[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6379086,"mediaKeyId","2136742-fdfe9c0befea0a76c5349a719c4241b4","parentId",2136742,"title","Senate advances bank of bills and resolutions Jan. 21; block passages and key votes recorded","audioSeconds",88,"startMs",2287000,"endMs",2375000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2136742-fdfe9c0befea0a76c5349a719c4241b4&start=2287&end=2375","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2136742-fdfe9c0befea0a76c5349a719c4241b4/thumbnail_2287000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6379086/Virginia/Senate-advances-bank-of-bills-and-resolutions-Jan-21-block-passages-and-key-votes-recorded","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6379086-f3e35dd9b1e0a46579833ffa82f9ef79/orig.mp4?Expires=1775108208&Signature=doISRtWW9R1VJ4pfvwk97h1zcsN33T-euyoZe5KzljtP2ElJGWcUdNFOIta3IP3dlG~7ooQdUT-~8W9h038UiztyUHr4NkHrrmEF9utWSQVQVs-emKVclYdEE~KeG~P2XiVkpSRE6Suyarl7WQ8lCYI4o9zM-z5A-7E4xyFv-EZZ5VyhgBqi3VUXpVO1LfbFWW1727jXS44WEwc9jPa2B7m88bMb9HcCzW8DJhxft2FBP-p9IHz6J2tJijlVIg4qvxjWl2gL1e3A4ce20wUkOcODcwnYxkJSc-P3F0oKfXOS9qipaTwgroSgxNOS5iBMD1RvK40rgzWOBmh3clG5-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Virginia Legislature","date","2025-01-21T00:00:00Z","article","The Virginia Senate used block procedure and recorded floor votes on multiple measures during its Jan. 21, 2025 session. The clerk read a block of uncontested Senate bills (Senate bills 768 through 1310) and the chamber placed those bills on final passage as a group; the block passed by voice and was recorded as 40-0 on the roll after passage.

Several individual bills and joint resolutions received recorded votes on the floor:

- SB 748 (Board of Housing and Community Development evaluation of building-code temperature regulation): Passed on final passage, recorded 21-19.
- SB 812 (Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act — increase mandatory waiting period after landlord delivers notice from 5 to 14 days): Passed, recorded 20-19.
- SB 866 (real estate board membership qualifications — increase experience requirement and other qualifying changes): Passed, recorded 14-0.
- SB 884 (early termination of rental agreement for victims of family abuse, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking): Passed after floor reconsideration, final recorded vote 25-15 (see separate article for debate).
- SB 1116 (uniform trust code — expands definition of qualified trustee): Passed 40-0.
- SB 1118 (registration by localities of cemeteries on private property — changes “may” to “shall” and sets effective date): Passed, recorded 21-19.

Joint resolutions recorded on the floor included:

- SJ 247 (proposed constitutional amendment on reproductive freedom): Passed, recorded 21-19 (first legislative passage).
- SJ 248 (constitutional amendment on qualifications of voters and restoration of voting rights after incarceration): Passed, recorded 21-18.
- SJ 249 (amendment relating to marriage between two adults and repeal of same-sex-marriage prohibition): Passed, recorded 24-15.

Other procedural and committee actions were announced from the floor, and the Senate adopted multiple committee substitutes and floor substitutes for various bills throughout the session. Several bills were set aside “by for the day” or advanced to engrossment and third reading in blocks.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","January 21, 2025 - Regular Session - 12:00 m.","oneSentenceSummary","The Virginia Senate used block procedure and recorded final votes Jan. 21, advancing a large set of uncontested bills and recording roll-call outcomes on several contested measures.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature VA, Virginia","taxId",77687,"location","Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6379090,"Senate approves bill allowing victims of abuse to terminate leases early after heated debate",1051,3337000,4388000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2136742-fdfe9c0befea0a76c5349a719c4241b4&start=3337&end=4388","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2136742-fdfe9c0befea0a76c5349a719c4241b4/thumbnail_3337000.jpg","/articles/6379090/Virginia/Senate-approves-bill-allowing-victims-of-abuse-to-terminate-leases-early-after-heated-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6379090-1aa7797abf0c6ceb8013bfd49da2302e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775108208&Signature=AJgaQK5xgNuXrnYgckZP~ESGoSS75GjBXB79O3AaOzmVmZYSs44Lv2xIh1Hywyt1ECtW0~vRDlSreTgCSSHGj7C6QhERqQ2lBM-jjN7kGKdXdQbE02cHpZD7vThBvy0~Tjmi-zRtAuPwyt4dVUHmPi2u97Rap3KOEkBmQ86cbFKRFSpaZVMj9eNyQNbvlGch5sqoKwnMaWBUNum1WhyT-62kZKUAub6UVp6h4e1vM1byVkfcSSADrD4hwdalFxhK-wP7dhpRKD5xVdi6NHRC~bnutzCFzdoc7kNizOWCh10kAxW40nPfNr6eLHLWCEynls4EZXcHPfLv1FV~wj7knQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Virginia Senate on Jan. 21, 2025, passed Senate Bill 884, a change to the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act that expands early termination rights for tenants who are victims of family abuse, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking. After contested floor debate and a failed motion to re-refer the bill to the Courts of Justice Committee, the Senate approved the bill on final passage by a recorded vote, 25-15.

Senator Jeremy Perry, the senior senator from Loudoun and the bill’s patron, argued the measure expands protections for victims who often face the greatest risk when they try to leave abusive situations. Perry said the bill “seeks to expand protections for victims of domestic violence, victims of sexual assault, victims of human trafficking, and victims of stalking offenses” and described the measure as a tool to help people escape imminent danger.

