State Lawmakers to Take Public Comments in Arlington on Friday

Arlington County's seven-member legislative delegation will hear public comments Friday evening ahead of the new General Assembly session, which starts next week.

The delegation — state Sens. Adam Ebbin, Barbara Favola and Janet Howell, plus state Dels. Patrick Hope, Bob Brink, Alfonso Lopez and freshman Rob Krupicka — is composed entirely of Democrats.

The annual legislative hearing begins at 6 p.m. Friday in the Arlington County Board Room, which is on the third floor of the county administration building at 2100 Clarendon Blvd.

Individuals may speak for up to three minutes. Anyone who wishes to speak may register beginning at 5:30 p.m. outside of the board room.

Last month, the Arlington County Board finalized its list of legislative priorities — a lengthy agenda that does everything from ask the state to restore millions in local funding that's been cut over the past five years to ensuring women have access to reproductive health services and the right to make health care decisions.

The county board, too, wants the ability to provide benefits to its employees with same-sex partners and wants the state to criminalize the financial exploitation of older or vulnerable adults.

Hope has said he will call for the creation of a task force to identify survivors of state sterilization and to begin the conversation about possible reparations.