My name is Kaleigh Leager, and I am the Assistant Manager, Mid-Atlantic States for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF). I am writing to you in support of House Bill 45 (HB 45) – Department of Wildlife Resources, which would require that the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) be reimbursed from the state general fund for any lost revenue resulting from the issuance of free or discounted hunting, fishing, and/or trapping licenses provided by the legislature enacted on or after July 1, 2026. It is important to note, that this legislation is not retroactive and does not impact legislation that occurred prior to HB 45's enactment date.

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

HB 1048 & HB 1049 The Menhaden Needs to be protected NOW from overfishing. This species has already been overfished. The Menhaden are a Keystone species and vital to the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Limits on their harvest need to be put in place an enforced. The osprey population is suffering as are other species that depend on a healthy Menhaden population. HB 1091 Solar Energy is the most cost effective clean source of energy we can install right now. I totally understand residents not wanting industrial solar arrays installed too close to where they live, but with that said it is better to install these solar panels on agricultural land that is not being used rather than deforest more land in order to install these solar arrays. HB 129 Why should you be able to kill deer out of season on your property if they are damaging your fruit trees, crops, or personal property..? The land owner should be made to better secure their fruit trees, crops, and personal property rather than be allowed to kill deer because they are unwilling to invest the time to better secure their property from deer. HB1396 Hunting with dogs and allowing them to run over others personal property Needs to be prohibited! Why the leash laws do not pertain to hunters using dogs makes Zero sense. This has Nothing to do with tradition, and that is not an argument that should be used in support of hunting with dogs. If Sportsman hunting with dogs want to continue using dogs to hunt, they should be made to fence in the property before releasing their dogs. HB45 All fees associated with hunting, fishing, and trapping in the commonwealth should be collected. For what reason should people be allowed to do these activities for free, partially discounted, or get reimbursed. The wildlife they are hunting, fishing, and trapping belong to all the residents of Virginia. Therefore they should pay the associated fees when engaging in an activity that removes them from the wild spaces all residents have a right to enjoy.

Comments Document

The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation is in full support of House Bill 45. The implementation of HB 45 will protect conservation funding in the Commonwealth and allow the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) the ability to execute their vital mission. Please take a moment to read our attached letter of support.

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Dog hunting It's a tradition in Virginia,

Dog hunting It's a tradition in Virginia,

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

I write in support of the nature-based solutions bill, HB70, and reminded the subcommittee that 15.2-901 section 3 is a barrier to adoption of nature based solutions. The fund administrators might consider advising repeal of locality lawn ordinances enabled by 15.2-901.3 (that HB1613 expands) as a part of promoting nature-based solutions. Linked is a [data apendix.](https://buildingbettercommunities.org/#outline-container-hb70) Graphs of a Harrisonburg storm water survey that show a "team nature-based" and "team engineered" clustering, with team nature based being the overwhelming favorite, while a few who also are skeptical about climate issues cleave to team engineered. In Harrisonburg in general, more than 90 percent in multiple surveys of varying rigor by half a dozen independent sources -- all such surveys I have seen -- are consistent with more than 90% support of nature-based solutions and repealing lawn ordinances. However, storm water BMP adoption is only a little over 3% on eligible residential parcels in eco-friendly Harrisonburg. Directing resources, rather than code enforcement, can reverse negative spirals and have an outsized impact in low income communities. I also write in support of HB407. My family moved to Harrisonburg because it was a place with dark skies, clean air, clean water, a temperate climate, and an ecological and biodiversity gem on the populated part of this continent. Our yard was a haven within that until a neighbor put up stadium lights in their back yard. Harrisonburg City Council too often hears "lighting" as a solution to safety issues despite [The End of Night](https://www.paul-bogard.com/books/the-end-of-night-paul-bogard) debunking such myths and explaining the benefits of darkness having been published while the author was a Jame Madison University faculty member and having for a time made a splash here. The education needs to be ongoing, in line with HB407. This subcommittee can go further in advancing the goals of both of these laudable bills by stopping HB1316 when it comes to you and removing, among other things, a key barrier to ecological consciousness and adoption of best management practices.

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Please 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.

Hello, my name is Robert Nellis, and I'm a constituent from VA House of Delegates District 15 (Laura Jane Cohen) and VA State Senate District 35 (David W. Marsden) . I'm writing to ask you to vote: YES on HB109 by Delegate Holly Seibold; YES on HB88 by Delegate Amy Laufer; YES on HB388/SB89 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 support HB109 and SB163. Invasive species cause serious ecological damage and economic loss. Allowing them to be sold in Virginia is highly irresponsible and should be stopped. Allowing volunteers to use herbicides to control them would help reduce the problems they cause.

As a member of the Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards, a non-profit that works to support urban and rural forests and educate the public about trees, passing bill HB109 into law is critical to our ongoing efforts to preserve the native trees and canopy in our community by preventing harmful invasives from being commercially sold. Currently, any invasive species that is sold that is commercially viable in Virginia is not eligible for noxious weed designation. This means many invasives that cause significant harm to the environment and economy remain on the shelf at plant stores and nurseries. There are many organizations, businesses, and public and private land owners that spend countless hours and financial and physical resources combating the onslaught of invasives taking over our landscape, exacerbated by the commercial viability loophole; HB 109 will remove the exclusion of commercially viable plants from noxious weed designation, making it one of the strongest policy tools available for combating invasive species that are decimating the native plant populations in Virginia. Please vote to pass HB109.

I thank Delegate Seibold for HB 109. I have owned 365 acres in King and Queen county for many years and am appalled at the growth of invasive plants on my property and surrounds. I see several new invasives each year. I remove many every year but cannot begin to make a dent. I wonder why I bother when I see the state is not addressing the problem. It sickens me to see some of these species for sale in Virginia nurseries. I spend a considerable amount of money each year on native plants. My property is in a conservation easement. I’ve done my part. It is time for the state to do its part.

Vote to help our community!

Hi, my name is Linda Hughes and I'm a constituent from Williamsburg. I'm calling today to ask you to vote YES on HB109 by Delegate Holly Seibold, YES on HB88 by Delegate Amy Laufer, and YES on HB388 by Delegate Katrina Callsen. I'm a certified Virginia Master Naturalist and I know first hand how Invasive plants are costing Virginians millions of dollars each year and destroy native ecosystems that support pollinators & wildlife. 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 & science, by ensuring that invasive plants are not planted along our state highways, by empowering local jurisdictions to raise funds to treat & 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. And, vote YES on Delegate Jessica Anderson's HB 291. As a Wildlife transporter I see far too many beautiful birds & mammals entangled by fishing line often killing them. Thank you.

I would like to limit invasive species in Va. Therefore I am encouraging voting yes for these bills.

Speaking as the 'volunteer-in-chief' of a watershed stewardship 501(c)3 in west Falls Church/eastern Fairfax County/west end Alexandria with 340 members, I can attest to the damage to our stream valleys and parks by invasive plants that have made the leap from residents' yards. Last year, alone, volunteers in our watershed logged about 2,500 hours in invasive removal, including rescuing close to 1,000 trees. Most volunteers I train are unaware until they see it with their own eyes, and once they see it, they are appalled that such plants are still widely available. We support HB109 to close the loophole in what qualifies as 'noxious' plants. The loss of biodiversity in stream valleys, parks and edge spaces to invasive monocultures not only impacts wildlife, it undermines the essential benefits of such spaces to humans: SWM, clean air/water, less heat islands, temp regulation, filtration, carbon sequestration, etc. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research (July 2024), localized species loss has two effects: Reducing both the productivity of an ecosystem function AND that system's resilience to further species loss. In other words, biodiversity loss has a compounding impact on the ecosystem which in turn ultimately reaches the economy, too. The solution: Proactively address threats to biodiversity before their harmful impacts fully materialize. Removing infestations of harmful plants after the fact is hard enough. Support HB109 to also turn off the spigot!

We must do better to protect our natural surroundings. 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.

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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.

I support these bills: HB109 HB88 HB388 SB163

Please vote yes.

HB 109, we need immediate action on this. Vote yes and save our state from further native tree and native plant losses. Invasive plants don't stay where you plant them. They can not be controlled.

With the reduction in areas that sustain our wildlife, we need to plant for wildlife. Invasives are blank space.

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 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. 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 HB109 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. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing about the efforts to address this critical issue.

Please vote Yes.