Opponents urged more judicial review and committee consideration. Senator Vic Franklin, the senator from Franklin, moved to re-refer SB 884 to the Courts of Justice Committee, arguing the bill lacked the judicial-review mechanism the Courts of Justice Committee would apply to complex landlord-tenant and civil issues: “This bill in its current form does not have that nor has it been reviewed by the courts committee,” Franklin said on the floor.

The body debated the proper level of review after emergency protective orders are issued. Senator Stanley said he supported the bill’s aim but worried about allowing magistrate-issued protective orders — issued on short notice and often without extended evidentiary hearings — to trigger lease termination without additional judicial scrutiny. Stanley described concerns that the bill’s mechanics “allow it to be subject to people using the system to get out of landlord tenant agreements when in fact it is to protect those victims from harm.”

A motion to re-refer to Courts of Justice failed on a recorded vote, 19-21. The Senate then voted to reconsider, and after additional debate the measure passed final passage 25-15.

SB 884 retains an obligation that tenants pay the last 30 days’ rent in affected cases; it does not eliminate all financial obligations, according to floor remarks. The bill’s supporters and opponents said they expect its implementation to involve collaboration among landlords, courts, and victim-service providers.

The bill will advance to the House (or other required next steps depending on the legislative process) for further consideration as required by the General Assembly’s process.","Senate Bill 884, allowing certain victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking to terminate rental agreements early under specified circumstances, passed the Virginia Senate after floor debate and a failed motion to re-refer to Courts of Justice.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6379096,"Senate approves constitutional amendment to enshrine reproductive freedom; measure heads to voters",4809,5181000,9990000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2136742-fdfe9c0befea0a76c5349a719c4241b4&start=5181&end=9990","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2136742-fdfe9c0befea0a76c5349a719c4241b4/thumbnail_5181000.jpg","/articles/6379096/Virginia/Senate-approves-constitutional-amendment-to-enshrine-reproductive-freedom-measure-heads-to-voters","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6379096-0e8db7c72dc33d7352bf99e7f5446222/orig.mp4?Expires=1775108208&Signature=BKrbKKw1yjOkhdU1kaqYVodDIlddxf63llm44E-YRKzFKF7UE3AxCHipEwlv0zYKiXTffmVqp1FNwmPlPwDx8ReDEtlJkkK26CxC3zfxWt6ccmn2hlpsBsupxzuzP80CSoV6uH~T0QPeykie5d8z2wjqRaw5FWUnzLMZgkbn-lQ6DbXbuZmbNglISQPrKH~b~CcxPHH3KA8wfr7OaQNTGH6hDf-Y7NuAtd3cASENxEKskM~PBZdufnqYbDV6T6fASaqJtSEufF1jx5Wonk4-lGqfsVWZKKi--BpicAJEJVvwCqig5mWBughD1Y4uFznv~Ftzlc~64lKthjEPvWxU4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Virginia Senate on Jan. 21, 2025, approved Senate Joint Resolution 247, a proposed constitutional amendment that would enshrine a right to reproductive freedom in the Virginia Constitution and place the question before voters. The resolution passed on a recorded vote, 21-19.

Supporters said the amendment is intended to restore and preserve access to a range of reproductive-health services after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. Senator Gail Boiskell, the senator from Northern Fairfax, said in floor remarks that the amendment would “protect the right to abortion, birth control, miscarriage treatment, IVF, and the full scope of reproductive health care in Virginia,” and argued those rights should not be subject to changing majorities in the legislature.

Advocates framed the amendment as a safeguard for doctors and patients. Boiskell told colleagues the measure would “keep the patient, not politicians, in charge of their own health care decisions,” and said it would prevent criminalization of clinicians who treat life-threatening pregnancy complications.

Opponents cited parental rights and limits on state authority as central concerns and urged changes to the text. Senator John Durant, the senator from Stafford, warned the chamber that the amendment, as drafted, would override existing parental-consent statutes: “This is enshrined in the very fabric of who we are as parents,” he said, arguing the Constitution was not the right place to remove parental protections.

Other critics questioned language they said could permit late-term procedures without statutory guardrails and noted the amendment’s placement in the constitution would supersede state code. Senator William Sifers of Prince Edward, a vocal opponent, said the amendment “is an ill conceived, destructive policy” and announced he would vote against it.

Supporters said the ultimate check on the amendment will be voters: if the General Assembly approves the resolution a second time during the 2026 session, it will go to a public ballot refer endum. Boiskell and other backers pointed to the referendum step as the final arbiter of public will.

The vote followed several hours of debate, multiple floor amendments considered earlier in the day, and procedural appeals unrelated to the substance of the amendment. The Senate’s approval of SJ 247 is the first legislative step in the multi-year constitutional amendment process; the proposal must receive a second legislative approval in the next General Assembly session before reaching voters.

Supporters and opponents alike said they expected the matter to be decided ultimately by Virginia voters in a statewide referendum later in the process.","The Virginia Senate voted 21-19 to approve Senate Joint Resolution 247, a proposed constitutional amendment to guarantee reproductive freedom — including abortion, contraception, miscarriage care and in vitro fertilization — subject to a voter referendum.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate advances bank of bills and resolutions Jan. 21; block passages and key votes recorded

Senate approves bill allowing victims of abuse to terminate leases early after heated debate

Senate approves constitutional amendment to enshrine reproductive freedom; measure heads to voters