VA Senate Passes Suetterlein's Parole Transparency Bill
SB5 Heading to the House of Delegates after bipartisan 37-3 vote
RICHMOND - For the third time in as many years, the Virginia Senate has passed legislation that would make public the votes of Virginia's powerful Parole Board. Senator David Suetterlein's Senate Bill 5 passed the Senate 37-3 today with the highest level of bipartisan support yet and now heads to a more receptive, Republican-controlled House of Delegates.
The transparency legislation would make the actions of the Parole Board public and bring their reporting procedures in line with other Virginia government boards. Sen. Suetterlein's identical legislation passed the Senate 29-10 in 2020 and 33-6 in 2021 but was never considered by the then Democratic-controlled House of Delegates.
"Virginians should know who is making these critical public safety and individual liberty decisions on the power Parole Board. It is great to see growing bipartisan support for this important sunshine reform and I'm optimistic it will finally given consideration by the new House of Delegates," said Suetterlein.
Eighteen of the 21 Senate Democrats joined all of the chamber's Republicans in supporting the bill's final passage. The bill now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.
Virginia Senator David Suetterlein was elected in November 2019 to a second term representing parts of the Roanoke Valley, New River Valley, and Southwest Virginia in the Virginia Senate. He lives in Roanoke County with his wife where their children attend public schools. He is a Realtor with the Roanoke Valley owned and operated MKB, REALTORS.
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