Hello, my name is Sue Puleo, and I'm a constituent from Delaplane, VA I'm writing today to ask you to vote YES on HB109 by Delegate Holly Seibold, Also encouraging you to vote 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. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing about [Delegate Name]'s efforts to address this critical issue.

As a Master Naturalist, I spend a great deal of time eradicating invasive vines from area forests. Some of the worst are English ivy and wisteria. They both kill trees in natural settings, yet they can still be found being sold in some stores. It needs to stop. Please vote "yes" on HB109 by Delegate Holly Seibold,

I am submitting this written testimony in strong support of House Bill 109, which amends Virginia's noxious weed laws to remove the exclusion for plants (or parts thereof) that are commercially viable or propagated in-state, and eliminates the requirement for the Noxious Weeds Advisory Committee to analyze in-state commercial viability and economic impacts before recommending a designation. My name is Jonathan Hoover and I reside in Warrenton, Virginia. I work in the re-wholesale industry of plants, where I witness known invasive or toxic plants being sold daily to retailers, landscapers, and consumers across the state. In my daily work, I handle and see species that are widely recognized as invasive—plants that aggressively outcompete native vegetation, degrade biodiversity, disrupt ecosystems, reduce habitat for pollinators and wildlife, and cause lasting environmental damage. These plants continue to flow through the supply chain unchecked because Virginia's current law includes a "commercial viability" loophole: profitable species are shielded from being designated noxious or restricted from sale, even when clear evidence shows their harm. I am choosing to support this bill precisely because I want to help save our environment rather than continue to profit from these plants. While my industry benefits from selling these invasives in the short term, the long-term costs to Virginia's native ecosystems, wildlife, water quality, farmland, and overall natural heritage far outweigh any individual or business gains. Prioritizing profit over protection is unsustainable and irresponsible. Virginia needs stricter restrictions on the sale and propagation of known invasive plants, similar to those in other states that have acted decisively to ban or regulate them without destroying their nursery sectors. HB109 provides a science-based solution by removing commercial and economic considerations from noxious weed decisions, allowing the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services to focus on ecological health and responsible stewardship. This change would give us real tools to curb the spread of invasives, protect biodiversity, and stop the ongoing harm—before more damage is done. I urge the committee to report HB109 favorably (with or without the subcommittee substitute) and advance it to a full House vote without delay. As someone in the plant wholesale trade who sees the problem every day and is willing to forgo profits tied to harmful species, I believe this bill is essential and overdue. Thank you for considering this testimony and for addressing these critical environmental issues.

I’m writing to urge a YES vote on HB109, introduced by our Town of Vienna delegate, Holly Seibold. I work with many other volunteers to protect our local ecosystems from the damage caused by invasive species. Season after season, year after year, we work to remove invasive plants. At times it seems futile. The invasive threat is not unique to Vienna. Driving from Vienna on the highway, heading toward Winchester, there are horrifying examples of invasive vines that have overtaken and smothered trees, a truly dystopian and sickening outcome. Along that same stretch I’ve seen State of Virginia workers spraying the invasive overgrowth. It doesn’t make common or fiscal sense for workers to be spraying invasive plants in the absence of proactive, sensible measures, such as identifying and adding invasive plants species to the Noxious Weed List. Every generation has an obligation to protect, preserve, and maintain the legacy of Virginia's natural resources for future generations. Please vote yes on HB109 for the benefit of our current and future generations Thank you for your consideration, Lea Giovanniello

Hello, my name is Clover Carroll, and I'm a constituent from Crozet. I'm calling today to ask you to vote YES on HB109 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. 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. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Hello, my name is Olivia Gathright, and I'm a constituent from Scottsville. I'm writing 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. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing about efforts to address this critical issue.

As a former outdoor worker and horticulturalist, I fully support this bill. The fact is, most problematic invasive and introduced plants arrived via the horticulture trade, and it is bad enough that they escaped cultivation and are taking over wild spaces, but are still being sold. I spent several weeks hunting down and cutting every last callery/Bradford pear tree I could find in Claude Moore Park in Loudoun when I worked there a few years ago, and I estimated over 100 removals. My neighbor had just planted one in their front yard. The same problem exists with dozens of other species as well. Virginia has such a rich natural heritage that is very rapidly being lost to invasive plants left unchecked by humans; the scale is also so large, that even active management is frequently not enough to curb their spread. Furthermore, with the number of yards and developed areas ever-increasing in Virginia, the space the invasive plants take up in cultivated spaces reduce the capacity for wildlife greatly as well. Native and non-invasive plants are beautiful and demand is there, but with little desire from the nursery trade to change habits despite the harm they know they cause, this bill should help address that.

I support this bill by Del. Seibold to eliminate the loophole for the sale of noxious plants in the commonwealth.

I support this bill to limit the sale of invasive plants. This is a common sense step to reducing the damage these plants do to the ecosystem by reducing habitat as well as the destruction they cause to other properties as invasive seeds are spread by wind and birds. Thank you.

I support this bill by Del. Seibold to eliminate the loophole for the sale of noxious plants in the commonwealth. These plants are causing damage far beyond the capability to try to control them. Thank you.

I support this bill by Del. Seibold to eliminate the loophole for the sale of noxious plants in the commonwealth. These plants are causing damage far beyond the capability to try to control them. Thank you.

Please pass this legislation! I cannot believe English Ivy, Euonymus, and several other of the plant, shrub, and tree species listed by the VA Dept of Conservation and Recreation as non native invasive species are still sold in the state. Does this make sense? They should be prohibited in the state period. It's past time to codify growers and sellers of these non-native invasive species which cost homeowners (not to mention volunteer organizations and the state government) hundreds of dollars to remove. Personally I've been working on removing 15 non-native invasive species from less than .25 acre of land for 8 years now, and also work on removing them from our HOA common area. I'm suppose to be retired.

Please support HB 109, HB 88 and HB 388 as invasive plants are crowding out our native species, causing an ecological disruption with our wildlife and pollinators and costing millions of dollars to remediate. There are plenty of good native alternatives.

Please vote YES on HB109 by Delegate Holly Seibold Invasive plants are costing Virginians millions of dollars each yearas they ruin our forests and landscapes. This bill will be a means to educate the nursery industry and homeowners to find better plants to use while preventing the continued promotion of these noxious plants.

Hello, Please vote YES on HB109 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 my neighbors. Thank you for your time and consideration. Best, Margaret Carter

Invasive species need to be removed from the sources to prevent further spread and destroying our native environment. They reduce the natural inhabitants that our state needs.

I have been gardening in Albemarle County, and the City of Charlottesville, for over 30 years. I have been focusing on invasive plant removal and gardening with native plants for many years now. Invasive plants are costing Virginians millions of dollars each year. HB109, HB88, HB388/SB89, and SB163 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. It's well past time to be planning for the next 100 years, and a diverse native ecosystem is a vital piece of that plan.

Invasive plants cost the citizens (and taxpayers) of Virginia in multiple ways. Invasive plants cause harm by reducing agricultural yields, devastating timberland, and destroying the native habitats that are crucial to keeping our watersheds clean and supporting our wildlife and natural heritage. Coping with invasive plants also costs the taxpayers of Virginia something like $1 billion each year. It's time to stop protecting the profits of narrow business interests in ways that permit the continued, unnecessary sale of plants that are known to cause such devastating environmental and economic harm. Moreover, a lengthy "phase in" of the change to Virginia Law proposed in HB109 can serve only to prolong the wasteful continuance of current practices. If a phase-in must be considered, it should be as brief as possible in order to arrest further harm to the Commonwealth and its citizens.

Invasive plants cost the citizens (and taxpayers) of Virginia in multiple ways. Invasive plants cause harm by reducing agricultural yields, devastating timberland, and destroying the native habitats that are crucial to keeping our watersheds clean and supporting our wildlife and natural heritage. Coping with invasive plants also costs the taxpayers of Virginia something like $1 billion each year. It's time to stop protecting the profits of narrow business interests in ways that permit the continued, unnecessary sale of plants that are known to cause such devastating environmental and economic harm. Moreover, a lengthy "phase in" of the change to Virginia Law proposed in HB109 can serve only to prolong the wasteful continuance of current practices. If a phase-in must be considered, it should be as brief as possible in order to arrest further harm to the Commonwealth and its citizens.

Invasive plants cost Virginians millions of dollars each year. This bill, along with HB 88, 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 writing 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.

