Hamkae Center organizes Asian Americans in Virginia for social, racial, and economic justice. We oppose HB1836 this bill for the following reasons: HB 1836 introduces burdensome requirements that could force many small businesses to close, reduce access to driver education, and create unnecessary barriers to entrepreneurship, particularly in underserved communities. 1) Overly Burdensome Regulatory Compliance HB 1836 requires all student and business records to be stored on-site, forcing schools to lease non-residential office space. o This creates unsustainable financial strain for small business owners who rely on low overhead costs. o It disproportionately impacts rural and home-based schools, reducing accessibility to driver education. o Requiring tax returns to be submitted to the DMV raises serious privacy and data security concerns. o The administrative burden of compliance will deter new entrants and increase costs for existing schools. 2) Excessive Financial Strain on Small Businesses • Requiring leased office space and additional compliance measures will impose steep financial burdens, threatening the survival of small operators. o At least 30% of Virginia's driving schools could close by 2027 if this bill is enacted. 3) Reduced Accessibility to Driver Education • School closures will disproportionately affect rural and low-income communities, where larger providers are unlikely to operate. • This reduces access to affordable driver education and creates barriers to licensure, particularly in underserved areas. 4) Unintended Consequences for Public Safety • With fewer training options, more untrained drivers may take to the roads, undermining the bill’s public safety goals We propose constructive alternatives to mitigate the impact of HB 1836: 1. Support Small Businesses: o Provide tax credits or grants to help schools meet compliance requirements. 2. Maintain Flexibility for Home-Based Businesses: o Allow residential offices to retain records, especially in rural and underserved areas. 3. Reduce Operational Burdens: o Permit instructors the opportunity to conduct exams for their own students, with safeguards for impartiality. 4. Ensure Accessibility: o Form a task force to evaluate the bill’s impact on rural and low-income communities and recommend equitable solutions. Suja S. Mathew, Advocacy Manager

I don't like this law is bad for our business and cost touch to open new office

Hello. We are Thomas & Karen Federice, owners of 360 Driving School. We would like to urge you and your colleagues to oppose HB 1836, titled Driver Training Schools; Operation and Licensure. The patron of this bill is Delegate Bill Wiley. Details: HB 1836 introduces significant financial and operational burdens on driver training schools across Virginia. As small business owners in this industry, we believe this bill will disproportionately harm small, community-focused, and home-based schools while creating barriers to affordable and accessible driver education. Key reasons for opposition to this bill relate to its overly burdensome regulatory compliance including on-site record keeping requirements and restrictions on residential operations. Leasing/Renting space as proposed in this bill will require (a) increase in cost to students to cover expenses for renting space, thus making driver training unaffordable for many families in the commonwealth, or (b) become too expensive for driver training schools to conduct business, thus eliminating them from serving the people of the commonwealth. Requiring students to take their final road test with another instructor other than the one they took the course with places an unnecessary mental/emotional burden on the student. Students have established relationships with their instructor. Putting a 16-17 year old in a car to take an exam with a stranger will create anxiety leading to an inauthentic drive by the student. Parents rely on kids to get their license to assist the family by having another licensed driver in the family. Trying to negotiate to find a time to take the final exam will delay the relief these new drivers can provide their families. The financial strain this bill creates on Driver Training Schools will result in driver training schools to close. Consequences to a reduced number of driver training schools include but are not limited to (a) more students waiting until they are 18 to get a license through DMV, thus, not being trained by a professional resulting in more crashes, injuries and death. Students trained by professionals understand risks, risk avoidance, laws related to driving and better driving practices than the untrained driver. (b) fewer options for home-school and private school students to obtain driver training since they cannot participate in Public School Driver Education. Lack of driver training for these students will have consequences mentioned above. This bill will place an unnecessary strain on public safety departments as well as public safety in general with fewer professional trained drivers on the road. Please reconsider the effectiveness of this bill to address the concerns of delegate Bill Wiley and its consequences on small business driver training schools, public safety, student safety and parental concerns of sending their young driver onto the roads of the commonwealth without professional training. Finally, why was this bill introduced? What is the purpose of this bill? What problems is this bill addressing? Why weren't stakeholders involved in conversations with Delegate Wiley to help develop solutions to the problem the Delegate is trying to solve with this bill? Please oppose this bill. We will be happy to discuss solutions. Thank you. Tom & Karen Federice Owners 360 Driving School 804-836-5419

I taught in the public schools for 17 years ( drivers ed, physical education and health, sped) and opened up a driving school called Buckle up butter cup in Toano, VA. Buckle up Butter Cup driver training school is the only driver training school in our small town. I have been open for 2 years and financially speaking, this bill would shut my school down. I am unable to hire someone or afford the cost now. I do this driving school because I care about the safety of teenagers and adults who I teach and help obtain their drivers license. As a small business this bill would hurt me and I would not be able to keep the driving school open. Please reconsider, sincerely , Monica Eader Owner of Buckle up Butter cup, LLC.

