Suffolk’s newest representative in the Virginia House of Delegates is off to a good start with the passage of her first bill in the 2018 General Assembly session.
Delegate Emily Brewer’s House Bill 241 had unanimous bipartisan support Wednesday when the House passed it 98-0. The bill lowers the amount of time a child must have continuously resided with or been under the physical custody of the prospective close relative adoptive parent from three years to two years for the adoption proceeding to commence in circuit court and be exempt from the parental placement provisions.
It is an issue near and dear to Brewer’s heart. “I was adopted as a newborn, and I’m thankful that I found a loving family,” she said. “My goal with this legislation and going forward is to make the adoption system easier to navigate, so that others can have the same opportunities that I did.”
She added, “During the 2017 campaign, I promised that adoption reform would be my first priority. “I am thankful to my colleagues in the House of Delegates for standing with me on such an important issue.”
Brewer, a Republican who represents the 64th District that includes portions of Isle of Wight, Surry, Sussex, Suffolk City, Franklin City, Southampton, and Prince George, was elected to the House of Delegates in November 2017.
HB 241 will now move to the Senate for further consideration.