Please support HB109. We have a farm in Albemarle County and the invasive weed problem continues to encroach on our woodlands and pastures. My husband spends countless hours every year working to control them but it is a losing battle. Many of the most pernicious invasive weeds were sent here as ornamentals and several continue to be sold by some nurseries. Please support HB 109 and also HB88 and HB388. More needs to be done to control these damaging invasives and this legislation will help.

Invasive plants are costing Virginians millions of dollars each year. This bill 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. Thi 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 support this bill as a step to reduce the prevalence of alien invasive plants that are destroying native vegetation in my neighborhood and along a trail I maintain in Shenandoah National Park. I have spent hundreds of hours reducing and slowing invasive plants in these area and welcome measures to prevent the invasive plant problem from increasing.

Invasive species are actively destroying our abundant natural resources in VA. This is done for the profit of a select few while at the expense of the greater population and especially, the environments we all depend upon. We are home to thousands of beautiful and intricately evolved native plants that have developed over millions of years to be suited to our scenic Commonwealth. Nurseries that set up shop here should reflect our native selections and do their part in NOT causing ACTIVE harm to nature. It should be a basic requirement that nurseries and landscaping companies do NOT work to undermine our natural capital (that is already under threat by many invasive pests and diseases!) by selling invasive species. Allowing them to continue business as usual is a disservice to the qualities that make Virginia unique, across environmental, social, and cultural boundaries. There are simply too many invasive species to contain and control nowadays and land managers are drowning in lost time, money, and broken backs from all the physical labor. Not to mention the existential heartbreak of seeing yet another species go extinct, or a natural area get overrun by invasive vines. The native splendor we all want to conserve for our communities and future generations is rapidly diminishing. When you have a leak in your sink, patching the leak is futile when the water is still running. First, you MUST turn off the faucet. This is the same principle as dealing with invasives. Stop the flow of damaging invasives into our environment and only then can we begin to start to heal! Thank you for your time.

I'm a constituent from Charlottesville, and I'm asking you to vote YES on HB109 by Delegate Holly Seibold, 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 HB88, 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 109, which removes outdated protections that allow invasive plants to remain legal simply because they are commercially sold. Virginia needs science-based authority to stop known invasive species at the source.

Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

Support HB109. Currently, any species that is sold commercially in Virginia cannot be designated as a noxious weed. This means many invasives that have significant negative impacts on the environment and economy remain on the shelf at plant stores. As a volunteer site leader for habitat restoration in Fairfax County, it’s frustrating to spend so much time leading hundreds of volunteers a year to remove invasives while local garden centers continue to sell them.

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 Seibold for introducing HB 109 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. Of the 103 species DCR lists as invasive, 26 are additionally classified as ‘noxious weeds.’ Noxious weed designation requires the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to manage the spread of that species and allows for the complete ban of selling or transporting the species. Because of this, designating species as noxious weeds is one of the strongest policy tools available for managing invasives. Currently, any species that is sold commercially in Virginia is not eligible for noxious weed designation. This means many invasives that have significant negative impacts on the environment and economy remain on the shelf at plant stores. HB 109 will remove the exclusion of commercially viable plants from noxious weed designation. This will allow the powerful noxious weed rule to be applied to any invasive with significant harm to the environment, economy, or public health. Please take action on invasives and vote YES on HB 109.

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Mr. Chair and Members of the Committee, I am writing on behalf of the members and supporters of the Virginia Animal Owners Alliance. We urge you to oppose House Bill 112. THE ARGUMENT IS BEING MADE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT THIS BILL DOES NOT OUTLAW BOTTLE-FEEDING FOR BABY EXOTICS. SUCH STATEMENTS ARE DISINGENUOUS. THE WAY YOU BOTTLE-FEED A BABY ANIMAL IS BY SEPARATING IT. It is clear to those in the industry that HB 112 is set up in such a way that the consequence of this legislation will outlaw the bottle-feeding of exotic animals for specific people. In the majority of cases, hand-rearing of young exotics is done away from the mother. Many of these species have a strong flight response. Hoofstock are a prime example. Bottle-feeding requires a confined space and the mother’s “flight zone” often does not permit her to be kept confined in this manner. Even if she can be stall kept, she will typically have a strong flight response each time the keeper enters the stall. Her natural, wild reaction will be read and responded to by her baby. This powerful instinct is why 100% of wild babies are not killed by predators, but it also causes safety risks in a captive setting to the animals and the keeper. The mother’s constant reinforcing of her natural, wild behavior means that the offspring will never desensitize and there is a high likelihood that both animals would injure themselves. If on the other hand the mother was bottle-raised, such a scenario could work. However, this strengthens the argument in support of bottle-feeding. It is an important tool for management and conservation. Adding an emergency clause allowing any person to render neonatal aid in an emergency situation is definitely an improvement to the original bill. However, “enforcement discretion” will still apply to this proposed law—especially the hybrid language. There remains a high risk that future hybrid babies will be destroyed by DWR and there is no grandfather clause for current hybrids. It is well-documented that hand-rearing and bottle-raising reduces stress in captive mammals and that these tools are an important part of conservation. THIS IS WHY THE LARGER ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS AND FACILITIES PERMITTED FOR ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES ARE EXEMPT FROM THIS PROPOSED BAN. It is also often easier and safer to transport young hoofstock BEFORE weaning from one facility to another to get them adjusted to a new environment early on. Again, the larger accredited institutions recognize this fact BECAUSE THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY EXEMPTED FOR THEIR OWN ANIMAL TRADES. Weaned animals would not need this exemption. Small, private facilities and their animals will arbitrarily be excluded from these practices due to the prejudice of PETA. This is wrong. Commerce and conservation often go hand-in-hand. A business does NOT have to be a non-profit or accept tax dollars in order to be humane to animals. Many independent zoos choose to remain independent, because they retain the freedom to make care decisions for their own animals. It is sad to see that animal keeping has become so political. This ultimately hurts animals. Human labels of “for-profit” or “non-profit” have nothing to do with actual animal care. The selective treatment of HB 112 violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and the Virginia Constitution. We urge you to vote against this harmful and prejudiced bill. Sincerely, Heidi Crosky, Virginia Animal Owners Alliance

Seven generations for the future

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

Dear Members of the House of Delegates, My name is Taryn Singleton, and I am the current President of the Virginia Association of Licensed Veterinary Technicians (“LVT’s”). For those of you who may not know, LVT’s have a degree in veterinary technology, pass a national board exam, and must obtain a minimum of eight hours of continuing education yearly to maintain a license in the Commonwealth. We work side-by-side by veterinarians, obtaining diagnostic samples, performing diagnostic tests, administering and monitoring anesthesia, and provide life-saving medical care to our patients. We understand power of the maternal bond in our mammalian wildlife and the risks associated with the premature separation and hybridization of exotic animals. Exotic animals are not pets. We understand the work and the stakeholders that have carefully drafted this proposed bill and support of HB 112. Taryn Singleton, LVT VALVT President

Please see attached

I am a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in Virginia and the founder of a nonprofit wildlife rescue organization that responds to thousands of wildlife cases each year. I support HB 112 because it reflects basic animal welfare principles that wildlife professionals already follow: unweaned animals should not be separated from their mothers unless there is a legitimate, medically justified reason supported by appropriate veterinary oversight. From a biological and welfare standpoint, early maternal separation is inherently risky. Infant mammals rely on their mothers not only for nutrition, but also for immune protection, thermoregulation, neurological development, and species-specific behavioral learning. Bottle-feeding alone cannot replicate these processes. In wildlife rehabilitation, removing a baby unnecessarily is considered harmful and often results in higher mortality, developmental issues, or long-term welfare compromise. HB 112 does not criminalize emergency care, responsible rehabilitation, or legitimate zoological or agricultural practices. Instead, it establishes a clear expectation that early separation should be rare, justified, and documented. This clarity closes a gap in current law that allows intentional breeding and early removal of animals without meaningful veterinary involvement. Concerns raised about the requirement for a veterinarian with “appropriate species-specific experience” misunderstand how veterinary competence is assessed in practice. There is no formal certification for every species. Competence is demonstrated through training, experience, continuing education, and professional accountability. This is already how wildlife rehabilitators and veterinarians operate. If an individual cannot identify a veterinarian with relevant experience before breeding or acquiring an animal, that individual should not be responsible for managing that animal’s reproduction or neonatal care. Emergency situations are not restricted under this bill. What HB 112 discourages is convenience-based or pre-planned separation justified after the fact. Veterinary oversight is not red tape—it is a safeguard for animals and for caretakers alike. As a rehabilitator, I routinely see the consequences of unnecessary early separation. HB 112 prioritizes prevention over reaction and aligns private animal care standards more closely with evidence-based animal welfare practices. For these reasons, I support HB 112 and respectfully urge its passage.

