Fairfax Station Connection

Our first full week in session started off with a flurry of snowflakes and bills. The Virginia Senate Privileges and Elections Committee reported out my Marriage Equality Constitutional Amendment with bipartisan support (SJ 249).

I continue in my role as chair of the first Virginia Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology, with over a hundred bills to consider during this 2025 session. My bills include SB 1042, which would make it easier to become a Certified Public Accountant and SB 1043 which would ensure sixty days notice when a landlord does not renew a tenant’s lease. Both reported out of the committee. On Friday, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee recommended passage of SB 880- a ban on the public carrying of assault weapons and SB 881, regarding restrictions on ‘ghost guns.’ 

On Monday, Jan. 20, we had a productive day of bills. The Virginia Committee on Justice considered SB 1053, addressing deepfake fraud and SB 1060 which would allow for the confiscation of tobacco and vapes possessed by minors. Also on Monday, the Virginia Committee of Commerce and Labor considered SB 1056, which would increase weekly unemployment maximum benefits and SB 1057, which would raise the limits for unemployment compensation when working a part time job. We also considered SB 1280 in the Gaming Subcommittee of the General Laws Committee. This bill would ensure the posting of the problem gambling help line in places where gambling occurs.     

Full Legislative Agenda

With the support of my two staffers and three interns from Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Richmond, we are running full speed ahead with a full legislative agenda.

First is SB 249, a Constitutional Amendment protecting marriage equality. We are also seeking to amend the Virginia Human Rights Act, SB 1052, to ensure that companies regardless of size, do not discriminate in employment. Next is SB 881, which would ban ghost guns. SB 880 would ban carrying assault weapons in public. 

SB 1060 would allow for the confiscation of tobacco and vapes possessed by minors. We are also working on SB 1053 addressing deepfake fraud. SB 1042 would make it easier to become a Certified Public Accountant. SB 879 would help tradespeople get a Career and Technical Education teaching license. 

In SB 1043, we are working on more notice to tenants when their lease is not renewed by the landlord. SB 1054 requires the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to draft regulations for retail cannabis sales. SB 1283 would ban privately run state prisons. We are also working on requiring data center operators to provide more information when applying for siting.  

SB 1056 and SB 1057 would increase unemployment benefits. SB 1058 would make it easier for schools to provide solar power to the grid. Providing post-release job placement services to returning citizens is the goal of SB 877. SB 1280 would promote the state’s gambling help line.

SB 1051 would allow for the annual inspections of animal boarding facilities. We are working on transparency regarding the use of deepfakes and technology. I am also working on increasing the penalty for hitting a vulnerable road user in a crosswalk. 

Constituent Visits

We had many productive discussions with constituents last week. 

I had a good meeting with Virginia community health leaders, including Dr. Basim Khan, who leads Neighborhood Health Services, to discuss continued healthcare access in medically underserved communities. Serving over 400,000 patients in 2023, Virginia’s health centers provide high-quality, comprehensive primary care for 1 in every 21 Virginians. 

I was glad to have met with local constituent activists from Students Demand Action and Moms Demand Action for their lobby day. We are working this session to do more to address gun violence.

I also met with the American Association of University Women of Virginia. I appreciate their advocacy and for coming to visit me in Richmond, advancing gender equity in the Commonwealth. 

I met with the Virginia Society of Public Accountants for their CPA Assembly Day. I am thankful for all the work CPAs perform and will continue to work with them in the future. 

Upcoming Town Hall Meeting

I’ll be hosting a town hall meeting on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 10 am. Please join us at the Minnie Howard Campus of Alexandria City High School, 3775 W Braddock Rd, Alexandria, VA, 22303. Also attending will be Delegates Bennett-Parker, Herring and Lopez. Sign up here to attend. 

Thanks for the continued opportunity to serve,