ForKids Supports this bill. I'm writing to express ForKids' strong support for [HB1719/SB812], legislation to extend the pay-or-quit notice period from five to fourteen days. Virginia has one of the highest eviction rates in the nation and the problem is especially severe in the Hampton Roads community ForKids serves. When landlords file suit, tenants face mounting costs, including court fees and attorney’s fees that inflate a typically small amount of unpaid rent into an insurmountable burden. The process also imposes costs on landlords, who often cannot recoup any money at all in eviction cases. As the provider of the Hampton Roads Housing Crisis Line and a local leader in the Virginia Eviction Reduction Pilot, our organization knows that a longer pay-or-quit period will allow us to more effectively prevent homelessness for children and families. We should use every available tool to keep people safely and securely housed.

The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports HB1879 because there are an estimated 347,000 Virginians who qualify for the Federal Housing Choice Voucher Program but are unable to receive one due to limited Federal funds. This Pilot will enable eligible families with children to pay only 30% of their monthly income on rent, allowing them to pay other needed expenses. This will help maintain families in their housing and give children a stable place to live.

The League of Women of Virginia supports HB1973 because it will preserve much needed affordable housing. There are about 160,000 affordable rental units in Virginia that are publicly supported. 7,126 of these units are at risk of losing their affordability in the next five years and 29,456 in the next ten due to expiring affordability restrictions. Preservation saves money. Construction of new units costs 25 to 40 percent more than through the purchase and rehabilitation of existing housing units.

On behalf of the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association and Loudoun County Government and Fire and Rescue, we oppose HB2067 regarding Consumer Fireworks. This bill would expand the use of and availability of consumer fireworks in Virginia. Fireworks are dangerous as they are the cause of fires and cause injuries to those that use them, especially children. Even thou this bill includes age restrictions and includes a local option, the fact of the matter is fireworks contain explosive material, emit sparks, are extremely hot in temperature and cause injuries each year. Some facts about consumer fireworks include: From Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) • CPSC staff received reports of 8 non-occupational, fireworks-related deaths during 2023. Five of the deaths were associated with firework misuse; two deaths were associated with a device misfire/malfunction; and the circumstances surrounding one incident are unknown. Reporting of fireworks-related deaths for 2023 is not complete, and the number of deaths identified for 2023 should be considered a minimum. • Fireworks were involved with an estimated 9,700 injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments during calendar year 2023. • There is a statistically significant trend in estimated emergency department-treated, fireworks-related injuries from 2008 through 2023. • In fiscal year 2023, approximately 18% of selected and tested fireworks products were found to contain noncompliant components, including fuse violations, the presence of prohibited chemicals and pyrotechnic materials overload. From National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) • More than 31,000 reported fires are started by fireworks annually. • Burns account for 38% of the 7,400 injuries treated in emergency rooms in the month around July 4. • Half of the fireworks injuries at emergency rooms were extremities: hand, finger, or leg. One-third were to the eye or other parts of the head. • Children younger than 15 years old accounted for 28% of the estimated fireworks injuries. • Sparklers account for 29% of fireworks injuries for children under the age of 5 treated in emergency rooms in the month around July 4. Please reject this bill. No amount of revenue can offset the injuries and fires that WILL occur as a result of this legislation. The Virginia Fire Chiefs Association represents all of the fire chiefs in Virginia.

This bill, which authorizes the use of consumer fireworks, poses risks to public safety and increases the burden on first responders. Authorizing consumer fireworks will lead to an increase in injuries. Teens and children are statistically the largest groups affected in these cases. Fireworks are inherently dangerous, and even "consumer" fireworks pose a significant risk of burns, eye injuries, and other serious harm including possible fatalities. In the most recent report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2023 there were eight fatalities and an estimated 9,700 injuries involving fireworks. Of the eight reported fatalities, one was in Virginia. While the funding toward first responders is certainly appreciated, this bill allocates only a small percentage of the potentially generated revenues to first responders, while simultaneously creating an increase in the calls they will receive. This will stretch already limited resources, putting additional strain on Fire & EMS. The proposed funding is inadequate to address the increased burden this bill creates. It is for the reasons noted above that I oppose this bill.

Do not accept the fireworks proposal.

Due to the safety factor that many people are hurt by fireworks and property is loss by accidently setting of fires, the Kenbridge Fire Department is opposed to this fireworks bill. Thank you

The LWv-VA supports HB 2218 because: Some low-income tenants, especially elderly ones, do not use banks and must pay rent and other bills with cash or money orders. Landlords can now charge a fee eg. $10-$15 if tenants pay using an online portal or credit card. HB2218 would also require receipts to be given if a tenant pays with cash or a money order. We support eliminating unnessary fees for tenants and ensuring that landlords are paid rent they are owed.

Chairman, Members of the Housing/Consumer Protection Subcommittee, Delegate Hernandez’s bill is common sense piece of legislation that states across our region have adopted. Transparency is crucial for markets to function properly, and this bill gets us one step closer to adequate levels of transparency. Black communities in Virginia are projected to see a 20% increase in flood risk over the next 30 as a result of climate change. This bill is a reasonable step towards addressing the inequities exasperated by climate change. I want to reiterate that this is a basic, common sense step towards protecting consumers when facing the realities of climate change and I hope that this Subcommittee will support this legislation.

To the Honorable Members of the General Assembly, I am respectfully, appealing to you to support HB2348. A person's home is a safe haven for all humanity. For HB2348 to not become law would be a willful blindness on all humanity and posterity. Thank you for your time. Respectfully, Mary Hill

Committee Members, Licensed amateur radio service provides a community benefit that should be supported to the maximum extent feasible when considered on balance with the benefit of HOA restrictions. The ability to install and operate the optimal antenna is an inherent requirement for an amateur radio operator that lives in a community governed by an HOA. As a retired officer of the United States Coast Guard I have continued to find ways to give back to my community. I serve as a volunteer in a local mountain rescue group, through the Amateur Radio Relay League's (ARRL) Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), and local radio clubs support multiple public events in Fairfax County every year. Only a few days ago I served in Alexandria City's Emergency Operations Center in support of the Presidential Inauguration Incident Command System. Use of radios are key in performing many public service activities whether it is an emergency or other civic support. I, and many amateur radio operators like me, obtained the knowledge, skill, and ability to legally operate in FCC bands and support our communities for these activities by having home-mounted antennas. Installing a home antenna is not a trivial thing. Cost, building code compliance, and safety are already challenges that must solved. Additional barriers created by HOAs for aesthetic or financial reasons are simply nonproductive and present potential harm to the community at large by restricting amateur radio operator development. We should be finding more ways to support our volunteers that support our community for civic and emergency events. I hope that when you consider the benefit of HOA-based radio antennas versus the benefit of HOA restrictions (specifically, who benefits in each scenario and why) you will come to the conclusion that supporting HB2542 is in the best interest of the residents of an HOA and the community. Please support HB2542. Sincerely, William A. Dronen Jr.

I speak in support of Deligate Seibold's bill regarding Amateur Radio. It is impossible to overstate the importance of Amateur radio to our society. I personally have helped families get in touch with relatives in disaster zones via Amateur radio more than once, when no other communications were available. We particularly need to eliminate any regulation against Amateur radio antennas in HOA areas. Other antennas are permitted, for commercial use, such as satellite streaming services. Amateur radio is at least as important as video shows. Pass this bill quickly! Thank you, William Mims, Amateur radio operator W2WCM