1/28/26 Laura Steere Educational Facilitator & RN I’m respectfully request a VETO to Bills SB344/HB112 & hope that this bill (that was defeated last fall) will be permanently tabled. As an animal-assisted therapeutic program facilitator and a registered nurse, I would like to share an important perspective on why bottle-raising exotic animals is both an ethical and educational practice it is often medically and ethically necessary. Bottle-raising, when done responsibly, produces animals that are secure, not confused—capable of both species-appropriate behavior and human-guided educational engagement. Bottle-raising exotic animals and responsibly incorporating hybrid species into educational programs is not about control—it is about care. These practices allow animals to thrive in human-guided environments while enabling meaningful, trauma-informed education that reaches populations who may never otherwise connect with the natural world. When done ethically, bottle-raising saves lives, improves welfare, and creates ambassadors that foster empathy, understanding, and long-term stewardship. Early Human Care Enables Lifelong Welfare and Safety · Animals raised for educational programs must be: · Comfortable with routine health checks · Calm during transport and environmental change · Safe around children, individuals with disabilities, and elderly populations · Bottle-raised animals are · Less stressed by human presence · More receptive to veterinary care · Less likely to injure themselves or others during routine handling This directly improves animal welfare outcomes and human safety, especially in inclusive educational settings. Bottle-Raising Creates Unmatched Educational Impact · Animals that are calm, trusting, and responsive allow educators to: · Demonstrate anatomy, behavior, nutrition, and development in real time · Teach empathy, responsibility, and respect for life · Support trauma-informed learning for veterans, children, and individuals with disabilities • For many participants, a bottle-raised animal is the first safe connection to the natural world, transforming abstract concepts into lasting understanding. · Education is not passive observation—it is relationship-based learning. Bottle-Raised Does Not Mean Imprinted or Exploited · Ethical programs maintain: · Species-appropriate socialization · Access to conspecifics when developmentally appropriate · Clear boundaries that prevent inappropriate dependency Hybrid animals are a naturally occurring outcome of biology that, can enhance animal welfare, support human education, and deepen public understanding of genetics and evolution. Ethical hybrid breeding is defined by intention, restraint, and the commitment to provide animals with lives that are healthy, enriched, and respected. Virginia’s agricultural and educational traditions remind us that ethical care, informed human involvement, and respect for animal life are not opposing values—they are deeply intertwined. I would welcome the opportunity to share a personal experience that illustrates this reality—one that speaks not only to the mind, but to the heart—and helps broaden perspectives on these practices play in education, therapy, and animal welfare. Thank you for being open minded . Please permanently defeat HB112.

Mr. Chair and Members of the Committee, My name is Heidi Crosky and I represent the Virginia Animal Owners Alliance. We urge you to strongly oppose HB 112--it is picking winners and losers and will harm animal welfare. This legislation is unnecessary and will conflict with current law. In Virginia, exotic animals are classified as companion animals. Code section 3.2-6510 already includes protections for unweaned mammals, “No person shall sell, raffle, give away, or offer for sale as pets or novelties, or offer or give as a prize, premium, or advertising device any living chicks, ducklings, or other fowl under two months old in quantities of less than six or any unweaned mammalian companion animal or any dog or cat under the age of seven weeks without its dam or queen.” The current code also states, “Nothing in this section shall prohibit the sale, gift, or transfer of an unweaned animal... due to a concern for the health or safety of the unweaned animal”. HB 112 is arbitrary and goes against common sense. This bill will also set a dangerous precedent if passed, because it will codify the concept that the hand-rearing and bottle-raising of baby animals is cruel. Nothing could be further from the truth! Exotic animals in human care greatly benefit from hand-rearing and desensitization. Bottle-feeding improves daily handling and veterinary procedures and these benefits last a lifetime. It is worth noting that even the supporters of HB 112 recognize this practice is NOT cruel, because there are exemptions. In cases of actual cruelty (such as dog fighting) an exemption would never be proposed or considered. This bill is very prejudiced, because it segregates citizens into two groups. It has selected independent owners and keepers for enforcement and prosecution, while allowing EVERY OTHER CITIZEN to continue the privilege of bottle-feeding. This violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. It also goes against the Constitution of Virginia which clearly states that no man, or set of men, is entitled to exclusive privileges from the community. PETA is championing this bill, but it is important to remember that this extreme group is opposed to animals in human care. This organization has a very unrealistic view of animals and "the wild". Over 50% of wild baby giraffes are lost to predators, but they don't seem to want to talk about the cruelty of Mother Nature. Animals in human care are the lucky ones. Darren Minier is promoted by PETA and has been included in some of their talking points. He testified against the Mogensen family in February 2024, but part of his testimony did not make it into the PETA handout. He testified, "..we elect to euthanize animals that are rejected..." The entire courtroom was in shock at this statement, but he and PETA share the same dark ideology. We know from experience that Darren Minier is wrong and that hand-raised animals often lead very long and full lives. The hybrid language of HB 112 is also deeply concerning. The word "intentionally" can easily be struck later on and zoos with multi-species exhibits should NOT be targeted. Hybrids are part of many zoos and found in nature. They often enjoy what is known as "hybrid vigor". There is no reason to ban or destroy them. The enforcement aspect of this legislation is very, very dark and must be rejected. Please vote against this bill and protect the citizens and animals of Virginia. Sincerely, Heidi Crosky, VAOA

Opposition Testimony on Virginia House Bill 112 Good Afternoon Chairman and members of the committee, My name is Abbitt Hoffman. I am the Mid-Atlantic Regional Director and Legislative Representative for the American Federation of Aviculture, and a retired United States Army Sergeant. Thank you for the opportunity to speak in opposition to House Bill 112. The American Federation of Aviculture is a national nonprofit organization representing responsible animal caretakers, breeders, educators, and conservationists nationwide. While HB 112 may be well-intended, it is overly broad, inflexible, and risks unintended harm. First, the bill imposes a blanket four-month restriction on separating mammalian offspring from the mother, regardless of species or circumstances. Animal development varies widely, and responsible care decisions must be made on a case-by-case basis. Embedding a rigid timeline into law removes professional judgment from veterinarians and experienced caretakers. Second, I want to address the impact on military veterans, particularly those living with PTSD and traumatic brain injury. For many veterans, animal companionship is not optional—it is a critical support that improves mental health, stability, and quality of life. By restricting lawful and responsible access to companion animals, HB 112 risks creating barriers for veterans who rely on animals as part of their recovery and daily functioning. Third, the bill’s hybridization language is vague and difficult to enforce, creating unnecessary legal risk for responsible owners and conservation-based programs without demonstrating clear benefit to animal welfare. Virginia already has strong animal cruelty laws on the books. The focus should be on enforcing existing statutes, not expanding rigid mandates that replace science and professional discretion with one-size-fits-all policy. As a veteran, I believe good law should be clear, practical, and effective. HB 112 does not meet that standard. I would also like to bring to the table for the committee to see the issues identified during the hearing for the companion bill in senate SB 344. The language allows the officer to decide if the person is guilty of any violation with no burden of proofand doesn't identify what the penalty/fines would be. For these reasons, on behalf of the American Federation of Aviculture, I respectfully urge you to oppose HOUSE BILL 112. Thank you for your time. I am happy to answer any questions.

1-21-26 The VFDCB OPPOSES bill HB112. It requires justification for premature wildlife offspring/mother separation only "if medical necessity exists pursuant to a WRITTEN ORDER from a veterinarian with appropriate SPECIES-SPECIFIC experience and expertise who is licensed to practice in the Commonwealth". This requirement ignores the shortage of veterinarians with specialized skills all over VA but especially in remote or rural areas. Being able to locate such a vet within narrow time limits of an at-risk offspring is not a appropriate requirement. Similarly directing only very specific accreditation organizations can be considered is another over-the -top requirement. Hybridization occurs in nature so to rule this circumstance out again ignores reality. Please OPPOSE HB112 Alice Harrington - VFDCB

Comments Document

On behalf of the responsible pet care community, we ask that you vote NO on House Bill 112, which makes it unlawful to prematurely separate any mammalian wildlife offspring born in captivity.

