Spanberger proposes broad changes to major Virginia bills

Gov. Spanberger proposed changes to more than 100 bills in her first review process, from marijuana sales and paid sick leave to unions and guns.

Why it matters: Even with full Democratic control of the statehouse, the moves suggest the former Congresswoman is governing like a legislator.

Zoom in: Here are some of Spanberger's noteworthy amendments.

Guns

The governor proposed slight changes to a slew of gun legislation, including:

• A ban on assault weapons bought or sold after July 1, to allow some semi-automatic shotguns used for hunting
• On universal background checks, she added that private sales are included and upped the minimum purchase age for handguns and some semi-automatic firearms from 18 to 21.
• She also added a clause for background checks to resume as soon as state legislators sign off.

Cannabis market

On the legislation creating the state's recreational marijuana marketplace, the governor proposed pushing the start of sales from January 1 to July 1, 2027.

• Plus, she wants to reduce the number of stores allowed in the state, increase the tax rate and allow more people to qualify for "impact licenses," including veterans and the economically disadvantaged.

Marijuana sentence reductions
Spanberger proposed a petition process for people previously convicted of marijuana-related offenses. The original bill required an automatic hearing.

Paid family leave

The governor proposed eligibility limits and other restrictions to legislation that would allow Virginia workers up to 12 weeks of paid leave to care for themselves or a family member.

• She wants to narrow the definition of family to mean household and relatives as opposed to a "close association."
• Changes also require eligible employees to be legally authorized to work in the U.S., and employed for at least 120 days to get job protection.

Paid sick leave

Proposed changes to the bill that would allow one hour of sick leave to every 30 hours worked include requiring advance notice for foreseeable leave and written or electronic leave requests.

Unions

Spanberger proposed delaying the start of a collective bargaining resource board by two years. The board is designed to help state and local government employees, plus home health workers, unionize.

ICE enforcement

On legislation limiting where ICE agents can make arrests without a warrant, she proposed stripping the enforcement portion of the bill.

• And on one barring ICE and other law enforcement from wearing masks, she amended the language to allow individual departments to set their own policies.

The intrigue: Some statehouse Democrats pushed back on the governor's proposed changes to their legislation.

• Sen. Lashrecse Aird and Del. Paul Krizek, who sponsored the legislation creating the state's retail marijuana market, said in a joint statement that the governor's revision will make the legal market harder to access and allow the illicit market to thrive.
• Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim expressed concern over changes to his bills attempting to rein in ICE enforcement in the state.

What's next: The General Assembly will consider her amendments when it reconvenes on April 22.