Virginia has repealed the ultrasound requirement before an abortion, as well as the 24-hour waiting period. Northam signed this bill yesterday.
Virginia also just banned housing & employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation & gender identity.
Virginia also just banned housing & employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation & gender identity.
Virginia has also now adopted automatic voter registration. When Northam signed, made VA 17th state with such a law.
This is the first session with a Dem majority in decades, & we're waiting on fate of a number of other major bills in coming hours. More here as news comes in.
This is the first session with a Dem majority in decades, & we're waiting on fate of a number of other major bills in coming hours. More here as news comes in.
NEW: Virginia will no longer suspend driver's licenses for people who have unpaid court debt. This affects many hundreds of thousands people, cutting off their access to employment, transportation, and more.
Thsi is #SB1, which Northam signed today.
Thsi is #SB1, which Northam signed today.
NEW: Virginia just increased the threshold at which theft is a felony rather than a misdemeanor to $1,000 (from $500).
Another new law says prosecutors need court approval to try a 14/15-year old as an adult. (Many other states have gone further with this: 16/17-year olds too.)
Another new law says prosecutors need court approval to try a 14/15-year old as an adult. (Many other states have gone further with this: 16/17-year olds too.)
NEW: Virginia has ended the requirement that voters provide an excuse if they want to vote absentee!
This bill (#HB1) began moving months ago (it was just signed by Northam), but obviously it has a whole new significance during this pandemic.
This bill (#HB1) began moving months ago (it was just signed by Northam), but obviously it has a whole new significance during this pandemic.
NEW: Northam has sent back to the legislature the bill increasing the minimum wage, asking for an amendment that'd delay implementation by 4 months (from Jan to May 2021). Bill designed to hike minimum wage by $2.25 in 2021, & by $7.75 (to $15) in 2026.
Legislature back on 4/22.
Legislature back on 4/22.
NEW: Northam also sends back to legislature the bill that'd end statewide ban on public-sector collective bargaining, asking for delay of its implementation to May 2021.
@Virginia_AFLCIO calls it "victory" for "anti-worker forces," warns it'd set up more pushback in 2021 session
@Virginia_AFLCIO calls it "victory" for "anti-worker forces," warns it'd set up more pushback in 2021 session
NEW: Northam has returned the redistricting reform bill to the legislature, asking for addition of specific deadlines for jails/prisons to provide info. That's relevant for part of bill that'd eliminate prison gerrymandering.
Legislature can pick up #SB717 again after 4/22.
Legislature can pick up #SB717 again after 4/22.
NEW: Northam has sent back to the legislature a bill that'd make people sentenced between 1995 & 2000 eligible for parole. (1995 is when VA eliminated parole; 2000 was a ruling that tweaked law.) Change he asked for not yet published on legislative website; he did back bill idea.
Thus ends my thread of big VA bills I was tracking this weekend. More later when legislature responds to what Northam sent back.
Note some major bills did not even pass legislature (e.g. end 'right-to-work'), or else already became law earlier in 2020: theappeal.org/politicalrepor…
Note some major bills did not even pass legislature (e.g. end 'right-to-work'), or else already became law earlier in 2020: theappeal.org/politicalrepor…
