(The Center Square) — Gov. Glenn Youngkin has signed 180 bills into law, covering issues such as child protection, health care and public safety.
One major bill, HB 2260, changes the definition of a ‘child in need of services’ to allow law enforcement to step in sooner when a child is at risk of human trafficking, exploitation or coercion.
Del. Karrie Delaney, D-Fairfax, celebrated the bill’s passage.
“This bill is an important step toward protecting children from ending up in the hands of dangerous predators and traffickers,” she said. “Current law requires a juvenile to have run away in the past multiple times to qualify for law enforcement intervention. HB 2260 allows more interventions when a child is at risk of coercion, exploitation, abuse, or manipulation or if the child has been lured due to trickery.”
Youngkin framed the bill signings as part of his larger economic and public safety agenda.
“Virginia is competing to win and we aren’t going to stop until the final buzzer sounds,” said Youngkin. “I acted today on a package of bipartisan bills that will further bolster the Commonwealth’s status as America’s Top State for Business. With over 276,000 new jobs, unemployment below the national average, 15,000 new high-wage, high-growth startups, and over $100 billion in capital investment, no one can deny that Virginia is roaring.”
Some of the other key bills signed by Youngkin include:
HB 2099- Requires insurance companies to speed up approvals for medical treatments.HB 2104- Allows school employees to administer seizure rescue medicine when needed.HB 1567- Strengthens Virginia’s Economic Development Partnership.HB 2358 – Creates a fund to boost the semiconductor industry in Virginia.HB 1692- Expands the Virginia Parole Board’s authority.HB 2111- Increases the size of the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission.HB 2406 and SB861- Strengthens the penalties for escaping jail or custody.
HB 2150- Ensures that contract terms in state procurement agreements cannot conflict with Virginia law, increasing transparency and legal clarity in government contracts.
HB 2128- Expands local government authority to impose civil penalties on neglected or abandoned properties, giving cities and counties more tools to address blighted areas.
“Governor Youngkin and I went to work on Day One to declare the Commonwealth open for business again after the pandemic, and the results speak for themselves,” said Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears.
She continued, “Make no mistake though, we are not done. We will continue to lower the cost of doing business, unravel burdensome regulations that crush small business owners, invest in site development for the wave of manufacturing jobs President Trump is bringing back home to America, and take Virginia’s talented workforce to the next level. I’m a Marine, we take the hill – and then we take the next one. That’s what Virginia is going to do, too.”
With these signings, the governor has now enacted 180 bills into law and has until March 24 to sign, veto or amend others.
In March 2024, Youngkin took a similar action. On March 8, he addressed 84 bills, signing 64 into law, amending 12 and vetoing eight. On March 14, he finalized decisions on 50 bills, signing 30 into law and vetoing 20.
