Name: Virginia Democrats have made sweeping changes in state laws. Here’s a look at some.
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Virginia Democrats have made sweeping changes in state laws. Here’s a look at some.

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AdvertisementBy The Virginian-PilotFeb 23, 2021 at 12:05 pmVirginia’s General Assembly with Democrats boasting big changes in law that reverse many conservative policies long kept in place by Republicans who once controlled the state.It’s the Democratic party’s second year in power, and in that span they have pushed sweeping overhauls to criminal justice practices and bills that would make Virginia the first state in the South to abolish the death penalty and legalize marijuana. With a Democrat in the governor’s mansion, their legislation will likely be signed into law.AdvertisementHere’s where key bills stand as lawmakers wrap up their work:The House of Delegates and Senate have each proposed identical bills ending the death penalty, and each gave final approval to the other chamber’s version on Monday. Gov. Ralph Northam has said he supports the bills. The House version is , and the Senate version is .Advertisement“In the last 50 years, Virginia has executed more people than all states but two — and the Commonwealth holds the record for total number of people who have undergone the death penalty in its history,” Democratic Majority Leader Dick Saslaw said in a prepared statement released after Monday’s votes. “With this historic legislative action, we have seized the opportunity to stand on the right side of history by abolishing the outdated, unjust punishment of the death penalty.”Republicans tried to preserve capital punishment, , but did not have the votes. A Christopher Newport University survey showed .Marijuana bills from both chambers passed the other on Feb. 16, with the Senate passing and the House of Delegates passing . Both would legalize adult recreational use of the substance and call for opening regulated dispensaries.But the versions are different, and they’ll have to be reconciled for legalization to move forward.Last year, the General Assembly passed during a special session called to hold law enforcement more accountable in the wake of George Floyd’s killing at the hands of Minneapolis police officers.The legislation banned no-knock search warrants, let localities establish civilian review boards with subpoena power and disciplinary authority, and made it easier to decertify officers who commit misconduct.Now, lawmakers are pushing to require public officials to release records from closed criminal investigations, something 32 states and the federal government already do.The Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology voted last week to advance , which would broaden public records laws and stop law enforcement and prosecutors from shielding investigative files from the public. The bill passed 55-44 in the House of Delegates on Feb. 4.AdvertisementThe legislation has been praised by two loved ones of the 12 victims who were fatally shot during the 2019 Virginia Beach mass shooting, who told the Senate committee that they have been blocked from records related to the criminal investigation.At the start of the legislative session, . The governor has called for a bonus of that amount in his proposed 2020-2022 budget, and if revenues look good he has said he plans to ask for a budget amendment to turn it into a permanent raise.The Senate and House passed their amended budgets on Feb. 12, and they will help determine whether to give teachers a pay increase of 2%, 3% or 5%.WeekdaysStart your morning with today's local news &gt; proposes allocating $231.4 million for 5% teacher pay raises. suggests increasing the governor’s proposed pay increase to 3%.Both chambers have passed constitutional amendments making it easier for felons to vote, and each has passed the other’s proposal but must reconcile differences. The Senate agreed to Friday and the House passed earlier last week., the legislature would have to approve the amendment again next year, following November’s election for delegates, in order for it to go to voters.AdvertisementThe House of Delegates on Feb. 3 passed , a bill that would make it easier to expunge non-violent felony and misdemeanor convictions.The Senate’s similar bill, , passed on Feb. 5.Neither chamber has voted the other’s bill through.Ana Ley, 757-446-2478, Advertisement

AdvertisementBy The Virginian-PilotFeb 23, 2021 at 12:05 pmVirginia’s General Assembly with Democrats boasting big changes in law that reverse many conservative policies long kept in place by Republicans who once controlled the state.It’s the Democratic party’s second year in power, and in that span they have pushed sweeping overhauls to criminal justice practices and bills that would make Virginia the first state in the South to abolish the death penalty and legalize marijuana. With a Democrat in the governor’s mansion, their legislation will likely be signed into law.AdvertisementHere’s...

Virginia Democrats have made sweeping changes in state laws. Here’s a look at some.

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