I'd like to thank the Chair and committee for consideration of this bill, and thank Delegate Reid for his efforts to put HB369 forward. We are supportive of the bill in concept, but believe more work is needed to address the particulars.

HB369 MUST BE DEFEATED. Re-starting or continuing operation of old nuclear facilities beyond their retirement date is potentially costly and dangerous, and unnecessary. Old nuclear reactors - present a multitude of concerns - facilities exceeding designed and permitted life cycle, waste and storage, emissions, safety, terrorism, and weapons proliferation to name the most apparent. New nuclear facilities present even greater concerns of excessive costs and unreliable construction schedules. These concerns, however, pale compared to newly revealed safety rule changes - heightened by an exclusive NPR investigative report on 1/28/26, "THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS SECRETLY REWRITTEN NUCLEAR SAFETY RULES." (See attachment.) To cope with escalating nuclear costs (the highest costs of power generation at utility scale) the NPR report states: ** "The Trump administration has overhauled nuclear safety directives and shared them with the companies it is charged with regulating, without making the new rules available to the public, according to documents obtained exclusively by NPR." ** “The sweeping changes were made to accelerate development of a new generation of nuclear reactor designs...The changes are to departmental orders, which dictate requirements for almost every aspect of the reactors' operations – including safety systems, environmental protections, site security and accident investigations... ** "The orders slash hundreds of pages of requirements for security at the reactors. They also loosen protections for ground water and the environment and eliminate at least one key safety role. The new orders cut back on requirements for keeping records, and they raise the amount of radiation a worker can be exposed to before an official accident investigation is triggered." Without public involvement, over 750 pages of NRC safety regulation and worker protection were eliminated in this unprecedented secret collaboration between government and the nuclear industry. This is no way to run what is potentially the most catastrophy-prone industry on earth! Current legislation permits accelerated renewable energy buyers to purchase renewable energy across PJM, there is no need to add nuclear. It's needless to incur financial, health and safety risks of purchasing old or new nuclear capacity. The VCEA excluded nuclear eligibility for the RPS because of the problems experienced with the technology across the country and to encourage the development of far cheaper alternatives, which are truly renewable. Please vote NO on HB369.

We support HB289 and HB395 as they will enable a broad swath of Virginians , including renters, to afford small-scale solar. We support HB590 as it streamlines approval of residential solar, which will help consumers implement solar projects. We support HB617, as it will expand the very important virtual power plant program so necessary to meeting grid demand. We strongly support HB628 to expand power purchase agreements, a crucial element of meeting clean energy goals. We support HB634 to enhance energy assistance and weatherization. We support HB807's shared solar proposal to improve the viability of that program. We oppose HB369 as it puts nuclear energy in a category that should be reserved for clean, renewable power.

I am writing in favor of HB590, patroned by Delegate Hernandez. I believe that a well-implemented “Smart Solar Permitting Platform” could substantially reduce bureaucracy, timeframes and ultimately costs for residential solar permitting and thereby significantly increase solar uptake. This would help reduce Virginia’s greenhouse gas emissions, save money for consumers and create new opportunities to better manage the electric grid through such strategies as virtual power plants. Journalist Michael Thomas demonstrated in a detailed report last year (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3Sfxxx9m5U) why Australia has so much cheaper rooftop solar and a much larger percentage of its people opting for solar: around a third of the population vs. the U.S.’s anemic rate of 4%. As Thomas discusses, most of the cost differential is due to soft costs – the unnecessary regulatory burdens we impose on solar. HB590’s proposed approach would directly address this problem by streamlining permitting, as Australia has done. This is indeed a smart approach and I recommend that you pass this legislation.

