I am encouraging you to vote YES on HB88 to prevent the spread of invasive plants in Virginia.

Invasive plants are costing Virginians millions of dollars each year. These bills will help stop the spread of invasive plants across the Commonwealth by allowing regulators to add plants to the Noxious Weeds List based on merit and science, by ensuring that invasive plants are not planted along our state highways, by empowering local jurisdictions to raise funds to treat and control invasive plants, and by giving state agencies flexibility to use volunteers to help control invasive plants on state lands.

Hello, my name is Lisa Sheehan, and I'm a constituent from Purcellville, VA. I'm calling today to ask you to vote YES on HB109 by Delegate Holly Seibold, YES on HB88 by Delegate Amy Laufer, YES on HB388 by Delegate Katrina Callsen, and YES on SB163 by Senator Ryan McDougle. Invasive plants are costing Virginians millions of dollars each year. These bills will help stop the spread of invasive plants across the Commonwealth by allowing regulators to add plants to the Noxious Weeds List based on merit and science, by ensuring that invasive plants are not planted along our state highways, by empowering local jurisdictions to raise funds to treat and control invasive plants, and by giving state agencies flexibility to use volunteers to help control invasive plants on state lands. Together these bills will support Virginia’s efforts to combat invasive plants and the damages they are causing to our farms, our forests, our health, our parks, and our economy. Invasive plants bring invasive species, which destroy our native vegitation. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing about efforts made to address this critical issue.

Invasive plants are costing Virginians millions of dollars each year. These bills will help stop the spread of invasive plants across the Commonwealth by allowing regulators to add plants to the Noxious Weeds List based on merit and science, by ensuring that invasive plants are not planted along our state highways, by empowering local jurisdictions to raise funds to treat and control invasive plants, and by giving state agencies flexibility to use volunteers to help control invasive plants on state lands.

Please support HB 88. As a landowner and steward, I am already dealing with enough invasive species strangling my forest from our past mistakes. We can't keep introducing invasive species to our state.

Hello, my name is Renee Kitt, and I'm a constituent from Warrenton, if Fauquier County. I'm writing today to ask you to vote YES on HB88 by Delegate Holly Seibold, YES on HB109 by Delegate Amy Laufer, YES on HB388 by Delegate Katrina Callsen, and YES on SB163 by Senator Ryan McDougle. Invasive plants are costing Virginians millions of dollars each year. These bills will help stop the spread of invasive plants across the Commonwealth by allowing regulators to add plants to the Noxious Weeds List based on merit and science, by ensuring that invasive plants are not planted along our state highways, by empowering local jurisdictions to raise funds to treat and control invasive plants, and by giving state agencies flexibility to use volunteers to help control invasive plants on state lands. Together these bills will support Virginia’s efforts to combat invasive plants and the damages they are causing to our farms, our forests, our health, our parks, and our economy. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing about Mr. Michael J. Webert's efforts to address this critical issue. I would like to add that I am an active volunteer that works to remove invasive plants from The Clifton Institute and I have removed invasive plants from my acre of land that I own and have planted all Virginia native plants in my yard. Doing my part. I have received a VCAP award as well for the work I am doing on my property. This means so much to me that I started a business helping others do the same. We need the state to start doing what the citizens have been doing for years and we help. Please vote yes on this important bill. Thank you, Renee D. Kitt

Hello, my name is Sharon Moore, and I'm a constituent from Charlottesville, VA. I'm writing today to ask you to vote YES on HB88 by Delegate Amy Laufer. Invasive plants are costing Virginians millions of dollars each year. These bills will help stop the spread of invasive plants across the Commonwealth by allowing regulators to add plants to the Noxious Weeds List based on merit and science, by ensuring that invasive plants are not planted along our state highways, by empowering local jurisdictions to raise funds to treat and control invasive plants, and by giving state agencies flexibility to use volunteers to help control invasive plants on state lands. Together these bills will support Virginia’s efforts to combat invasive plants and the damages they are causing to our farms, our forests, our health, our parks, and our economy. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing about the efforts to address this critical issue.

Please vote Yes on this bill.

I submit this written testimony in strong support of House Bill 88, which amends § 33.2-217 to require the Commonwealth Transportation Board to establish and implement a policy for identifying, controlling, and removing invasive plants (from the Department of Conservation and Recreation's list) along state highway rights-of-way. It prohibits the Board and Commissioner of Highways from planting or causing such invasives to be planted there, expanding beyond the current narrow limits on just three species. My name is Jonathan Hoover and I live in Fauquier County. I work in the re-wholesale plant industry, where I witness known invasive or toxic plants sold daily to retailers, landscapers, and consumers statewide. I see DCR-listed invasives—aggressive spreaders that outcompete natives, destroy biodiversity, ruin wildlife habitat (pollinators, birds, etc.), and wreck ecosystems—moving unchecked. Highways are prime spread vectors: disturbed soils, seed hitchhiking on vehicles/equipment, runoff into wild areas. VDOT maintenance and construction often introduce or let these persist, costing millions in control while native systems suffer. HB88 hits this hard: mandatory statewide ID/control of DCR invasives on rights-of-way, plus a ban on state-planted invasives. It's preventive, science-driven, and mirrors what other states do to stop roadsides becoming invasive highways. To make it stick long-term, implementation must prioritize regularly available seed blends specifically blended for native biodiversity and roadside management. VDOT already explores native mixes (via research like VTRC studies on Andropogon virginicus, Sorghastrum nutans, etc.), but we need consistent, affordable Virginia-ecotype grass/wildflower blends stocked and standard for revegetation. These stabilize soils better, boost pollinators/wildlife, cut chemical/mechanical needs, and look damn good—real wins over invasives that erode everything. I'm choosing to support this bill because I want to save our environment rather than keep profiting from these plants. My trade makes short-term cash selling invasives (many landing in landscapes that bleed into roadsides), but the ongoing devastation of Virginia's native ecosystems, water quality, farmland, and natural heritage ain't worth it. We can't pretend profit trumps poisoning the state. Urge the committee to report HB88 favorably (with/without substitute) and push it through Appropriations to House vote ASAP. As a trade insider seeing the damage daily and ditching profits from harmful shit for real protection, HB88 + reliable native roadside seed access is overdue and essential. Thank you for fighting invasives head-on.

I fully support this bill as someone who previously worked outside primarily removing invasive species, and as someone who spends an appreciable amount of time cycling and driving on Virginia roads and notice the plethora of invasive species that are still actively planted. Perhaps not always by state agencies, but the number of plants that ought to qualify as noxious weeds such as nandina, Bradford pear, and wintercreeper that show up every year is quite ridiculous by this point. Nearly all metrics show us wildlife is severely declining across the world, and while it will still continue, curbing invasive plants can significantly slow the decline. This bill can only do good things and help the ecology of Virginia.

I too support HB 88 to ensure invasive plants are not planted along state highways and that VDOT develops a plan to manage existing infestations that spread rapidly along road corridors.

I support HB88 to allow better management of the plants along Virginia’s highways. This is a key part of the strategy to protect our environment by reducing the damage caused by invasive plants, and a great opportunity to beautify our community for commuters and travelers year round.

I support HB 88 to ensure invasive plants are not planted along state highways and that VDOT develops a plan to manage existing infestations that spread rapidly along road corridors.

I support the passage of this bill defining noxious plants as “ invasive plant on the list of invasive plants created pursuant to § 10.1-104.6:2.”. These noxious plants are creating damage far beyond government or commercial attempts to remove them. Thank you.

Please pass this legislation. Getting rid of non-native invasive species is literally taking years off of my life. Support old and young people by prohibiting the state from using non-native species ANY WHERE. Our kids need to know what our native plant, tree, shrub species even look like, plus non-natives do not support wildlife, including insects. Plant a non-native invasive species along the road side and I can guarantee you it will show up in my garden so I HAVE TO REMOVE IT!. Thank you.

Hello, Please vote YES on HB88 by Delegate Holly Seibold, Invasive plants are costing Virginians millions of dollars each year. These bills will help stop the spread of invasive plants across the Commonwealth by allowing regulators to add plants to the Noxious Weeds List based on merit and science, by ensuring that invasive plants are not planted along our state highways, by empowering local jurisdictions to raise funds to treat and control invasive plants, and by giving state agencies flexibility to use volunteers to help control invasive plants on state lands. Together these bills will support Virginia’s efforts to combat invasive plants and the damages they are causing to our farms, our forests, our health, our parks, and our economy. I am presently working on the removal of invasive plants on my own property. This is something that is very important to me, my friends and neighbors. Thank you for your time and consideration. Best, Margaret Carter

I am writing from Midlothian to urge that you support HB88. Ensuring that invasive plants will not be planted along state highways and that the state will develop a plan for managing existing invasive plants along our highways are practical investments in solving a damaging and costly problem that will not improve with further neglect.

Invasive plants cost Virginians millions of dollars each year. This bill, along with HB 109, HB 388/SB89, and SB 163, will help stop the spread of invasive plants across the Commonwealth by allowing regulators to add plants to the Noxious Weeds List based on merit and science, by ensuring that invasive plants are not planted along our state highways, by empowering local jurisdictions to raise funds to treat and control invasive plants, and by giving state agencies flexibility to use volunteers to help control invasive plants on state lands. Together these bills will support Virginia’s efforts to combat invasive plants and the damages they are causing to our farms, our forests, our health, our parks, and our economy.

I'm wroting today to ask you to vote YES on HB109 by Delegate Holly Seibold, YES on HB88 by Delegate Amy Laufer, YES on HB388 by Delegate Katrina Callsen, and YES on SB163 by Senator Ryan McDougle.

Invasive plants are costing Virginians millions of dollars each year. This bill will help stop the spread of invasive plants across the Commonwealth by ensuring that invasive plants are not planted along our state highways. This bill will support Virginia’s efforts to combat invasive plants and the damages they are causing to our farms, our forests, our health, our parks, and our economy.

Roadsides are home to some of the rarest, coolest, and prettiest native wildflowers due to their edge habitat and open canopy. Unfortunately, decades of chemical suppression of natives and improper identification or management approaches have subdued our awesome natives while encouraging noxious invasives to take over. All a Virginian has to do is drive down 66 and 81 to see how much of a mess we've left our environment in. Extensive stands of tree of heaven (spotted lanternfly, anyone?), callery pear, paulownia, white mulberry, mullein, wisteria, bittersweet, kudzu, mile a minute, vetch, poison hemlock, porcelain berry, Japanese honeysuckle, bush honeysuckle, autumn olive, and SO many more litter our roadsides. And it's getting tangibly worse every single year. Plenty of invasive species were intentionally planted and introduced by VDOT in the past while ignoring natives that fill the same niche without wrecking our natural areas. Meanwhile, every growing season, communities of native species like sumac and our native grasses like switchgrass & indiangrass are wholesale sprayed by VDOT directly next to patches of invasive garbage species. A glaring example is I-66W at The Plains off ramp interchange, a no mow/no spray VDOT area is 100% invasive tree of heaven. This type of mismanagement makes the entire state look incredibly incompetent and ignorant. Please, it's as simple as encouraging the good natives and discouraging the invasives along our roadways. We can and should do better.

I'm a constituent from Charlottesville, and I'm asking you to vote YES on HB88 by Delegate Amy Laufer, Invasive plants are costing Virginians millions of dollars each year. This bill would help stop the spread of invasive plants across the Commonwealth by allowing regulators to add plants to the Noxious Weeds List based on merit and science, by ensuring that invasive plants are not planted along our state highways, by empowering local jurisdictions to raise funds to treat and control invasive plants, and by giving state agencies flexibility to use volunteers to help control invasive plants on state lands. This bill, along with HB109, HB388, and SB163, would support Virginia’s efforts to combat invasive plants and the damages they are causing to our farms, our forests, our health, our parks, and our economy.

