Hi There, We are looking for installation partners in your area. NO COST TO YOU. We sell PVC Marble Design Panels to homeowners and contractors. When a homeowner buys panels but is not handy enough to install them themselves, we want to be able to recommend a vetted installation company. Please check out our website to learn more and to apply for partnership: https://gpe-partners.com We are looking forward to working with you. Marc Wagner COO Great Products Enterprise

I am totally against this bill which introduces a fee for using trawl nets and drag nets for shrimp and horseshoe crab fishing within Virginia's three-mile Atlantic shoreline limit, where currently no fee is required. Unnecessary Financial Burden: Imposing a $100 fee per boat for using trawl nets and drag nets adds an unnecessary financial burden on fishermen, especially small-scale operators who might not have the financial flexibility to absorb this new cost, potentially affecting their livelihoods. Discourages Traditional Practices: This fee could discourage traditional fishing practices that have been part of the local culture and economy, pushing fishermen towards alternative, possibly less sustainable methods if they cannot afford the fee. Inequitable Access: The fee structure might create an inequity in access to these fishing methods, favoring those who can afford the fee over those who cannot, potentially leading to a skewed distribution of fishing rights. Does Not Address Environmental Concerns: While the intention might be to regulate or reduce the use of these nets, the fee does not directly address the environmental impact of trawling. A fee alone might not be sufficient to mitigate the ecological damage these methods can cause. Potential for Non-Compliance: Fishermen might be tempted to fish without obtaining the necessary permit to avoid the fee, leading to increased illegal fishing activities and complicating enforcement efforts by the Marine Resources Commission. Revenue vs. Conservation: The revenue generated from these fees might not be directed towards conservation efforts or habitat restoration, which would be necessary to offset the environmental impact of trawling, making the fee seem more like a tax than a conservation measure. Administrative Overhead: The introduction of a fee system would require additional administrative work for the Marine Resources Commission, including processing applications, managing payments, and ensuring compliance, which could divert resources from other conservation activities. Economic Impact on Local Communities: The fee could have broader economic implications, potentially reducing the income of local fishing communities, affecting related businesses, and impacting the supply of locally caught shrimp and horseshoe crabs. I strongly oppose this legislation because while it might seem like a regulatory step, it primarily serves as a financial barrier without addressing the core environmental issues, potentially leading to economic hardship, increased non-compliance, and administrative burdens, urging instead for regulations that focus on sustainability and conservation.

I support these

Hi There, We are looking for installation partners in your area. NO COST TO YOU. We sell PVC Marble Design Panels to homeowners and contractors. When a homeowner buys panels but is not handy enough to install them themselves, we want to be able to recommend a vetted installation company. Please check out our website to learn more and to apply for partnership: https://gpe-partners.com We are looking forward to working with you. Marc Wagner COO Great Products Enterprise

Hi There, We are looking for installation partners in your area. NO COST TO YOU. We sell PVC Marble Design Panels to homeowners and contractors. When a homeowner buys panels but is not handy enough to install them themselves, we want to be able to recommend a vetted installation company. Please check out our website to learn more and to apply for partnership: https://gpe-partners.com We are looking forward to working with you. Marc Wagner COO Great Products Enterprise

Hello, Please require retail establishments to post clear signage designating invasive plants and educating the public on what that means. Invasive plants are a tremendous issue threatening our ecosystems. They out-compete native plants that we need in order to enjoy our land, support animals for hunting and fishing, control floods and erosion, protect infrastructure, protect our trees, and protect wildlife. I work in watershed restoration cleaning up our waterways to provide safer drinking water, protect infrastructure, protect our ability to safely hunt and fish, and protect our native songbirds, trees, flowers, and wildlife. Most of our budget is spent on invasive species removal; it costs a lot, requires the use of herbicides, requires the use of heavy equipment, and requires many years of constant maintenance in order to prevent them from coming back. They damage our ecosystems and I have seen many beautiful old trees die because of invasive English ivy, tree-of-heaven, privet, and invasive honeysuckle. Our songbirds die eating berries from invasive plants. Please pass this legislation. Additionally, please pass the legislation supporting wildlife corridors; in addition to being needed to protect wildlife, this bill would protect so many people. Deer-auto collisions cost states millions each year and injure and kill many drivers. We are also at risk of losing many of our native wildlife species as a result; animals like frogs and salamanders need to cross roadways in order to reach wetlands to breed, and cannot escape cars.

Hi There, We are looking for installation partners in your area. NO COST TO YOU. We sell PVC Marble Design Panels to homeowners and contractors. When a homeowner buys panels but is not handy enough to install them themselves, we want to be able to recommend a vetted installation company. Please check out our website to learn more and to apply for partnership: https://gpe-partners.com We are looking forward to working with you. Marc Wagner COO Great Products Enterprise

Hi There, We are looking for installation partners in your area. NO COST TO YOU. We sell PVC Marble Design Panels to homeowners and contractors. When a homeowner buys panels but is not handy enough to install them themselves, we want to be able to recommend a vetted installation company. Please check out our website to learn more and to apply for partnership: https://gpe-partners.com We are looking forward to working with you. Marc Wagner COO Great Products Enterprise

Comments Document

I am a registered landscape architect and also work with our local non-profit Tree Stewards. We spend a tremendous amount of time and resources fighting exotic species like tree of heaven, barberry, privet, English ivy and non-native honeysuckle. These things displace our native plants that have co-evolved with our fauna and soil microbe systems. Tree of heaven produces toxins in the roots that prevent other plants from germinating. Fescue has been shown to reduce wildlife biodiversity (insects, game birds, etc) as well as not being that great for cattle. Heavy vining species like English ivy and oriental bittersweet can bring down even very large trees. Labeling invasive plants is a very weak first step--states like New York and even Ohio have banned a number of exotic plants, and despite some squawking from the nurseries, their economies have not shut down as a result. But at least the labeling is a start!

