Okay, I was already 🥺 when @creighdeeds.bsky.social & Sen Williams-Graves got up to speak on the memorial resolution to @jonesjay.bsky.social dad. But Sen Bagby wiping away tears while he spoke about what an incredible mentor and surrogate dad and family man Judge Jones was made me lose it. 😭😭😭
Voting board shows 23 yeas and 17 nays on HB637
Teeny bit of bipartisan support in Senate to pass this @katrinacallsen.com bill to defelonize possession of unusable, residue of controlled substances.
Voting board shows 20 yeas and 20 nays on HB86
After @jeremymcpike.bsky.social jokingly asks to take @amylaufer55.bsky.social mattress stewardship pgm bill by for the day to "sleep on it,” Senate votes a tie (@pwcdanica.bsky.social votes no); @ltgovhashmi.bsky.social breaks the tie yea. The senators are sad she won’t bang the gavel to announce.
Voting board shows 20 yeas and 20 nays on HB1093
@philforvirginia.bsky.social bill to limit to $100 att’y fees on unlawful detainer, when tenant has already paid the landlord. @ssurovell says he can’t support bc no lawyer will work for that low; @creighdeeds.bsky.social also votes no, Reeves accidentally votes yes but then reconsiders. By for day.
.@MikeFeggans VMI bill that's been very contentious (and that GOP members are asking the federal government to block) killed on the Senate floor today--not a recorded vote, just a motion to send back to the committee it came from.
He's really not the source of ALL evils--we can thank Obenshain and many of his VA GOP peers for a few additional ones.
Sen Obenshain says on Senate floor: "I know Trump is the source of all evils in this country."
👍
Voting board shows 21 yeas and 19 nays on HB298
Sen Pekarsky responds to Sen Peake citing drugs and chaos at schools in his district and wanting MORE DISCIPLINE, says of HB298 (using science-based restorative discipline before suspension/expulsion) "Schools are for teaching, this bill aims to teach children, not just punish."
Voting board shows 62 yeas and 37 nays on HB888
House passes @ireneforva.bsky.social bill to limiting the use of parking minimums in zoning ordinances near mass transit districts.
Voting board shows 95 yeas and 4 nays on SB271
HUGE 95-4 vote on final passage of Del Delaney & @creighdeeds.bsky.social bill creating a Prescription Drug Affordability Board after YEARS of work on this.
Voting board shows 40 yeas and 0 nays on SB402
Cool @ssurovell.bsky.social bill passed unanimously in Senate that would prevent homeowner’s insurance companies from refusing coverage based on just the AGE of the roof irrespective of the health of the roof.
Delegate Delaney's introduced bill said when the legislature says ‘shall' they mean that the law must be followed but now it’s a bill to have the Code Commission study the use of “shall.” Delaney quips that it says they “shall study it, so I guess that’s up for interpretation."
Left 🤝 right
End the data center tax break!
richmond.com/opinion/colu...
Week 8 newsletter is up, featuring QOTW by @delciaprice85.bsky.social on redistricting: “VOTE YES, FIGHT BACK!” Please read, because I spent far too long reading the Senate and House versions of marijuana and skill games bills so I could give y’all a summary! vaplan.us/week-8-comin...
Voting board shows 23 yeas and 17 nays on SB18
🥹 Genuinely tearing up a bit at the final passage today of this @senatorlocke.bsky.social bill to set a minimum age of 11 for someone to be subject to the criminal justice system (as opposed to getting needed social services) for delinquent acts.
Voting board shows 22 yeas and 18 nays on HB19
Final passage on @russetperry.bsky.social and @adelemcclure.bsky.social bill to closing boyfriend loophole on firearms transfers after assault and battery. (Gets bipartisan vote because GOP Sen Mulchi has spoken several times about being a survivor of domestic violence.)
Del @marcussimon.com: When Jolloh was repeatedly arrested, he was entered into the NICS system. ICE was notified every single one of those times: “hey, we have this guy in custody, come get your guy” & they didn’t issue a detention retainer, didn’t come get him. In fact, they STILL haven’t.
Adjutant General of National Guard testifies in House Public Safety in response to questions from @helmerva.bsky.social that there are VA Guardsmen engaged in Iran combat-related work, albeit stateside, and that is solely because Trump has federalized them to do so under Title X.
Public Safety Sec’y clarifies process: Digital notification to ICE upon intake is automatic. And then it’s ICE’s job to ask for a detainer. ICE can serve a detainer at jail, asking them to hold onto the person. Or there’s a judicial warrant process, through signature of judge.
Public Safety Secretary answers Del @marcussimon.com's questions on Stephanie Minter murder, says main questions are:
During 2020 lodging of a detainer & removal, why wasn’t that followed thru on by ICE?
In 2023 during his 8 times in & out of system, why no ICE detainer lodged for those?
Public Safety Chair @marcussimon.com asks Secretary Meador what message should we take back to our districts? Secretary says the most important thing is for people to stay connected with their community, thru interfaith groups, i.e. & take to heart the “see something, say something” notion.
Man in suit speaks in committee room
In House Public Safety committee, Sec'y Meador testifies currently no Virginia-specific threats from Iran war. VA has a seat at national Terrorism Task Force.
Also VA is a designated port of entry, so federal govt will use Dulles to repatriate evacuated Americans from Mid East.
Voting board shows 8 yeas and 6 nays on motion to report HB489
Sen. Courts makes some changes, including requiring the restorative justice administrator to be certified and the parties and the Commonwealth to agree formally in writing. This isn’t the direction the patron @hopeforvirginia.bsky.social wants, but sends it to conference for him to work on.
Senate Courts on @hopeforvirginia.bsky.social restorative justice bill, struggling with statements made by the defendant in restorative justice sessions being inadmissible in court. Tho statements made to a LAWYER are privileged, it’s bc you have a constitutional RIGHT to representation.
Voting board shows 10 yeas and 4 nays on motion to report HB637
Bipartisan support in Senate Courts for @katrinacallsen.com bill to defelonize possession of trace, unusable amounts of drugs (ie dust residue)—currently prosecutors don’t usually charge as felony drug possession but use a workaround and charge misdemeanor paraphernalia possession.
OMG yes! Now I see it! 🥹
Close up of Del Lopez with a blue thing on his lapel
@lopez4va.bsky.social wearing a lapel pin today; it looks like the “Melt the ICE” knit mini-hats inspired by the Norwegian red-pointed anti-Nazi ones, but in blue? (Yes, I’m v focused on important issues before Sen. Courts. I also googled how livery is pronounced after patron said LIVE-ery)
Looks that way.
Not that I see. There's a delayed enactment clause to Nov 2027, but I don't see a re-enactment. lis.virginia.gov/bill-details...
Not that I see. There's a delayed enactment clause to Nov 2027, but I don't see a re-enactment. lis.virginia.gov/bill-details...
