Delegate Wiley’s Richmond Roundup: Week 3 – Making Virginia a safer place for families

Despite the lightning-fast pace of the General Assembly session, House Republicans are working diligently to pass legislation that lowers costs, improves our schools, and makes our communities safer.

This week, we have already advanced several key pieces of our public safety agenda that will reduce crime and protect Virginians. The legislation includes effective measures to prevent crimes before they happen, provide the necessary tools to law enforcement to do their jobs, and keep dangerous criminal and drug activity off our streets.

Stopping Crimes Before They Happen
A critical piece of our public safety agenda includes undoing failed policies that passed the Democrat-controlled General Assembly three years ago. For instance, Democrats passed a law in 2020 that took away law enforcement’s ability to conduct various traffic stops that could subsequently reveal more serious offenses – such as possession of illegal firearms or deadly drugs – and allow law enforcement to take action to prevent more heinous crimes from happening. With an increase in traffic-related deaths and fatal drug overdoses over the last two years, local leaders across the 29th district and around Virginia have asked for legislation to reverse this policy.

Fortunately, House Republicans are advancing legislation (HB 1380) sponsored by our late friend Delegate Ronnie Campbell that restores law enforcement’s ability to do its job and provides the necessary tools to prevent serious crimes from occurring.

Holding Criminals Accountable
Rather than promote a restrictive gun control agenda that punishes responsible gun owners, House Republicans are advancing legislation (HB 2360, Webert) to deter crime more effectively by ensuring criminals who commit heinous offenses with a firearm stay behind bars. Meanwhile, we’re moving forward with
legislation (HB 1365, Williams) that ensures individuals accused of serious crimes abide by stricter conditions before being allowed out on bail. These measures are currently making their way through the House of Delegates.

House Republicans are also advancing legislation (HB 1642, Kilgore) that nearly became law four years ago to ensure drug dealers responsible for fatal drug overdoses can be charged with felony homicide. Despite bipartisan support, Governor Ralph Northam vetoed the original bill. Since then, fatal drug overdoses have skyrocketed and now outnumber driver-related deaths and gun-related deaths combined. We are committed to getting this legislation across the finish line to get fentanyl and other illicit drugs off our streets and save lives.

Wiley’s Work in Richmond
It was a busy week in our office. We met with leaders from the Virginia Aviation Business Association, representatives from Blue Ridge Realtors, the Top of Virginia Building Association, the Virginia Forestry Community, and Middletown’s Mayor, Charles Harbaugh.

In committee, my bills, HB 1462 and HB2285. HB 1462 is another fight for our second amendment rights. It addresses the 30 Day wait period placed on individuals with new driver’s licenses. The reasoning behind this only hurts the law-abiding citizens of our district and Virginia! HB 2285 unanimously passed through the Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources Committee to convey an easement through Shenandoah State Park.

• See 2023 legislation that Delegate Wiley is Chief Patron 
• See legislation that Delegate Wiley is Co-Patron on
• See a list of House Committees Delegate Wiley serves on or Chairs
• Other Commission and Committee Appointments in the General Assembly

You can also track any other legislation in the General Assembly here at www.lis.virginia.gov.

Delegate Bill Wiley, House District 29
delbwiley@house.Virginia.gov
1-804-698-1029