Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, bottom center, shakes the hand of Del. Cliff Hayes, D-Chesapeake, right, as he arrives in the House chambers to deliver his State of the Commonwealth address before a joint session of the Virginia General Assembly at the Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed into law bipartisan hate crime legislation along with dozens of other bills, while also vetoing four bills, including one that would have bolstered climate change and environmental literacy in public schools.
The hate crime legislation will codify the recommendation from the Commission to Combat Antisemitism that Virginia revise its laws to ensure Jewish Virginians are protected from hate crimes, along with Muslims, Sikhs and other ethnic and religious groups.
“As the first state to weave religious freedom into the fabric of our nation, Virginia is leading once again and sending a clear message that Virginians should not be the victim of a crime simply because of their religion, race, or ethnicity,” Youngkin said in a press release April 2.
Sen. Bryce Reeves (R-Spotsylvania) and Del. Dan Helmer (D-Fairfax) introduced the legislation in their respective chambers as Senate Bill 7 and House Bill 18.
“Legislation outlawing antisemitism isn’t just about protecting a particular group; it’s about defending the fundamental values of equality, justice, and human dignity for all,” Reeves said in the April 2 release.
“Hate has no place in our communities,” Helmer said in the release. “As the grandson of Holocaust survivors and a Jew whose children have confronted antisemitism in our schools, this bill is personal for me.”
Other Actions
In addition to signing into law 100 bills on April 2, Youngkin vetoed four bills.
One bill, House Bill 1088, would have required Virginia’s Board of Education to make available to every local school board instructional materials on climate change and environmental literacy that are based on and include peer-reviewed scientific sources.
“The Standards of Learning already provides instructional material related to environmental issues,” Youngkin said in his veto statement. “The proposal imposes a significant and redundant task on the Department of Education and the Board of Education.”
Youngkin has until April 8 to take action on any remaining bills and decide on what changes he wants to see to the budget passed by the General Assembly in March.
Support Our Cause
Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, which has always strived to make clear what's really at stake for Virginians and our future.
Since day one, our goal here at Dogwood has always been to empower people across the commonwealth with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Virginia families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.
Spanberger, Dem leaders release ‘Affordable Virginia Agenda’
Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger released a list of bills and proposals she supports to lower the cost of health care, energy, and housing in Virginia....
Progressive Dem eyes Virginia congressional bid amid possible redistricting
State Del. Sam Rasoul of Roanoke says he supports Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, and an end to US military support for Israel. In the wake of...
Commentary: The costs of being in the majority
Democrats won on issues of affordability and working-class concerns. Now it’s time to deliver. Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger and Virginia...
Meta’s ‘teen safety’ tools are failing Virginia kids—and Gov. Glenn Youngkin isn’t helping
Parents and cybersecurity experts want Virginia lawmakers to hold companies like Meta accountable when their platforms fail to keep their pledges to...
‘Ticket to Ride’ and pickle sandwiches: The family life behind Abigail Spanberger’s campaign
Remember the viral victory speech with the toddler under the podium? That kid’s mom could be Virginia’s next governor. On Nov. 4, Democratic...
Virginia Dems enter redistricting fight in response to Trump’s power grab
Lawmakers are reportedly reconvening in Richmond on Monday with plans to redraw the state’s congressional maps to counter several Republican-led...