Statement of the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Support of HB 1941 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. Invasive plants cause both economic and environmental problems in all regions of the Commonwealth. Often sold to unwitting purchasers, invasive plants easily and rapidly spread onto neighboring private lands and into adjacent county, state, and federal conservation areas. They often cause expensive and difficult management problems for neighboring landowners and degrade the environmental health of private property, forests, and parks across the Commonwealth. At the December 2022 annual meeting of the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Association unanimously expressed support for legislation and other efforts to further control the spread of invasive plants in Virginia. We believe that Virginia consumers want to know what impact their actions may have on the environment. HB 1941 is a pro-consumer, pro-environment, truth-in-labelling bill. It gives consumers the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions; it does not deprive them of choice. The bill may have the secondary economic benefit of promoting markets in Virginia for businesses that choose to cultivate and sell native Virginia plants. The Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts therefore strongly supports HB1941 patroned by Delegate Seibold. We believe HB1941 takes a positive step to address the many problems posed by invasive plants across the Commonwealth. We urge its prompt passage.

I am very against this bill which mandates signage for the retail sale of certain invasive plant species. Overregulation: This legislation represents an overreach of government regulation into the day-to-day operations of retail establishments, particularly small businesses, which might struggle with the additional compliance requirements. Consumer Overload: Overloading consumers with mandatory signage might lead to information fatigue, where important messages about invasive species get lost among other retail signage, reducing the effectiveness of the education effort. Economic Burden: The cost of designing, producing, and maintaining this signage could be significant, especially for small garden centers or nurseries, potentially impacting their profitability and sustainability. Enforcement Challenges: The enforcement of this law, including issuing stop sale orders and ensuring compliance, places an undue burden on the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, potentially diverting resources from more critical agricultural oversight. Potential for Misinformation: Standardized signage might not accurately reflect regional variations in what constitutes an invasive species, leading to potential misinformation or confusion among consumers about which plants are truly problematic in their area. Market Impact: This bill could negatively affect the market for certain plants by stigmatizing them, even if they have legitimate uses or are not invasive in all parts of Virginia, potentially reducing consumer choice and affecting sales. Legal and Administrative Overhead: The requirement for the Commissioner to designate the specifics of the signage by a set date introduces unnecessary legal and administrative overhead, creating a bureaucratic process that might delay implementation. Ineffectiveness: Signage alone might not effectively change consumer behavior towards invasive species, especially if alternatives are not readily available or if consumers are not inclined to read or heed the signs. Focus on Symptoms, Not Causes: This bill addresses the sale of invasive species at the retail level but does not tackle the broader issue of how these species spread, such as through landscaping practices, wildlife, or existing plantings, missing a more holistic approach to the problem. I strongly oppose this legislation for its potential to overregulate, burden businesses, confuse consumers, strain enforcement resources, and for its likely ineffectiveness in significantly reducing the spread of invasive species without addressing root causes.

I am a volunteer at two Fairfax public schools, where I dedicate 4–8 hours per week teaching students about science and nature and have done so for the past four years. My students are fortunate to have county parks behind their schools—a thoughtful gift from county planners in the 1960s. These parks significantly enhance their understanding of science and nature. They love going outside in the woods! We do lots of project based learning outside. Unfortunately, both parks are overrun with invasive plants. Porcelainberry may look lovely at first, and I understand why people who don’t know how aggressive and destructive it can be might buy it. However, once it takes hold in a park, it forms unsightly, tangled carpets of vines that are nearly impossible to control. My students feel disheartened when they see the struggling wildlife in our parks. They’ve compared wildlife inventories taken 30 years ago in their parks—when citizens first warned about invasives in the 1990s—to today’s data, which shows far fewer animals and a dramatic increase in invasive plants. My students understand that birds, insects, and mammals depend on native plants for food and shelter. They also recognize that, in some cases, a single native species may be the sole host for a specific animal. It’s clear to my students (who call these vines the "plant zombie apocalypse") and I that invasive plants should be outlawed entirely. They overwhelm park departments budgets and the resources of those who maintain other public lands, including schools. They also burden private citizens who inherit these plant beasts from neighbors or prior owners. At a minimum, consumers should be educated about the consequences of their actions, including how much taxpayer money is spent each year removing these plants from public spaces! My students also understand that these aggressive vines eventually overtake trees, which are critical for capturing CO2 and combating climate change. Every year, my students spend hours—twice a year—cutting and removing these invasive plants. They ask me why such plants are legal to sell. Please pass this common-sense bill! Please consider taking much more actionable actions as well such as the banning of these plants. Otherwise it feels like our politicians are out of touch when they can't fix something so obviously hurting us. Thank you for working hard on this important issue.

Hello, my name is Charles Mason, and I'm a constituent from Richmond, VA. I’m asking you to build on an important step by voting YES on HB1941 by Delegate Holly Seibold. My 22 years of experience in the green industry has shown me the need for legislation where the free market has failed to end the retail sale of invasive plants.

Removal of invasive species is important. They do a lot of damage to the environment by killing trees and shrubs, frequently our native plants that provide habitat for many species. Slowing down the sale of invasive species is not really enough to solve a problem that already exists, but I support HB1941 which would require nurseries to label plants that are invasive. This would be a first step, but the problem is so urgent that I support stopping the sale of the invasive plants that are causing damage to our environment. A lot of trees have been and will continue to be lost on both private property and in our the parks due to ivy. This is one of the worst culprits, but it is only one of many.

I’m asking you to build on that important step by voting YES on HB1941 by Delegate Holly Seibold / SB1166 by Senator Salim for a bill that will stop invasive plants from getting into our parks, neighborhoods, farms and forests in the first place. Invasive plants known to pose a threat to Virginia’s forests, native grasslands, wetlands or waterways are still being sold in garden centers and local nurseries. They often end up in our environment after being purchased and planted by well-meaning gardeners who don’t realize the plant's invasive risk. The bills prevent that by raising awareness for consumers at the point of sale and encouraging the purchase of non-invasive alternatives.

