Blaze pink allowed is one of the new laws in Virginia effective July 1, 2017

Every year, the General Assembly publishes a comprehensive list of bills that are likely to affect residents’ everyday life. Below, I have highlighted the major accomplishments. You can read the entire list here http://dls.virginia.gov/pubs/idc/idc17.pdf  Here. are a select few of them.

State Budget

The General Assembly produced a conservative, responsible, and balanced amended state budget ahead of schedule for the third year in a row that keeps spending in check. The budget reduces debt by about $61 million and saves $10.8 million General Fund for use in the budget. The budget includes no tax increases, eliminates all of the Governor’s fees; such as higher restaurant inspection fees and shellfish inspection fees, that are already sufficiently funded. The budget includes a 3% salary increase for state employees and faculty and a 2% salary adjustment for all state-supported local employees. It also gives all teachers a 2% raise.

Right to re-sell electronic tickets

We passed legislation that allows individuals the right to re-sell their electronic tickets just like you can do with a physical one. It’s simply a matter of fairness in the Internet age.

Left-lane drivers

The General Assembly passed legislation that fines slower drivers $100 who fail to drive in the right lane of the highway. Slow drivers in the left lane are simply a danger to others on the highways.

Bullying

Under new legislation, public school principals will be required to notify the parents of any student involved in a bullying case within five days, including the status of the investigation.  Bullying is unacceptable and we have made that clear in this law.

Opioids

The General Assembly passed a number of new laws to fight the opioid epidemic. Measures include establishing a needle exchange program and increased access to the overdose-reversal drug naloxone.  This was a tough one, but we felt that public safety is at risk and the problems will only get worse.  That said, we really need to deal with the low-life scoundrels who are pushing drugs on our streets and I am focused on doing just that.

Colleges

We passed legislation that requires public colleges and universities to report to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia(SCHEV) the value of their investments every year. This legislation also requires that schools must also give notice of any proposals to increase tuition and fees. The public has a right to know.

Blaze Pink

A new law allows hunters to wear blaze pink or blaze orange hunting apparel when required during firearms deer hunting season or the special season for hunting deer with a muzzle-loading rifle.  There are many female hunters who have asked that we do this as a way to encourage women to participate in the great tradition of hunting in Virginia.  There are more than you may realize and both colors are easily identified in the field, which is the overriding concern…safety.

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