Start of Talking Points My name is Valorie B Bennett, owner of The 804 Driving School LLC. I would like to urge you and your colleagues to oppose HB 1836, titled Driver Training Schools; Operation and Licensure. The patron of this bill is Delegate Bill Wiley. As a small business owner in this industry, I believe this bill will disproportionately harm small, community-focused, and home-based schools while creating barriers to affordable and accessible driver education. Below are key reasons for my opposition: 1. Overly Burdensome Regulatory Compliance On-Site Recordkeeping Requirements: The bill mandates all student and business records be stored on-site at a licensed business location. For home-based schools, this means leasing office space solely for recordkeeping, imposing unnecessary operational costs. Restrictions on Residential Operations: This requirement disproportionately impacts small, home-based businesses, many of which serve rural and underserved communities. Key Concern: For many small operators, the low-cost startup model of home-based schools makes entrepreneurship viable. Leasing non-residential office space, complying with zoning codes, and making costly upgrades will force many of these schools to close. 2. Disruption to Business Operations Conflict of Interest Prohibition: The bill prevents instructors from administering behind-the-wheel exams to their own students, creating logistical challenges and increasing labor costs for small schools with limited staff. Key Concern: Building trust and rapport with students is central to effective driver education. Forcing students to test with an external entity undermines this relationship and adds unnecessary complexity to the process. Advance Notification Requirements: The bill requires schools to notify the Department 48 hours before conducting behind-the-wheel exams, reducing flexibility in scheduling and increasing administrative burdens. 3. Financial Strain on Small Businesses Increased Costs for Compliance: HB 1836 requires substantial investments in: 1. Leasing non-residential office space. 2. Upgrading facilities to meet new federal, state, and local codes. 3. Implementing secure electronic recordkeeping systems. 4. Reduced Accessibility to Driver Education Impact on Rural and Low-Income Areas: The closure of small, home-based schools will disproportionately harm rural and underserved communities, where large commercial operators are unlikely to fill the gap. Key Impact: Reduced access to driver education will create barriers for individuals in these areas, especially young drivers and working families, leading to long-term disparities in licensure and mobility. 5. Unintended Consequences for Public Safety Reduced Training Availability: If smaller schools close, fewer students will have access to affordable driver education, resulting in more untrained or undertrained drivers on Virginia’s roads. Key Concern: The bill’s impact on small operators directly undermines public safety by reducing the availability of well-trained drivers. 6. Competitive Disadvantage for Small Operators Expanded Licensing Categories: HB 1836 introduces Class A (commercial) and Class B (non-commercial) licenses. While larger operators may adapt by diversifying, small schools will struggle to compete or specialize under these new requirements.

