Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
RICHMOND, VA – Today, Governor Glenn Youngkin signed 100 bills, including SB7 and HB18 which safeguard Virginians from unlawful discrimination, hate crimes, and antisemitism. Additionally, the Governor vetoed 4 bills.
“From day one, we have made combating antisemitism and religious bigotry a top priority. As one of my first executive orders, I formed the Commission to Combat Antisemitism, which issued a recommendation that Virginia revise its laws to ensure Jewish Virginians are protected from hate crimes, along with Muslims, Sikhs and other ethnic and religious groups. Today, after two years of hard work, I’m pleased to sign SB7 and HB18 which codify that recommendation, and 98 additional bills sent to me this session. 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,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin.
“I’m thankful for the Governor’s signature and the bipartisan co-patrons of this important bill,” said Senator Bryce Reeves. “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. It adheres to the highest values we hold dear as Americans--liberty and justice for all.”
“Hate has no place in our communities. As the grandson of Holocaust survivors and a Jew whose children have confronted antisemitism in our schools, this bill is personal for me,” said Delegate Dan Helmer. “I'm grateful to the Governor for signing this bipartisan legislation to protect people of every ethnicity across the commonwealth.”
The Governor signed 100 bills, which included:
HB 5 HB 18 HB 70 HB 86 HB 91 HB 123 HB 143 HB 144 HB 172 HB 188 HB 200 HB 237 HB 264 HB 309 HB 314 HB 317 HB 322 HB 332 HB 336 HB 349 HB 358 HB 407 HB 464 HB 503 HB 508 HB 515 HB 525 HB 589 HB 591 HB 599 HB 605 HB 607 HB 613 HB 619 HB 626 HB 634 HB 650 HB 764 HB 777 HB 806 HB 816 HB 820 HB 848 HB 925 HB 943 HB 986 HB 991 HB 1003 HB 1014 HB 1053 HB 1060 HB 1085 HB 1127 HB 1131 HB 1132 HB 1134 HB 1186 HB 1203 HB 1208 HB 1209 HB 1217 HB 1231 HB 1237 HB 1243 HB 1402 HB 1455 HB 1482 HB 1487 HB 1531
SB 7 SB 59 SB 63 SB 94 SB 98 SB 106 SB 138 SB 157 SB 177 SB 243 SB 244 SB 257 SB 296 SB 308 SB 309 SB 341 SB 343 SB 420 SB 437 SB 458 SB 461 SB 471 SB 475 SB 484 SB 540 SB 541 SB 543 SB 572 SB 576 SB 650 SB 705
The full list of signed bills is available here.
Additionally, the Governor vetoed 4 bills, which included:
The governor’s full veto statements are available here.
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