Please support Del. Seibold’s HB1941 to provide signage when invasive plant species are sold in Virginia. When invasive plants are incorporated in the Virginia environment, they do not stay where they are placed, because seeds are spread, or roots travel far beyond their original location. Placing warning signs can offer opportunities to suggest native plants that will support our essential pollinators and keep Virginia beautiful. It will reduce the need for the costs of invasive amelioration later on, including the invisible costs of the use of herbicides (environmental contamination and cancer in humans and pets).

Fairfax Environmental Forum strongly supports HB 1941. Invasive species are destroying our native flora. Invasive species are destroying our trees. Please give the consumer the information to choose better. Please pass HB1941 Katy Johnson-Fairfax Environmental Forum Fairfax, VA 22030

Comments Document

I am a constituent of your district, and I am writing to urge your support for wildlife crossing legislation in the upcoming General Assembly session. Wildlife crossings, such as overpasses, underpasses, and expanded culverts with fencing, are proven solutions for reducing wildlife-vehicle conflicts by up to 96% and ensuring safer roads for both wildlife and drivers. Virginia is currently ranked 9th highest in the nation for wildlife-vehicle conflicts, showing the urgent need for statewide improvements in our road and infrastructure design. As evidence of this need, I’ve included a screenshot from this interactive map (attached), which shows areas in our district where better infrastructure is essential to protect communities from flooding. This map highlights opportunity areas where flood-resilient structures could also facilitate safe aquatic and terrestrial wildlife passage. By supporting this wildlife crossing legislation this session, you can help bring impactful solutions to your district, protecting both biodiversity and community safety. This bill directly addresses Virginia's ranking as one of the top ten states for wildlife-vehicle collisions, which results in over 60,000 deer crashes annually, costing lives, taxpayer dollars, and biodiversity. Wildlife crossings can reduce collisions by up to 96%, providing a solution that protects drivers and wildlife alike. Delegate Simonds and Senator Marsden are championing a $460,000 budget amendment to provide essential resources for state agencies and localities to implement corridor and crossing projects. These funds will serve as a vital match for federal grants, a significant barrier for many localities.

I am writing in support of HB1941- invasive plant species incur substantial economic and environmental costs. In my work as a natural resources professional and volunteer I have seen many examples of the degredadation of our delicate native ecosystems due to invasive species and the immense effort it takes to attempt remediation and restoration. While progress is being made funding and promoting management of these areas, a stronger strategy is needed to prevent the introduction of these plants to new areas. Unfortunately, many of these plants remain for sale in Virginia and are easily purchased by individuals unaware of the risk. This bill will help to fill this critical educational need at the point sale while allowing collaboration from retailers, regulatory agencies, and non-profits to ensure that the signage meets the needs of involved stakeholders and allows consumers to make more informed plant purchases. Thank you for your consideration.

Please support HB1941 requiring nurseries selling invasive plants to alert customers that they are buying a problem for the environment. I won't detail all the problems caused by invasives since so many people have done so already, and many eloquently. Suffice it to say, I spend a very large amount of time battling them on my property and others', including public spaces. It's so frustrating to do all this work and then see the plants I've been working so hard to eliminate for sale at a local nursery. Please help stop this.

The Virginia Native Plant Society supports HB1941, which would provide consumers with the information to make informed decisions when considering the purchase of invasive plants by requiring retailers to provide clear and consistent signage at the point of sale about the harms of invasive plants on our ecology. Please support HB1941.

My name is Andrew Dougherty and I am an avid outdoorsman and volunteer with schoolchildren to teach biology and earth sciences. Invasive plants are a critical threat to the Virginian lumber, waterway, agricultural, natural tourism, and recreational industries. Each year Virginian businesses and citizens spend close to a billion dollars in order to maintain and preserve the natural resources that are impacted by the unchecked growth of foreign plants. In addition to the economic impact, these invasive species impact local wildlife, killing trees, choking out native plants, and starving insects and animals that depend on plants that evolved alongside them to thrive in forests and waters of Virginia. While eliminating the sale of threatening invasive species similar to measures taken by Maryland and Massachusetts is most effective, requiring vendors to inform consumers of the threat their desired plant poses is a vital first step in combating the significant harms to our commonwealth's natural areas. Please consider passing HP1941 and making it law. Thank you, Andrew Dougherty

Please vote in favor of HB1941. Our neighbors who know very little about plants and make choices solely on their appearance need guidance regarding their choices. Let’s curve the unknowing planting of invasive plants by implementing this bill. It’s the best step we can take- Peggy Singlemann

I am the volunteer Park Steward at two parks in Arlington County, and I also serve as a roving Park Steward in which capacity I assist other Park Stewards in Arlington and Alexandria. I implore you to support HB1941. I spend the vast majority of my time as a Park Steward manually removing non-native invasive plants that have become entrenched in our parks. These plants have caused great damage to the natural environment in our parks, overwhelming and killing our native plants while providing no benefits to our native wildlife. Most of these plants were not intentionally planted in the parks but instead came in from adjoining private property. It is imperative that we dramatically reduce the amount of non-native invasive plants that consumers are buying if we are to have any hope of saving our parkland. My preference would be to ban the sale of the worst of these non-native invasive plants, but at a minimum we should require that warnings be posted by those businesses that still sell these plants so that consumers are educated about the harm that these plants cause and learn about native plant alternatives. Educating the consumer would help tremendously. Even if I had an army of volunteers helping me every day eradicate non-native invasive plants from the parks, I would still be fighting a losing battle without passage of this legislation. Please help us win this battle to save our natural areas! Thank you for allowing me to submit this statement.