Thank you for the opportunity to submit written testimony regarding residential solar permitting in the Commonwealth. I respectfully encourage consideration of expanded use of SolarAPP+, an automated residential solar permitting platform developed with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. SolarAPP+ allows localities to issue building and electrical permits for code-compliant rooftop solar systems through automated review, significantly reducing approval timelines while maintaining applicable safety and inspection standards. Several Virginia jurisdictions currently utilize SolarAPP+, including Prince William County, Culpeper County, the City of Harrisonburg, and Pulaski County, demonstrating the efficiency and consistency achievable through modernized permitting. These jurisdictions benefit from reduced administrative burden, improved staff efficiency, and measurable cost and time savings. By contrast, localities relying solely on traditional plan review often experience extended timelines, including two to four weeks in Henry County and three or more weeks in the City of Roanoke. Broader adoption of SolarAPP+ could improve predictability, reduce workload for local governments, and support responsible residential solar development across the Commonwealth. Thank you for your time and consideration.

We support HB289 and HB395 as they will enable a broad swath of Virginians , including renters, to afford small-scale solar. We support HB590 as it streamlines approval of residential solar, which will help consumers implement solar projects. We support HB617, as it will expand the very important virtual power plant program so necessary to meeting grid demand. We strongly support HB628 to expand power purchase agreements, a crucial element of meeting clean energy goals. We support HB634 to enhance energy assistance and weatherization. We support HB807's shared solar proposal to improve the viability of that program. We oppose HB369 as it puts nuclear energy in a category that should be reserved for clean, renewable power.

I am writing in favor of HB590, patroned by Delegate Hernandez. I believe that a well-implemented “Smart Solar Permitting Platform” could substantially reduce bureaucracy, timeframes and ultimately costs for residential solar permitting and thereby significantly increase solar uptake. This would help reduce Virginia’s greenhouse gas emissions, save money for consumers and create new opportunities to better manage the electric grid through such strategies as virtual power plants. Journalist Michael Thomas demonstrated in a detailed report last year (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3Sfxxx9m5U) why Australia has so much cheaper rooftop solar and a much larger percentage of its people opting for solar: around a third of the population vs. the U.S.’s anemic rate of 4%. As Thomas discusses, most of the cost differential is due to soft costs – the unnecessary regulatory burdens we impose on solar. HB590’s proposed approach would directly address this problem by streamlining permitting, as Australia has done. This is indeed a smart approach and I recommend that you pass this legislation.

My name is Robert Bernstein, and I am a practicing cardiologist at Sentara Hospitals in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Suffolk. I also serve as the Advocacy Chair for the Virginia Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, an organization that represents over 1,500 cardiovascular professionals in our state. Today, I am testifying in strong support of House Bill 627, sponsored by Delegate Herring, which will ban non-competes for all healthcare professionals. In a time when our state is suffering from a workforce shortage spanning all members of the healthcare team, it is time to protect our healthcare providers’ autonomy. Giving patients the freedom to choose the healthcare providers that best suit their needs, without the threat of non-competes, is crucial to ensure that they can pursue the care that is right for them.

We support HB289 and HB395 as they will enable a broad swath of Virginians , including renters, to afford small-scale solar. We support HB590 as it streamlines approval of residential solar, which will help consumers implement solar projects. We support HB617, as it will expand the very important virtual power plant program so necessary to meeting grid demand. We strongly support HB628 to expand power purchase agreements, a crucial element of meeting clean energy goals. We support HB634 to enhance energy assistance and weatherization. We support HB807's shared solar proposal to improve the viability of that program. We oppose HB369 as it puts nuclear energy in a category that should be reserved for clean, renewable power.

My name is Kevin Cianfarini and I'm commenting in favor of HB 889 on behalf of Climate Changemakers RVA. In order to move affordable clean energy around our electricity grid so that we can serve customers in a cost-effective manner, Virginia will need more electricity transmission. Part of the reason electricity transmission infrastructure is so difficult and expensive to build is because of right of way acquisition. Colocating transmission along existing rights of way, like along highways, removes an entire category of project delays and expenses, thus allowing more affordable and clean energy to be delivered to customers. In an age of steeply rising electricity rates, Virginia needs to act. Transmission colocation along existing rights of way is a proven policy that's been in practice for decades in other states like Wisconsin (2003 Wisconsin Act 89), and more recently in states like Minnesota and Colorado.

