Today is July 1st, the date when new laws take effect after Assembly approval.

One of the nice surprises as a lawyer is to open the State Code and see a law that you drafted yourself (with some help, naturally, from legislative services).


Here are some of my ideas that became law today:

SB 450:  Revision to Slayer Statute.  This change bars felons convicted of "voluntary manslaughter" from profiting from their crime, e.g. by inheriting the victim's property.  Previously, the bar had only applied to murderers. 

SB 451:  Diversion Center Incarceratation:  This change allows our DOC to place eligible nonviolent offenders in the diversion centers where their problems (usually drug abuse) can be specifically addressed.

SB 452:  Full Disclosure for "Pass-thru" PAC's.  This new law requires "pass-thru" PAC's that raise $$ for specific candidates to reveal their donors via the candidate's state disclosure.

SB 509:  The Student Bill of Rights.  This new law requires universities to open up their financial aid programs and forbids exclusive lending arrangements which limit student access to credit. 

SB 697:  Ban on "capping" by insurance companies.  This law forbids insurance companies from arbitrarily capping the amount paid to auto body shops for paint and other materials used for repairs. 


In addition, I have other bills that did not become law ... but were incorporated into bills that did pass.  Here is the honor roll:

SB 443:  Repeals abuser fees.  Self-explanatory.

SB 448:  Local tree Preservation.  Permits localities to enact tree preservation ordinances to limit tree-cutting, even for by-right development.

SB 453:  NVTA membership.  Gives local towns like Vienna a seat on this august Northern VA board.


My first session in the Senate was active.  I can't say that everything I proposed succeeded.  My biggest setback was certainly the Clean Energy Future Act (SB 446), which failed in Committee.  However, if you don't have some bills fail occasionally, then you're not pushing hard enough.