Hello, my name is Tracy Stone, and I'm a constituent from Stafford. I'm writing today to thank Paul Milde for voting for a budget that allocates $3.35 million to support the Virginia Invasive Species Management Plan that will address the spread of invasive plants. I’m asking you to build on that important step by voting YES on HB1941 by Delegate Holly Seibold, a bill that will stop invasive plants from getting into our parks, neighborhoods, farms and forests in the first place. Invasive plants known to pose a threat to Virginia’s forests, native grasslands, wetlands or waterways are still being sold in garden centers and local nurseries. They often end up in our environment after being purchased and planted by well-meaning gardeners who don’t realize the plant's invasive risk. The bills prevent that by raising awareness for consumers at the point of sale and encouraging the purchase of non-invasive alternatives. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing about Mildred's efforts to address this critical issue.

Hello, I am writing you on behalf of Lands and Waters, an environmental educational and restoration nonprofit. For over 25 years volunteers and I have worked restoring degraded areas in VA. - schools, communities and individual homes. The one seemingly unbeatable problem we face is invasive plants. Our native plants provide vastly more ecological services than nonnative plants - support of wildlife, erosion control, water purification, etc. Additionally, from my observations native plants are more resilient to the effects of climate change. But, they cannot compete with invasive plants. Consequently, our native plants lose their place in our ecosystems and are replaced by plants that provide far less ecological services. A major reason conservation sites fail ( based upon by experiences not only with my restoration projects but also large ones funded by state and local governments is that invasive plants return to sites or quickly move in and out compete the native plants. Consequently, the restored areas return to their former degraded ecosystems. We must address this problem seriously. It is prevalent in our environment, urban, suburban, natural, and agriculture areas. Fact: Non-native invasive species have significant economic and environmental impacts in the United States. Studies show that economic losses caused by non-native invasive species exceed $138 billion annually. I am asking you to support HB1941/SB1166. Lets begin! A good step is to discourage the selling and buying of invasive plants in our nursery centers by not only identifying the plant as invasive, but also list reasons why they are harmful, and encourage customer to buy native alternatives - hopefully that can be purchase right in their store. Thank you for considering my request, Jeanette Stewart President and founder Lands and Waters

SUPPORT SB1166 (Salim) | HB1941 (Seibold) point-of-sale consumer education Invasive plants threaten wildlife habitats and endangered species, degrade agricultural land, parks and outdoor recreation spaces, increase soil erosion, and decrease water quality. 39 species of invasive plants “pose a threat to Virginia’s forests, native grasslands, wetlands or waterways” and are readily available for sale to Virginia residents without required notice, or recommendation of native or non-invasive alternatives. This results in the accidental purchase, planting, and spread of invasives by well-meaning Virginians, despite many citizens demonstrating they don’t want to unwittingly buy invasive plants. • Invasive species are expensive. Estimated economic losses due to invasive species in Virginia may be as high as $1 billion annually. Examples include invasive plants’ degradation of rangelands, clogging of important waterways and causing increased efforts to maintain open power line rights-of-way. • Invasive plants harm our environment by displacing native plants, threatening wildlife and pollinators that are often unable to utilize non-native species. Approximately 20-45% of native bees are entirely dependent on a single native plant species or genus for their nectar. A SIMPLE SOLUTION: POINT-OF-SALE EDUCATION Consumers should be provided with the tools to make educated decisions when considering whether to purchase invasive plants by requiring retailers to provide clear and consistent signage identifying invasives. • The most efficient and effective moment to educate consumers is at the point of sale. This is the only method that reaches 100% of consumers considering planting invasive plants on their property. • Requiring retailers to provide consumers with clear signage can help direct consumers to alternative options, most often those sold at the same retail location. Effective Consumer Education Efforts will: • Include consistent, recognizable signage that is conspicuously visible and located next to invasive plants available for sale • Clearly identify plants as invasive and recommend alternatives • Provide opportunities for future education around the harm of invasive plants • Be developed in consultation with regulatory agencies, retailers, and nonprofit ad

I am a resident of Loudoun County, where our wineries are battling the scourge of Spotted Lanternfly. They are everywhere - on our houses and sidewalks, on plants of all kinds, but especially on the invasive Tree of Heaven. Tree of Heaven is a native of China, and it exudes a chemical which actually kills native plants. It is also the host plant for the Spotted Lanternfly. Not only does Tree of Heaven displace native tree species, but the Spotted Lanternfly feeds on grapevines, ultimately causing the withering of the whole plant. The wine industry in Virginia is worth at least $1.7 billion, both from tourism and direct sales. This is just one example of the devastation caused by the 39 species of invasive plants in Virginia, which are stimated to cost the state as much as $1 billion annually. They degrade rangelands, clog important waterways and require increased efforts to maintain open power line rights-of-way. They also harm our environment by displacing native plants and threatening wildlife and pollinators which are often unable to utilize non-native species. Approximately 20-45% of native bees, which pollinate crops and are a keystone species, are entirely dependent on a single native plant species or genus for their nectar. Many citizens are unwittingly buying invasive plants sold at nurseries and big box stores, resulting in accidental spread of invasive throughout Virginia. Currently, their sale is allowed without required notice, or recommendation of native or non-invasive alternatives. This bill requires point of sale consumer education -- consistent, recognizable signage that is conspicuously visible and located next to invasive plants available for sale. It does not stop sale of these plants or in any way inhibit commerce. Indeed it helps consumers locate alternative options, usually sold within the same stores. Please support this legislation to allow Virginia's citizens to make informed choices on this very important issue for our environment.

Please support HB1941. Invasive plants have serious negative economic and ecological impacts on the environment. They tend to spread aggressively and become a problem not only for the buyer, but also their neighbors, including those who manage public property and community green space. Invasive plants crowd out important native plants, such as young oak trees, that are critical to the future health and recreational value of our forests. They also degrade agriculture fields and increase land management costs for farmers. Consumers need to be made aware of this when purchasing plants at nurseries. Frankly, I can't understand why these plants are even available at nurseries. A full accounting of how much time and money Virginians are spending on fighting these plants on the landscape would likely far exceed the economic benefit associated with their sale at nurseries. Personally, I spend countless hours every year engaged in physically demanding invasive plant control chores on my property. I would much rather spend that time doing something else, but the future quality of my fields and forest are dependent upon these control efforts.