Thank you for considering this bill and for your continued service to our great state. I am writing in support of HB889. The cost of living is on the top of many Americans' minds. One area where costs are expected to increase substantially is through electricity demand. This is especially a concern as Virginian's see the rapid expansion of data centers in our communities. According to a report from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (December 2024) demand for power in Virginia is expected to double within the next 10 years. Massive investment in infrastructure is required to accommodate the rapid increase in demand and consumers are concerned they will ultimately be the ones to bear the cost. We must find ways to avoid unnecessarily increasing the cost of developing our infrastructure. One way other states have sought to reduce barriers to building transmission lines is by co-locating them with existing infrastructure like highways. By co-locating transmission lines with existing highways we can build infrastructure where it is needed most, faster, while minimizing the impact of construction on our communities. This is a common sense solution that can help make it easier to avoid having to negotiate infrastructure with property owners, and to make Virginia's economy competitive. This is only one part to mitigating increases in the cost of living, but by making smart choices we can reduce the impact felt by consumers. Thank you for your attention, and I hope you will support this bill.

See attached.

Please see the attached written testimony in support of HB 923. This testimony highlights the increasingly common use of stay-or-pay contracts and how they harm workers (even when they are not enforced), litigation involving stay-or-pay contracts that have taken place in Virginia in recent years, and calls on the subcommittee to support this vitally important legislation moving forward.

On behalf of Wild Virginia, I respectfully ask the committee to approve HB 1073. The safety of gas pipelines is of utmost importance to nearby residents and others in the communities but also to emergency personnel who may need to respond to sites due to leaks and/or explosions. This is a common sense measure and an important step in the right direction. Thank you.

I urge the committee to support Delegate Rasoul's HB1073 to strengthen gas pipeline safety standards in Virginia. This is a common sense measure that anyone should be able to support, regardless of political affiliation. Thousands of miles of gas pipelines stretch across the Commonwealth. Much of that infrastructure is aging, and much of it is being incrementally modified, updated, or added to. At least one more recently constructed project, the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), which has 100 miles of high pressure transmission right of way in Virginia, gives us serious concern with being structurally compromised, shoddily built, and essentially shielded from the vigorous federal oversight that should have forbidden it to have been built in the first place. Only through an act of Congress was the project finished. I cite the ruinous MVP because it's a prime example of what's occurring on a federal level; essentially a wholesale destruction of meaningful environmental laws and regulations, making way for otherwise illegal projects to be built. The Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act – bedrock protections for everyone in this country – stand to be obliterated in the next few years if current trends continue. States must therefore do everything possible to access every available lever – as well as create new ones – to see that the shortcomings of federal safety regulations and enforcement do not mean that Virginians are less safe. As someone who's worked with frontline communities fighting MVP for going on ten years, I've witnessed the absence of PHMSA and FERC, lead federal agencies on pipe safety and interstate gas pipeline permits, respectively. These agencies, like many state regulatory bodies, permit projects that they themselves cannot effectively monitor or keep within existing laws – and apparently have no intention to. Stronger regulations and stronger enforcement are needed on the state level, need to be more thoroughly funded and embedded into the Commonwealth's priorities to account for these shortcomings, and to ensure that the highest possible standards are keeping people safe. The gas industry frequently rolls out a narrative that leaks and explosions do not happen. Or if they do happen, they're rare. Or even if they're not that rare, they don't matter. Or whatever people need to hear to forget about it. They are wrong. Gas pipeline leaks and explosions occur in the United States every single year. As recently as July 25, 2023, Virginia has seen this happen when a TC Energy / Columbia Gas pipeline exploded outside of Strasburg, directly next to Interstate 81. Passersby felt the heat and pressure of a massive fireball exploding out of the ground, shooting a hundred feet into the air. It was a miracle that no one was killed or injured. Had that explosion occurred a quarter mile away in either direction on the pipeline right of way, I doubt we would have had such a lucky outcome. That portion of pipeline, to my understanding, had recently been placed back into service after modifications to both the line and the nearby Strasburg Compressor Station. It's up to the Commonealth to properly answer to the public's safety needs. This bill makes significant steps in that direction. I appreciate Delegate Rasoul's leadership on this issue and others regarding the public good concerning energy and safety, and encourage others to follow.

