Email from Senate of Virginia General Assembly Finished For The Year General Assembly Finished For The Year   Greetings, Last week, the General Assembly finished our work for the year. That includes the 2nd year of the budget, and all bills have either been passed into law or have been vetoed and died. Some statistics from this year are that over 1900 bills were introduced, 677 bills were passed into law, and 158 bills were vetoed. There were a significant number of bills that were passed narrowly with just one or two votes either way. On the bright side, because we have a Republican Governor, many of these bills were eventually vetoed and couldn't get enough votes to overcome a veto. However, there were also many good bills that could have become law but did not, as they were voted down by narrow margins. These are bills I will focus on in the following columns, and this week we will focus on Public Safety.   Let's start with some of the worst public safety measures that were left behind this year or voted down. Fentanyl, which has been wrecking our nation and our Commonwealth, should have brought both sides together to pass good legislation. Some failed bills that could have made a real difference include HB 2296. This bill would have held individuals accountable for recklessly exposing law enforcement officers and first responders to fentanyl. These heroes are on the front lines of the opioid epidemic and deserve every measure of protection we can provide. Ignoring the dangers they face each day sends a dangerous message—not only to the first responders risking their lives, but also to the criminals who endanger them. Another common-sense fentanyl bill, SB 1258, would have increased the penalty for individuals who expose their children to this dangerous drug. There is no excuse for failing to act when the safety of Virginia’s children is on the line. These should have been easy, bipartisan wins—but instead, politics got in the way of protecting lives. Even bills regarding sex offenders or sexual assault of minors were killed. SB 1105 would have prohibited sex offenders from being within 100 feet of the premises of any area of a state park that they know—or have reason to know—is a playground, athletic field or facility, or gymnasium. I see this as a more than reasonable bill that protects our children in our state parks. Convicted sex offenders should never be in a place where families and children choose to relax. The fact that this bill couldn’t pass shows just how out of touch some legislators are with the priorities of Virginia families. We should be doing everything in our power to create safe public spaces, not weakening protections that most people see as common sense. Another bill they decided to vote against was a mandatory minimum sentence for the sexual assault of a child. These criminals are the worst of the worst, and in my opinion, deserve to spend every bit of their sentence in prison. Failing to act on this issue sends the wrong message to victims and emboldens those who commit these horrific crimes. In the end, we couldn't even get simple bills passed that would protect school security officers. SB 1398 was a bill that would have added campus police officers to the definition of law enforcement officer when committing assault against a law enforcement officer. These campus police officers serve and protect our colleges and universities and have the same powers as regular law enforcement, yet the Democrats believe they don't deserve the same protections. Of the many public safety reform bills that Republicans attempted but failed to get passed this year, these were just the tip of the iceberg. Unfortunately, public safety and protecting our law enforcement officers have become a partisan issue when they shouldn't be. As elected officials, it is our duty to make sure our communities are safe, and by voting these bills down, the other side of the aisle let their constituents down. These weren’t radical ideas—they were practical solutions that would have made a real difference in people’s lives. Elections have consequences, and these bills failing are a shining example of that. If we want to see meaningful change, we must elect leaders who prioritize public safety over party politics. My staff and I are always here to assist you with any issues or concerns. Please don't hesitate to reach out if we can be of service. You can reach us at 434.374.5129 or by email at [email protected]   USDA oral rabies vaccine (ORV) drops began last week in certain parts of Southwest Virginia. If you or your pet find one, leave it alone. If contact with a bait occurs, rinse the area with soap and warm water.  Report a bait exposure to 877-722-6725. More Information Here   Certified Fiber Optic Technician Training Fiber Optic Association (FOA) CFOT: Certified Fiber Optic Technician is the primary FOA certification for all fiber optic technicians. CFOTs have a broad knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) in fiber optics that can be applied to almost any job - design, installation, operation – and for almost any application using fiber optic communications. This one-week class is eligible for the New Economy Workforce Credential Grant*! Upcoming Training Dates: Date: May 12 - 16, 2025 Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Location: Roanoke Higher Education Center Date: July 21 - 25, 2025 Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Location: Patrick County Public Schools Administration Building Register Here Experience the Impact. Make Smarter Choices. April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and we're bringing you a Drunk Goggle Experience that will open your eyes—literally! Put on our impairment goggles and see firsthand how alcohol affects coordination, reaction time, and judgment. Can you walk a straight line? Think you’ve got it under control? Think again. Join us for this eye-opening event and learn why responsible choices matter. Because the best nights end with good decisions. April 15 @ the Christanna Campus April 17 @ the John H. Daniel Campus 9:30 AM-11:30 AM Job Fair Tuesday, May 13, 2025 10 am - 2 pm The Prizery 700 Bruce Street, South Boston Access Diverse Talent: Meet a wide range of qualified candidates from the region and individuals with specialized skills, ready to contribute to your organization's success. Streamlined Recruitment: Save time and resources by meeting with prospective employees on-site, allowing you to swiftly identify top talent and streamline your hiring process in a single day. Visibility: Showcase your company's values, culture, and unique opportunities to prospective employees, building a positive reputation within the community and attracting top candidates. Networking Opportunities: Connect with other local businesses, industry professionals, and community leaders, fostering collaboration and potential partnerships that can benefit your organization in the long term. Coffee Chat with Dr. Quentin Johnson 2025 Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative Scholarship Available to Halifax County High School Seniors Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC), based in Manassas, Virginia, is offering a $1,500 scholarship to a deserving graduating senior at Halifax County High School. The Halifax County Biomass plant, located on Plywood Trail, is owned by NOVEC Energy Production. Scholarship funds may be used for vocational or technical education from an accredited institution or program. Qualified students should display academic achievement and a strong commitment to their chosen career goal. The recipient of the NOVEC scholarship will be selected based on academic achievement, leadership qualities and commitment to academic and career goals, among other criteria. Students who are interested in additional information on this scholarship should contact Michaleen Palmore, Guidance Counselor for Halifax County High School, [email protected], 434-572-4977 ext. 5. Scholarship applications will be available for pick-up from the Halifax County High School Guidance Department on Friday, March 7, 2025. Deadline for returning the completed application is Friday, April 18, 2025. Apply Here 2025 IperionX Scholarship Available to Halifax County High School Seniors IperionX is a leading American titanium metal and critical materials company – using patented metal technologies to produce high performance titanium alloys, from titanium minerals or scrap titanium, at lower energy and cost. Our fully permitted Titan Critical Minerals Project is the largest JORC-compliant mineral resource of titanium, rare earth and zircon minerals sands in the U.S.A. IperionX’s titanium metal and critical minerals are essential for advanced U.S. industries including consumer electronics, aerospace, defense, medical, bicycles, hydrogen, and automotive. At IperionX, we believe that access to education will promote the innovation needed to ensure a sustainable and economically vibrant future. Creating pathways for the next generation to develop skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), results in a pipeline of leaders positioned to advance our work, and our industries.  To date, IperionX has awarded over $47,500 in scholarship funding to students in our communities in Virginia, Tennessee, and Utah. We are proud to support the next generation of STEM leaders. IperionX’s 2025 scholarships are currently open for applications through May 11, 2025 at 11:59pm ET. Recipients will be notified the week of June 2, 2025.  Please email [email protected] for questions. Apply below! Apply Here DONATE Email Us P.O. Box 145, Clarksville, VA 23927 (434) 374 5129 Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email Senator Tammy Mulchi | P.O. Box 145 | Clarksville, VA 23927 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice