Comments Document

The Virginia State Conference NAACP (Virginia NAACP) supports HB 2007 Virginia Freedom of Information Act; posting of fee policy by a public body. This bill, introduced by Delegate Danica Roem, will add transparency to the FOIA fee structure eliminating subjective estimations. “Submitting a FOIA request should not be cost-prohibitive to citizens or to organizations. We should know what we will be expected to pay. Our experience is evidence that over-estimations are unfair and it could be impossible for some to pay. We will fight to ensure that the FOIA process is accessible to all Virginians.”

I am writing to encourage your support for HB 2006, which your Committee will consider on Tuesday morning. HB2006 shall ensure: • Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, all public records shall be open to citizens of the Commonwealth, representatives of newspapers and magazines with circulation in the Commonwealth, and representatives of radio and television stations broadcasting in or into the Commonwealth during the regular office hours of the custodian of such records. Access to such records shall be provided by the custodian in accordance with this chapter by inspection or by providing copies of the requested records, at the option of the requester. The custodian may require the requester to provide his name and legal address. The custodian of such records shall take all necessary precautions for their preservation and safekeeping. • Any public body that charges for the production of records pursuant to this section shall provide an electronic method of payment through which all payments for the production of such records to such locality may be made unless such locality lacks the necessary technology for receipt of such electronic payments. • Public records maintained by a public body in an electronic data processing system, computer database, or any other structured collection of data shall be made available to a requester at a reasonable cost, not to exceed the actual cost. When electronic or other databases are combined or contain exempt and nonexempt records, the public body may provide access to the exempt records if not otherwise prohibited by law, but shall provide access to the nonexempt records as provided by this chapter. Impediments to legitimate FOIA inquiries hinder an informed public while reducing transparency and trust in government. Faith can only be maintained by a commitment to open and accessible public information. Thank you.

Comments Document

The Virginia State Conference NAACP (Virginia NAACP) supports HB 2007 Virginia Freedom of Information Act; posting of fee policy by a public body. This bill, introduced by Delegate Danica Roem, will add transparency to the FOIA fee structure eliminating subjective estimations. “Submitting a FOIA request should not be cost-prohibitive to citizens or to organizations. We should know what we will be expected to pay. Our experience is evidence that over-estimations are unfair and it could be impossible for some to pay. We will fight to ensure that the FOIA process is accessible to all Virginians.”

I am writing to encourage your support for HB 2007, which your Committee will consider on Tuesday morning. HB 2007 shall ensure: • A written policy (i) explaining how the public body assesses charges for accessing or searching for requested records and (ii) noting the current fee charged, if any, for accessing and searching for such requested records Impediments to legitimate FOIA inquiries hinder an informed public while reducing transparency and trust in government. Faith can only be maintained by a commitment to open and accessible public information. Thank you.

This bill, like HB1473, puts obstacles in front of hard-working, tax paying Virginians to easily access what is being proposed in their communities in terms of development so that they can have a voice in what impact it will have on their lives and that of the community. If our legislature believes in transparency, then why support giving zoning the option of a tax map no. or an address of the property? Of course, it should be an address. Why remove the description from easy access? The information should be clear and readily accessible to everyone. And why would any representative want to remove the requirement of notices when there are proposed amendments concerning general usage, density and other data regarding to density as the proposal states, when these elements will directly effect everyone in the community from traffic, school capacity, safety, pollution, effect on environment, size of support services, etc., etc., etc. There is no monetary savings when those that will be impacted by development have less input into what is being considered in their own community due to removing or lessening full transparency. Zoning board members are not elected but their decisions can impact a community for years to come, sometimes transforming communities - whether good or bad - as a result of the decision of only a few appointed people who may only be receiving one perspective on upcoming projects, usually all in favor of the petitioner. Isn't it your obligation to serve the entire community and give everyone the best chance to participate in these serious decisions, with special consideration to those living in the community that can best contribute to the best decision for development in that community? Don't cut them out. Rather than putting up obstacles to transparency, how do we make it even easier for them to receive the information on the original proposal, all the subsequent proposed amendments and easy access to the zoning board even if they can't attend the meeting. Thank you for your consideration.

