The 2024 General Assembly Session has begun. With unprecedented turnover, nearly a third of 2024 General Assembly members are new in their roles. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy will be involved in advocating for state policy that affects wildlife in Loudoun County by participating in legislative initiatives in conjunction with our partners at the Virginia Conservation Network (VCN), including tracking bills and speaking with legislators at Conservation Lobby Day.

VCN’s Our Common Agenda provides an overview of the issues. This online publication outlines prominent environmental issue areas of concern for environmental organizations in Virginia. It contains white papers that include policy goals and suggestions that are expected to have corresponding bills in the 2024 General Assembly.  View Loudoun Wildlife’s Policy Suggestion Priorities.

Use VCN’s bill tracker to see information and updates on environmental bills. Most wildlife-relevant bills can be found under the “Land Conservation” category. Also see “Transportation & Land Use” and “Energy & Climate” for bills relevant to Data Centers. Be on the lookout for the release of LWC’s priority bills to watch as the session progresses. You can use our Policy Suggestion Priorities to determine bills of interest.

For bills and policy issue areas you’re passionate about, don’t hesitate to contact your legislator via phone or email to share your views. You can use the Who’s My Legislator? online tool to find out who your state legislator is and access their contact information.

You can also sign up to participate in Conservation Lobby Day on January 31st, 2024. Hosted by VCN, this is an opportunity to meet with your legislators in person in Richmond to advocate for the bills and issue areas that you as an individual constituent care about most. Loudoun Wildlife will be in attendance to present our organizational policy priorities and bill positions.

Contact Conservation Advocacy Specialist Trinity Mills at tmills@loudounwildlife.org for more information on how to get involved to protect wildlife at the state level during this General Assembly Session.

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