Please allow home grown outdoor in this bill. The lobbyist are trying to ruin for all the little mom and pop shops in Virginia. It’s so greedy and needs less regulation and less restrictions.

I am the Chair of the Commonwealth’s Common Interest Community (CIC) Board and write in support of HB105, which provides a simple technical fix to a law passed last year. In that law, the terms “Common Interest Community” and “Home Owners Associations” were used but “Condominium Associations” and “Real Estate Cooperative Associations” were mistakenly omitted. HB105 rectifies that oversight. I appreciate Del Reaser’s patronage of this Bill. Respectfully, Matt Durham

I am writing on behalf of the VSC NAACP Housing Committee to express our strong support for the bills highlighted below that aim to enhance tenant protections and rights within our community. These proposed measures are crucial steps toward addressing the existing power imbalance between renters and landlords, which places renters at an elevated risk of housing instability, harassment, and homelessness. As you are aware, the disparity in power between renters and landlords is a significant concern that has far-reaching implications, particularly for marginalized communities. This power imbalance not only jeopardizes housing stability but also perpetuates racial inequity. Numerous studies have shown that communities of color are disproportionately affected by eviction and housing instability, exacerbating existing disparities. Tenant protections, when enacted into law, serve as a fundamental tool in preventing evictions and ensuring that renters can maintain stable housing. We firmly believe that these proposed bills, with their emphasis on enhancing tenant rights, will contribute significantly to rectifying the current imbalances and fostering a more equitable housing landscape. By supporting and advancing these bills, we collectively acknowledge the importance of safeguarding vulnerable renters, promoting housing stability, and working towards a more just and inclusive society. We urge you to consider the broader impact that these legislative measures can have on our community and to cast your support in favor of their passage. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your dedication to serving the interests of our community and trust that you will carefully consider the positive impact that these bills can have on the lives of countless individuals and pass them accordingly. Sincerely, Tracey Hardney Scott Housing Committee Chair VSC NAACP Housing Committee

HB196 is a very important piece of legislation that MUST be passed by the General Assembly. Currently, the age demographic most at risk of losing housing are our senior Virginia citizens. The work done by the NAEH and the NLIHC and VHA demonstrate this most graphically. This extra protection for those 65+ allows this to pay rent without incurring late charges. Many of our seniors DO NOT receive their monthly income on the first of the month and with most rental agreements requiring payment on the first this places them squarely in the cross hairs of losing housing. As someone who administered prevention funding for 8 years, I cannot tell you how often I had to address these types of situations. The stories would make you heart hurt. Many times, having a conversation with the landlord would result in them not taking any action as long as the payment was received. The mental health relief that this bill can give to our senior citizens is immense. To have this one thing, SHELTER, not be compromised would go a long way to keeping seniors from presenting to the Continuums of Care.

Good afternoon Chairperson Bulova and thank you for this opportunity to testify today. My name is Sosseh Prom, and I am the Housing Justice Director at African Communities Together (ACT). ACT is a national nonprofit dedicated to fighting for civil rights, opportunity, and a better life for immigrants in the U.S., and does so by empowering African immigrants to integrate socially, advance economically, and engage civically. In this effort, we advocate for equity, dignity and respect for all, which is why we support House Bill 442. Families are often evicted for relatively small amounts of unpaid rent. Court data shows that in 2018 and 2019 (pre-pandemic), roughly 45% of the eviction judgments entered in Virginia were for amounts less than the statewide average monthly rent. Evictions for such small amounts are burdensome for both tenants and landlords, as they create costs for both parties that can, and should be, easily be avoided. For tenants, the consequences of these evictions are dire. If a tenant is evicted, they not only have to deal with the financial burdens that come with searching for, and moving into, a new home, but they also face the difficulty of finding an apartment with an eviction on their record; instability; and in worst cases, experience homelessness. For landlords filing evictions for such small amounts, the financial cost of court fees, attorneys, etc. often surpass the amount of rent they are seeking to collect; not to mention the extra work and resources it takes for landlords to find new tenants to take over vacant apartment units. This issue of evictions and associated costs will only worsen, as pandemic protections have lapsed and we are in the midst of a housing affordability crisis in Virginia. House Bill 442 addresses these problems by giving tenants more time and flexibility to catch up on rent through a payment plan, thereby avoiding eviction. A payment plan shall allow families the flexibility needed to maintain housing stability, keep debts for all parties low by avoiding court costs, and make it more likely for landlords to collect their rent and maintain a steady stream of income from residents. While some opponents of the bill argue that having payment plans only financially burdens landlords, it is important to recognize the safeguards in the bill that provide adequate protection for landlords. The bill only applies if the rent being sought is equivalent to one month’s rent or less. It does not apply to tenants who owe an exorbitant amount. Furthermore, if a payment plan is created and a tenant fails to make a payment, the landlord has the option to immediately terminate the payment plan and initiate eviction proceedings. HB442 seeks to provide flexibility and housing stability for tenants, while simultaneously providing safeguards for landlords’ business interests, which is why I hope you will join us in supporting the passage of HB442. Thank you for your consideration.

I am writing in support of tenants like myself for the above bills that would level the power dynamic in the landlord-tenant relationship. Rent is too high, conditions are poor, and we want to keep our community housed. Please support tenants, especially bills that allow us for our own experience without retaliation or feeling scared. We are in a housing crisis and we must escape it with a justice frame at the forefront.

I am writing on behalf of the VSC NAACP Housing Committee to express our strong support for the bills highlighted below that aim to enhance tenant protections and rights within our community. These proposed measures are crucial steps toward addressing the existing power imbalance between renters and landlords, which places renters at an elevated risk of housing instability, harassment, and homelessness. As you are aware, the disparity in power between renters and landlords is a significant concern that has far-reaching implications, particularly for marginalized communities. This power imbalance not only jeopardizes housing stability but also perpetuates racial inequity. Numerous studies have shown that communities of color are disproportionately affected by eviction and housing instability, exacerbating existing disparities. Tenant protections, when enacted into law, serve as a fundamental tool in preventing evictions and ensuring that renters can maintain stable housing. We firmly believe that these proposed bills, with their emphasis on enhancing tenant rights, will contribute significantly to rectifying the current imbalances and fostering a more equitable housing landscape. By supporting and advancing these bills, we collectively acknowledge the importance of safeguarding vulnerable renters, promoting housing stability, and working towards a more just and inclusive society. We urge you to consider the broader impact that these legislative measures can have on our community and to cast your support in favor of their passage. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your dedication to serving the interests of our community and trust that you will carefully consider the positive impact that these bills can have on the lives of countless individuals and pass them accordingly. Sincerely, Tracey Hardney Scott Housing Committee Chair VSC NAACP Housing Committee

I am honestly tired of looking at ugly green grass. It has no benefits for the insects and contributes very little to the environment. Virginia lacks biodiversity and needs more flowers and plants. People should be allowed to turn their front yard into a beautiful plant display that not only benefits the environment, but also makes the neighborhood and state look beautiful. Grass is whack, let’s give back to nature. We have already taken so much , it is time to give back to nature. I demand you to give your strongest support to HB528, In the face of the harmful effects of climate change, it is extremely important and urgent that we act now in Virginia to do everything we can to improve and sustain habitat for pollinators and birds--both of which are essential to local food chains and biodiversity. Native plant conservation landscaping improves air, water and soil quality, manages stormwater runoff, and supports healthy communities

Please vote in favor of HB528. We are facing a biodiversity crisis and every converted lawn helps. This bill simply allows homeowners to plant beneficial plants on their property without fear of legal action and fees. The amount of legal fees spent by HOAs in the U.S. on preventing beneficial plantings is a staggering waste of money and time for the homeowner fighting the allegations and the homeowners who are part of the HOAs and disagree with its rules. Those funds could go to much better use. From the perspective of the environment and individual property rights it should be a no brainer to pass this bill.

I'm a little dismayed this is even a question. Preventing this from passing not only restricts homeowner freedoms, but actively hurts the planet, which in turn hurts it's people. Homeowners should be allowed to grow anything that won't hurt their neighbors.

I urge you to give your strongest support to HB528, Property Owners' Assoc. Act; managed conservation landscaping, unreasonable restrictions prohibited. In the face of the harmful effects of climate change, it is extremely important and urgent that we act now in Virginia to do everything we can to improve and sustain habitat for pollinators and birds--both of which are essential to local food chains and biodiversity. Native plant conservation landscaping improves air, water and soil quality, manages stormwater runoff, and supports healthy communities. As a volunteer ambassador for the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia's Audubon at Home Program, and a volunteer Fairfax Tree Steward, I personally have encountered many homeowners who are prohibited from installing conservation landscaping with native plants because their HOA forbids it. A managed conservation landscape is not only more beautiful than expanses of turf, it provides critical ecosystem services that benefit the health of the community around it. Buying a home outside of an HOA is harder than ever: With more than 8,810 HOAs in Virginia, nearly one in four Virginians live in homes controlled by HOAs. It is increasingly difficult to buy a new home outside of an HOA: According to the U.S. Census, 82% of newly built homes sold in 2021 were a part of an HOA. That figure has more than doubled since 1990 when it was just 40%. Turf (or lawn) is not ecologically sustainable: Turf-only landscapes provide little to no food or habitat for wildlife. They demand large amounts of energy, fertilizer, and water to thrive. In Virginia, homeowners manage approximately 700,000 acres of turf. That is more than the combined acres of corn and soybeans across all of Virginia. Conservation landscaping is sustainable and right for our times: - Conservation landscaping incorporates native vegetation including no-mow ground covers, reducing the needs for fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides. - Conservation landscaping purifies our air, sequesters carbon, reduces water use, and reduces polluted runoff that comes from turf and degrades our local rivers and streams, as well as the Chesapeake Bay. - Managed conservation landscapes are designed to be attractive to the human eye while also providing habitat for birds, bees, and other pollinators. Property rights are important: As the current climate crisis increases the intensity and durations of rainstorms, homeowners should have the flexibility to manage their private property in sustainable ways that help mitigate the impacts of climate change. I appreciate your consideration and support of this important legislation. Rear Admiral Elizabeth Train, USN (Ret)

There is grave concern over the decline of populations of birds, bees, pollinators, and other animals in Virginia. Managing declining populations and endangered species is very expensive for the government. The costs include studies, monitoring the species, and creating or preserving habitat. Habitat preservation often conflicts with development, making citizens unhappy. Conservation landscaping provides food and habitat for many species of animals. This bill would allow homeowners to create and manage habitat, all with funding provided by the homeowners themselves. It would increase the amount of wildlife habitat in Virginia, with zero cost for the government. I have personally converted my non HOA yard to conservation landscaping. I have reduced water runoff, sediment and other contaminants leaving my property. This helps keep storm sewer management costs down. and helps keep the Chesapeake Bay clean, both of which save even more taxpayer dollars. I have received nothing but positive feedback from my neighbors in suburban Henrico. This bill gives homeowners more freedom, saves taxpayer dollars, helps save species such as pollinators, and helps clean the Chesapeake Bay.

The Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (VASWCD) is a private nonprofit association of 47 soil and water conservation districts in Virginia. The Association provides and promotes leadership in the conservation of natural resources through stewardship and education programs. It coordinates conservation efforts statewide to focus effectively on issues identified by local member districts. Our mission is to serve and strengthen soil and water conservation districts in the stewardship of natural resources. In December 2021 the VASWCD at its annual meeting unanimously adopted a policy to support adoption of natural landscaping in the Commonwealth of Virginia. HB528 provides property owners in homeowner associations (HOAs) the right to choose to install managed conservation landscaping, which is essentially the same thing as natural landscaping addressed in VASWCD policy, on their private property, unless regulated via their HOA’s declarations. This legislation still allows for an HOA to enforce reasonable restrictions concerning management, design, and aesthetic guidelines for managed conservation landscaping features. Conservation landscaping incorporates native vegetation including no-mow ground covers, reducing the needs for fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides. Conservation landscaping reduces water use and reduces polluted runoff from over-fertilized turf that degrades our local rivers and streams, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. Managed conservation landscapes are designed to be attractive while also providing habitat for birds, bees, and other pollinators. The Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts strongly supports HB 528 patroned by Delegate Krizek. We urge its prompt passage.

Hello. Please vote in support of HB528. I am fortunately part of a community whose HOA has very generally restrictive guidelines and I have been able to install rain collection barrels, a rain garden, and pollinator- and bird-friendly landscaping. That being said, I have friends in other HOA communities whose guidelines are highly restrictive. I understand wanting beautiful landscaping, and "beauty" is a subjective term. We cannot deny that traditional landscaping with turf lawns harm our ecosystems in a variety of ways, from the use of fertilizers to chase after a "green," manicured lawn which then corrupt the health of our streams. We cannot deny that we are seeing steep declines in pollinators due to the use of pesticides and gardening practices that reduce or eliminate habitat for our native insects. We cannot deny the need to be responsive to our changing climate and plant native species which, once established, are drought- and fire-resistant, thus requiring less water and chemicals to maintain. We CAN deny HOAs the power to restrict Commonwealth residents from planting sustainable, conservation landscaping. Please support this bill and continue to move it forward. Thank you.

I am a resident of Northumberland County, Virginia in a Homeowners Association community of 13 homes and over the past 6 years I have been repeatedly denied permission to install aesthetically pleasing and ecologically functional conservation landscaping. I have even been denied the right to plant several oak trees on my empty turf-grass 2-acre property. Because of overly strict Homeowner Association rules, I essentially have no property rights to landscape my own property . All requests have been denied because planting conservation landscaping of any sort is not “compatible with a first-class residential waterfront community”. Ironically, our community and Homeowners Association derives much of its value “as a first-class residential community” from being located on a beautiful and relatively clean tributary to the Chesapeake Bay. Our HOA is denying the very type of landscaping that will help protect the water quality, beauty and property values of our community! I spent my professional career as a professor and professional landscape designer at George Washington University’s School of Landscape Design teaching future landscape designers how to protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed and to create beautiful but functional Conservation Landscapes and yet all of my landscape plans have been rejected as unsuitable for this Homeowners Association. It is time Virginians receive the support they need from a bill like HB528 for protection from overzealous Homeowner Associations that over-step their authority by denying homeowners the right to plant conservation landscapes. Extensive turf lawns are not ecologically sustainable, demand huge inputs of time and energy, fertilizer, pesticides and water and contribute to pollution of our waterways. This reverence for sterile turf lawns is especially disturbing since turf is now the largest “crop” in Virginia encompassing over 700,000 acres – more than the combined total of acreage devoted to corn and soybeans. Recent studies have shown homeowners and the companies they hire to maintain their lawns use far more fertilizer and pesticides than necessary, often applying it at the wrong time of year to be taken up and much of this merely runs off into our watersheds. Virginians deserve the right to landscape their own properties so that they are not only beautiful but sustainable – designed to prevent stormwater runoff and sedimentation, to support our pollinators, songbirds and other wildlife, many of which are showing truly alarming declines, in short to reap the many ecological benefits from conservation landscaping and bring life to our gardens.

Hello Delegates and Committee Members, I care a lot about our natural world of Virginia and I think that Homeowners should have a say in providing alternatives to mowing/turf grass to help provide healthy habitats for plants and animals. I urge you to consider supporting HB528. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Reasons to support: ● Buying a home outside of an HOA is harder than ever: With more than 8,810 HOAs in Virginia, nearly one in four Virginians live in homes controlled by HOAs. It is increasingly difficult to buy a new home outside of an HOA: According to the U.S. Census, 82% of newly built homes sold in 2021 were a part of an HOA. That figure has more than doubled since 1990 when it was just 40%. ● Turf (or lawn) is not ecologically sustainable: Turf-only landscapes provide little to no food or habitat for wildlife. They demand large amounts of energy, fertilizer, and water to thrive. In Virginia, homeowners manage approximately 700,000 acres of turf. That is more than the combined acres of corn and soybeans across all of Virginia. ● Conservation landscaping is sustainable and right for our times: ○ Conservation landscaping incorporates native vegetation including no-mow ground covers, reducing the needs for fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides. ○ Conservation landscaping purifies our air, sequesters carbon, reduces water use, and reduces polluted runoff that comes from turf and degrades our local rivers and streams, as well as the Chesapeake Bay. ○ Managed conservation landscapes are designed to be attractive to the human eye while also providing habitat for birds, bees, and other pollinators. ● Property rights are important: As the current climate crisis increases the intensity and durations of rainstorms, homeowners should have the flexibility to manage their private property in sustainable ways that help mitigate the impacts of climate change. Thank you for your consideration. Kind Regards, Anna Finch, in Staunton, Virginia

I am writing in support of HB528 becoming law in Virginia. We have way too much acreage in endless lawnscapes, which require a huge amount of water, chemicals and maintenance to keep up. The use of more native plants, and of leaving native areas intact, would improve the environmental status, and sustainability of the acreage in the Commonwealth. Please provide homeowners the option of sustainable, natural landscaping! thank you.

HB 528 is the perfect opportunity to diversify the native plants and insects in Virginia while reducing maintenance each costs to HOA,s… Please support HB 528

I support HB528 because it is egregious that vigilante HOAs can stop homeowners from engaging in environmentally sound land use landscaping that doesn't involve the unfortunate standard pesticide ridden sterile lawnscapes with manicured ornamentals which provide no benefits for capturing run off and no benefits to our struggling wild life, not to mention how these chemicals pose a hazard for human health with many having been demonstrated to be significant carcinogens. HOAs are led by volunteers who are in many cases generally uninformed and in too many cases vigilante conformists who have been culturally conditioned to want everything to be the same and have a narrow view of what is aesthetically pleasing largely constructed by chemical industry marketing post WW2. These standard manicured green desolation landscapes also provide no benefits toward carbon capture. We can not allow HOAs to bully homeowners into conformity with the ongoing climate crisis & biodiversity crisis.

Please support HB 528 which supports the ability of property owners in Home Owner Associations to install conservation landscapes. Homeowners should have the flexibility to manage their private property in sustainable ways that reduces the need for herbicides and pesticides, and provides habitat for birds and other wildlife.

HB 528 Property Owners' Assoc. Act; managed conservation landscaping, unreasonable restrictions prohibited - HOA's exercise enough tyrannical conformist power over the affairs of homeowners. They don't need absolute power over every flower and blade of grass as well.

Friends of Accotink Creek supports Paul Krizek's HB 528. With more and more natural habitat being lost to development all over the state, especially in NOVA, all the more reason to encourage homeowners to create natural habitat in their own yards. The current fashion for highly groomed, leaf-litter free properties is much to be regretted. People will have to disabuse themselves of the notion that a yard is an ornamental space that must look neat and pretty. Neat and pretty is no use to our falling populations of birds, pollinators and the wide range of arthropods that form the base of the food chain. Lawns are fine to play on, but provide zero storm water control and of course poor value to our birds and pollinators. Many HOA Boards are deplorably ignorant about natural science. One set of worthies took it upon themselves to define a weed as "an unsightly plant". Some HOAs have limits on plant height and order that this or that shrub or small tree needs pruning. Some object to what they consider "excess leaf litter" without knowing that a thick layer of leaves provides excellent foraging grounds for birds and habitat for box turtles, and countless arthropods including firefly larvae. It's time homeowners fight back. Let us welcome nature into our yards, not banish it.

With more than 8,810 HOAs in Virginia, nearly one in four Virginians live in homes controlled by HOAs. It is increasingly difficult to buy a new home outside of an HOA: According to the U.S. Census, 82% of newly built homes sold in 2021 were a part of an HOA. That figure has more than doubled since 1990 when it was just 40%. As we face the current climate crisis, HOA residents should have the flexibility to more sustainably manage their private land, including reduced reliance on fertilizers and pesticides. Conservation landscaping purifies our air, sequesters carbon, reduces water use, and reduces polluted runoff that comes from turf and degrades our local rivers and streams, as well as the Chesapeake Bay. Managed conservation landscapes are designed to be attractive to the human eye while also providing habitat for birds, bees, and other pollinators. With stronger, longer, and more intense storms, managed conservation landscaping can address stormwater challenges and mitigate the effects of climate change and flooding, while improving water quality through more improved filtration. As we also face a biodiversity crisis, managed conservation landscaping can improve the health and biodiversity of Virginia’s ecosystem, including support for native pollinators, soil health and air quality, while helping to raise awareness about the benefits of native species, which in turn can drive broader demand for ecologically-beneficial sustainable landscape methods and the sale of native plant species.

Support HB528. Virginia code does not protect homeowners wanting to install eco-friendly landscaping, such as using practices that incorporate environmentally sensitive design to address stormwater runoff, reduce pollution, protect clean air and water & support wildlife through the use of native plants. Conservation landscaping purifies our air, sequesters carbon, reduces water use, eliminates need for chemical herbicides, and reduces polluted runoff that comes from turf and degrades our local rivers and streams

There is substantial research supporting the need for habitat for birds, bees, and other pollinators in our suburbs. More than 85% of land east of the Mississippi is privately owned, and almost 25% of Virginians live in HOAs. It's clear that residents of HOA communities can be part of the solution to the climate and insect crisis. Virginians ought to have the right to garden in an ecologically sustainable, wildlife-friendly, climate-friendly, Potomac friendly manner without persecution by HOAs. Most people do not have the wherewithal to fight their HOA even at their local, neighborhood, level, let alone in a legal battle which will cost thousands of dollars. This bill is an easy win for the climate, wildlife, and Virginia.

Please support HB 528. Homeowners should be allowed to create a conservation landscape in their own yard versus HOA restrictions that a turf lawn is their only option. Our world is changing and we all must take steps to change along with it to ensure our health, quality of life and the health of our planet. Conservation landscapes promote biodiversity with native plants, trees and shrubs to attract pollinators and wildlife. By reducing lawn size and sustaining our native flora and fauna, we are taking steps to ensure more biodiverse landscapes and habitat. The resources required to maintain turf lawns is literally water going down the drain and the runoff takes all the chemicals required for that lawn into our streams and rivers. Does that sound like a common-sense kind of practice? Conservation landscapes need to be managed by the homeowner, just as it would for a turf lawn, however, homeowners should have that choice.

I urge support of HB528 allowing homeowners to engage in conservation oriented landscaping which protects our precious Chesapeake Bay and wildlife. HOA policies are typically dead-end approaches to managing landscapes, placing onerous demands on homeowners, demands which sterilize landscapes and are destructive to habitats. Contrary to alarmist claims, a healthy landscape can actually be more attractive and increase home values.

Almost one quarter of Virginia households are in HOAs these days. Owners need to have the flexibility to sustainably manage their private land, including using less fertilizers and pesticides. Conservation landscaping purifies the air, sequesters carbon, and decreases water use. Also it reduces pollution runoff that comes from less permeable surfaces like grass lawns, which is huge for our streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Please support this bill.

I support HB 528. HOAs should not be able to prohibit homeowners from creating a managed conservation landscaping. As long as the property is managed well and tended to nobody should be able to have a say in what plants are put in and how much grass needs to stay.

With respect to HB517, why would VIRGINIA want a EUROPEAN honeybee as its State Pollinator?! Supporting European honeybees means less support for our hardworking NATIVE bees. Please change your focus to a native bee like the Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens), which are excellent pollinators for produce as well as native plants. Mr. Hope, bumblebees love your zinnias, too! Thanks for the annual seeds! They beautify many gardens and landscapes.

We need to be able to plant all sorts of native plants to provide forage for pollinators and vanishing animals in an increasingly difficult climate. My eldest Sister is an entomologist, so perhaps my feeling of connection with "the little things that run the world" is what I grew up with. People are feeling increasingly isolated and turning more to dangerous means of expressing discontent (witness January 6 in Washington just a couple years ago!) What anchors us, grounds us, is nature. We cannot afford to limit the very provisions our environment feeds life from-- HOA's here are often run by volunteers with little real knowledge about biology, botany, pesticides and time to care. Please support HB528, so those of us who are witnessing need for conservation landscaping may practice such support of all (including human) species. (I have spent most of the last four years planting to mitigate flooding, loss of pollinators, erosion, habitat loss for birds, and to create beauty.) In Springfield, indeed in Fairfax County, one can walk for miles on a summer evening and not hear the comforting songs of crickets or katydids. In Spring, no peepers call. The HOA where I live has been using a "landscaper" whose heavy equipment runs over wet soils, compacting & cutting tree roots, spraying pesticides without regard to children, pets or birds, fertilizing without regard to runoff, then taking all leaves which would otherwise nourish soils and birds through the winter. As a professional Nurse and gardener, I consider the line between public health and personal health invisible. We have come to a time when if we fail to consider climate we will loose vital working parts of what makes our world literally work. Ecosystem services depend on working pieces- and so do we, as humans. We literally cannot afford to pretend Conservation landscaping is optional. While my neighbors spray pesticides I plant natives that feed the insects that feed the birds-- and we are loosing both at an astounding rate. Storms are becoming more intense. The dead zones in the Chesapeake and the Gulf are bigger from runoff. It is time, Now, to turn the tide to healing our land and recognizing we are not the only, lonely, animal on this planet we call Mother Earth. Yet for the sake of appearance will we pretend turf matters more per HOA rules, or just lazy failing to recognize what is happening around us? Can you remember your windshield being covered by insects when younger? Do you recall the amazing amount of life in a lake or creek as a child? Will your younger family even have a chance to see a Firefly or a Luna Moth? When a great Green Ash was cut two years ago on the corner where I live, the Fairfax Forrester told me 55,000 gallons of water will no longer be absorbed, and will run downhill. I planted as much as I could on that dangerous hill, to take up what would otherwise ruin the lower level of the townhome downhill. If the HOA decided arbitrarily my ground covers, shrubs, and flowers didn't match shallow-rooted turf, me and my pollinators, birds, and butterflys could be banned. That would break my bank, my back, and my heart. Please don't let arbitrary rules from uneducated HOA boards ban conservation landscaping. Virginia has a proud history of wise gardeners and we recognize the need for adaptation, change, and learning. Yes, industry will tell you selling more chemicals matters more. Please listen to the people more than the peddlers. We can't afford to loose our health!

Nature Forward asks you to support HB528. This legislation provides protection for the personal property rights of residents in HOAs to allow them to choose to install managed conservation landscaping on their private property, while allowing their HOA the flexibility to have guidelines regarding the landscapes management, design, and aesthetics (which should be no different than HOAs can do today with any type of landscaping). This would be an important win for the state of Virginia, residents, *and* HOAs to help address stormwater runoff, reduce pollution, protect clean air and water and support wildlife through the use of native plants. It's getting harder to buy outside of an HOA: 82% of newly built homes sold in 2021 were a part of an HOA. Currently in Virginia, nearly 25% of the population lives in an HOA. As we face the current climate crisis, we need every tool in the toolbox to improve the health of our local streams and the Chesapeake Bay. With stronger, longer, and more intense storms, managed conservation landscaping can address stormwater challenges and mitigate the effects of climate change and flooding, while improving water quality through more improved filtration. As we also face a biodiversity crisis, managed conservation landscaping can improve the health and biodiversity of Virginia’s ecosystem, including support for native pollinators, soil health and air quality, while helping to raise awareness about the benefits of native species, which in turn can drive broader demand for ecologically-beneficial sustainable landscape methods and the sale of native plant species. This legislation is a great chance to help our waterways *and* our local ecology by infusing native plants back into our developed communities. Nature Forward supports, and asks you to please support, HB528.

I am a research scientist who lives and works in Loudoun county. I study plant-insect interactions and have a deep appreciation for the importance of planting native plants and curbing the hostile take-over of invasive species in our area. Based upon that expertise, I ask that you support HB528 in the current GA session, which will protect the right of private homeowners' managed conservation landscaping from unreasonable limitations by HOAs. Many of your constituents, including myself, would like to plant more native perennials, trees, and shrubs and less water-intensive lawn, which protects the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay from lawn-chemical pollution. In my own HOA, I am not able to do this due to bylaws mandating that I may not remove more than 10% of my lawn grass, and even to do that, I must submit a plan for approval. I tried to change my HOA by joining it and leading a pollinator garden project (https://www.loudounnow.com/news/education/students-community-create-pollinator-gardens-at-horsepen-preserve/article_9e4c680e-f40b-11ed-a294-435a7c28b160.html ), but they ultimately removed me from my committee because I threatened their status quo. I can't count on my HOA to allow me to garden for environmental conservation, as my research and scientific training have convinced me that I must do. Reducing turf lawn area and increasing native plant use is important because popular foreign landscaping plants do not feed Virginia native insects. This is because most insect species are only adapted to processing the defensive chemicals of one or a few favorite types of food, and they are not able to overcome the defenses of foreign plants. This is a problem because insects serve as a critical point in food chains, and herbivorous caterpillars grow up to be critical pollinators. Pollinating insects are critical to global food security as the majority of food crops require external pollination to generate fruits and vegetables. While most residents may care little for the life of an insect, they likely care very much about the price and availability of food. Birds in particular are harmed by loss of insect food sources, as their young feed almost exclusively on soft, protein-rich caterpillars. That is, caterpillars are essentially bird baby formula. Access to quality natural areas is known to improve health and well-being . In particular, listening to birdsong has been shown to reduce anxiety and paranoia . Birds require landscapes full of trees, native flora, and insects to thrive. All of these benefits are endangered by HOA bylaws that mandate majority turf grass landscaping and restrict the use of keystone species deemed to be too tall or "weedy". HB528 is an important step towards protecting the rights of private citizens and our delicate local ecosystems. Please vote in favor.

Blue Ridge PRISM is a public charity dedicated to reducing the impact of invasive plants on the ecosystems of the northern Blue Ridge Mountains and surrounding areas through regional and statewide advocacy, landowner support, implementing control measures, and public education. Currently, Virginia code does not protect homeowners wanting to install conservation landscaping practices. Nearly one in four Virginians live in homes controlled by HOAs. Managed conservation landscaping has many benefits including stormwater management, habitat for native pollinators, supports water, soil and air quality, and is aesthetically pleasing. Landscaping with native plants also reduces the potential for new invasive plants to escape into Virginia farms, fields, forests, and communities. HOA residents should have the flexibility and right to more sustainably manage their private land. Blue Ridge PRISM supports HB 528.

Dear Representatives: I'm excited and encouraged to see that HB 528 is under consideration. As a Virginia resident who lives in a community with an HOA, I have coaxed and gently urged my neighbors to embrace the emerging aesthetic of native plant corridors and reduced lawns. Many of them are somewhat receptive, but they need information and leadership. I'm thrilled that someone in the Virginia House is thinking about providing that leadership. Various global agencies are reporting on species die-offs on a regular basis. I believe that a re-thinking of how we live as Americans/Virginians is needed. If people could learn to appreciate the beauty of a native meadow, and all the butterflies and other creatures in it, maybe they wouldn't mind converting part of their lawn into a landscape that actually supports the food web and thus the ecosystem and our fellow wild creatures. Please support HB 528. It will help educate the public about the need to tweak our human habitat in a way that supports other creatures. Thank you. Margaret Moore Charlottesville

Members of the Subcommittee on Housing and Consumer Protection, I’m Alice Tousignant, resident of the City of Richmond, housing advocate and member of the League of Women Voters of Virginia. On behalf of the LWV-VA, I want to express our support of HB 598 because extending the “pay or quit” time period from five to fourteen days • Will give tenants more time to catch up their rent before facing eviction. • With more time, tenants are more likely to have received a paycheck or other assistance, allowing them to catch up on rent before they end up in costly eviction proceedings. • Slowing down evictions will save landlords work and money. Thank you.

