Eastern Shore Times

The 2024 General Assembly Session in Virginia has officially begun, with the swearing-in of all 140 legislators. In the House, Don Scott of Portsmouth has been elected as Speaker, while Paul Nardo has been re-elected as Clerk. Delegate Mike Cherry, who serves on the Education and Health committees, has also been appointed to the Privileges & Elections committee.

Governor Youngkin delivered his State of the Commonwealth address, highlighting the progress made in the state and outlining his goals for the coming year. Delegate Cherry commended the Governor's focus on mental health and his commitment to enforcing existing laws to keep communities safe.

In terms of legislation, Delegate Cherry is carrying several bills this session. One of these is House Bill 633, which aims to create a labor trafficking statute in state law. Virginia is currently the only state in the nation without laws criminalizing labor trafficking. Delegate Cherry emphasized that this bipartisan effort will provide state prosecutors and local law enforcement with more tools to combat human trafficking.

Another bill, House Bill 629, seeks to prohibit the personal use of campaign funds by candidates for public office. The current law in Virginia does not restrict candidates from using campaign donations for personal expenses, and Delegate Cherry believes this should be rectified.

Additionally, Delegate Cherry is sponsoring House Bill 630 and House Bill 631, which aim to provide enhanced retirement benefits to public safety dispatchers. These bills acknowledge the crucial work that dispatchers do and seek to ensure they receive the same retirement benefits as other first responders.

During the legislative session, Delegate Cherry values the opportunity to meet with community members on various issues. Recently, community bankers and homeschool students visiting the Capitol were among the visitors to his office.

In terms of news articles of interest, some highlights include the fun bills of Virginia's 2024 session, the election of Don Scott as Virginia's first Black speaker of the House, and a bipartisan bill to ban labor trafficking in Virginia.

Delegate Cherry encourages constituents to share their thoughts on key issues through his 2024 session survey, which includes six questions and takes no more than 10 minutes to complete.

As the session progresses, Delegate Cherry aims to keep constituents informed through weekly newsletters. He concludes by expressing his commitment to serving the district and encourages constituents to reach out if they need assistance.

Source: [Delegate Mike Cherry](DelMCherry@house.virginia.gov)