Miya Marcano’s legacy: Virginia enacts version of Miya’s Law to strengthen renter safety

ORLANDO, Fla. — Miya’s Law, which strengthens tenant safety across Florida, is now law in another state.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

Investigators said Miya Marcano was murdered by a maintenance worker who had a master key to her Arden Villas Apartment.

The tragic case of Marcano’s death in Central Florida has made its impact 700 miles away.

Watch: Miya’s Law now in effect, strengthens renter safety in Florida

The Virginia House of Delegates recently stood in silence for the slain Valencia College student.

Delegate Candi Mundon King introduced a bill that mirrors Miya’s Law signed into law in Florida last year.

It requires background screening for all apartment employees and creates standard procedures to store and log master keys.

Watch: ‘One of our better days’: Miya Marcano’s mother speaks after tenant safety bill signed into law

Delegate King said she was shocked to learn apartment complexes were not required to do background checks or track master key use.

“We worked with realtor association apartment owners, different industry experts to get the bill right size for Virginia,” King said.

Miya’s mom, Yma Scarbriel, spoke virtually to Virginia lawmakers in both chambers about turning her pain into purpose.

Watch: 1 year later: Neighbors reflect on death of Miya Marcano at hand of apartment maintenance worker

“Something bad like that had to happen for something, like, good for this to come out of it,” Scarbriel said.

The Marcano family is working to connect with leaders in other states like Georgia and Louisiana to keep Miya’s legacy alive.

See more in the video above.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

©2023 Cox Media Group