First bills filed for 2024 General Assembly

There are seven weeks until the General Assembly begins, or 42 days if you’d prefer to calculate that way. Democrats will control both the House of Delegates and the Senate for the second half of Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin’s administration. 

Here’s a look at the first bills filed so far which indicate the majority party will try to use its slim margin in both chambers. 

• Delegate Jeion Ward (D-87) has filed a bill to increase the minimum wage to $13.50 an hour by 2025 and to $15.00 by 2026. (HB1) Senator Louise Lucas (D-18) has filed a companion in the Senate (SB1). 
• Delegate Dan Helmer (D-10) has filed legislation to make it a class 1 misdemeanor to trade or possess assault firearms and large capacity ammunition feeding devices. (HB2) Senator Creigh Deeds (D-11) is carrying the same bill in the other Chamber (SB2).
• Delegate Tony Wilt (R-34) has filed a bill to repeal a requirement that the State Air Pollution Control Board implement standards for no-emissions and low-emissions vehicles by 2025. (HB3) Senator Richard Stuart has filed the companion bill (SB3). 
• Delegate Charniele Herring (D-4) has filed for a Constitutional amendment for the fundamental right to reproductive freedom (HJ 1). Multiple patrons are carrying the bill in the Senate (SJ1)
• Delegate Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (D-5) has filed a Constitutional amendment that would restore voting rights to those who have served time for a felony upon the end of their release from incarceration (HJ2). Senator Mamie Locke (D-23) has introduced the same bill in the Senate. (SJ2)
• Senator Bryce Reeves (R-28) has filed a bill to allow Orange County to establish a department of real estate assessments and to enter into a joint arrangement with an adjacent locality (SB9)

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