July 1 marks the implementation of several new laws.
The passing of a law in Virginia was motivated by the tragic death of Irvo Otieno while in custody at Central State Hospital. This unfortunate event triggered a demand for mental health reform in the state.
Caroline Ouko, the mother of Otieno, expressed her deep gratitude upon hearing that a law would be named after her son. “It’s truly an honor to have a law in Irvo’s name,” she said in June. She believes that Irvo’s law will provide families with the opportunity to be with their loved ones during a mental health crisis, which is a crucial aspect of providing care and support.
Firearms are also targeted by other laws.
In Virginia, it is considered a felony for a parent or guardian to provide access to firearms to their children if they are aware of any threat posed by them or if they have been charged with a violent crime. This action was prompted by a tragic incident that occurred in 2021, where a 13-year-old girl named Lucia Bremer was fatally shot by a 14-year-old.
Following that, her parents advocated for a transformation.
“In a legislative hearing held in January, my daughter Lucia was taken away from us,” expressed Jonathan, Bremer’s father.
First responders who are exposed to toxic chemicals on the job are protected by another law.
According to Virginia State Senator Aaron Rouse, “This was one of those bills that received unanimous support,” indicating that not all bills are able to garner such widespread agreement.
Our News 3 Investigative Team has already covered the issue of the 2012 “Good Friday Miracle” jet crash in Virginia Beach. They conducted a follow-up investigation after several responders reported suffering from cancer, with some fearing it could be linked to toxic chemical exposure.
In February, Chief Kenneth Pravetz of the Virginia Beach Fire Department stated to News 3 that they were aware of the varying risk at that particular event.
The Commonwealth has undergone several transformations, including:
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- The end to child marriage when lawmakers closed a loophole and established 18 as the minimum age for marriage with no exceptions
- Increased pay for mayors and council members which Portsmouth and Hampton are implementing next year
- The European honey bee joins Virginia’s official list of emblems as the state pollinator
North Carolina lawmakers are currently focusing on improving the voter registration rules in the state.
A recently introduced law mandates that state and county boards keep a record of qualified voters and regularly update it to keep track of those who become ineligible due to death or conviction of a felony. This legislation was part of a comprehensive election law that was passed last year.
In our area, some notable vetoes were made by Governor Youngkin. One of these was the veto of a bill that would have enabled small businesses to operate skilled games, which bear resemblance to slot machines. Additionally, he also turned down a ‘right-to-contraception’ bill as well as legislation that sought to abolish tax exemptions for the Daughters of the Confederacy, among others.