This Week from Del. Matt Fariss

Governor Glen Youngkin has already signed over 700 bills into law from the 2022 General Assembly Session. This week I am highlighting several of those bills. 

AGRICULTURE

HB 1224, sponsored by Delegate David Bulova, reduces regulatory burdens on best management practices (BMPs) for our farmers. HB 463 & SB 141, sponsored by Delegate Terry Austin and Senator John Edwards, removes the fee for state boat ramps. HB 189 & SB 509, sponsored by Delegate Michael Webert and Senator Richard Stuart, provides the right to propagate shellfish by whatever legal means necessary.

MILITARY 

& VETERANS

HB 17 & SB 618, sponsored by Delegate Buddy Fowler and Senator Richard Stuart, clarifies that members of military color guards, honor guards, and veterans service organizations are exempt from the crime of unlawful paramilitary activity when the member is participating in training and education exercises, funerals, parades, or other public ceremonies. HB 540, sponsored by Delegate Danica Roem, extends driver’s licenses to accommodate for military deployments. HB 120, sponsored by Delegate Scott Wyatt, reduces the fees for a lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for disabled veterans.

PUBLIC SAFETY

HB 748 & SB 150, sponsored by Delegate Rob Bell and Senator John Edwards, modernizes the DNA data bank sample tracking system. HB 907 and SB 526, sponsored by Delegate Emily Brewer and Senator Louise Lucas, streamlines the permitting of battery-charged fence security systems. HB 283 & SB 467, sponsored by Delegate Emily Brewer and Senator Jill Vogel, establishing training standards for law enforcement to recognize, prevent, and report human trafficking. HB 756 & SB 614, sponsored by Delegate Les Adams and Senator Bill Stanley, provides Commonwealth’s Attorneys with more information to protect communities from violent criminals. HB 342, sponsored by Delegate Marcus Simon, removes obsolete language related to teletype systems no longer used by Virginia State Police.

There’s more to this in the current issue of the Times Virginian newspaper. Support local journalism by purchasing the issue at a local newsstand or subscribing at to receive the print edition or view the full article in the e-edition version.