As someone who lives and works in proximity to a large methane transmission pipeline, I support HB 1073 and thank Delegate Rasoul for sponsoring this common sense safety measure. The State Corporation Commission should implement recommendations from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s most recent leak detection and repair rule in the interest of public safety and in response to an overwhelming amount of methane gas transportation buildout happening in Virginia. Leak detection would also protect workers and emergency responders.

SUPPORT House Bill 1073 ensuring pipelines meet current leak detection and repair standards that match federal protections is important to align Virginia's regulations with the latest PHMSA rule and also to provide communities an warning system of potential equipment failure.

I wholeheartedly support HB 1073 directing the State Corporation Commission to develop rules for methane gas pipeline leaks and repairs. It is a commonsense community public safety issue: ○ Methane leaks can lead to pipeline rupture or explosion, endangering nearby communities and first responders. ○ Current minimum regulations do not set standards on the sensitivity, reliability or accuracy of leak detection equipment. It is protective of the environment and human health: ○ The bill would minimize intentional methane emissions protecting public health and reducing climate pollution. It is consistent with safety standards and improvements within the pipeline industry: ○ PHMSA incorporated consensus recommendations made by the pipeline industry, public, and a government Advisory Committee. ○ It establishes annual leak detection surveys that can help identify problems before they become dangerous, reducing costs for the pipeline operator. Thank you! Virginia communities and natural resources appreciate this important effort.

Please support of HB 1073, a commonsense pipeline safety bill that would implement the leak detection and repair recommendations of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration. There have been significant improvements within the industry for leak detection and repair, and PHMSA's years-long process to develop a rule with the public, government officials and the industry resulted in a comprehensive set of recommendations that would benefit human health and the environment, while reducing leaks, and subsequently, costs for pipeline operators. As the rule was not allowed to be published by the current federal administration, and additional rollbacks of enforcement are occurring at PHMSA, it is timely and important that the State Corporation Commission consider what safety review improvements they can make, for what is under their purview: intrastate pipelines. Please support HB 1073, which would direct the SCC to implement the January 2025 Leak Detection and Repair rule, to help increase leak surveys, minimize intentional emissions and improve reporting practices. Virginians deserve strong leak detection standards, for the safety of their communities.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of House Bill 1102, sponsored by Delegate Singh. On behalf of Dandelion Energy, we wholeheartedly support this bill, which will save Virginian’s money on their energy bills, shore up the stability of Virginia’s grid, create well-paid drilling and construction jobs, and support housing across the Commonwealth. This bill will provide a market-based pathway for scaled adoption of geothermal in Virginia. It will encourage high-efficiency housing, without a luxury price-tag. It will mean quieter communities and cleaner air. It will mean new jobs for drillers, engineers, laborers, and electricians. It will mean that when the days are dreadfully hot or we’re experiencing a cold snap like the one this week, that Virginia’s grid has some of the burden taken off of it. Dandelion Energy respectfully requests the Committee report his bill favorably.