I am writing in support of tenants like myself for the above bills that would level the power dynamic in the landlord-tenant relationship. Rent is too high, conditions are poor, and we want to keep our community housed. Please support tenants, especially bills that allow us for our own experience without retaliation or feeling scared. We are in a housing crisis and we must escape it with a justice frame at the forefront.

I am writing on behalf of the VSC NAACP Housing Committee to express our strong support for the bills highlighted below that aim to enhance tenant protections and rights within our community. These proposed measures are crucial steps toward addressing the existing power imbalance between renters and landlords, which places renters at an elevated risk of housing instability, harassment, and homelessness. As you are aware, the disparity in power between renters and landlords is a significant concern that has far-reaching implications, particularly for marginalized communities. This power imbalance not only jeopardizes housing stability but also perpetuates racial inequity. Numerous studies have shown that communities of color are disproportionately affected by eviction and housing instability, exacerbating existing disparities. Tenant protections, when enacted into law, serve as a fundamental tool in preventing evictions and ensuring that renters can maintain stable housing. We firmly believe that these proposed bills, with their emphasis on enhancing tenant rights, will contribute significantly to rectifying the current imbalances and fostering a more equitable housing landscape. By supporting and advancing these bills, we collectively acknowledge the importance of safeguarding vulnerable renters, promoting housing stability, and working towards a more just and inclusive society. We urge you to consider the broader impact that these legislative measures can have on our community and to cast your support in favor of their passage. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your dedication to serving the interests of our community and trust that you will carefully consider the positive impact that these bills can have on the lives of countless individuals and pass them accordingly. Sincerely, Tracey Hardney Scott Housing Committee Chair VSC NAACP Housing Committee

I SUPPORT HB208, 281, 634, and 644. Gas-powered leaf blowers are an environmental scourge and I'm thankful that a bill has been written to allow localities to restrict them. I wish the Commonwealth of Virginia could just ban them outright. I wholeheartedly support repurposing office buildings to serve as childcare centers.

I am writing in support of tenants like myself for the above bills that would level the power dynamic in the landlord-tenant relationship. Rent is too high, conditions are poor, and we want to keep our community housed. Please support tenants, especially bills that allow us for our own experience without retaliation or feeling scared. We are in a housing crisis and we must escape it with a justice frame at the forefront.

I am writing on behalf of the VSC NAACP Housing Committee to express our strong support for the bills highlighted below that aim to enhance tenant protections and rights within our community. These proposed measures are crucial steps toward addressing the existing power imbalance between renters and landlords, which places renters at an elevated risk of housing instability, harassment, and homelessness. As you are aware, the disparity in power between renters and landlords is a significant concern that has far-reaching implications, particularly for marginalized communities. This power imbalance not only jeopardizes housing stability but also perpetuates racial inequity. Numerous studies have shown that communities of color are disproportionately affected by eviction and housing instability, exacerbating existing disparities. Tenant protections, when enacted into law, serve as a fundamental tool in preventing evictions and ensuring that renters can maintain stable housing. We firmly believe that these proposed bills, with their emphasis on enhancing tenant rights, will contribute significantly to rectifying the current imbalances and fostering a more equitable housing landscape. By supporting and advancing these bills, we collectively acknowledge the importance of safeguarding vulnerable renters, promoting housing stability, and working towards a more just and inclusive society. We urge you to consider the broader impact that these legislative measures can have on our community and to cast your support in favor of their passage. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your dedication to serving the interests of our community and trust that you will carefully consider the positive impact that these bills can have on the lives of countless individuals and pass them accordingly. Sincerely, Tracey Hardney Scott Housing Committee Chair VSC NAACP Housing Committee

On behalf of the Virginia Floodplain Management Association (VFMA) members, we wish to submit written testimony in support of HB 863. VFMA serves as the state chapter of the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM), and VFMA’s membership represents local and state officials, as well as academia and private sector professionals engaged in floodplain management across the Commonwealth. This includes but is not limited to managing local floodplain ordinances and permitting development, engineering and land surveying, flood risk modeling and mapping, emergency management, planning, and community development. VFMA members continuously hear from Virginia residents who are unaware of their flood risk, oftentimes finding out when they are forced to purchase a flood insurance policy when purchasing a home, when development permits are denied due to local floodplain ordinance requirements, or after experiencing flood damages. Flood disclosure requirements are essential for communicating flood risk. This change in law would allow homebuyers and renters alike to be provided with all relevant flood risk information needed to reduce their flood risk and to make an informed decision when buying or leasing property.

Comments Document

On behalf of the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM’s) members in Virginia and nationally, we wish to submit written testimony in support of HB 863. The ASFPM and its 38 state chapters represent more than 20,000 local and state officials as well as private sector and other professionals engaged in all aspects of floodplain management and flood hazard mitigation, including management of local floodplain ordinances, flood risk mapping, engineering, planning, community development, hydrology, forecasting, emergency response, water resources development and flood insurance. ASFPM has long supported flood disclosure requirements, which are an essential tool for communicating flood risk. People in the United States generally lack awareness about their home’s risk of flooding and there is no federal requirement for home sellers to disclose information about a property’s flood risk or previous flood damage to prospective buyers or renters. At the same time, flood losses nationwide are dramatically increasing. In 2021 and 2022 alone, the nation incurred over $200 billion in flood losses. Looking on a decadal basis, annual flood losses have roughly been doubling every decade since the 1990s. Flood disclosure requirements should be specific, required and actionable; older disclosure laws that are not specific to particular hazards that a state faces, or that are merely suggestive, simply do not work. By denying home buyers information about past flooding, people cannot make informed decisions about one of their biggest financial investments—their home. A good source of actionable flood risk information for particular property is the current property owner. Increasingly, concerns have been raised about the lack of flood risk information for renters. While it can be difficult to find out about a home’s flood risk and history as a homeowner, most renters get no information about flooding at all. Since 2020, five states have improved their disclosure laws related to flooding. New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Hawaii have all enacted or started the process on disclosure reforms that would give home buyers a right to know a home’s flood risk. New York and New Jersey have new laws that give similar rights to renters. Still there is more to be done. Twenty-three states still do not require a seller to disclose whether a home has previously flooded. States like Florida, Georgia, and Missouri, lack mandatory disclosure of flood risk and these states do not require a seller to provide a real estate disclosure form regarding flooding. When it comes disclosure for renters, only nine states affirmatively require landlords to disclose an apartment’s flood history or risk to prospective tenants. On balance, we find that HB 863 would result in a meaningful and practical change in state law improving Virginian’s overall flood risk awareness. In particular extending the disclosure requirements to renters is critically important. Given Virginia’s flood risk, this change in law is particularly relevant to ensure that future homebuyers and renters have a fully informed picture of flood risk in order to take action to reduce that risk.

I am writing on behalf of the VSC NAACP Housing Committee to express our strong support for the bills highlighted below that aim to enhance tenant protections and rights within our community. These proposed measures are crucial steps toward addressing the existing power imbalance between renters and landlords, which places renters at an elevated risk of housing instability, harassment, and homelessness. As you are aware, the disparity in power between renters and landlords is a significant concern that has far-reaching implications, particularly for marginalized communities. This power imbalance not only jeopardizes housing stability but also perpetuates racial inequity. Numerous studies have shown that communities of color are disproportionately affected by eviction and housing instability, exacerbating existing disparities. Tenant protections, when enacted into law, serve as a fundamental tool in preventing evictions and ensuring that renters can maintain stable housing. We firmly believe that these proposed bills, with their emphasis on enhancing tenant rights, will contribute significantly to rectifying the current imbalances and fostering a more equitable housing landscape. By supporting and advancing these bills, we collectively acknowledge the importance of safeguarding vulnerable renters, promoting housing stability, and working towards a more just and inclusive society. We urge you to consider the broader impact that these legislative measures can have on our community and to cast your support in favor of their passage. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your dedication to serving the interests of our community and trust that you will carefully consider the positive impact that these bills can have on the lives of countless individuals and pass them accordingly. Sincerely, Tracey Hardney Scott Housing Committee Chair VSC NAACP Housing Committee

I am writing on behalf of the VSC NAACP Housing Committee to express our strong support for the bills highlighted below that aim to enhance tenant protections and rights within our community. These proposed measures are crucial steps toward addressing the existing power imbalance between renters and landlords, which places renters at an elevated risk of housing instability, harassment, and homelessness. As you are aware, the disparity in power between renters and landlords is a significant concern that has far-reaching implications, particularly for marginalized communities. This power imbalance not only jeopardizes housing stability but also perpetuates racial inequity. Numerous studies have shown that communities of color are disproportionately affected by eviction and housing instability, exacerbating existing disparities. Tenant protections, when enacted into law, serve as a fundamental tool in preventing evictions and ensuring that renters can maintain stable housing. We firmly believe that these proposed bills, with their emphasis on enhancing tenant rights, will contribute significantly to rectifying the current imbalances and fostering a more equitable housing landscape. By supporting and advancing these bills, we collectively acknowledge the importance of safeguarding vulnerable renters, promoting housing stability, and working towards a more just and inclusive society. We urge you to consider the broader impact that these legislative measures can have on our community and to cast your support in favor of their passage. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your dedication to serving the interests of our community and trust that you will carefully consider the positive impact that these bills can have on the lives of countless individuals and pass them accordingly. Sincerely, Tracey Hardney Scott Housing Committee Chair VSC NAACP Housing Committee

Unnecessary fees on rent payments are a cumbersome burden on everyday Virginians. I very much support this piece of legislation!

I am writing in support of tenants like myself for the above bills that would level the power dynamic in the landlord-tenant relationship. Rent is too high, conditions are poor, and we want to keep our community housed. Please support tenants, especially bills that allow us for our own experience without retaliation or feeling scared. We are in a housing crisis and we must escape it with a justice frame at the forefront.

I am writing on behalf of the VSC NAACP Housing Committee to express our strong support for the bills highlighted below that aim to enhance tenant protections and rights within our community. These proposed measures are crucial steps toward addressing the existing power imbalance between renters and landlords, which places renters at an elevated risk of housing instability, harassment, and homelessness. As you are aware, the disparity in power between renters and landlords is a significant concern that has far-reaching implications, particularly for marginalized communities. This power imbalance not only jeopardizes housing stability but also perpetuates racial inequity. Numerous studies have shown that communities of color are disproportionately affected by eviction and housing instability, exacerbating existing disparities. Tenant protections, when enacted into law, serve as a fundamental tool in preventing evictions and ensuring that renters can maintain stable housing. We firmly believe that these proposed bills, with their emphasis on enhancing tenant rights, will contribute significantly to rectifying the current imbalances and fostering a more equitable housing landscape. By supporting and advancing these bills, we collectively acknowledge the importance of safeguarding vulnerable renters, promoting housing stability, and working towards a more just and inclusive society. We urge you to consider the broader impact that these legislative measures can have on our community and to cast your support in favor of their passage. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your dedication to serving the interests of our community and trust that you will carefully consider the positive impact that these bills can have on the lives of countless individuals and pass them accordingly. Sincerely, Tracey Hardney Scott Housing Committee Chair VSC NAACP Housing Committee

I am writing on behalf of the VSC NAACP Housing Committee to express our strong support for the bills highlighted below that aim to enhance tenant protections and rights within our community. These proposed measures are crucial steps toward addressing the existing power imbalance between renters and landlords, which places renters at an elevated risk of housing instability, harassment, and homelessness. As you are aware, the disparity in power between renters and landlords is a significant concern that has far-reaching implications, particularly for marginalized communities. This power imbalance not only jeopardizes housing stability but also perpetuates racial inequity. Numerous studies have shown that communities of color are disproportionately affected by eviction and housing instability, exacerbating existing disparities. Tenant protections, when enacted into law, serve as a fundamental tool in preventing evictions and ensuring that renters can maintain stable housing. We firmly believe that these proposed bills, with their emphasis on enhancing tenant rights, will contribute significantly to rectifying the current imbalances and fostering a more equitable housing landscape. By supporting and advancing these bills, we collectively acknowledge the importance of safeguarding vulnerable renters, promoting housing stability, and working towards a more just and inclusive society. We urge you to consider the broader impact that these legislative measures can have on our community and to cast your support in favor of their passage. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your dedication to serving the interests of our community and trust that you will carefully consider the positive impact that these bills can have on the lives of countless individuals and pass them accordingly. Sincerely, Tracey Hardney Scott Housing Committee Chair VSC NAACP Housing Committee

I am writing on behalf of the VSC NAACP Housing Committee to express our strong support for the bills highlighted below that aim to enhance tenant protections and rights within our community. These proposed measures are crucial steps toward addressing the existing power imbalance between renters and landlords, which places renters at an elevated risk of housing instability, harassment, and homelessness. As you are aware, the disparity in power between renters and landlords is a significant concern that has far-reaching implications, particularly for marginalized communities. This power imbalance not only jeopardizes housing stability but also perpetuates racial inequity. Numerous studies have shown that communities of color are disproportionately affected by eviction and housing instability, exacerbating existing disparities. Tenant protections, when enacted into law, serve as a fundamental tool in preventing evictions and ensuring that renters can maintain stable housing. We firmly believe that these proposed bills, with their emphasis on enhancing tenant rights, will contribute significantly to rectifying the current imbalances and fostering a more equitable housing landscape. By supporting and advancing these bills, we collectively acknowledge the importance of safeguarding vulnerable renters, promoting housing stability, and working towards a more just and inclusive society. We urge you to consider the broader impact that these legislative measures can have on our community and to cast your support in favor of their passage. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your dedication to serving the interests of our community and trust that you will carefully consider the positive impact that these bills can have on the lives of countless individuals and pass them accordingly. Sincerely, Tracey Hardney Scott Housing Committee Chair VSC NAACP Housing Committee

To Whom it my concern, I am writing on behalf of HB1124. In my current role, I am tasked with maintaining a pipeline of buildable parcels throughout the Richmond Metro area to ensure some of our area's most vulnerable citizens have a safe, affordable place to call home. In my short time in this position, we have been in contact with multiple faith based organizations, of various denominations, who both own buildable property and have the desire to provide affordable housing for those in need in their local community. They see it as an extension of their beliefs and mission. A major barrier to executing on their dreams of providing stable shelter, is the often 18 to 24 month process of achieving suitable zoning for their proposed projects. Re-Zoning is a complicated and time consuming process for seasoned professionals and can be an expensive investment. Removing this hurdle has the potential to open up large amounts of urban and sub-urban buildable property across the Commonwealth, easing the strain on inventory and adding valuable resources to the respective communities in which these organizations are located. When we can remove regulation without compromising the quality of the end product and clear hurdles for non-professional developers to assist in the delivery of affordable housing, we all win. I urge you to give this legislation its due consideration and to subsequently push this effort forward. Thank you for all you do, Matt Waring Interim COO, Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity

Comments Document

Please support HB1207! This bill will provide a means to address another collateral consequence of criminal arrests and convictions in Virginia for persons seeking rental housing, but are being denied solely based on a past criminal history record. Similar to the "ban-the-box" movement in Virginia that aided persons with criminal histories to have a better chance at obtaining employment. And SB 124 in 2020 when the VA General Assembly changed the law dealing with eligibilty for food stamps and TANF for drug related felonies. Removing this practice has substantially aided many citizens with these types of infractions on their record sucesfully re-enter society and not recidivate. This measure mirrors HUD's efforts dealing with their housing providers by developing a model criminal history screening process for the state's funded housing providers, so persons are not automatically denied housing ...adding to the number of unhoused/homeless persons in Virginia, and through frustrations, possible breaking parole and recidivating.

