My name is Gem Bingol, I live in Leesburg and I support HB641 and HB897 and ask for your support as well. Thank you.

My name is Kaleigh Leager, and I am the Assistant Manager, Mid-Atlantic States for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF). I am writing to you today in support of House Bill 641 (HB 641) – Great Outdoors Act. The passage of this legislation will create a conservation tax on data centers 25,000 ft2 or larger, which will provide crucial funding for the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) to carry out their vitally important mission of conserving fish, wildlife, and their habitats, that are not only enjoyed and utilized by sportsmen and women, but all residents and visitors of the Commonwealth.

As an organization focused on protecting safe movement pathways for both wildlife and people, Wildlands Network supports the Virginia Great Outdoors Act and the proposed $1 million for wildlife crossings and corridors. Wildlife-vehicle collisions are a preventable and costly threat to Virginians. The Commonwealth consistently ranks in the top 10 nationally for the most crashes, which cost the state over $533 million annually, averaging $60,000 per large-animal collision in emergency response, medical care, vehicle damage, insurance, and roadway impacts. Strategically placed wildlife crossings dramatically reduce these costs. A pilot project along I-64 reduced deer collisions by 96 percent and paid for itself in under two years. Few infrastructure investments deliver comparable return on investment in such a short time. Wildlife corridors also protect the value of prior state investments. Virginia has invested heavily in land conservation, farmland preservation, public lands, and habitat restoration. Without connectivity, these efforts function as isolated assets. Corridors allow them to operate as a system, reducing roadway conflicts, limiting future mitigation costs, and preserving ecosystem services that would otherwise require expensive solutions. Allocating state funds for crossings also improves infrastructure resilience and unlocks federal funding. Larger underpasses and culverts, which allow for wildlife movement, are less prone to blockage or failure during extreme weather. Dedicated funding in the VGOA will enable Virginia to implement shovel-ready projects and compete more effectively for federal transportation and resilience dollars. I urge the Committee to support the Virginia Great Outdoors Act and the $1 million allocation for wildlife crossings and corridors. This is a fiscally responsible investment that reduces long-term costs, strengthens infrastructure, and maximizes the impact of existing conservation funding.

Wild Virginia would like to express our support for HB 641: Virginia's Great Outdoors Act. In addition to helping fund a backlog of maintenance for our state owned parks and conservation lands, HB 641 also aims to direct funds towards critical wildlife corridors and associated wildlife crossing infrastructure priorities outlined in the existing Wildlife Corridor Action Plan. These projects ensure safety for motorists and wildlife in a state ranked within the top 10 nationally for wildlife vehicle collisions. As a former state agency wildlife biologist and land manager of over 9 years in SC and NC, I can assure you the funds created through HB 641 would be welcomed by the state agencies who face limited resources regularly. HB 641 ensures public lands can be enjoyed to their fullest extent now and for generations to come. When our public lands are managed to their fullest potential wildlife benefit, as they utilize these lands as part of their home ranges in an otherwise very fragmented landscape. Given these reasons and more, Wild Virginia respectfully urges you to support HB 641, thank you.

Environment Virginia is a non-profit organization with thousands of members across Virginia. Robust, dedicated funding for conservation and outdoor recreation is a top priority for us and our members. We thank Delegate Krizek for introducing HB 641, the Virginia’s Great Outdoors Act, and express our support for it. Virginia is home to incredible natural beauty and endless opportunities to have fun outdoors. Unfortunately, current funding for conservation is severely lacking. State parks alone face a backlog of $388 million in maintenance projects and many conservation programs face unstable funding through the state budget’s general fund. In order for Virginia to experience the full benefits of its conservation efforts and state park system, consistent funding is needed. Well funded parks and preservation programs are essential to maintaining trails and facilities, funding educational programs, attracting visitors and protecting more places. Virginia’s Great Outdoors Act is the solution. It will provide historic funding for a range of conservation programs including state park operations, deferred maintenance on public lands, the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation, wildlife crossings, trails, new public lands and more. More funding for conservation means more protected wildlife, more lightly-touched, iconic landscapes and more opportunities to get out and experience the great outdoors. It also means strengthening the immeasurable benefits of protecting nature, including clean air, clean water, healthy people and a strong economy. To secure funding for these programs, this bill creates a new tax on data centers of $3 per square foot per year. The data center industry has significant impacts on land and water use, and this will require them to support conservation of the land and natural resources they consume. Significant, dedicated funding is essential to protecting and improving Virginia’s parks and natural ecosystems. We urge you to support HB 641 and invest in conservation so that current and future generations can continue to experience Virginia’s great outdoors.