Hello, my name is A BUTT owner of AB DRIVING SCHOOL. I would like to urge you and your colleagues to oppose HB 1836, titled Driver Training Schools; Operation and Licensure. The patron of this bill is Delegate Bill Wiley, representing the 32nd District, which encompasses the City of Winchester and parts of Frederick County. Details: HB 1836 introduces significant financial and operational burdens on driver training schools across Virginia. As a small business owner in this industry, I believe this bill will disproportionately harm small, community-focused, and home-based schools while creating barriers to affordable and accessible driver education. Below are key reasons for my opposition: 1. Overly Burdensome Regulatory Compliance On-Site Recordkeeping Requirements: The bill mandates all student and business records be stored on-site at a licensed business location. For home-based schools, this means leasing office space solely for recordkeeping, imposing unnecessary operational costs. Restrictions on Residential Operations: HB 1836 prohibits schools from operating in residential dwellings for new applications after July 1, 2025, and renewals after January 1, 2026. This requirement disproportionately impacts small, home-based businesses, many of which serve rural and underserved communities. Key Concern: For many small operators, the low-cost startup model of home-based schools makes entrepreneurship viable. Leasing non-residential office space, complying with zoning codes, and making costly upgrades will force many of these schools to close. 2. Disruption to Business Operations Conflict of Interest Prohibition: The bill prevents instructors from administering behind-the-wheel exams to their own students, creating logistical challenges and increasing labor costs for small schools with limited staff. Key Concern: Building trust and rapport with students is central to effective driver education. Forcing students to test with an external entity undermines this relationship and adds unnecessary complexity to the process. Advance Notification Requirements: The bill requires schools to notify the Department 48 hours before conducting behind-the-wheel exams, reducing flexibility in scheduling and increasing administrative burdens. 3. Financial Strain on Small Businesses Increased Costs for Compliance: HB 1836 requires substantial investments in: Leasing non-residential office space. Upgrading facilities to meet new federal, state, and local codes. Implementing secure electronic recordkeeping systems. Key Impact: These costs are unsustainable for many small operators and could result in widespread closures. 4. Reduced Accessibility to Driver Education Impact on Rural and Low-Income Areas: The closure of small, home-based schools will disproportionately harm rural and underserved communities, where large commercial operators are unlikely to fill the gap. 5.Competitive Disadvantage for Small Operators Expanded Licensing Categories: HB 1836 introduces Class A (commercial) and Class B (non-commercial) licenses. While larger operators may adapt by diversifying, small schools will struggle to compete or specialize under these new requirements. I urge you and your colleagues to oppose HB 1836 or amend it to include financial support, operational flexibility, and proportional penalties to ensure the survival of driver training schools in Virginia. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Hello, my name is Aysar Alkhatib , owner of VA DRIVING SCHOOLS INC. I would like to urge you and your colleagues to oppose HB 1836, titled Driver Training Schools; Operation and Licensure.The patron of this bill is Delegate Bill Wiley, representing the 32nd District, which encompasses the City of Winchester and parts of Frederick County. Details: HB 1836 introduces significant financial and operational burdens on driver training schools across Virginia. As a small business owner in this industry, I believe this bill will disproportionately harm small, community-focused, and home-based schools while creating barriers to affordable and accessible driver education. Below are key reasons for my opposition: 1. Disruption to Business Operations Conflict of Interest Prohibition: The bill prevents instructors from administering behind-the-wheel exams to their own students, creating logistical challenges and increasing labor costs for small schools with limited staff. Key Concern: Building trust and rapport with students is central to effective driver education. Forcing students to test with an external entity undermines this relationship and adds unnecessary complexity to the process. Advance Notification Requirements: The bill requires schools to notify the Department 48 hours before conducting behind-the-wheel exams, reducing flexibility in scheduling and increasing administrative burdens. 3. Financial Strain on Small Businesses Increased Costs for Compliance: HB 1836 requires substantial investments in: Leasing non-residential office space. Upgrading facilities to meet new federal, state, and local codes. Implementing secure electronic recordkeeping systems. Key Impact: These costs are unsustainable for many small operators and could result in widespread closures. 4. Reduced Accessibility to Driver Education Impact on Rural and Low-Income Areas: The closure of small, home-based schools will disproportionately harm rural and underserved communities, where large commercial operators are unlikely to fill the gap. Key Impact: Reduced access to driver education will create barriers for individuals in these areas, especially young drivers and working families, leading to long-term disparities in licensure and mobility. 5. Unintended Consequences for Public Safety Reduced Training Availability: If smaller schools close, fewer students will have access to affordable driver education, resulting in more untrained or undertrained drivers on Virginia’s roads. Key Concern: The bill’s impact on small operators directly undermines public safety by reducing the availability of well-trained drivers. Just google DMV worker conducting driving test killed in crash Date: Jul. 16, 2011 6. Competitive Disadvantage for Small Operators Expanded Licensing Categories: HB 1836 introduces Class A (commercial) and Class B (non-commercial) licenses. While larger operators may adapt by diversifying, small schools will struggle to compete or specialize under these new requirements. I urge you and your colleagues to oppose HB 1836 Thank you for your time and consideration.

Comments Document

The National Insurancr Crime Bureau offers written testimony in support of HB 2423.

Please Vote Yes for HB2501. This is a nice dovetail program with the law enforcement training program that was enacted last year. As law enforcement officers are trained in how to interact with someone with autism or a developmental disability then having a visual like the Blue Envelope to signal that some accommodations for the interaction should be made. A driver with autism may have physical movements or verbal responses during a traffic stop that are beyond their control. Letting the officer know this in advance can keep misunderstandings to a minimum. the officer can still proceed with their investigation, but they will understand more about the interactions they are having with the individual. Please Vote yes for HB2501

Upon my experience in interacting with persons with disabilities over the past 26 years I have often found communication to be a barrier. This was true even during my 33 years as a law enforcement officer in Virginia. I feel this bill would allow for a better understanding and communication between law enforcement and those persons when such interaction is necessary. A better understanding by the law enforcement personnel will negate many negative situations with bad outcomes. Thank you.