I am privileged to offer my support for HB1207, introduced by Del. Hayes. As a Portsmouth native and current resident, I have witnessed the challenges that some formerly incarcerated citizens face in my city leading many to survive unhoused. This bill could help remove some of the barriers to housing. Shelter is such a basic human need and having model policies that support fair housing will make a positive difference for so many people. Thanks for your attention and your support for HB1207.

I am writing on behalf of the VSC NAACP Housing Committee to express our strong support for the bills highlighted below that aim to enhance tenant protections and rights within our community. These proposed measures are crucial steps toward addressing the existing power imbalance between renters and landlords, which places renters at an elevated risk of housing instability, harassment, and homelessness. As you are aware, the disparity in power between renters and landlords is a significant concern that has far-reaching implications, particularly for marginalized communities. This power imbalance not only jeopardizes housing stability but also perpetuates racial inequity. Numerous studies have shown that communities of color are disproportionately affected by eviction and housing instability, exacerbating existing disparities. Tenant protections, when enacted into law, serve as a fundamental tool in preventing evictions and ensuring that renters can maintain stable housing. We firmly believe that these proposed bills, with their emphasis on enhancing tenant rights, will contribute significantly to rectifying the current imbalances and fostering a more equitable housing landscape. By supporting and advancing these bills, we collectively acknowledge the importance of safeguarding vulnerable renters, promoting housing stability, and working towards a more just and inclusive society. We urge you to consider the broader impact that these legislative measures can have on our community and to cast your support in favor of their passage. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your dedication to serving the interests of our community and trust that you will carefully consider the positive impact that these bills can have on the lives of countless individuals and pass them accordingly. Sincerely, Tracey Hardney Scott Housing Committee Chair VSC NAACP Housing Committee

Good afternoon, I write to urge your support for the passage of House Bill 1207. It was introduced by Delegate Hayes, to ensure that individuals with previous felony convictions can obtain rental housing. Homelessness is an issue throughout our nation. The ordinary screening of rental applicants remains difficult enough providing required credit checks, deposits, and character references. For many that have prior felonies, that process is further complicated as they reenter the community after serving their sentences. It is not beneficial or just to those who have successfully paid fines and are working as tax paying citizens. The quest for adequate housing is important for multiple reasons. Unnecessary barriers for adequate shelter give the impression that changed behaviors are not enough as contributing members of society. It is important to understand that when an individual has made strides to reform their previous lives that we do not place barriers that could potentially cause them to cease moving forward. Sometimes enough of those setbacks lead to them being incarcerated again. Thank you, Delegates, for your attention to House Bill 1207 and hopeful passage of it. Best regards, Jacqueline Elliott

I am in support of HB1207 being passed by the General Assembly. A prior commenter, Izzard, provided a detailed accounting of their experience in the rental market. I have heard so many stories similar to this over the years. So many times, potential tenants never get told what was the reason for a denial based on a background check. These checks are also representative of the systemic racism that is so ingrained in so many processes and protocols. The sooner HUD and DHCD can get a model policy up and going, the sooner more folks can find housing options. With this bill in place, so many more Virginians will not have to "couch surf", put families at risk for providing housing, or have them present to the Continuums of Care as homeless. Please pass HB1207.

I strongly support HB1207 for the following reasons: As a citizen and taxpayer of the commonwealth of Virginia, who has an old criminal conviction, but had my civil rights restored and my ability to own a gun, yet I have been discriminated against "multiple times" when trying to secure housing. At the cost of approximately $30 per application, last year I spent at least $300 on 10 applications for rental housing, only to be turned down due to the criminal history check. I work everyday, have a decent credit reference, and have not had an infraction in almost 2-decades, yet I continue to be frustrated in my attempts to secure housing. This makes no sense, and I am certain I am not the only person who has had and is experiencing this problem. If this commonwealth is truly interested in reducing recidivism, then addressing this problem with this bill would go a long way to curb the number of unhoused persons, and those who become frustrated and give up trying to successfully reintergrate into society due to the constant hurdles placed in our way. Please support HB1207. Thank you

I am writing in support of tenants like myself for the above bills that would level the power dynamic in the landlord-tenant relationship. Rent is too high, conditions are poor, and we want to keep our community housed. Please support tenants, especially bills that allow us for our own experience without retaliation or feeling scared. We are in a housing crisis and we must escape it with a justice frame at the forefront.

I am writing on behalf of the VSC NAACP Housing Committee to express our strong support for the bills highlighted below that aim to enhance tenant protections and rights within our community. These proposed measures are crucial steps toward addressing the existing power imbalance between renters and landlords, which places renters at an elevated risk of housing instability, harassment, and homelessness. As you are aware, the disparity in power between renters and landlords is a significant concern that has far-reaching implications, particularly for marginalized communities. This power imbalance not only jeopardizes housing stability but also perpetuates racial inequity. Numerous studies have shown that communities of color are disproportionately affected by eviction and housing instability, exacerbating existing disparities. Tenant protections, when enacted into law, serve as a fundamental tool in preventing evictions and ensuring that renters can maintain stable housing. We firmly believe that these proposed bills, with their emphasis on enhancing tenant rights, will contribute significantly to rectifying the current imbalances and fostering a more equitable housing landscape. By supporting and advancing these bills, we collectively acknowledge the importance of safeguarding vulnerable renters, promoting housing stability, and working towards a more just and inclusive society. We urge you to consider the broader impact that these legislative measures can have on our community and to cast your support in favor of their passage. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your dedication to serving the interests of our community and trust that you will carefully consider the positive impact that these bills can have on the lives of countless individuals and pass them accordingly. Sincerely, Tracey Hardney Scott Housing Committee Chair VSC NAACP Housing Committee

Comments Document

I have experienced the effects of living in a moldy environment 3 separate times, with the landlord each time having little to no appreciation for the severity of the health concern it presented to me as the tenant. The first time, in Charlottesville, a pipe burst in the upstairs apartment and a 2-3 foot wide hole was left to drip in our living room for weeks while black mold grew on the ceiling. Even after directly stating in my email to the landlord that my roommate and I were experiencing health concerns, it was not taken seriously. After this exposure, I developed a chronic illness called CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome) which is an environmentally acquired illness from mold toxicity. This affects all systems of the body, not just the respiratory system, and the illness has disabling symptoms such as intense fatigue, brain fog, and vertigo. In Richmond I had two similar experiences, one of them leading to my roommate and I almost bringing the landlord to court after receiving no response from her for over a month regarding the two water damaged areas which were actively growing mold and continued to leak every time it rained. I have attached photos of this residence. This is a huge issue, especially for individuals with limited income who have few options when looking for a place to live. Low income renters often end up living in much older buildings that are falling apart and will have shoddy mold “remediation” if a problem does visibly present itself. I have seen first hand how mold issues will be lower on the list of priorities of the rental company who will take advantage of the fact that renters have no other option but to accept the conditions of their residence. People with fixed incomes are also more likely to lack the means to treat the incredibly complex health conditions that mold will present. Renters will continue to suffer and get swept under the table as long as no one recognizes this as a problem.

I have witnessed the extremely negative impact of mold first in the Fairfax County Public Schools where my husband was a teacher. So many schools have tried many times, unsucessfully, to "remediate" the mold, usually by painting over the mold. As a member of Virginia Organizing I have now seen the problem of mold impact the low income housing units in Waynesboro. One renter paid for her own mold inspection and the results were shocking. The epidemic of mold is threatening both the renters and the property owners, who cannot afford to remediate the problem once it has gotten past a certain point. The cost of the medical fallout will also be enormous. We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to this problem.

