by Dick Hall-Sizemore

In addition to previously announced vetoes of high-profile bills with Democrat sponsors (Fairfax casino, skill games, and public employee collective bargaining), Gov. Spanberger has announced her veto of 13 more pieces of legislation.

All of these bills were ones for which she returned with requested amendments that the Democrats in the General Assembly refused to even take up, thereby daring her to veto them.

The ones in this batch with the highest profiles were bills establishing a retail marketplace for cannabis products (HB 642 and SB 542); bills significantly revising the process for appointment of members of boards of visitors of institutions of higher education (HB 1385 and SB 494), and those creating a prescription drug pricing system (HB 483 and SB 271). 

She also vetoed the bills listed below. Where there are two bills listed, they are identical and a link has been provided to only one. For each vetoed bill, the Legislative Information Service will shortly have a link to the Govenor’s veto message that provides an explanation for her veto.

HB 449 and SB 229—Creating a new class action process in Virginia.

HB 246 and SB 335—Creating a new legal standard applicable to one criminal charge for individuals with mental disorders.

HB 639—Dealing with funds, property, or services election officials can accept from individuals and nongovernmental entities.

HB 1173 and SB 258—Inserting meopause and perimenopause as protected categories in the Virginia Human Rights Act.

HB 1222—Mandating the full recording of child welfare interviews without discretion for social services.

HB 1392 and SB 83—Making statewide changes to courthouse safety processes.

SB 218-Prohibiting the placement into Red Onion State Prison of inmates transferred to Virginia from out-of-state prisons.

HB 61—Altering the criteria to qualify as a SWaM business.

HB 111-Maintenance of voter rolls.

The Governor is still considering bills returned to her by the General Assembly, rejecting her requested amendments. She has a deadline of midnight, Saturday, May 23, to take action.