RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The 2024 General Assembly Session is now a thing of the past as both the House and the Senate adjourn this year’s regular session at the State Capitol on Saturday.
On Saturday, March 9, the 2024 General Assembly Session came to an end, with Democrats using their majority to pass priorities and Republicans leaving disappointed.
“We are very proud of what we have accomplished. I think we have shown that we can govern as a Democratic majority and stand as a counter to what Governor Youngkin is proposing,” Democratic Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell told reporters after both chambers adjourned.
In a post-session press conference, Democrats in both the House and the Senate celebrated the passage of key priorities including bills to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026, ban the sale of new assault weapons and more.
“We wanted to make sure that we are protecting our workers, and making sure that people are earning a better wage than they are earning now. We also protected individuals from attacks on their reproductive healthcare,” Democrats’ House Majority Leader Charniele Herring said.
However, Republicans who were in the minority in both chambers painted a different picture.
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions and I’d submit to you that our friends on the other side have laid down quite a few miles of extra pavement in that regard,” House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert said.
Republicans took issue with the budget bills passed by both chambers in the final minutes of the session, saying they would raise taxes.
“So yes, they’re gonna give a $15 minimum wage, but all of that is going to get eaten up in taxes because they are not going to able to afford things and your localities are going to raise property taxes which determinately affects the poor,” Delegate Michael Webet said.
As for what each side sees as their biggest accomplishment. Democrats say it’s investing in K-12 education, including providing teachers with 3% raises each year of the next two years.
“The governor touts education as one of his number one priorities, but his language does not match what his actions have been. If he is truly interested in public education, higher education, then he needs to put his money where his mouth is,” Senator Louise Lucas said.
For Republicans, it was defeating a measure that would have allowed eligible inmates who have served long prison sentences to petition the court to reconsider the length of their sentence.
“This so-called second look bill would have given every single offender, including violent offenders, sex offenders, everything you can imagine, including people who were previously on death row, give them the opportunity to petition for a second sentencing event,” Gilbert said.
Governor Glenn Youngkin will have 30 days to act on most of the bills passed in this year’s session, including the budget.
