Greetings from your State Capitol. I am again incredibly humbled to represent you in our 2024 General Assembly. Thank you for this high honor.

The 2024 session has concluded, and it has been different from any other I’ve experienced.  The level of partisanship and the lack of consideration of certain issues was unprecedented. The over arching themes have been more gun restrictions, relaxing criminal penalties, increased school mandates, and increased mandates on local governments. Many of these measures will be either amended or vetoed by the Governor, so the final outcome of these policy changes won’t be known until our veto session in six weeks.  I’ll give a more comprehensive update on all actions and the budget at that time.

Below are the measures that I introduced for consideration this session and the outcome of each. As every year, almost all of these measures are at the request of individuals in our area or a result of problems that constituents have experienced.

–        HB216 To give the Dept. of Conservation and Recreation more flexibility in working with property owners as they ensure that privately owned dams are safe.  Unfortunately, after passing out of the committee and full public discussion with no opposition, this bill was sent back to committee to die on a party line vote.  I will attempt to have the issue addressed by requesting the Governor to intervene.

–        HB217 Require a review of the current medical informed consent form to ensure that certain gynecological procedures are adequately explained.  This bill also, after being fully heard and reported to the floor was sent back to the committee to die on a party line vote.  This was especially disturbing because this measure was totally to ensure that a woman’s reproductive rights would be fully considered.  Since this action, I have requested the Board of Medicine to undertake a review of the current standards.

–        HB218 Make certain changes to legislation from last year to ensure that patients will continue to receive necessary medical care when their insurance carrier and the provider are in a contract dispute.  This bill is awaiting the Governor’s signature.

–        HB219 Consider making changes to the current penalty for driving on an expired registration.  The intent would be to allow a grace period with no penalty and an enhanced penalty the longer one goes without renewing their tags.  At my request, the bill was carried over so that the DMV and State Police can review the policy and enact the measure next year.

–        HB220 Makes certain adjustments to requirements that will allow remote monitoring of water and sewage treatment facilities when there are no licensed operators available for on-site supervision.  This bill was at the request of local governments to ensure compliance with EPA requirements.  This bill is awaiting the Governor’s signature.

–        HB221 Charge the Va. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services to begin the process of developing a model guidance document to assist county governments if they choose to enact an ordinance addressing the problem of free-roaming cats.  This bill was at the request of many animal welfare advocates as a result of a two-year study.  Unfortunately, the bill was never scheduled for a hearing.

–        HB222 Exempt church run child day care centers from state regulations except for those involving safety and health standards.  Even with overwhelming testimony in support, the bill was killed in subcommittee on a party line vote.

–        HB223 Would give the court added discretion in banning pet ownership in felony convictions of animal abuse.  This bill is awaiting the Governor’s signature.

–        HB259  Allows the Dept. of Conservation and Recreation greater flexibility in awarding grant funds to assist property owners with dam maintenance costs.

–        HB330  Allow local Commonwealth Attorneys to enforce federal statutes if a pet shop violates the lending disclosure requirements.  This bill is awaiting the Governor’s signature.

–        HB628  Make it easier for a hospital to add additional beds for the treatment of patients in mental crisis.  This bill was killed in subcommittee on a party line vote.

–        HB1306  Make it easier for veterinary practices to administer necessary pet medications in off-site settings.  This bill passed out of committee unanimously but was voted back to committee to kill it.  This was a personal spite move, fortunately a Senate bill to achieve the same effect is awaiting the Governor’s signature.

–        HB1312  Add our State Park law enforcement officers to the same retirement system the same as most of our other state law enforcement officers.  This bill is awaiting the Governor’s signature.

–        HJR12 Require the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to determine the long-term impact of our current solar panel mandate on our farm and forest lands.  At my request, this bill was referred to JLARC for them to incorporate in their future workload if possible.

I will provide a comprehensive update on the major policy actions of this session, through legislation and the budget, after our veto session.

I welcome your emails, telephone calls and visits. My email is DelBorrock@virginia.house.gov, my local office phone is (540) 891-1322 and is usually open MWF 9-12, T Th 9-5.