By Sen. Saddam Salim

Hello Falls Church,

This week marks America’s 248th birthday, and I will be celebrating with many of my constituents. One annual treat is Fairfax City’s Fourth of July Parade, one of the largest parades in the Commonwealth. One of the great things about my district is that despite its relatively small size, there are so many active communities with great events marking every holiday. I am lucky to represent the City of Falls Church, Fairfax City, the Town of Vienna, and such a diverse swatch of Fairfax County.

In addition to the festivities, this week also marks the day that most new laws passed earlier this year go into effect across the Commonwealth. These laws are a testament to our commitment to progress and safety. Some highlights that survived the Governor’s vetoes include:

• Banning legacy admissions at Virginia public universities, ensuring a fairer admissions process for all students.
• Making auto sears illegal. These devices turn a legal semiautomatic firearm into an illegal automatic firearm, posing significant risks to public safety.
• Implementing Lucia’s Law, which punishes any adult who allows their child to have easy access to a gun if the child has been previously determined to be a threat. This law is crucial in preventing potential tragedies.
• Prohibiting search warrants for menstrual health data, protecting the privacy and dignity of individuals.
• Requiring public schools and state agencies to have Narcan on hand for any overdoses, a vital step in combating the opioid crisis and saving lives.
• Officially banning child marriage, ensuring the protection and rights of minors.
• Raising the top age for Jury Duty from 70 to 73, to address shortages of Jurors across the Commonwealth.

These new laws reflect our ongoing efforts to improve our community and ensure the safety and well-being of all residents. The Division of Legislative Services publishes a comprehensive annual guide of all the new changes to the law. You can read the full guide by visiting salimva.com/24.

I hope you all stay safe, enjoy the celebrations, and have a wonderful 4th of July!