This legislation is unnecessary. The animal caretakers are more qualified than most veterinarians in care of exotic or domestic neonates. Enforcing this type of law will actually endanger the animals more by inexperience law enforcement officials trying to remove the animal from care.

It's a wonderful thing when a new baby animal arrives and bottle feeding them wether it's because the mother wasn't willing to feed her offspring or for any other reasons it helps reduce the stress of being handled by huma s for vet purposes as well as any care they need . It adds to their quality of life doesn't subtract or cause them trama. They can lead a happy well adjusted life with vet care and extended life expectancys from the care and vaccines

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

The out law of dog hunting . We have have a lot of problems with them not considering how rude and dangerous it is by going on peoples property’s and causing problems and I’ve had numerous problems with them with not having respect and dropping dogs on property that they don’t have permission illegally hunting on other’s property’s it’s out of control they need to ither ban or put higher restrictions on dog hunting I personally and know a lot of people who want it banned

Please support HB402. It will allow small cottage foods producers to grow reach a larger consumer base, without the need to upgrade to a commercial kitchen, which is exceedingly expensive and lots of red tape for permitting. This is also a way to make it less restrictive for anyone wanting to get started with home produced uninspected foods which will support independence and community food resilience and keep revenue cycling within the local economy.

On behalf of a small farm that I operate it is hard to stay afloat with the rising costs of fertilizer and seed. On behalf of the Deere eating the crops year round and no being able to do anything bout it except 3 months out of the year I feel as if we should be able to kill them but limit the killing on the Deere so we do not over kill there needs to be a set number allowed per farmer. As a hound owner myself it is a life style that has been around for ages and we do not feel as it should fall out of per portion.

HB 1048 & HB 1049 The Menhaden Needs to be protected NOW from overfishing. This species has already been overfished. The Menhaden are a Keystone species and vital to the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Limits on their harvest need to be put in place an enforced. The osprey population is suffering as are other species that depend on a healthy Menhaden population. HB 1091 Solar Energy is the most cost effective clean source of energy we can install right now. I totally understand residents not wanting industrial solar arrays installed too close to where they live, but with that said it is better to install these solar panels on agricultural land that is not being used rather than deforest more land in order to install these solar arrays. HB 129 Why should you be able to kill deer out of season on your property if they are damaging your fruit trees, crops, or personal property..? The land owner should be made to better secure their fruit trees, crops, and personal property rather than be allowed to kill deer because they are unwilling to invest the time to better secure their property from deer. HB1396 Hunting with dogs and allowing them to run over others personal property Needs to be prohibited! Why the leash laws do not pertain to hunters using dogs makes Zero sense. This has Nothing to do with tradition, and that is not an argument that should be used in support of hunting with dogs. If Sportsman hunting with dogs want to continue using dogs to hunt, they should be made to fence in the property before releasing their dogs. HB45 All fees associated with hunting, fishing, and trapping in the commonwealth should be collected. For what reason should people be allowed to do these activities for free, partially discounted, or get reimbursed. The wildlife they are hunting, fishing, and trapping belong to all the residents of Virginia. Therefore they should pay the associated fees when engaging in an activity that removes them from the wild spaces all residents have a right to enjoy.

1396 Keep dog hunting No solar panels 1091 129 let owners kill deer 1169 leave small farms alone 1072 do not regulate sludge applications

We do not need any more solar panels on farm land or any land for that matter . Place them on top of buildings or all of the areas where there are closed businesses Farmers should cotongue to receive crop damage permits to protect their lively hood Dog hunting has been a tradition for hundreds of years. This is something that should continue on forever

I do agree with this but at the same time I also feel and have seen people who should not be operating/discharging firearms that are not properly trained about what they are shooting at and what’s behind the target. I feel like this opens great danger in more urban areas that were once rural. I say oppose this bill unless you have certain property acreage

I support the passing of this bill because, if I am reading it correctly, it allows the farmer or property owner to take action to protect their crop when they first see a problem with wildlife damaging it instead of having to wait until dwr can come assess the damage and issue a permit.

I was only introduced to hound hunting 4 years ago. To this day I have still not killed or injured an animal in front of a hound. (It’s much harder than it looks!) I take great pride in my hounds along with many others. My fiancé and I love running our dogs and we do our absolute best to keep dogs from entering a property. My worry is you introduce this bill people will resort to shocking these dogs to keep them off other’s property. When all the are doing is passing thru and you pick them up the next road over so myself doesn’t have to go on a private property as an unarmed woman. Hunting hounds as become my favorite among all hunting activities. I’m a horse owner a chicken owner and have owned various other livestock. These dogs aren’t always interested in livestock, but it happens! I do my best to make sure my dogs are not concerned with livestock but at the same time their kibble contains chicken meat and by product. So how can you be upset with an animal that is fed another animal in a different form? I’m not mad when a fox, coyote raccoon get my animals. Just means I need to do a better job of fencing out what I don’t want in. Thank you for reading if you did I may have been slightly all over the place but I wasn’t prepared I just went with what I felt. Sincerely, Jamie Sanford Virginia Beach, VA

Please vote YES on this.

Opposed to these bills

I support this legislation as a landowner and conservationist. I grow fruit trees and mast propducing trees on my property in an effort to restore native species that were removed to plant rows of pine for timber production. The trees are also planted for personal use as well. Damage to these trees as well as planting trees, fertilizing and tree care is and can be an expensive process. In order to reduce crop damage this legislation is reasonable and can be implemented much like Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP), Damage Control Assisitance Program. I ask that if this is enacted that it allows for the deer to be donated to programs like Hunters for the Hungry or that the landowner harvests the meat for consumption. Discarding of carcasses shoukd be on the landowners property it is killed. It should be a responsible, ethical harvest and the meat can be used rather than wasted.

Comment Opposing HB129 Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB129. I respectfully urge you to oppose this bill. HB129 would allow any landowner or lessee to kill a deer on sight if they believe it is “in the act” of causing damage to crops, trees, livestock, plants, or personal property—without any prior authorization or oversight. This creates several serious concerns. 1. The bill removes essential safeguards. Current law requires that the Director or his designee determines that there is clear and convincing evidence that the damage was done by deer with antlers. This standard was added specifically to prevent misuse of damage permits for trophy hunting. HB129, as written, effectively bypasses that safeguard by allowing immediate killing without any verification. This undermines the very protection the General Assembly put in place to ensure that damage-control measures are not used as a loophole for taking antlered deer outside normal seasons and regulations. 2. It encourages unsafe and reactive firearm use. Even with the requirement to follow local firearm ordinances, the bill invites impulsive shooting whenever a deer is seen near property. This increases risk to neighbors, bystanders, and livestock, especially in rural‑residential areas where properties are close together. 3. It undermines responsible wildlife management. Virginia’s deer population is managed through science‑based practices. Allowing unregulated killing outside established processes could create localized population declines, disrupt herd behavior, and reduce the effectiveness of statewide management strategies. 4. It creates enforcement and reporting problems. The bill relies entirely on self‑reporting after the fact, with no mechanism to verify whether the deer was actually causing damage. This makes the law difficult to enforce and easy to abuse. 5. Better alternatives already exist. Landowners currently have access to damage permits, fencing options, deterrents, and coordinated assistance from the Department of Wildlife Resources. These tools balance property protection with public safety and responsible wildlife stewardship. For these reasons, I respectfully ask you to reject HB129. Protecting property is important, but it should not come at the cost of public safety, wildlife mismanagement, and the removal of long‑standing safeguards designed to prevent abuse. Thank you for your consideration.

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

I agree with this legislation. We need to ensure areas prone to flooding or that could potentially have catastrophic flooding like that seen and experienced during hurricane Helene are known and better plans of action can be made and courses of action can be taken. Respone times, prior prep and flood impact mitigation actions can be taken before an event.