My name is Chrischa Ives, and I'm the incredibly proud mother of my daughter, Gabrielle Aldea, who was born with Hardikar Syndrome. Hardikar is so rare that very few doctors even know of its existence, but, in short, it's a syndrome that affects the entire midline of a person's body. Gabrielle had, among other things, malrotation of the intestines, a bladder the size of a thimble which necessitated the creation and care of a neobladder, hydronephrosis, liver issues so severe that she received a liver transplant at age 2, coarctation of the aorta, a bilateral cleft lip and palate, and an aneurysm in the base of her brain. After a courageous battle, Gabby passed away in 2020 at the age of 21. Parenting, in general, requires providing another human an extreme amount of time and care. Parenting a medically-fragile child means offering even more of those things while learning to handle the unexpected. When you're a single parent of a medically-fragile child, the caregiver for another adult, or trying to deal with a medical condition of your own, life gets unbelievably complicated. When Gabrielle was born, she was so sick that I was unable to return to work. When I felt able to return to work as Gabby’s condition stabilized I found that despite my skills and qualifications, I was denied employment when I told potential workplaces about my daughter and her medical needs. There were times when my schedule could be consistent, but there were also times I'd need to be off to take her to appointments or to stay with her when she was sick. Despite my qualifications and a proven commitment to go above and beyond what was asked of me from a job, no employer was willing or able to hire me because of the time off I'd need. If I had had guaranteed access to paid family and medical leave, employers would have had certainty of me as an employee, and I would have had the ability to earn a living while taking care of my daughter. My story is unfortunately not unique, too many families across the country and the Commonwealth have experienced similar struggles. The current system is pushing caregivers, particularly women, out of the workforce. Paid leave for all means care for all. It means caring for each other in our times of need. And it means the world to individuals and families who go without it every day in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. It's time to do better. I am calling on members of the General Assembly to support HB 1270 so no other parent has to make the sacrifices I made.

Chairman, members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in support of House Bill 1207. I serve as Virginia Director for CASA, an immigrant rights organization working with Virginia's construction workers, restaurant employees, home health aides, and service workers. I witness daily the impossible choices families face without paid leave. Last year, Maria, a Northern Virginia housekeeper, faced a devastating choice when her mother suffered a stroke: care for her mother or keep working to pay rent. She chose her mother and lost her job within a week. By the time her mother stabilized, Maria was three months behind on rent and faced eviction. This is not isolated—this is reality for hundreds of thousands of Virginia families. Only 27% of workers in the lowest wage quartile have access to paid family leave, compared to 58% in the highest quartile. The families who can least afford to lose income have no safety net. For immigrant families, language barriers, immigration status concerns, and cultural caregiving expectations make this crisis even more severe. Without paid leave, construction workers return to physically demanding jobs before injuries heal, risking permanent disability. Parents managing chronic conditions delay medical care, leading to complications and higher healthcare costs. Domestic violence survivors cannot afford to miss work to seek safety. Thousands of parents return to work days after childbirth because they cannot afford to stay home longer. HB1207 addresses these crises while supporting employers. The fair contribution structure includes special provisions for small businesses. Studies show paid leave programs improve employee retention while reducing costly turnover. Twelve states and DC have enacted these programs successfully—they work. For working families, paid leave means a new mother can bond with her baby without fearing eviction. A son can care for his dying father without losing his job. A survivor can seek safety without choosing between protection and poverty. This is dignity. This is economic security. I urge this Committee to advance HB1207 and give all Virginia families the paid leave they need and deserve. Thank you for your consideration. Respectfully submitted, Luis Aguilar Virginia Director, CASA

This written testimony is hereby submitted in favor/support of HB1207 to implement a paid family medical leave program in the Commonwealth.

Voices for Virginia strongly supports the establishment of a comprehensive paid family and medical leave program in the Commonwealth. Too many Virginians are forced to choose between caring for a new child, a seriously ill loved one, or their own health and maintaining a paycheck—an impossible choice that disproportionately harms women, low-wage workers, and caregivers. Paid family and medical leave improves health outcomes, strengthens workforce participation, and benefits employers by reducing turnover and increasing retention. A statewide program would promote economic stability, support small businesses through a shared system, and ensure workers can meet family and medical needs without financial hardship. Voices for Virginia urges policymakers to advance a strong, equitable paid family and medical leave program that supports workers, families, and Virginia’s economy.

Voices for Virginia strongly supports the establishment of a comprehensive paid family and medical leave program in the Commonwealth. Too many Virginians are forced to choose between caring for a new child, a seriously ill loved one, or their own health and maintaining a paycheck—an impossible choice that disproportionately harms women, low-wage workers, and caregivers. Paid family and medical leave improves health outcomes, strengthens workforce participation, and benefits employers by reducing turnover and increasing retention. A statewide program would promote economic stability, support small businesses through a shared system, and ensure workers can meet family and medical needs without financial hardship. Voices for Virginia urges policymakers to advance a strong, equitable paid family and medical leave program that supports workers, families, and Virginia’s economy.

