The weather is getting warmer, the grass is growing, and we adjusted our clocks so that means Spring is on the way! That also means that this year’s session of the General Assembly (GA) is wrapping up. If you did not participate in the VLTA’s Lobby Day in February, you missed a great opportunity to check out the new General Assembly Building in Richmond and to meet your elected legislators and share in fellowship with other VLTA members. The VLTA hosts a Lobby Day every year while the GA is in session and I encourage all of you to sign up for this event next year.
We gathered in the morning on February 6 to listen to the VLTA lobbyist, James Pickral, discuss the bills that pertain to our industry and to ask him questions about the day’s advocacy message. Delegate Marcus Simon (D-Fairfax/Falls Church), who is also a VLTA member as Attorney and Branch Manager of Ekko Title, spoke to our group about the bills as well. Then we headed off to the scheduled meetings with our personal senators and delegates. Many of us also joined other VLTA members meeting with their legislators and were able to support each other. Finally, VLTA members were recognized by Delegate Simon from the floor of the House of Delegates. Not only is the VLTA’s Lobby Day an excellent occasion to promote or critique legislation that impacts our industry, but you will feel more comfortable reaching out to your legislators once you meet them face to face. I think you will find that you have a lot in common with them simply by living in the same area no matter what your particular political affiliation might be. Lobby Day is also a chance to meet other VLTA members that you may not otherwise have the opportunity to meet.
Joining together with other members of our industry for a common purpose is extremely rewarding. I look forward to seeing all of you next year at the VLTA Lobby Day and I urge you to reach out to your legislator in the meantime. You can find their information at Who’s My Legislator? (virginiageneralassembly.gov). I also would also love to see you at the 2024 ALTA Advocacy Summit taking place May 6-8 in Washington DC. There were a lot of VLTA members attending last year and we are expecting an even bigger turnout this year.
Stephanie Armstrong
Stephanie Armstrong is Virginia and North Carolina Senior Underwriting Counsel for First American Title Insurance Company in the Virginia Beach office. Stephanie grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and has a Bachelor of Arts in French from the University of Michigan. She earned her Juris Doctor from the Washington and Lee University School of Law in Lexington, Virginia. She is a member of the Virginia State Bar and the District of Columbia Bar. Stephanie joined the Board of Directors of the Virginia Land Title Association in 2019 and currently serves 2023-2024 President. Stephanie lives in Chesapeake with her husband, Chris, and is the caretaker of many four-legged animals.