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

Please support HB402. It will allow small cottage foods producers to grow reach a larger consumer base, without the need to upgrade to a commercial kitchen, which is exceedingly expensive and lots of red tape for permitting. This is also a way to make it less restrictive for anyone wanting to get started with home produced uninspected foods which will support independence and community food resilience and keep revenue cycling within the local economy.

we at VICFA VA Independent Farmer Consumer Assoc support Delegate Glass bill HB322. We would also favor amending the bill to require any included lab grown ingredient(s) be labeled no matter how minimal the quanity. If not on the main labeling then at leastinclude it the ingredient list. This legislation would support small meat producers and encourage local sustainable food production. The reason for the lab grown meats effort is often sited as a way to lessen climate changing emissions from livestock, especially beef. It has been reasonably well proven that rotationally grazed grass feed beef actually sequesters more carbon in the soil; when compared to feed lot beef. And a in study by UCLA, it calculated the environmental damage of producing lab grown meat far out strips the climate changing emissions of grass fed, land based production. As for nutritional quality the most nutritious of any beef production method is by very diverse pastures and lab grown meat won't even come close to feedlot grown beef which is currently the least nutrient rich beef. Please support this bill to help the consumer be informed easily to what they are purchasing and ingesting. thank you for your time to bring this to public attention.

we at VICFA VA Independent Farmer Consumer Assoc support Delegate Glass bill HB322. We would also favor amending the bill to require any included lab grown ingredient(s) be labeled no matter how minimal the quanity. If not on the main labeling then at leastinclude it the ingredient list. This legislation would support small meat producers and encourage local sustainable food production. The reason for the lab grown meats effort is often sited as a way to lessen climate changing emissions from livestock, especially beef. It has been reasonably well proven that rotationally grazed grass feed beef actually sequesters more carbon in the soil; when compared to feed lot beef. And a in study by UCLA, it calculated the environmental damage of producing lab grown meat far out strips the climate changing emissions of grass fed, land based production. As for nutritional quality the most nutritious of any beef production method is by very diverse pastures and lab grown meat won't even come close to feedlot grown beef which is currently the least nutrient rich beef. Please support this bill to help the consumer be informed easily to what they are purchasing and ingesting. thank you for your time to bring this to public attention.

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

I am a 7th generation of waterman and I am here to support VMRC in opposition to bill HB1013 and HB390. VMRC is for fishery management. I did not get an opportunity to register as a registered speaker but if one is made available to make brief comment. Thank you

I am a 7th generation of waterman and I am here to support VMRC in opposition to bill HB1013 and HB390. VMRC is for fishery management. I did not get an opportunity to register as a registered speaker but if one is made available to make brief comment. Thank you

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Public Comment on HB 390 Madam Chair, Mr. Chair, and Members of the Committee— I submit this comment to clarify the legislative record concerning House Bill 390 and to identify unresolved constitutional, statutory, and fiscal concerns that merit careful consideration prior to enactment. HB 390 establishes a Habitat Policy Oversight Committee within the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) to advise on policies supporting coastal resilience and habitat management. Although characterized as advisory, the bill requires VMRC and its Habitat Management Division to consider committee recommendations in decision‑making, to consult the committee on updates or revisions to policy matters, and to report how committee recommendations have informed policy and program development. Virginia law evaluates governmental structures by function rather than labels. A body that is embedded in policy consultation, consideration, and integration exercises policy influence as a matter of law. Policy formation, however, remains a function reserved to the General Assembly, and any delegation of authority must be accompanied by clear standards, limiting principles, and defined scope. VMRC is not a general environmental agency. It is a legislatively created, trust‑based body charged with stewarding fisheries and subaqueous resources pursuant to defined statutory mandates. HB 390 introduces a standing policy body focused on “habitat” without providing a clear statutory definition of that term within Title 28.2 or reconciling the committee’s role with existing fishery management law and public trust obligations. The Department of Planning and Budget’s Fiscal Impact Statement further confirms that HB 390 will increase workload for VMRC and related agencies, require no fewer than three committee meetings annually, and impose fiscal effects described as indeterminate but absorbable. The statement does not evaluate cumulative workload, opportunity cost, or the effect of these new obligations on VMRC’s core statutory duties. Before advancing HB 390, the General Assembly should clearly address on the record whether the bill authorizes policy formation rather than technical advice; how “habitat” is defined and bounded within VMRC’s authority; what standards constrain discretion; and how expanded institutional obligations align with VMRC’s trust‑based mission. Members are respectfully directed to the attached PDF, which documents the statutory, constitutional, and fiscal implications of HB 390 in greater detail and is submitted to ensure the legislative record fully reflects those concerns. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. KJH. Veteran Virginian in Virginia.

Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

James River Association supports HB599. -Eastern oysters are a keystone species essential to the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and James River estuary. In addition to filtering pollutants from the water, healthy oyster populations build reefs that boost local biodiversity and strengthen fisheries. -Establishing an oyster stock assessment will give the Commonwealth an additional tool to better understand the status of oyster populations and to improve management and restoration decision making. James River Association supports HB390. -The Marine Resources Commission plays an important role in coastal habitat management, and this bill helps establish a formal committee structure to guide the consideration and evaluation of habitat management strategies. -Formalizing this committee will create an important touchpoint for decision making that promotes healthy marine habitats and supports fisheries, tourism, and recreation.

HB52 (Bloxom) Dredge materials are a valuable natural resource that is oftentimes dumped into open waters or onto overwintering crab populations. Dredge material can play a critical role in building coastal resilience and safeguarding communities. HB52 makes it the state's policy to outline uses for and utilize this material when feasible. HB348 (McLaughlin) Virginia offers rural well testing but not for PFAS. The application of toxins to lands in rural Virginia can impact our groundwater and communities. PFAS is prevalent in biosolids that have been applied on agricultural lands around the Commonwealth and presents significant public health risks. HB348 protects rural communities, provides valuable public health information, and helps the state map PFAS contamination in groundwater. HB386 (Krizek) Codifying the Chesapeake Bay Pay‑for‑Outcomes Fund positions Virginia at the forefront of innovative, results‑driven environmental policy. It rewards verified pollution reductions rather than modeled estimates, engages the private sector and non-profits, and accelerates measurable improvements in water quality. During the pilot program, Virginia received $110 million in requests for only $20 million and awarded 9 projects, removing more than 580,000 pounds of nitrogen at just $36 per pound. Codifying the fund allows us to continue identifying and investing in cost‑effective solutions -- prioritizing projects that deliver verified outcomes, prevent pollution, and promote innovation. HB389 (Askew) Climate change is driving changes in our fisheries. HB389 directs the commission to start planning for future conditions using the great research occurring at Virginia universities. Translating that research into forward looking fisheries policy ensures that the state continues to be a leader in sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. HB390 (Askew) Virginia faces permitting challenges and opportunities as the state tries to effectively combat more intense storms, sea level rise, land subsidence, habitat loss, and erosion. To meet these challenges, HB390 reinvigorates the Habitat Policy Oversight Committee within the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC). The Committee will advise VMRC and its Habitat Management Division on habitat-related policies and activities and will support the Commonwealth’s coastal resilience efforts. HB521 (Hernandez) HB521 strengthens Virginia’s wetlands protections by moving Virginia’s “no net loss” of wetlands standard into code, requiring appropriate mitigation and establishing a stakeholder group to explore mitigation options for non-vegetated tidal wetlands, an often overlooked but essential habitat type. HB521 is a tool to meet Virginia’s wetlands goals under the newly signed Chesapeake Bay Agreement. HB599 (Simonds) An oyster stock assessment would use scientific data to estimate the abundance of oysters in Virginia’s portion of the Bay, the fraction of oysters that die each year from natural causes, and the sustainable amount of oysters that can be harvested each year while ensuring a healthy population in the Bay and its tributaries. Hb599 aids scientists, restoration groups, the oyster industry, and fishery managers in focusing restoration efforts that support positive ecological and economic outcomes.

Please support this bill HB402. Buy local and small producers need it.

Please vote NO on HB1169! This is an unnecessary waste of taxpayer money for an unneeded extra layer of bureaucracy. This is a money-wsting power grab and taxpayers DO NOT WANT IT. Please vote YES on HB402 for cottage food laws! It is SO helpful for those of us with special dietary and health needs to be able to directly buy food that keeps us well! And we've been hoping for this law for so long.