First point - the bill language fluctuates between "advertise" (advertised, advertising) and "publish" (published, publishing). What is the legal distinction between the two and can the language be uniform? Secondly, this bill makes some of the same mistakes as HB1473. It removes transparency by eliminating the description of the zoning action, and allows just a tax map number in lieu of a street address. Both of these decrease transparency for our citizens. Please strike this provision of the bill. If a citizen sees a notice with no description and just a tax map number, what would trigger them to seek more information? Will they have to check all notices? Why do we want to make the notice process more obscure and difficult for our citizens? Quoting from the bill summary: "In cases where the intended action affects more than 25 parcels, the notice must also include the approximate acreage subject to the intended action. The bill also removes the requirement that notices of proposed amendments to a zoning map state the general usage and density range of the proposed amendment and the general usage density set forth in the applicable part of the comprehensive plan." This is an unacceptable loss of transparency. The (very) few dollars saved in advertising costs does not warrant the lack of transparency. Please strike this provision from the bil language.

As a very small farm brewery we fully support this bill. Our small scale does not make large distribution companies feasible financially or logistically. However we would greatly appreciate the opportunity to provide our products to other small businesses such as local bottle shops and restaurants as another way to reach customers. A vote for this bill supports getting more Virginia made products to market and allows product offerings beyond the large players in the beer industry. This bill encourages small business and provides a state tax generating platform to do so. As a farm winery as well, it only seems right to afford a similar wholesale privilege to both agricultural based alcoholic beverge types. Thank you for your consideration and please vote yes for HB 2258! Cheers!

To the honorable house committee, Thank you for your work on HB 2258. Stable Craft Brewing is one of many examples in our Commonwealth that have been held back from creating more jobs, adding more to our local economy and having a fair path forward to reach our potential as a craft beverage producer. We also have a spouse that is indeed our distributor, I can attest that distribution is very difficult and believe there is a need for distributors, but we need a fair opportunity over the model that exists now allowing a Virginia product to be held back by the current laws that Travis Hill noted by allowing wine to be distributed with VDACS and not beer. A competitive wholesale distributor doesn't need the hammering effect of the current laws. While I'm pleased these steps are being taken I remain concerned that the wholesalers association can bargain our liberties by stating a spouse can no longer be a distributor. I am aware and grateful for the grandfather clause on this matter in lieu of my concerns. Virginia will see a new dawn, a boom in Virginia born products finally reaching Virginia customers should this bill become law. It will also settle many frustrations of wholesale distributors once more breweries experience what it is really like to compete for sales at the retail level, an awakening if you will to the tribulations of logistic management. But let's be real, wholesalers sell products for the highest bidder with incentives from national and international brands to ensure they reach Virginia customers. It's been my experience that my brand was collected into a portfolio of beers with a major distributor only to control those incentives from other brands by selling our brands after certain goals were accumulated. It's hard to grow when the Beer Franchise Act no longer serves all Virginians. The Beer wholesale association is well funded and it's easy to understand how voting is swayed when time is taken to review VPAP.org. In closing, thank you for supporting Virginia Craft Breweries and allowing all Virginians to have an equal chance for success. Sincerely, Craig Nargi

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to HB 2258-Robinson today. I am David St Clair, owner of Swover Creek Farms Brewery in Shenandoah County. I was the first brewery in operation in Shenandoah County and one of the very early Farm Breweries (Limited Brewery) in the state nine years ago. My wife and I run a family farm operation which includes homemade, farm sourced food and beer products. This is a Virginia Century Farm. We offer both wholesome food and beer but also a pleasant area for our tourist and local resident friends to enjoy country life. I presently have to sell all my beer out of my establishment due to my inability to distribute to retail customers. I worked with our Guild last year to help develop a model emulating the successful Virginia Wine Distribution Company, VWDC, that would allow breweries to add an additional retail avenue. A couple quick points about this opportunity. For me, it would mean I can now participate in local events such as the county fair, travel association events, chamber of commerce events. I presently have had to decline requests to represent the our local community because I do not have an agreement with a beer wholesaler. Understand, it makes little sense for a wholesaler to come out to my facility, pick up a keg and deliver it to a one time event. Just to have to go back and retrieve it again. Obviously, the costs associated with this activity would make my product very price uncompetitive. By utilizing a mechanism similar to the VWDC model, I will be able to sell and deliver my one keg to these opportunities as well as get my name and product in places like Bryce Resort and neighboring retailers so travelers and tourists can experience my product or take a memento home with them to remember their experience in the Shenandoah Valley. Additionally, for the mid-sized breweries this bill will allow them to test market their products, while limiting overall start up costs and if deemed successful, will spring them into expansion and subsequent arrangements with conventional distribution. I ask that you approve this bill and pass it along. The benefits of this bill will allow further growth of our farming enterprises and craft brewing industries. Thank you.