Please support this bill. My family has spent more than a thousand man-hours and a fair bit of money trying to eliminate and knock back invasive plants on our property. We need the state (VDOT) and legislators to do their part to stop loophole sales and making excuses about the problems with these non-native, aggressive and costly (invasive) plants. Sincerely, William Benish Verona (Augusta County)

I support HB 88 to ensure invasive plants are not planted along state highways and that VDOT develops a plan to manage existing infestations that spread rapidly along road corridors.

I support HB88. Invasive species are a major threat to our native plants and animals and they must be removed and controlled as much as possible before they spread further.

HB 88 would be of benefit to our County in helping to control the devastation of the invasive species along our highways and by preventing the planting of listed invasive plants. As a member of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, I support HB 88. Thank you for your leadership. Bea LaPisto-Kirtley Albemarle County Board of Supervisors

Comments on behalf of The Piedmont Environmental Council, Christopher G. Miller. President The Commonwealth of Virginia, through the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), is the state's largest landowner. The maintenance of rights-of-way, including the plant materials used, or allowed to be used, are an important element in roadway corridor design. Well designed plantings using native plants can reduce stormwater runoff, provide scenic benefits for travelers, and make VDOT property habitat for pollinators. The use of non-native, invasive plants, on the other hand, can have significant negative impacts for both VDOT as a landowner, as well as the residents of the Commonwealth. These impacts include, but are not limited to, decreased wildlife habitat and diversity of native species in and around VDOT rights-of-way. Invasive plants can also negatively impact water quality as their root systems are typically more shallow than natives, which contributes to erosion and increased sediment in waterways. Further, monocultures of invasive vegetation can provide dense patches of fuel for wildfires and intensify the risk to nearby property. Alternatively, well designed plantings using native plants can reduce stormwater runoff, provide scenic benefits for travelers, and make VDOT property habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. *might be worth noting that these plantings may require a change in management? Taking proactive steps to stop the planting of non-native, invasive species in VDOT rights-of-ways is especially important given the rising cost of invasive plant removal and the challenges with acquiring contracted labor for invasive management at scale. Additionally, what is planted in VDOT rights-of-way has the potential to spread to adjoining properties, raising costs and threats for residents, business owners, and infrastructure. HB88 addresses the importance of not spending limited Commonwealth resources for vegetation on invasive plants. It is a simple directive, consistent with the recommendations from other state agencies as to species that should be considered invasive. It also requires VDOT to establish and implement a plan for identifying and removing or controlling any invasive plant on the list of invasive plants created pursuant to § 10.1-104.6:2 on any state highway right-of-way. This is particularly important for controlling species like Tree of Heaven (Althanthus altissima) which has contributed to the spread of the invasive and damaging Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). Both of these are direct, common sense approaches to reducing the threat of invasive plants spreading in VDOT rights of way and into public and private properties.

Environment Virginia is a non-profit organization with thousands of members across Virginia. Managing invasive species and protecting native pollinators and wildlife are priorities for us and our members. We thank Delegate Laufer for introducing HB 88 and express our support for it. We want more nature in Virginia where wildlife can thrive, clean water can flow and old trees can grow. Invasive plant species get in the way of this. English ivy covers entire portions of the James River Park system, trail crews are overwhelmed by kudzu on the Appalachian Trail, and farmers cannot keep up with the Callery pear trees spreading rapidly throughout the Shenandoah Valley. Not only do invasive species cause a headache for anyone managing land, they outcompete native plants. Native plants are pollinator powerhouses and feed Virginia’s more than 400 native bees. Our mountain mint is a favorite during a monarch’s migration. Our white oaks are habitat to countless critters. And our gorgeous Virginia bluebells have festivals dedicated to them. Stopping the spread of invasive plant species is critical to protecting Virginia’s wild spaces and wildlife. HB 88 is an important step towards effectively controlling invasive species. Virginia manages the land directly adjacent to thousands of miles of state highways. These rights-of-way commonly become home to invasive plants. Right now, the commonwealth is only supposed to control three plant species on highway rights-of-way, one of which isn’t even on DCR’s list of invasives. HB 88 will require the Commonwealth Transportation Board to control all plants on DCR’s invasive list that are growing on highway rights-of-way. It will also ensure that state officials and contractors do not intentionally plant any invasives along our roads. Managing invasives along our roads is critical to the overall control of invasive plants. Please take action on invasives and vote YES on HB 88.