My research and experience supports that education is important, but it is more effective when coupled with removing barriers to adoption of better management practices. Harrisonburg is a [case study](https://buildingbettercommunities.org/landscape/stormwater.html) with a high level of awareness and acceptance of better ecological practices, but fewer than four percent of candidate parcels have adopted our storm water utility fee credit after nearly a decade. Our research implicates the chilling effect of our lawn ordinance, consistent with published findings on barriers to adoption of BMPs. People who are aware and interested don't dare go the non-invasive route when they fear an arbitrary and capricious lawn complaint could force them to rip out their nature-friendly garden and replace it with sod. Over-mowed turf and bulletproof invasives offer a safe default. We think this bill will be more effective if coupled with draft bill [25102956 (low impact landscaping)](https://buildingbettercommunities.org/#outline-container-orgcfb74f2), drafted by Ms. Cottrell and available for introduction from Delegate Wilt, that prunes redundant vague and sweeping references to "tall grass and weeds" from the Code of Virginia leaving one coherent central leader approach to plants that builds on former Senator Hanger's 2017 Running Bamboo example by regulating specific plants that cause a problem in context, when and if necessary.

I support these bills

Hello, Please require retail establishments to post clear signage designating invasive plants and educating the public on what that means. Invasive plants are a tremendous issue threatening our ecosystems. They out-compete native plants that we need in order to enjoy our land, support animals for hunting and fishing, control floods and erosion, protect infrastructure, protect our trees, and protect wildlife. I work in watershed restoration cleaning up our waterways to provide safer drinking water, protect infrastructure, protect our ability to safely hunt and fish, and protect our native songbirds, trees, flowers, and wildlife. Most of our budget is spent on invasive species removal; it costs a lot, requires the use of herbicides, requires the use of heavy equipment, and requires many years of constant maintenance in order to prevent them from coming back. They damage our ecosystems and I have seen many beautiful old trees die because of invasive English ivy, tree-of-heaven, privet, and invasive honeysuckle. Our songbirds die eating berries from invasive plants. Please pass this legislation. Additionally, please pass the legislation supporting wildlife corridors; in addition to being needed to protect wildlife, this bill would protect so many people. Deer-auto collisions cost states millions each year and injure and kill many drivers. We are also at risk of losing many of our native wildlife species as a result; animals like frogs and salamanders need to cross roadways in order to reach wetlands to breed, and cannot escape cars.

Considering the massive worldwide loss of insects and the local disappearance of beneficial and, indeed, enjoyable ones such as lightning bugs, native ladybugs, and dragonflies to name only three, it is imperative that we plant the native plants which sustain such creatures. Our survival and that of other species (birds, etc) depends on human stewardship. This requires a turn away from invasive plants which are in our gardens and invade our wild places. On a personal note, I have been trying to eradicate ivy, vinca, and bamboo which were here on our property when we moved in almost 30 years ago. Having done a good job eliminating the bamboo, I noticed a year ago that it has returned with a vengeance from a neighboring property. I ask you to pass HB 1941 as a first step in protecting Virginia’s fauna as well as its flora which are out- competed by the invasive plants so many of us have planted with little thought for the future. Thank you, Cynthia B. Evans

Considering the massive worldwide loss of insects and the local disappearance of beneficial and, indeed, enjoyable ones such as lightning bugs, native ladybugs, and dragonflies to name only three, it is imperative that we plant the native plants which sustain such creatures. Our survival and that of other species (birds, etc) depends on human stewardship. This requires a turn away from invasive plants which are in our gardens and invade our wild places. On a personal note, I have been trying to eradicate ivy, vinca, and bamboo which were here on our property when we moved in almost 30 years ago. Having done a good job eliminating the bamboo, I noticed a year ago that it has returned with a vengeance from a neighboring property. I ask you to pass HB 1941 as a first step in protecting Virginia’s fauna as well as its flora which are out- competed by the invasive plants so many of us have planted with little thought for the future. Thank you, Cynthia B. Evans

Invasive plants currently sold in stores are an economic threat to Virginia. In some instances, they may also threaten human health by contributing to higher concentrations of disease-carrying organisms in the landscape. Many well-meaning gardeners plant invasives, not realizing the harm they cause to our forests, native grasslands, wetlands and waterways, once they escape yards and gardens. This bills provides the means to promote awareness among consumers at the point of sale and can encourage the purchase of non-invasive alternatives. Thank you.

Considering the massive worldwide loss of insects and the local disappearance of beneficial and, indeed, enjoyable ones such as lightning bugs, native ladybugs, and dragonflies to name only three, it is imperative that we plant the native plants which sustain such creatures. Our survival and that of other species (birds, etc) depends on human stewardship. This requires a turn away from invasive plants which are in our gardens and invade our wild places. On a personal note, I have been trying to eradicate ivy, vinca, and bamboo which were here on our property when we moved in almost 30 years ago. Having done a good job eliminating the bamboo, I noticed a year ago that it has returned with a vengeance from a neighboring property. I ask you to pass HB 1941 as a first step in protecting Virginia’s fauna as well as its flora which are out- competed by the invasive plants so many of us have planted with little thought for the future. Thank you, Cynthia B. Evans

This is SO VERY CRITICAL!! Our landscape is being taken over by invasive plants, killing our trees, leaving our birds and pollinators without foods they have evolved to require, and creating an environment rich only for mosquitoes!!

There are so many things which we are working on to make Virginia a place where our grandchildren can appreciate the beauty of our state. Invasives pose a particular problem and this one (English Ivy) can be taken off the market if our state legislature approves this bill.

