Winsome Earle-Sears in VA legislative records

On Abortion: Opposes establishing a right to contraception

Virginia Scope analysis Jan 28, 2025: Democrats, who had a 21-18 majority in the chamber due to a missing Republican, created a 19-19 vote by having Sen. Lashrecse Aird, D-Petersburg, abstain and Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William, vote against the bill. Sears was then forced to do one of her two constitutionally mandated duties: cast a tie-breaking vote. She killed the bill. The rule that permits a member who voted against a bill to ask for it to be reconsidered allowed McPike to bring it back up for a vote. All Democrats voted in favor of the legislation on the second try, passing it 21-18.

Legislative Outcome:Failed 19-19-0 on Jan/28/25 with Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears voting NO in a tie breaking vote; then passed House of Delegates 54-41-5 on Feb/14/25 and passed Senate 21-19-0 on Feb/18/25.

On Crime: Don't make release of hunting dogs on highway a misdemeanor

Analysis by "News on the Neck", Feb 21, 2024: Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears' first tie-breaking vote this session was on SB 712, in opposition to the bill, which had 20 votes on going each way. Hound hunting has become a contentious issue in Virginia. Year after year bills are presented that hound hunters believe are steps toward trying to completely rid them of hunting with dogs. Some opponents are pushing for such a ban. Opponents commonly argue that hunting dogs trample their personal property rights because Virginia now allows hunters to go onto another person's property without permission to retrieve a dog.

Legislative Outcome: Failed Senate 20-20-0 on Feb/12/24, with Lt. Gov. voting NO on a tie breaking vote.

On Crime: Don't reduce failure to appear in court to civil violation

Analysis by "News on the Neck", Feb 21, 2024: Senators were equally divided on SB 643, a bill the eliminated the failure to appear as a criminal offense for felonies and misdemeanors and made it a civil violation. Its sponsor, Sen. Lashrecse Aird, explained it creates a definition of non-appearance where an individual is detained in other state or federal jurisdictions. And when a person didn’t appear, the bill would require a show cause hearing to determine if the absence was willful or not, before a person could be deemed in violation of failure to appear.

Legislative Outcome: Failed Senate 20-20-0 on Feb/13/24, with a tie-breaking NO vote by Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.