governor to keep these misguided bills from becoming laws if and when he vetoes or amends them.
To review all of the Governor’s actions you can go online to: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+men+BIL
With the end of the 2024 General Assembly session in Richmond, my work as your representative continues. The House and Senate return to Richmond on April 17 to consider the amendments and vetoes that come back from the Governor on the budget and other bills. Additionally, many General Assembly committees, commissions and work groups meet throughout the year.
My office serves as a liaison to your State government. If you ever need help with State government or agencies, I encourage you to use me as a resource. My staff and I are here to work for you. If you are unsure we can help I still encourage you to reach out. If my office can’t help, we can put you in touch with people who can. You can email my office at [email protected] or call us at 434.738.8230.
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