Virginia Delegate Kim Taylor and her husband, Butch. (Petersburg Progress-Index via Imagn)
Taylor alleged her bill, HB 2527 – which would have prohibited most sex offenders from "loitering" within state parks and other places where they would be in "proximity to children," including schools, playgrounds, daycares and the like – was wrongly and quietly terminated.
The bill was listed as last referred to the Courts of Justice Committee, but with the legislature adjourned "sine die" – essentially ending the session – barring a rare special session being called, the bill was never heard nor voted on and is considered "dead."
"This should not be about politics, it should be about prioritizing the vulnerable over political gamesmanship," said Taylor, who added she had also drafted another never-heard bill toughening penalties for sex trafficking.
"Time and time and again, Democrats have dismissed or killed commonsense legislation that would protect women and children."
Fox News Digital reached out to Delegates Patrick Hope, D-Arlington, Courts Committee chair, and Marcus Simon, D-Dunn Loring, committee vice chair, for comment. Neither lawmaker returned calls.
TED CRUZ QUESTIONS JUSTICE JACKSON OVER SEX OFFENDER CASES
Drivers are welcomed to Virginia near Lee Highway in Arlington. (Getty)
"Democrats have repeatedly killed practical bills that would enforce stricter protections and penalties, choosing instead to coddle predators under the guise of tolerance," he said, calling the overall behavior on the left in Richmond a "betrayal" of women.
Fox News Digital reached out to Descano for a response. The prosecutor’s office did tell ABC7 that prosecutors are not involved in cases that are "pro se (without an attorney) misdemeanors." The outlet later quoted a local attorney who found the indecent exposure nonprosecution "unusual."
The Cox case, however, did draw the attention of other leaders in the heavily Democratic county, as Fairfax Board Chairman Jeffrey McKay reportedly said Taylor's bill may have been beneficial.
Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Mount Vernon, criticized McKay to ABC7, claiming Taylor’s bill had "nothing to do with local parks… or recreational facilities," and suggested a change in policy on "which dressing rooms people can use" would be helpful.
Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.
He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.
Charles covers media, politics and culture for Fox News Digital.
Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dems-killed-va-sex-offender-bill-hearing-amid-recent-incidents