To the Honorable Members of this committee, Thank you for your work on HB 2258. Stable Craft Brewing is one of many examples in our Commonwealth that have been held back from creating more jobs, adding more to our local economy and having a fair path forward to reach our potential as a craft beverage producer. We also have a spouse that is indeed our distributor, I can attest that distribution is very difficult and believe there is a need for distributors, but we need a fair opportunity over the model that exists now allowing a Virginia product to be held back by the current laws that Travis Hill noted by allowing wine to be distributed with VDACS and not beer. A competitive wholesale distributor doesn't need the hammering effect of the current laws. While I'm pleased these steps are being taken I remain concerned that the wholesalers association can bargain our liberties by stating a spouse can no longer be a distributor. I am aware and grateful for the grandfather clause on this matter in lieu of my concerns as my spouse owns AgriBev distribution. Virginia will see a new dawn, a boom in Virginia born products finally reaching Virginia customers should this bill become law. It will also settle many frustrations of wholesale distributors once more breweries experience what it is really like to compete for sales at the retail level, an awakening if you will to the tribulations of logistic management. But let's be real, wholesalers sell products for the highest bidder with incentives from national and international brands to ensure they reach Virginia customers. It's been my experience that my brand was collected into a portfolio of beers with a major distributor only to control those incentives from other brands by selling our brands after certain goals were accumulated. It's hard to grow when the Beer Franchise Act no longer serves all Virginians. The Beer wholesale association is well funded and it's easy to understand how voting is swayed when time is taken to review VPAP.org. In closing, thank you for supporting Virginia Craft Breweries and allowing all Virginians to have an equal chance for success. Sincerely, Craig Nargi -- CRAIG NARGI | Founder 2022 International Brewski Competition Best Beer, Best Cider,Platinum,Gold, Silver awards 2022 Virginia Craft Brewers award multiple silver medals 2021 Brewery of the Year Virginia Restaurant Travel Lodging Association 2022 Green Brewery of the Year Virginia Tourism Corporation Member of Virginia Free INDEPENDENT SUSTAINABLY CRAFTED BEER | CIDER | SODA | CULINARY | EVENTS | SUITES Stable Craft Brewing at Hermitage Hill Farm & Stables

HB2258-Robinson Good afternoon, I am the owner and brewer of Chubby Squirrel Brewing Company, a neighborhood brewpub that offers a place of community with neighbors and friends, education to local patrons, and fellowship. We have worked hard to hone our craft in making premium malt beverages, but because we are a small business and do not produce thousands of barrels of beer annually, we are effectively shut out of the marketplace as we are deemed too small by most distributors to work with and have an effective relationship with. Moreover, especially in these difficult times, every penny counts for a small business, and in the current system, it is very unprofitable for a small business to sell their beer through conventional distribution. As many states have adopted similar laws in recent years - or are working towards them - I strongly urge for the passage of HR2258 to allow small businesses to compete in the market place and remove a barrier to entry. This will allow for small breweries to hire more staff, use more quality Virginia malts and grains, provide restaurants with high quality Virginia-made products and overall promote economic growth in the Commonwealth. Moreover, removing barriers to entry is known to grow diversity in industries, which is a known concern by the Brewers Association of America. Allowing breweries to operate on an even footing as other beverages made in the state is good business for existing proprietors, under-represented communities, Virginia farmers, consumers, workers, and the general Virginia economy. Thank you.