Town citizens rights to be able to make decisions on town improvements/ decisions. Town should not be state controlled, for equal opportunity rights and honest representation of all citizens living in jurisdiction of town.

I oppose SB 304 as amended because it pre-empts local authority on both ADUs AND STRs, and is unreasonably vague in doing so. 1) This bill pre-empts localities from managing density and safety zones such as those around Oceana Naval Air Station, and limits the requirements that localities can impose on ADUs and potentially also on STRs. 2) Paragraph H exempts local ordinances that were enacted prior to 7/1/2025, but ONLY for “an ADU ordinance that substantially complies with this section”. This could invalidate ANY prior ordinance that does not "substantially comply" with this new code section, retroactively pre-empting such ordinances. 3) The new reference to Short-Term Rentals at the end of paragraph H, which is the ONLY reference to STRs in this entire new code section, is exceedingly vague in whether or how it should apply to STRs. This bill needs further study, such as by continuing it to 2025 and asking the Housing Commission to study it, just like the House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns did with the (originally) very similar HB900. Please do not advance this bill.

I oppose SB 304 as amended because it pre-empts local authority on both ADUs AND STRs, and is unreasonably vague in doing so. 1) This bill pre-empts localities from managing density and safety zones such as those around Oceana Naval Air Station, and limits the requirements that localities can impose on ADUs and potentially also on STRs. 2) Paragraph H exempts local ordinances that were enacted prior to 7/1/2025, but ONLY for “an ADU ordinance that substantially complies with this section”. This could invalidate ANY prior ordinance that does not "substantially comply" with this new code section, retroactively pre-empting such ordinances. 3) The new reference to Short-Term Rentals at the end of paragraph H, which is the ONLY reference to STRs in this entire new code section, is exceedingly vague in whether or how it should apply to STRs. This bill needs further study, such as by continuing it to 2025 and asking the Housing Commission to study it, just like the House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns did with the (originally) very similar HB900. Please do not advance this bill.

HB1304 Elections; required voting districts in certain cities. The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports HB1304. Local officials in cities with more than a quarter of a million residents are more likely to proportionally reflect the population when they are elected from individual districts or wards. Campaigning in wards is less costly than campaigning for an at-large seat, which enables a greater variety of candidates to run. The ideal population of a House of Delegates District is 86,314. That means that an at-large council member in a city of over 250,000 must represent three times as many people as a Delegate. Sheer size makes it difficult for the official to know the needs and concerns of the many neighborhoods within the city. HB1304 will assure better representation for residents of large cities.

I support HB1304. Local officials in cities with more than a quarter of a million residents are more likely to proportionally reflect the population when they are elected from individual districts or wards. Campaigning in wards is less costly than campaigning for an at-large seat, which enables a greater variety of candidates to run. The ideal population of a House of Delegates District is 86,314. That means that an at-large council member in a city of over 250,000 must represent three times as many people as a Delegate. Sheer size makes it difficult for the official to know needs and concerns of the many neighborhoods within the city. HB1304 will assure better representation for residents of large cities.

Comments Document

On behalf of the City of Chesapeake please see the opposition letter from Dr. Rick West, Mayor of the City of Chesapeake.

Chair Mundon King, I'm writing you in support of HB1304 Elections; required voting districts in certain cities. As a resident, a minority, and living in the majority minority section of the second largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, I don't feel represented on the Chesapeake city council. Our sister cities that are comparable to our size Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Richmond all have some form of district or ward system allowing for truly representative government in their localities. Madame Chair I believe the legislation brought before you today is fair, identifies a need, and allows those cities that fit within the well-defined parameters ample time to make arrangements to implement a district system. I humbly ask this Committee to vote in the affirmative HB 1304. Thank You, David Washington Chairman Chesapeake Democratic Committee