Dear Terry L. Austin, I’m writing to ask you to consider HB1941 by Delegate Holly Seibold / SB1166 by Senator Salim, a bill that will stop invasive plants from getting into our parks, neighborhoods, farms and forests in the first place. Invasive plants known to pose a threat to Virginia’s forests, native grasslands, wetlands or waterways are still being sold in garden centers and local nurseries. They often end up in our environment after being purchased and planted by well-meaning gardeners who don’t realize the plant's invasive risk. The bills prevent that by raising awareness for consumers at the point of sale and encouraging the purchase of non-invasive alternatives. And once an invasive plant is established, people often use herbicides to control them, which is expensive and damaging to waters, soils and ecosystems. It would be easier to prevent the invasion or reduce the need for such herbicides in the first place. Thank you for your time and consideration. Lisa Connors

I urge you to support HB1941, Invasive plants are causing damage to our environment by crowding out native plants that support birds and other wildlife. Invasive plants such as English Ivy that continue to be sold commercially migrate from where they are planted to populate roadsides and parks. I have been a volunteer leader for Fairfax County Parks’ invasive removal efforts since 2006. My volunteers can’t keep up with the spread of invasive plants in our parks, we can only suppress their spread temporarily. By educating consumers to the harm that these plants cause, we can hope to actually reduce their spread and the destruction of our environment . HB 1941 is a logical and reasonable step towards controlling these known invasive plants. As a resident of Fairfax County whose drinking water comes from the Occoquan watershed, I urge you to support HB 2050 to remove pfas forever chemicals from our drinking water. They are known carcinogens. Thank you.

Please vote yes to informing customers about invasive plants that are being sold. I have spent the last 12 years removing invasive plants from the Old Growth Forest on VT campus and on native habitats in Christiansburg. Hopefully, we can outlaw the sale of Callery Pear, English ivy, barberry, burning bush, Miscanthus, wintercreeper, and other plants on the state invasive species list will be illegal to sell as other states have done.

I support these

Please support Delegate Seibold's bill to help educate potential purchasers of non-native invasive plants of the hazards of planting such greenery. I spend countless hours removing the English Ivy and Bamboo that comes from my neighbors' yards as well as volunteering at my house of worship to remove the highly invasive Asian Bittersweet and Barberry, among others. Knowledge is power! While I respect individuals' desire to plant whatever they want in their own yard, the problem with these non-natives is that they don't stay where they're planted. Not only do vines cross property lines, birds who eat their berries eventually drop seeds far away from the original plant. Many of these non-natives kill the surrounding native plants by out-competing them- using their water and soil nutrients and blocking the sun. Some, like the bittersweet, can strangle even mature trees as its vine grows tighter and tighter around their trunk. Virginia has a lovely tree cover which helps clean our air and cool our homes. Dead trees can take power lines down with them. Please take this action to slow the spread of non-native invasive plants in Virginia.

Please vote YES on HB1941 by Delegate Holly Seibold, a bill that will stop invasive plants from getting into our parks, neighborhoods, farms and forests. Invasive plants known to pose a threat to Virginia’s forests, native grasslands, wetlands or waterways are being sold in garden centers and local nurseries. They often end up in our environment after being purchased and planted by well-meaning gardeners who don’t realize the plant's invasive risk. The bill prevent that by raising awareness for consumers at the point of sale and encouraging the purchase of non-invasive alternatives.

Vote for HB1941. I have a 7.5 acre working farm with native habit in as many areas areas as I can accomodate on a working farm, and have to contantly fight invasive plants like Oriental Bittersweet and Ailanthus (Tree of Heaven), that have spread to my land from neighboring landowners who don't care about invasives. Our native plants cannot fight invasives on their own. They need help in order to survive. Education contained in the bill is only the first step. Banning retail sails of invasive plants listed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. should be next. What is the point of DCR listing invasives if no one takes any action to lessen the invasive presence? I wish a statement would be put on the signs educating buyers that the wind, birds, wild animals and their own pets spread invasives to other properties and natural areas. Just because they don't see invasive seedlings springing up all over their property from what the invasive they planted does not mean they are not invading other areas with seeds their plants produced.

I have been removing invasive species such as English ivy and Oriental bittersweet from my yard and local parks for 5 years. Yet, when I visit area nurseries to select native plants to replace the areas, I find that the invasive plants such as ivy are on prominent display! In our local park on Mill Mountain here in Roanoke, the ivy can be seen invading the forest and climbing up and swallowing some trees. I've also pulled it out on Roanoke mountain off the Blue Ridge parkway! We need to educate our communities about these invasive plants to keep them from spreading further. Native plants and trees support important wildlife species such as caterpillars, butterflies and birds. Please support this important bill.

Invasive plants known to pose a threat to Virginia’s forests, native grasslands, wetlands or waterways are still being sold in garden centers and local nurseries. They often end up in our environment after being purchased and planted by well-meaning gardeners who don’t realize the plant's invasive risk. The bills prevent that by raising awareness for consumers at the point of sale and encouraging the purchase of non-invasive alternatives. Please vote yes on this widely popular bill that all Virginians can support.

My name is Donna Reese, and I live in Midlothian. Please vote YES on HB-1941, a bill that will help to stop invasive plants from getting into our parks, neighborhoods, farms, and forests. This bill will raise awareness for consumers at the point of sale that certain plants are invasive. These plants are still being sold in our nurseries and garden centers, and are being purchased by consumers who may not know about the plants invasive risk. Thank you.

Invasive plants should not be sold in our state. If they are sold, they should be labeled as “invasive” to the native habitat.

