By Josh Israel for the Virginia Independent.
Broadcast version by Zamone Perez for Virginia News Connection reporting for the Virginia Independent-Public News Service Collaboration
The Virginia General Assembly on April 22 gave its final approval to dozens of bills that had been amended by Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger. These bills, which now will become law, include the creation of a statewide paid family and medical leave system, equal pay protections, gun violence prevention measures, and anti-wage theft measures.
After their 60-day legislative session earlier this year, the House of Delegates and Senate reconvened for a one-day session to review bills vetoed and amended by the governor.
Spanberger vetoed eight bills, including one to allow a new casino in Fairfax County, one regulating so-called skill game betting machines, and one regulating the recycling of mattresses. She sent more than 100 bills back to the Legislature with recommended amendments, ranging from small technical changes to significant rewrites.
Lawmakers in both chambers voted to accept the vast majority of Spanberger’s proposed amendments, including a slightly altered version of a bill to provide workers with 80% of their salary for up to 12 weeks while on leave for medical or family emergencies, funded by a small increase in the payroll tax paid by employers and employees, and a slightly changed measure to ensure equal pay for men and women doing the same job by prohibiting employers from asking about wage or salary history during the hiring process.
“Today, we are making good on our promise to stand up for the men and women who power Virginia’s economy,” said Spanberger in a statement. “Virginia is now the first state in the South to create a paid family and medical leave program. Thanks to this landmark law, millions of Virginians will no longer be forced to give up their paycheck when they welcome a child, or when their loved one faces a serious illness.”
The General Assembly gave final approval to Spanberger’s amended versions of bills to close loopholes in the gun background check system; to require firearms be securely stored in homes where a minor is present; to prohibit the carrying of loaded assault weapons in public; to require that insurers cover contraception; to protect workers from wage theft; and to allow individuals to install small portable solar generation devices at their homes.
Lawmakers rejected a few of Spanberger’s proposed changes, including her amendments to bills requiring employers to offer paid sick leave; establishing a prescription drug affordability board empowered to cap medication prices; allowing public sector workers to engage in collective bargaining; and establishing a regulated market for recreational cannabis.
The governor will now have 30 days to decide whether to veto those bills, sign them unamended, or allow the unamended version to become law without her signature. She said in a statement: “I will continue to work with the patrons of the bills that are coming back to my desk to make sure that when these bills become law, we get it right. In the coming weeks, my priority will be to help facilitate getting a budget to my desk.”
The Legislature will begin a separate special session on April 23 to try to reach agreement on a state budget.
Josh Israel wrote this article for the Virginia Independent.
Source: Public News Service
