January 12, 2024 Updates
2024 General Assembly Convenes
The 2024 Virginia General Assembly convened on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. As an even-numbered year, the session is expected to last for 60 days. Throughout this period, legislators will concentrate on the passage of legislation and the approval of a budget for the 2024-2026 biennium.
As of today, there have been more than 2,108 bills and resolutions introduced. As we continue our review of legislation of potential interest and impact, we will be updating our bill tracker. The link to view the bill tracker is available below.
Important Dates and Milestones
Important dates and milestones over the past week included the following:
January 10th- Session convened.
First Black Speaker of the House sworn into office.
Governor Glenn Youngkin delivered the State of the Commonwealth Address.
January 12th – Deadline to submit amendments to the state budget.
Upcoming dates and deadlines are listed below.
January 19th – Last day to introduce legislation and certain joint resolutions.
February 13th – Crossover (otherwise known as the half-way point of the session when all bills must be acted on in their body of origin) – likely date, pending adoption of the rules.
February 18th – “Budget Sunday,” when the House and Senate money committees will recommend their proposed budgets – likely date, pending adoption of the rules.
March 12th – Final day of session, otherwise known as Sine Die – likely date, pending adoption of the rules.
30 days following session adjournment: Reconvened/Veto session, where legislature returns to act on Governor’s amendments and vetoes.
July 1st – Effective date for legislation and budget unless otherwise specified.
Virginia Legislative News Highlight
DEL. DON SCOTT SWORN IN AS FIRST BLACK SPEAKER OF THE VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES
January 10th was a monumental day in Virginia’s history, with the swearing in of Virginia’s first Black Speaker of the House, Del. Scott. In breaking barriers and surpassing historical precedents, Scott has not only made history for the state but also for the entire nation. He was unanimously elected speaker-designee by the House Democratic Caucus.
After he was sworn in as Speaker of the House, he stated, “My first immediate emotion is just gratitude…” He proceeded by expressing gratitude to his wife, daughter, and mother for their instrumental support in helping him get to where he is now.
He also mentioned the significance of timing. 405 years after the formation of the first General Assembly and, “”coincidentally, 405 years after the first enslaved people arrived here, not far from where we stand down the road in Hampton Roads, so I know I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me.”
Del. Scott was first elected to represent Portsmouth as a member of the House in 2019. In 2022, Del. Scott was elected by his caucus to serve as House Democratic Leader. Within his time in the legislature, Del. Scott has been a champion for reproductive freedom and uplifting working families by ensuring a strong, equitable economy. His legislative priorities also include strengthening Virginia’s public schools, improving healthcare quality and affordability, and criminal justice reform.
He was born and raised in Houston, Texas and was one of six children, raised by a single mother. He graduated from Texas A&M University and from there, he enrolled in the Navy’s Officer Candidate School in Rhode Island. He proudly served his country as an officer in the United States Navy before earning his law degree from Louisiana State University. In 2015, Del. Scott started his own law practice before becoming a partner at Breit Biniazan P.C.
Del. Scott is a member of the Portsmouth Bar Association, the Old Dominion Bar Association, the Virginia State Bar Association, the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, and the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. He is the former Chair of the Portsmouth Economic Development Authority and former President of the Southeastern Employment and Training Association. He is also a member of the Eureka Club and holds lifetime memberships in the NAACP, V.F.W., Post #993 and American Legion Post #190. To learn more about Del. Scott, click here.