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

Dear Chairman Willet and Members of the House Agriculture Subcommittee, Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of H.B. 402 which would reform the cottage food law in Virginia to allow online and through the mail sales, delivery, online payments, and limited wholesale options. My name is Megan Bowers and I am a cottage food producer. I own and operate an in-home bakery in Woodstock, Virginia. I specialize in custom decorated sugar cookies, cupcakes and wedding cakes. I began my business 9 years ago this coming March after becoming a stay-at-home mom with our second daughter. Having a cottage food business has allowed me to own my own small business doing what I’m passionate about, create meaningful relationships and partnerships in the community, and most of all, be present in my young daughters’ lives - who are 9 and 14. These updates to the cottage food law are essential to the continued growth and expansion of my business and others just like me; allowing me to better serve the needs and expectations of my current and future customers. I don’t have the funds or the space to create a larger commercial kitchen in my home or for expensive rent for a commercial kitchen. I have had numerous cafes and businesses reach out about selling my sugar cookies in their businesses and am asked almost daily about shipping my products to customers not local to me. However, with the way the current cottage law is written, I unfortunately cannot. I’m losing sales and am not able to provide the additional needed services to my current and potential customers, which includes partnering with other small businesses. This drastically reduces the chances of being able to expand my business and offerings. These unnecessary hurdles only hinder our types of small businesses and create more expenses in the end. As a baker, the costs of my ingredients and supplies are consistently rising, as are taxes, which eats at my bottom line. The revisions in this bill would allow me to grow my customer base, meet the demands of potential new customers, and increase my offerings. I understand the need for further restrictions if you’re a catering business or something that needs more regulation, but someone who pretty much only offers decorated sugar cookies - it’s a major hindrance. Like other small businesses, cottage food producers pay taxes and contribute to our communities. We deserve access to the same tools and opportunities to grow and succeed. In conclusion, I strongly urge you to support H.B. 402 and Virginia cottage food producers, like me. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Please vote in favor of HB 402. It is an important step toward economic fairness and modernization. Small cottage food producers should not be limited by outdated restrictions that prevent them from accepting phone or online orders—tools that are standard for nearly every other type of business. This bill allows home-based entrepreneurs to compete on a more level playing field, expand their customer base, and operate more efficiently without increasing food safety risk. By removing unnecessary barriers, HB 402 empowers Virginians to turn skills into sustainable income and strengthens local economies, especially in rural and underserved areas.

Please pass HB 402 Cottage food laws; sale of certain food over phone and internet. Virginia's remaining small farmers and food producers are so important to a thriving population. All the comments already submitted in support are on point. Many of us want to support our farmers and food producers and want to see new ways to do it allowed by law.

I am writing to support HB402, which would expand the cottage food sales markets in Virginia. For those who want access to foods produced locally, it would be great to have options other than the limits of in person sales only. Easing up restrictions to the current cottage food laws would benefit the home producers wanting to expand their customer base as well as the consumers who want more flexibility in accessing these products. Allowing on line sales also will open the doors to new folks who would love to sell their baked goods, jams, pickles etc. but are currently limited due to the requirement that the sale must happen in person. Having a thriving local food economy is vital to the health of communities and it's truly a wonderful thing to buy from people you know. It's good for the seller, the consumer and the environment as well... really, there is no downside. I also support the removal of the sales cap on acidified foods and the streamlining of the permitting process.

hB402 I stand behind and hope this bill is passed. As a farmer who loves to can jams and jellies, This bill will make sure I can continue to do so without restrictions.

Please support HB402. It will allow small cottage foods producers to grow reach a larger consumer base, without the need to upgrade to a commercial kitchen, which is exceedingly expensive and lots of red tape for permitting. This is also a way to make it less restrictive for anyone wanting to get started with home produced uninspected foods which will support independence and community food resilience and keep revenue cycling within the local economy.

Please support HB 402. The only way small farmers can survive is with the direct connection of commerce between local farmers and local consumers. If there is fear of deregulation, have consumers sign an agreement (or how about a handshake?) with the local farmer that we are not afraid to buy and consume their food products. MAHA Mary Ann McDevitt - Rockbridge County - Glasgow, VA

Please support HB 402. The only way small farmers can survive is with the direct connection of commerce between local farmers and local consumers. If there is fear of deregulation, have consumers sign an agreement (or how about a handshake?) with the local farmer that we are not afraid to buy and consume their food products. MAHA Mary Ann McDevitt - Rockbridge County - Glasgow, VA

As a food safety professional, I have science-based opinions regarding the proposed language in this bill to modify the current Virginia Food and Drink Law.

Please support the passage of HB402, Cottage Food Laws. HB 402 would have a dual effect when it passes. This bill removes many limitations of previous legislation and will allow Virginians to freely engage in the sale and production of foods deemed safe for exemption (cottage foods). The other effect would be to lessen a lot of the hoops needed to jump through to get a permit based on a kitchen inspection for other foods, and streamlines the process. This bill will jumpstart economic growth, especially among small businesses, and will build food security and resiliency within our commonwealth's food system.

Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to share how HB 402 will transform cottage food businesses like mine in Virginia. As it stands, we’re often limited to in-person sales, making it tough to expand beyond local markets. HB 402 opens up online sales, meaning I can reach customers all across Virginia and beyond. That flexibility—allowing online orders, payments, and even mail delivery—means I’ll no longer be restricted to weekend markets or word-of-mouth. I can build a real online presence, grow my customer base, and stabilize income year-round. On a more person note, I am a cancer survivor who has trouble being in hot or super cold environments. Only being able to sell at outdoor markets on the East Coast is basically a death sentence to my business. Additionally, limited wholesale options mean I could partner with local cafes or small retailers. That adds stability, boosts my visibility, and allows me to scale up just enough without losing the personal touch. In short, HB 402 gives my business room to thrive, modernize, and contribute even more to the local economy. Please consider making the changes necessary to help Cottage Bakers reach their full potential. Thank you for your time.

I support the passage of HB402. We enjoy Loudoun County’s wonderful farmers.and all of the variety of products that come from them and their kitchens! Maureen and Bruce Newton

Please vote in favor of this bill. It will allow for increased local economies and allow for much needed food choice for those who have food sensitivities.

Thank you Committee Members for your consideration. Im writing in today to ask for your support of HB 402. I am currently completing a kitchen separate from my home for the purpose of canning foods and future food preparation for a Farm Stand. The kitchen did not allow room for commercial equipment. I purchased new appliances specifically for this kitchen. I would very much appreciate your approval of these changes to the Cottage Food Laws here in the Commonwealth. Thank you.

This is a bill ALL VIRGINIANS can support! I have a small homestead with livestock and have sold sourdough bread and homemade soap at farmer's markets. I have also been a supporter of direct farm sales from farmers in my area for over two decades. Now more than ever- after COVID revealed the weakness and susceptibility of the supply chain- this bill will free VIRGINIANS to produce more foods locally. VIRGINIANS quickly looked to local farmer's markets, farms and small artisan producers for food when they saw how quickly shelves could empty and stay empty. This hardship was temporary but shined a light on the perspective that we needed to support food producers right downtown and around the corner. This is a renewal and a FOOD MOVEMENT that brings dollars into our towns and smiles on farmers' faces who work so hard yet see so little profits. Farmer's markets are gaining in popularity every year. It is nice to see legislators thinking about and then acting on ways to encourage those who produce clean nourishing food for our families right here at home. Thank you Delegate Callsen and Delegate Webert for sponsoring this bill and I'm hopeful others will overwhelmingly use this opportunity to show VIRGINIA voters they are listening and caring about the things that are important to them.

I urge you to SUPPORT HB402 because it would make selling directly to neighbors easier and lead to economic growth in my small town, supporting home-based enterprises, strengthening families by making full time childcare and home education more feasible.

Please pass this bill! There should be no regulation on the goods I buy directly from my farmer!

I support HB402 not as a small business owner, rather as a consumer who like so many conscientious citizens in the Commonwealth, recognizes that food is indeed medicine. Thomas Jefferson knew it and fortunately, now the people are quickly following suit. We have a unique opportunity to eschew the infighting and lobbying at the national level and choose to support the health and wealth of our land, our farmers, and products that create REAL LIVELIHOOD for one and all. Cottage industries, when given the chance, thrive in ways that allow for all of us to thrive. And I've seen firsthand the ludicrous lengths that we must all go to, to actually produce and purchase the goods and services that they offer. Please help us to become a shining role model for the rest of the country in actively denouncing unnecessary controls and promoting choice and real health for our citizens. Thank you so kindly ....

As a small farming operation we support HB 402 to relax restrictions on cottage food preparation and sales - this is an important step in reclaiming our food sovereignty that will liberate neighbors to sell to neighbors and even beyond. We applaud these efforts and ask that you vote for this bill

Please support this bill. There is only positive impacts from a bill like this passing. Its a no brainer to allow people to sell and people to buy freely in a free society.