We spend copious amount of time and money trying to ride the state of invasive plants. It is critical to pass this bill to provide the general public information so they can make an informed choice. Vote yes

Hello, my name is Allen Carter, and I'm a constituent from Virginia Beach. I'm supporting a budget that allocates $3.35 million to support the Virginia Invasive Species Management Plan that will address the spread of invasive plants. I’m asking you to build on that important step by voting YES on [HB1941 by Delegate Holly Seibold / SB1166 by Senator Salim], a bill that will stop invasive plants from getting into our parks, neighborhoods, farms and forests in the first place. Invasive plants known to pose a threat to Virginia’s forests, native grasslands, wetlands or waterways are still being sold in garden centers and local nurseries. They often end up in our environment after being purchased and planted by well-meaning gardeners who don’t realize the plant's invasive risk. The bills prevent that by raising awareness for consumers at the point of sale and encouraging the purchase of non-invasive alternatives. Thank you for your time and consideration.

As an owner of a 7-acre property in Fairfax County, I can attest to the damage caused by invasive species commonly sold in nurseries. I spend many hours every year cutting English Ivy from my trees and digging out other invasive species that are commonly sold in nurseries. Although the best solution would be to make the sale of invasive species illegal, I believe the signage proposed by HB 1941 would help prevent further spread. Before moving to my current property, I knew nothing about invasive species and even purchased some myself for the small flower garden I cultivated. If I had known these plants were invasive I would never have purchased them.

I am writing to request your support for HB 1941 and SB1166. Our small homeowners association of 248 homes has spent $14,000 in each of the last 3 years to eradicate invasive species within our boundaries that escaped the yards of well-meaning gardeners. These invasive species have clogged our ponds and waterways and have killed plantings of native species, costing our association even more. Your support is very much appreciated.

Please support HB1941. Requiring retail establishment to post signage identifying such plants as invasive, educating consumers regarding invasive plant species, and encouraging consumers to ask about alternatives, is an important step to controlling the spread of invasive plants. The Friends of Indian River is a volunteer organization in Chesapeake that works on invasive species management in our local parks. We and other groups in Chesapeake spend hundreds of volunteer hours working to remove invasives like English Ivy, Chinese Privet, and Linden Viburnum that are overrunning our landscape. Yet these same plants can be purchased in many nurseries and garden shops, perpetuating the problem and negating the hard work of these volunteers. At a minimum, consumers need to be educated about this problem at the point of sale. We need your help to control these threats to our ecosystem. Please vote yes on HB1941,

Please support HB 1941! Consumers MUST be educated about purchase of invasive plant!

Hello, my name is Peter M. Mecca, PhD, and I'm a constituent from Herndon. I'm writing to thank Delegate Shin for voting for a budget that allocates $3.35 million to support the Virginia Invasive Species Management Plan that will address the spread of invasive plants. I’m asking you to build on that important step by voting YES on HB1941 by Delegate Holly Seibold, a bill that will stop invasive plants from getting into our parks, neighborhoods, farms and forests. Invasive plants known to pose a threat to Virginia’s forests, native grasslands, wetlands or waterways are still being sold in garden centers and local nurseries. They often end up in our environment after being purchased and planted by well-meaning gardeners who don’t realize the plant's invasive risk. The bill prevents that by raising awareness for consumers at the point of sale and encouraging the purchase of non-invasive alternatives. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing about Delegate Shin's efforts to address this critical issue. Respectfully, Peter M. Mecca, PhD Educator and Scientist

Please support HB1941. Customers should be made aware, at the point of sale, of the plants that will cause harm to the environment & economy.

Hello, my name is Edwin Tobias, and I'm a constituent from Purcellville, VA. I’m asking you to build on an important step by voting YES on [HB1941 by Delegate Holly Seibold / SB1166 by Senator Salim], a bill that will stop invasive plants from getting into our parks, neighborhoods, farms and forests in the first place. Invasive plants known to pose a threat to Virginia’s forests, native grasslands, wetlands or waterways are still being sold in garden centers and local nurseries. They often end up in our environment after being purchased and planted by well-meaning gardeners who don’t realize the plant's invasive risk. The bills prevent that by raising awareness for consumers at the point of sale and encouraging the purchase of non-invasive alternatives. While Preventing the sale of designated invasive plants would be best, insuring that invasive flora is identified at the point of sale would be an important step in stoping the spread of invasive, non-native plants in Virginia. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing about Representative Perry's efforts to address this critical issue.

I support this bill and I am asking for your support with a vote of “Yes”, so that we can stop invasive plants from getting into our parks, neighborhoods, farms, and forests ! As a part of my volunteer work for invasive management in my county, it has been devastating to see the impact of some of the invasive species on the trees and the native plants. If we can avoid getting these invasive into our local habitats in the first place, we wouldn’t have to keep cleaning up after..

Please support HB1941. Just as the customer of any product should be informed if it is dangerous, people shopping for plants in garden centers should be made aware before they buy that a plant is invasive and, by legal definition, harmful to both the environment and the economy. I have spent untold hours volunteering to remove and / or treat many species of invasive plants on farms and residential properties. Although this bill doesn’t outright ban the sale of invasive plants—it should—it is a step in the right direction to educate consumers on the consequences of their likely unintended actions on landscape and habitat for flora, fauna, and soil biome. Thank you.

Regarding HB1941 | Seibold | Invasive plant species; retail sales. To those with voices powerful enough to enact meaningful change: Hello, my name is Dakota Hunter and I'm a constituent from Churchville VA. I'd like to thank the senate for voting for a budget that allocates $3.35 million to support the Virginia Invasive Species Management Plan that will address the spread of invasive plants. I’m asking you to build on that important step by voting YES on [HB1941 by Delegate Holly Seibold / SB1166 by Senator Salim], a bill that will stop invasive plants from getting into our parks, neighborhoods, farms and forests. Invasive plants known to pose a threat to Virginia’s forests, native grasslands, wetlands or waterways are still being sold in garden centers and local nurseries. They often end up in our environment after being purchased and planted by well-meaning gardeners who don’t realize the plant's invasive risk. The bills prevent that by raising awareness for consumers at the point of sale and encouraging the purchase of non-invasive alternatives. As a concerned citizen, and wildlife scientist by profession, I have been doing my part for nearly a decade to educate community members about how their choices affect the environment around them. My effort, and the effort of those around me pales in comparison to the potential benefits of consumers understanding the ramifications of the species they introduce to the environment before they select them from the shelves of local vendors. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing about the senate's efforts to address this critical issue.

