Mark your calendars to join me, Delegate Paul Krizek and Friends of Little Hunting Creek for our annual creek cleanup!
Details are as follows:
Session Ends - Budget Is Pending
Last week, state legislators completed the 2022 General Assembly session and 18 of the 27 bills I introduced are now on their way to the Governor. Unfortunately, we were not able to reach an agreement on a state budget, on two state Supreme Court justices or on a commissioner for the State Corporation Commission and will have a special session.
Last week, I served on 16 conference committees charged with working out compromises on some of our most difficult bills to reconcile.
Unfortunately, the House of Delegates unexpectedly killed one of my bills to generate more bike and pedestrian solutions. We have a massive backlog of unfunded pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure projects in Northern Virginia - especially in eastern Northern Virginia which were built before County land use rules required sidewalks or bike lanes on roads. There is also no meaningful funding stream under which these projects are competitive so planners do not even develop or seek significant projects.
WMATA Announces Yellow Line Construction: Service Across the Potomac to Pause for Renovations
Last Week On Tap: House Kills Five Bills
Last week, Week 7 of the 2023 Regular General Assembly Session, brought major action on many bills. This coming week, no committees can meet after Monday and the session is scheduled to end on Saturday, March 12.
The House of Delegates killed seven of my 25 remaining bills. First, SB246 required law enforcement officers to advise a driver why they were stopped before asking for their driver’s license and vehicle registration. I introduced this bill after a constituent from Kingstowne ended up in the local news after she was stopped and charged with driving while intoxicated and after she asked why she was stopped. She blew a 0.00% breath alcohol concentration and her case dismissed, but the entire situation was avoidable. This policy is consistent with Virginia law enforcement accreditation standards, Virginia State Police and Fairfax County Police policies, but the Virginia Sheriffs Association opposed it and a House committee voted the bill down on a party-line vote.
Senate and House Set Up Fight Over $3 Billion Tax Cut
In the sixth week of the General Assembly Session each chamber offered their proposed budgets. Each chamber’s budget is very different.
First, I was able to secure several changes to the budget that are important to our community. The Senate Finance Committee included $10 million in the budget to fund the Phase II improvements at Widewater State Park. Phase II will include a new visitor center, new trails, a loop road, parking areas, and picnic areas. I have been fighting for this for five years and I am working with Delegate Candi King and Delegate Tara Durant to ensure the House of Delegates will agree to fund it.