Senator Aird Announces Senate District 13 Youth Advisory Council
Today, Senator Lashrecse Aird announced the formation of the Senate District 13 Youth Advisory Council (YAC), a program open to 8-11th grade students that will consist of students from each locality throughout Senate District 13. Members of the YAC will advise Virginia’s leaders about ways to engage other young people, serve as ambassadors for their communities, and organize civic engagement activities for their peers. A scholarship of $1,000 will be awarded to a member of the YAC who demonstrates leadership above and beyond to their community while on the council. Applications open October 1 and close October 31, 2024 and may be submitted here: https://www.lashrecseaird.com/yacapplication.
NEW LAWS, SPECIAL SESSION & AROUND THE DISTRICT
Annually on July 1, new laws go into effect from the preceding legislative session. These new Virginia laws range from every possible topic and issue imaginable. To easily review these laws, the Division of Legislative Services provides an updated version of their publication In Due Course with each new law categorized in one place.
We’re pleased that several of our bills have been signed and have gone into effect as well. Specifically, SB483 which ensures indoor vertical farm operations are treated the same as equipment used in traditional farm operations. Emerging industries like Plenty in Chesterfield and Beanstalk Farms in Manassas now benefit from this legislation and allow for a significant expansion of their investment in this cutting-edge industry. A few others we were pleased to see pass include:
Senator Aird Announces Priorities Funded Within Final Budget
Today, the Virginia General Assembly convened in Richmond for a Special Session to pass the FY25-FY26 budget. This budget contains historic funding for education, prioritizes mental health and crucial investments in our Commonwealth’s infrastructure.
Following passage of the budget Senator Lashrecse Aird (D-Petersburg), speaking to her amendments included within the completed budget said, “I am grateful to have secured over $22 million dollars in priorities that will provide critical supports for the citizens of the 13th senatorial district. My funded priorities included key investments in education, violence prevention, poverty reduction efforts, healthcare, good governance and community resilience to continue to move our Commonwealth forward. I am confident that this budget will have direct and significant positive impacts on the residents in my district and I was proud to vote in support of the final budget this afternoon.”
2024 Session Wrap Up & Looking Ahead to Reconvened
March 9th marked the official end of the 60-day 2024 General Assembly Session. As I reflect on this date—marking “sine die” (pronounced sigh-knee dye), and March generally when I formally launched my campaign for Senate a year ago—I was struck with sincere gratitude for the opportunity to once again fight for policies that will uplift the communities I represent.
Beyond Crossover
We began the 2024 General Assembly session with legislators introducing 2,816 bills and resolutions. Moving at a rapid pace, committees have been meeting to deliberate these introduced policies, sometimes altering their initial concepts before advancing in the legislative process or sending the patron to continue their work in the interim for next session. February 13, was the deadline for the House and Senate to complete action on those bills in each respective body. Known as “crossover” only 1,341 bills survived and remained for us to act on over the next three weeks.
Pre-Session Newsletter
In just under one week we will begin a new era of leadership in our Commonwealth as the General Assembly Session officially convenes on January 10, 2024. I could not be prouder to be part of this historical period in Virginia—being part of the largest incoming class in decades as the representative for Senate District 13. With 18 new Senators and 34 new members of the House of Delegates, we not only have representation that reflects the rich diversity of our Commonwealth but an opportunity to bring forward meaningful change long desired by our communities.