I strongly support HB 200, because it would advance transit access for Virginians and boost economic opportunity for our working class, while simultaneously addressing environmental costs (air quality impacts) and social injustices (high expense of car ownership).

Chair and Members of the Committee, my name is James “Trapper” Fowler, and I am representing Wild Virginia and speaking in support HB 411. We see HB 411 as providing an opportunity for more public engagement, assurances that there are tailored protections for specific projects and species of concern, and a means for the state to fill gaps in the review process currently lost under federal review. Within the environmental review manual update requirement, there is great opportunity for the consideration of wildlife crossing infrastructure and aquatic organism passage projects. And where feasible and implemented these wildlife crossings and aquatic organism passage projects leading to safer roads and better water quality for all Virginians. HB 411 aims to streamline the permitting process and provide for more efficiency and transparency. For these reasons, we ask that you support HB 411. Thank you.

I speak in support of HB649. I have experienced volunteers removing Democratic candidate's political sign from the streets and roads in Chesapeake. The city should not be able to enlist volunteers to remove signs, and if the city removes them, it should be required to contact the candidate and return the sing to him or here

I 100% approve this bill. DV's already have a exemption for RE taxes, Registration and reduced Handicap placards. This will be a great benefit to those who gave their life with a blank check to the United States of America for the amount of up to and including One's life. I would like to see if the bill can incorporate those who have served ( a miniumum time frame) instead of just a certain DV rating.

I 100% AGREE WITH THIS BILL. 100% disabled veterans already get the registration waived. This will be helpful for those who travel to and from appointments to the VA in hampton, going to medical and dentals appointments. There are ONLY (2) tunnels that ARE NOT CHARGING (for now). The toll rates go up EVERY SINGLE YEAR. We consitutents have paid the "BILL" for the tunnels and need to STOP paying tolls to drive to and from work/worship and or appointments. Virginia is turning into NY!! If this bill can be modified to the lowest rating that DMV allows for all drivers with the "DV" plates then that would be even better.

To address congestion and induced demand, we need to provide people safe and comfortable alternatives to make their trips. Sidewalks are a critical component of transportation, that we have neglected for too long in our communities. I support sidewalk prioritization as a way to effectively address congestion and encourage greater usage of safer, cleaner, and cheaper alternative transportation.

I support HB762. Sidewalks are essential transportation infrastructure that have been neglected for decades in favor of expensive and dangerous roads that pollute our air and create barriers to walking and biking, as well as encourage sprawling, car-centric land use. Without sidewalks, pedestrians must walk in or alongside the road, risking their lives just to get to their destination. To make walking and transit as safe, convenient, and easy as driving, we must invest significantly more funding into sidewalks and bike infrastructure across the entire state of Virginia.

I support HB762 and expanding sidewalk infrastructure in Virginia. Improving mobility across the commonwealth without vehicles can reduce congestion and increase recreation, especially if it fills in missing gaps to public transportation connections like bus stops or regional trails. Many neighborhoods in Northern Virginia are within 0.5 miles of a Connector bus to the Metro, but they are missing a sidewalk and force residents to walk in the street. Providing funding for these connections will increase usage of our existing transit infrastructure.