The National Partnership for Women & Families appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony in support of HB 1207. This bill would help keep families from deciding between their paycheck or caring for themselves and their loved ones. We respectfully urge a favorable report on the bill.

(see attached)

Comments Document

I am writing in strong support of HB 1313. I have served for over 23 years as a firefighter and paramedic in Arlington County, and I currently reside in Springfield, Virginia (ZIP 22152). I am also a member of IAFF Local 2800 and am submitting this testimony in my personal capacity. In the fire service, mental injury is a line-of-duty injury. The trauma we experience is not usually the result of a single dramatic event, but the cumulative effect of repeated exposure to violence, death, and human suffering over many years. Pediatric calls, violent incidents where responders and patients are both at risk, and repeated medical calls involving death are routine parts of this profession. Over time, these experiences take a serious psychological toll, even on highly trained and resilient professionals. Under current workers’ compensation law, first responders frequently face claim denials based on arguments that mental health conditions are “pre-existing” or not connected to a specific physical injury. This standard does not reflect how psychological injury actually develops in emergency responders. Trauma accumulates gradually, and by the time symptoms become disabling, they are often rooted in years of job-related exposure. I have personally dealt with severe anxiety, mood instability, and depression stemming from repeated exposures in my career. I have also seen many colleagues struggle with similar issues, and a colleague from my recruit class recently died by suicide after nearly 23 years of service. While every case is different, it is clear that untreated occupational trauma can escalate into life-threatening crises if early treatment is not accessible. These injuries also affect families. Long hours, staffing shortages, and mandatory overtime already place strain on households. When untreated mental health injuries are added, spouses and children live with the emotional unpredictability that comes with cumulative trauma. Supporting mental health care for first responders supports family stability and helps retain experienced professionals in public safety roles. HB 1313 appropriately addresses this gap by clarifying that exacerbation of PTSD, anxiety, and depressive disorders from repeated occupational exposures can qualify as compensable injuries, allowing responders to access care earlier rather than being forced to deteriorate before qualifying for help. I respectfully urge the committee to report HB 1313 favorably and allow it to advance.

SUPPORT HB1393 promotes energy equity in our most vulnerable communities by ensuring a continued financial commitment to energy assistance and weatherization programs. Extending the funding commitments for both Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Power Company, the bill safeguards necessary resources while prioritizing customer affordability and grid reliability under the Commonwealth Clean Energy Policy.

Mr. Chairman, members of the subcommittee, my name is Brandon Praileau, the Virginia Program Director for Solar United Neighbors. Thank you for this opportunity submit comments in support of HB 1467. In a time where energy demand is soaring and energy costs are steadily increasing for Virginians, HB 1467 offers a solution to help lower costs for consumers, increasing energy efficiency and modernizing the grid, while utilizing existing distributed energy resources. With Dominion’s VPP Pilot Program already the law, it is imperative that APCo also adopt such a program. Utility rates in APCo territory have risen by 49% since 2021, causing enormous strain on ratepayers. Such a program for APCo would decrease its dependence on costly transmission, while adding more reliability to the grid and resilience in an area of the state that has been hit hard by natural disasters in recent years. Instead of building power plants that take years and cost billions, we can save families money on their electric bills now by immediately harnessing cheaper and more efficient community power solutions like solar and storage, smart devices like thermostats and water heaters, and electric vehicles that will lower electricity bills for everyone. While harnessing the cache of existing distributed energy resources already available to APCo, families and businesses should be fairly compensated for their contributions to the grid. This lets people share in the benefits of our energy system equally while addressing affordability, grid reliability and energy demand. When we tap community power instead of building new gas plants, we get cleaner air and lower bills. It’s a smarter approach that results in utilities burning less fuel and avoiding costly construction of new generation facilities. I urge this subcommittee to vote yes to this innovative and much needed solution in HB 1467. Humbly Submitted, Brandon L. Praileau Virginia Program Director