Support HB1625

I am in favor of passage this bill.

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE COMMENTS – HB1742 My name is Sandra Robinson, and I serve as the Town Attorney for Dumfries. The Town of Dumfries supports HB 1742, which, if enacted, will enable the Town to retain a larger portion of the tax revenue generated by the gaming facilities located solely within the borders of the Town of Dumfries: The Rose and Rosie’s Gaming Emporium. Currently, the tax revenue generated by the Rose and Rosie’s must be shared with New Kent County. This mandated sharing was a condition of the approval that was required to allow these facilities to operate in Dumfries, but the arrangement only leaves the Town with 25% of the gaming tax revenue generated within its borders. The primary reason the Town seeks the reapportionment of these percentages is so that it can retain more revenue to invest more: in the development of the Town’s public infrastructure, and to enhance public services for its residents and local businesses. By improving public services and infrastructure, the Town of Dumfries’s operations will be strengthened, and its residents and businesses will thrive better. The Town also seeks to retain more of the gaming taxes generated within its borders because the current revenue-sharing percentage is, plain and simple, a transfer of wealth. Ironically, the wealth is being taken from a small diverse town and given to a large, less diverse, county: which also happens to be richer. According to Data USA, the median income for New Kent County in 2022 was $113,102. For the same period, Dumfries’s median income was reported as $75,629. The public policy once supporting the current allocation of gaming tax revenue is no longer compelling. It does not serve our notion of fairness; and it is not in the best interests of the Town of Dumfries residents. On behalf of the Town of Dumfries, please vote to approve HB1742. Thank you.

The labor force is essential for continued growth and success within The Commonwealth. Worker's should be appropriately compensated with fair wages, accessible/affordable health care, safe work spaces, and financial security for their retirement. Please vote for legislation to help support hard working Virginians.

The VSC NAACP Advocate for policies and legislation that enhance the capacity of Black Virginians and other underserved groups through financial and economic education, individual and community asset-building initiatives, providing safe and affordable housing, job training, and a "livable wage".

The Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District serves Fairfax County's 1.2 million residents. Through a memorandum of agreement we also support the conservation and water quality needs of residents of Arlington County. The District is one of 47 such Districts across Virginia. We promote sustainable urban, suburban, and agricultural activities and stewardship services to conserve our Commonwealth’s soil, water, air, plants, and animal resources. We believe that Delegate Krizek's HB2059, Virginia's Great Outdoors Act, is excellent legislation that if enacted would advance conservation and recreation opportunities across the Commonwealth. Given the importance of tourism and outdoor recreation in Virginia, we believe that the bill would generate economic activity as well as help to protect the environment. We urge its prompt passage.

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation is in support of increased funding to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and the Department of Forestry so they may continue to provide sound wildlife and forestry management that benefits wildlife, conservation practices, and the sportsmen and women of the Commonwealth.

Chairman Bulova, Members of the Commerce, Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee, Thank you for considering this important piece of legislation. I believe that most of us can agree that the Commonwealth needs additional funding for maintenance, conservation, and access to the outdoors. I want to highlight why it is both urgent and critical to identify and implement a sustainable funding source. Virginia and North Carolina are the only states along the East Coast without some sort of dedicated funding mechanism for public lands. Our neighbors in Maryland have one of the fastest growing outdoor recreation economy's in the country. In January of 2024 DCR had a $300 million maintenance backlog, this leads to closures, access issues, and staff shortages in our parks. Outdoor recreation adds billions of dollars to Virginia's economy and creates over 120,000 jobs in the Commonwealth. It is important that we support this industry and help it grow. Member's of this Subcommittee are acutely aware of the increase in project cost over the long term, the sooner we make this investment the more affordable it will be. Creating a sustainable, predictable funding mechanism allows the Commonwealth and its partners to making strategic long term decisions that ultimately maximize the Commonwealth's investments. It allows all parties to operate with a higher degree of intentionality and certainty. I urge you to support HB2059. Best regards, Ken

We strongly support HB2059, Virginia's Great Outdoors Act. Acquiring, preserving, and improving Virginia's rich and diverse natural, cultural, historic, and recreational lands, parks, and resources is vital for our commonwealth's future, its natural resources and beauty, our quality of life, public health, tourism, rural vitality and economic development. We especially appreciate the annual allocations of 12.5.% to DCR to develop a statewide system of trails and of another 12.5% to VDOT to implement regional multi-use trails as guided by the State Trails Plan. Recreational trails for walking, hiking, running, bicycling, and exploring nature are a very popular and desirable public amenity.