I am writing in support of tenants like myself for the above bills that would level the power dynamic in the landlord-tenant relationship. Rent is too high, conditions are poor, and we want to keep our community housed. Please support tenants, especially bills that allow us for our own experience without retaliation or feeling scared. We are in a housing crisis and we must escape it with a justice frame at the forefront.

Mold is well-established as a health hazard in buildings, including homes. Low income renters are currently at the mercy of their landlords if and when they find mold in their rental, since there is no easy legal protection available to them. HB 1270 would afford a clear legal path to tenants, rather than being obliged to go to court themselves to oblige their landlords to establish a healthy living environment for their families.

We go to people’s houses in the NRV and the biggest issue that comes up at door after door is mold. “Get it out of our homes!” people beg. We asked them whether their landlords do anything about it and they say no. Landlords either ignore the problem or spray a little bleach on it and claim they’ve handled it, which they haven’t. HB1270 will make it so that building inspectors can be brought in to hold landlords accountable. They’ll come and tell landlords how exactly to mitigate mold properly so that it won’t keep coming back and causing health problems in folks of all ages. My cousins had to move house back in the day because mold hurt my cousin’s lungs so badly. His breathing and asthma were affected for years after. You have the power to protect people from this kind of dangerous mold. Please support HB1270 and get the mold out of NRV homes – so many people will thank you for it.

Mold can affect the lungs, especially in older people and children who have weaker immune systems. This is why it's important to pass this bill. And no one should have to look at mold in their home. It's not pretty. And when it gets painted over, it seeps right back through.

Renters should not have to live with mold. When landlords don't properly remediate mold in rental housing, renters are faced with the decision to either break their lease, which can be a messy process and wind up in court, or to file a tenant's assertion, if they have the knowledge and means to do so. In this tight housing market, breaking a lease is not a great option. Over and over, we hear stories locally and in the media about landlords not responding to tenants' requests for repairs, particularly around mold. Regulating mold in the building code is important, because it allows local governments to step in and hold landlords accountable through building inspections.

I am writing on behalf of the VSC NAACP Housing Committee to express our strong support for the bills highlighted below that aim to enhance tenant protections and rights within our community. These proposed measures are crucial steps toward addressing the existing power imbalance between renters and landlords, which places renters at an elevated risk of housing instability, harassment, and homelessness. As you are aware, the disparity in power between renters and landlords is a significant concern that has far-reaching implications, particularly for marginalized communities. This power imbalance not only jeopardizes housing stability but also perpetuates racial inequity. Numerous studies have shown that communities of color are disproportionately affected by eviction and housing instability, exacerbating existing disparities. Tenant protections, when enacted into law, serve as a fundamental tool in preventing evictions and ensuring that renters can maintain stable housing. We firmly believe that these proposed bills, with their emphasis on enhancing tenant rights, will contribute significantly to rectifying the current imbalances and fostering a more equitable housing landscape. By supporting and advancing these bills, we collectively acknowledge the importance of safeguarding vulnerable renters, promoting housing stability, and working towards a more just and inclusive society. We urge you to consider the broader impact that these legislative measures can have on our community and to cast your support in favor of their passage. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your dedication to serving the interests of our community and trust that you will carefully consider the positive impact that these bills can have on the lives of countless individuals and pass them accordingly. Sincerely, Tracey Hardney Scott Housing Committee Chair VSC NAACP Housing Committee

I am writing on behalf of the VSC NAACP Housing Committee to express our strong support for the bills highlighted below that aim to enhance tenant protections and rights within our community. These proposed measures are crucial steps toward addressing the existing power imbalance between renters and landlords, which places renters at an elevated risk of housing instability, harassment, and homelessness. As you are aware, the disparity in power between renters and landlords is a significant concern that has far-reaching implications, particularly for marginalized communities. This power imbalance not only jeopardizes housing stability but also perpetuates racial inequity. Numerous studies have shown that communities of color are disproportionately affected by eviction and housing instability, exacerbating existing disparities. Tenant protections, when enacted into law, serve as a fundamental tool in preventing evictions and ensuring that renters can maintain stable housing. We firmly believe that these proposed bills, with their emphasis on enhancing tenant rights, will contribute significantly to rectifying the current imbalances and fostering a more equitable housing landscape. By supporting and advancing these bills, we collectively acknowledge the importance of safeguarding vulnerable renters, promoting housing stability, and working towards a more just and inclusive society. We urge you to consider the broader impact that these legislative measures can have on our community and to cast your support in favor of their passage. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your dedication to serving the interests of our community and trust that you will carefully consider the positive impact that these bills can have on the lives of countless individuals and pass them accordingly. Sincerely, Tracey Hardney Scott Housing Committee Chair VSC NAACP Housing Committee

I am writing on behalf of the VSC NAACP Housing Committee to express our strong support for the bills highlighted below that aim to enhance tenant protections and rights within our community. These proposed measures are crucial steps toward addressing the existing power imbalance between renters and landlords, which places renters at an elevated risk of housing instability, harassment, and homelessness. As you are aware, the disparity in power between renters and landlords is a significant concern that has far-reaching implications, particularly for marginalized communities. This power imbalance not only jeopardizes housing stability but also perpetuates racial inequity. Numerous studies have shown that communities of color are disproportionately affected by eviction and housing instability, exacerbating existing disparities. Tenant protections, when enacted into law, serve as a fundamental tool in preventing evictions and ensuring that renters can maintain stable housing. We firmly believe that these proposed bills, with their emphasis on enhancing tenant rights, will contribute significantly to rectifying the current imbalances and fostering a more equitable housing landscape. By supporting and advancing these bills, we collectively acknowledge the importance of safeguarding vulnerable renters, promoting housing stability, and working towards a more just and inclusive society. We urge you to consider the broader impact that these legislative measures can have on our community and to cast your support in favor of their passage. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your dedication to serving the interests of our community and trust that you will carefully consider the positive impact that these bills can have on the lives of countless individuals and pass them accordingly. Sincerely, Tracey Hardney Scott Housing Committee Chair VSC NAACP Housing Committee

Who is paying for this? Is solar panels more expensive? Where is the study for the Virginia citizens? What country are the panels coming from? Citizens need transparency from the Progressive Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly. Please stop just pushing bills through to make a statement. Please do the hard factual research and put it out there for the common person to voice their views for a while. For years, majority of Democrats do not think about his or her illogical legislative decisions, and the public ends up suffering for them. Ex: legalizing marijuana

I am writing on behalf of the VSC NAACP Housing Committee to express our strong support for the bills highlighted below that aim to enhance tenant protections and rights within our community. These proposed measures are crucial steps toward addressing the existing power imbalance between renters and landlords, which places renters at an elevated risk of housing instability, harassment, and homelessness. As you are aware, the disparity in power between renters and landlords is a significant concern that has far-reaching implications, particularly for marginalized communities. This power imbalance not only jeopardizes housing stability but also perpetuates racial inequity. Numerous studies have shown that communities of color are disproportionately affected by eviction and housing instability, exacerbating existing disparities. Tenant protections, when enacted into law, serve as a fundamental tool in preventing evictions and ensuring that renters can maintain stable housing. We firmly believe that these proposed bills, with their emphasis on enhancing tenant rights, will contribute significantly to rectifying the current imbalances and fostering a more equitable housing landscape. By supporting and advancing these bills, we collectively acknowledge the importance of safeguarding vulnerable renters, promoting housing stability, and working towards a more just and inclusive society. We urge you to consider the broader impact that these legislative measures can have on our community and to cast your support in favor of their passage. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your dedication to serving the interests of our community and trust that you will carefully consider the positive impact that these bills can have on the lives of countless individuals and pass them accordingly. Sincerely, Tracey Hardney Scott Housing Committee Chair VSC NAACP Housing Committee