I urge you to support HB1941 to help slow the spread of ornamental plants that escape cultivation and spread to forests, waterways, and other natural areas. These plants are sold in commercial nurseries for aesthetics and not wildlife value. In fact, they harm ecosystems and wildlife by displacing the native trees and plants that local insects and animals need. In addition, ornamental vines (such as English ivy, non-native wisterias, etc.) in particular smother or strangle trees and eventually cause them to fall. This obviously takes away valuable tree canopy that is not only needed as wildlife habitat, but as stormwater mitigation, heat mitigation, etc. Many (maybe most) gardeners who shop at nurseries are unaware of these problems. Case in point: I volunteer removing invasive plants from a natural area in my neighborhood. We have worked many hours to liberate dozens of trees from vines like ornamental wisteria and clematis. When my volunteer shift is over and I walk home, I see people's ornamental gardens full of wisteria, clematis, English ivy, and a lot of other invasive plants. And it's no wonder. The garden shops continue to hide information about these products and sell them without regard to the damage they do. This is not a matter of aesthetics. This is hastening climate change. It is time to consider the greater good. Thank you.

Nature Forward supports HB1941 with the goal of educating the public via point-of-sale signage about the harms of invasive plants on our local ecologies. This bill takes an important step towards recognizing the expensive, damage done to the world that supports both humans and wildlife and allows an opportunity for shoppers to be aware that their decisions have impacts. Many of us remember a time when "we didn't know what we didn't know" and this bill allows all consumers the opportunity to make more ecologically sound choices. Please support HB1941.

Please support HB1941. Just as the customer of any product should be informed if it is dangerous, people shopping for plants in garden centers should be made aware before they buy that a plant is invasive and, by legal definition, harmful to both the environment and the economy.

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I am totally against this bill which directs the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources to establish a policy task force focused on the protection, restoration, creation, and planning for the persistence of tidal and nontidal wetlands in Virginia. Bureaucratic Redundancy: Creating another task force adds to the existing bureaucratic structure, potentially duplicating efforts already being addressed by various environmental agencies and existing planning frameworks like the Virginia Flood Protection Master Plan and the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan. Cost and Resource Allocation: Establishing and maintaining this task force would require funding and resources, which could be better utilized in direct action for wetland conservation or restoration projects rather than in administrative and meeting costs. Slow Decision-Making: The requirement for the task force to meet at least twice annually and report findings could slow down the implementation of urgent wetland protection strategies, as the process of consensus-building and reporting might delay actionable steps. Stakeholder Overload: Including "certain relevant stakeholders" might lead to an overly broad representation, making it challenging to reach decisions efficiently due to the diverse interests involved, potentially watering down effective strategies. Focus on Reporting Over Action: The emphasis on reporting findings and recommendations by specific deadlines might result in a focus on producing documents rather than implementing on-the-ground solutions, leading to a report-heavy approach with less tangible outcomes. Potential for Policy Stagnation: With the task force's recommendations needing to be incorporated into existing plans, there's a risk of policy stagnation if these plans are already comprehensive or if there's resistance to integrating new strategies, leading to little actual change. Climate Change Overemphasis: While addressing climate change impacts is crucial, the bill's focus might overshadow other immediate threats to wetlands, like pollution or development pressures, potentially leading to a less balanced approach to wetland conservation. Lack of Local Input: The centralized approach of a state-level task force might not adequately consider local nuances or give enough weight to local conservation efforts, which are often more effective due to their grassroots nature. I strongly oppose this legislation due to concerns over bureaucratic redundancy, resource misallocation, delayed action, stakeholder complexity, focus on documentation over action, potential policy stagnation, overemphasis on climate change at the expense of other issues, and the risk of overlooking local conservation initiatives, advocating instead for direct, localized, and immediate conservation efforts.

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I am totally in favor of this bill which modifies the criteria for adjudicating an animal as a dangerous dog in Virginia. Contextual Fairness: By considering the context in which the incident occurred, such as if the victim was willfully trespassing or if the dog was protecting its kennel, offspring, or owner's property, this bill introduces a fairer approach to determining when a dog is truly dangerous, acknowledging the natural protective instincts of animals. Reduces Unnecessary Labeling: This legislation helps prevent dogs from being unfairly labeled as dangerous when they are acting within their protective roles, which is crucial for owners who rely on their dogs for security. Encourages Responsible Ownership: By specifying conditions under which a dog's behavior might be excused, the bill encourages owners to understand and manage their dogs' protective behaviors appropriately, promoting responsible pet ownership. Protection of Property Rights: The bill respects property rights by recognizing that dogs have a role in protecting their owner's property, aligning with the legal principle of property defense. Legal Clarity: Providing clear exceptions based on specific circumstances offers legal clarity, helping courts make more informed decisions that reflect the nuances of each case rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Victim Accountability: It introduces an element of accountability for individuals who might provoke a dog by trespassing, encouraging respect for private property and reducing unnecessary conflicts. Animal Welfare: This nuanced approach supports animal welfare by preventing dogs from being penalized for natural behaviors when not posing a genuine threat, potentially reducing the number of dogs that might face euthanasia or severe restrictions. Community Safety with Balance: While maintaining the restriction on labeling a dog as dangerous if it's responding to pain or injury, the bill balances community safety with the understanding that dogs can act defensively in justified situations. I strongly support this legislation for its balanced approach to animal behavior, promotion of responsible ownership, respect for property rights, and for providing a fairer, more nuanced legal framework for dealing with incidents involving dogs.