8 Bills I’m Watching in this Legislative Session

With the Virginia General Assembly’s 2024 session well underway, there’s never been a more important time to talk about the issues impacting the Commonwealth — and what our legislators can do to improve the lives of everyday Virginians. As your elected Commonwealth’s Attorney, part of my job is to advocate for legislation that improves public safety and reforms our justice system for the better. During the 2024 legislative session, I’m keeping my eyes on a few key bills that have been introduced in the legislature.

Gun Control Legislation

With Virginia finally having a gun-control majority in both chambers of the General Assembly, I’m extremely hopeful that we can make the changes necessary to keeping our communities safe from gun violence.

Senate Bill 363 (SB 363), which I cowrote with Sen. Ebbin, bars individuals from possessing firearms that have had their serial numbers removed. It also makes it illegal to sell, give, or distribute these firearms. These ‘ghost guns’ exist solely for the purpose of committing crime. Sen. Ebbin and I have worked on getting this law passed for the last few years, but with a gun-control majority in both chambers this very well may be the year it happens. Just yesterday, this bill passed the State Senate.

House Bill 2 (HB 2), introduced by Del. Helmer, is an assault weapons ban. This common-sense gun control legislation would keep dangerous weapons of war, that are too often used for mass-casualty events, out of the hands of the public. Last week, this bill passed the House of Delegates.

House Bill 1195 (HB 1195), introduced by Del. Hayes, establishes a waiting period for the purchase of firearms. By instituting a five-day waiting period before purchasing a weapon, licensed firearms dealers have ample time to complete a background check — and prospective buyers have time to think through their actions before having a gun in their possession.

Reforms to our Justice System

We’ve made great strides in building a system where safety and justice walk hand-in-hand here in Fairfax County — but there’s still a lot of work left that the General Assembly can do to streamline processes, protect victims, and build long-term community safety.

Senate Bill 334 (SB 334), introduced by Sen. Salim, prohibits plea agreements from containing provisions that waive a defendant’s Fourth Amendment rights. It also prohibits plea agreements from waiving a defendant’s rights to petition for expungement and have their criminal history or court records sealed.

House Bill 768 (HB 768), which I cowrote with Del. Delaney, would allow child victims and witnesses to testify in court using two-way closed-circuit television. This would help prevent retraumatizing child victims by allowing them to testify in court without having to face their alleged abusers.

Reproductive Rights

You’ve heard me say it many times before, and I’ll say it again: I’ll never prosecute a woman for making her own healthcare decisions. Still, Virginia as a whole should have their access to reproductive healthcare protected under law.

House Joint Resolution 1 (HJ 1), introduced by Del. Herring, amends Virginia’s constitution to establish a fundamental right to reproductive freedom.

Senate Bill 15 (SB 15), introduced by Sen. Favola, prohibits the Governor from extraditing a person accused of violating another state’s laws surrounding reproductive healthcare.

And finally, House Bill 609 (HB 609), introduced by Del. Price, establishes a right to obtain contraceptives and engage in contraception. This bill also creates a cause of action against someone who infringes on that right.

Legislation plays a key role in public safety. That’s why I’ve continued to advocate for bills that keep our community safe, better serve victims, and reform our criminal justice system to treat everyone fairly. These are all common-sense pieces of legislation that will make life better for communities across the Commonwealth. It’s time that our legislators, who we elect to advocate for our best interests, hear our voices — and do what’s right for Virginians.