HB402 modernizes Virginia’s cottage food laws by removing outdated restrictions that limit how home-based food businesses operate. It reflects today’s marketplace by allowing common practices such as online and phone orders, while still maintaining transparency and consumer safety. Please support HB402.

I support this bill! Please give Virginians more access to fresh, local food. We need a restoration of health and nutrition in our state. Thank you!

My husband and I own a small farm in Bath County, Va. Part of viability to sustain the farm is through value-added products that fall under the current cottage food laws. I make and sell jams, pickles, mustards, hot sauces that currently I can only sell face to face at markets and other venues that run less than 14 days around the state. We sell face to face to people who are visiting out of the area quite a bit and it's sad to tell them when they want more that I cannot ship nor sell online because of current laws/regulations. I've had store owners ask to sell in their stores but I have to decline because I am not currently permitted to do so. The burdensome cost of being able to sell retail starts at getting a food managers license at $250 and traveling 2 hrs to do in person training. Next, I have to get a certification in acidified foods which is at minimum $400 (which I have done). THEN I must secure a commercial kitchen to use to produce my currently permitted cottage foods that is an hour away from my farm and is $125 a day AND coordinate having someone from VDACS come and check off that I am using it for $40. Once that is done, samples of every, single, item that I intend to sell wholesale, or retail must be shipped to VaTech via priority mail ($20 each) and pay another $100 plus for testing. This puts my cost at close to, if not MORE than a $1000 for ONE ITEM for wholesale retail. This is insurmountable cost for a jam or hot sauce that is already allowed to be sold to someone face to face. If I am currently allowed to put these into our food system but face to face via very limited venues (markets/venues) why not allow these to also be sold in retail stores (with the caveats that HB402 provide)? If it is safe enough to sell at a farmers market then it should be safe enough to be sold retail, wholesaled, mailed and paid for/shipped via internet (within the state of course!) This bill would be life changing for my family. My husband has had to get an off the farm job in order to keep the farm going at this point leaving me to handle 95% of the farm and value-added product that we sell. This bill would give to us, an ability to build a base in order to meet retail/out of state sales as a small business which in turn could lead to my farm creating real, JOBS for others in my local area which struggles to provide jobs now. Supporting this bill would allow single mothers to earn extra income and perhaps even help those who receive welfare to get off of government benefits. Create small businesses which would also increase the tax base/tax revenues and might help small towns and small farms become viable again. Thank you for your support.

Thank you for your time. I own The Twisted Loaf Bakery, a sourdough bakery. I am a weekly vendor at the Fredericksburg Farmers Market. I also do pickups at my home for customers, but those are very few due to the inability to accept online payments. I cannot bake without full payment, therefore I am limited on expanding the pickup customer base. Online payments will allow that to happen. Also, expanding wholesale abilities would allow me to serve other small businesses that have inquired about my ability to make products for them to either use or sell. This would be a tremendous benefit. Allowing cottage bakers the ability to put a PO box on the label would provide a level of security to our homes and families. The number of customers coming to our homes to pickup the orders are a very small percentage of the customer base. Removing the physical address from the label that goes out into the public just make sense, especially in the current social environment that exists. These updates just make sense in a world that is evolving to make things easier for customers, so please allow us to meet our customers where they are. I truly appreciate your time and attention to this cause. Dr. Connie R Hedgepeth-Smith

I am a PT Cottage Baker in Chesterfield County specializing in sourdough breads and products. I have found the inability to provide internet sales for potential orders extra burdensome for myself and my customers. Many businesses provide online sales options and without that option they tend to want to find a baker who can help them with that need. At the present time I only accept orders via messages and email. Then accept payment when the customer picks up their order. I have lost income through this current method dictated by our current cottage laws because I have had multiple no shows where they do not respond back to messages. I don’t foresee that I can expand past PT hours with current revenue lost. My hope is to someday cut back my FT hours at work to further my baking business but current guidelines are hindering this long term growth for me. Thank you for considering altering VA Cottage Laws to allow for online sales.

I am a member of Virginia Independent Consumers and Farmers Association and ask you to support this bill. You can see from the large number of comments how the bill would improve people's lives. I used to sell products using the current "Kitchen Bill" exemptions, to help pay for my daughter's school fees. We would have benefited from more sales of more products in more places, if the cottage food laws in Virginia had been freed up more, back then. And we are still trying to make it happen. As a result of the 2015 Wyoming Food Freedom bill and amendments since then, products that require "time and temperature control" are allowed to be made in an uninspected home kitchen, including those products containing meat (inspected meat only). There have been NO OUTBREAKS OF FOODBORNE ILLNESS from these foods. Please let us have that freedom so we can increase trade with our neighbors in Virginia also. Thank you.

The purpose of my letter is for support of HB 402. Attached is my letter. Thank you for your consideration!

The purpose of my letter is for support of HB 402. Attached is my letter. Thank you for your consideration!

Testimony in Support of H.B. 402House Committee on Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources – Agriculture Subcommittee [Your Name]January 28, 2026 Dear Chairman Willet and members of the House Agriculture Subcommittee, Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of H.B. 402 which would reform the cottage food law in Virginia to allow online and through the mail sales, delivery, online payments, and limited wholesale options. My name is Jessica Ray, I am a Full time Surgery Coordinator at The Childrens Hospital of Richmond and I am a cottage food producer. I started out baking cakes for my grandchildren's birthdays and it has branched out from there. It is very heartwarming to have my loves tell me what random things they want on a cake and see their smile and excitement when it becomes real life. I would also bring baked items into work for my coworkers and doctors. As I posted pictures and other friends and family came to the Birthday parties and tasted them I ended up getting a lot of requests to sell. For someone that suffers from PTSD and Depression this has also been an excellent way to keep me in a happier place. As I am finishing a cake i sometimes laugh at how wonderful my vision turns out because it brings me such joy. I started my cottage baking business last year and it has been okay so far but I know things could get better if this bill passes. I have even signed up for some special places like icing smiles that chooses local bakers to make cakes for free for hospitalized children and their family members. Right now I mainly sell cakes, cupcakes, and zucchini bread. I have dabbled in cookies as well and am working on some new recipes to try. Reforming the cottage food law to allow online and through the mail sales, delivery, online payments, and limited wholesale options would benefit my business by cutting down on having to do so many extra things to comply with cottage law. It would cut down on losing profit by having to keep up with so many things to comply. Everything could be done on one single site instead of having to have so many areas that patrons have to visit or contact you on to speak with you about ordering. It would cut down on the number of times an order is not maid for nor picked up after being made because we would be able to get payment in advance. It would cut down on the number of scammers that get us because they know there is nothing we can do to secure things. This would also let some of us who are trying to build our reputation become more and possibly open our own brick and mortar store someday. I could go on but I think you can see by all of us out here we need this desperately. In conclusion, I strongly urge you to support H.B. 402 and Virginia cottage food producers, like me. Thank you for your time, enjoy the rest of your day.

This bill does 2 things, it removes all the restrictions that serve to inhibit and restrict the business and sales of foods the legislature has deemed safe to sell under exemption. And the second thing it does is makes the process of getting inspected to sell the items that are not under exemption a lot easier. I’d say this is a win-win Bill for the actual citizens of Virginia and I hope it doesn’t get sidelined by the big corporate lobbies fear mongering of safety issues. It’s nothing short of corruption to watch our representatives being beholden to big corporate fear mongering of hypothetical situations, all the while not standing to account for all the actual mass sickness and massive recalls they actually do perpetrate on the citizenry year in a year out. It would be nice this year to see our legislators working on our behalf, and this is a great bill for them to prove they are not corrupted by lobbyist money.

January 28, 2026 Dear Chairman Willet and members of the House Agriculture Subcommittee, Thank you for the opportunity to hear my thoughts in support of H.B. 402 which would reform the cottage food law in Virginia to allow online and through the mail sales, delivery, online payments, and limited wholesale options. My name is Jennifer and I am a cottage food producer. My husband and I own and operate a very small homestead in South Central VA where we grow a variety of fruits and vegetables and raise chickens for eggs and meat. We make jams and jellies, pickles and relishes, and a variety of baked goods that we offer for sale from time to time from our home and at some limited events in the Commonwealth. Living in such a rural area, it can be quite difficult to turn this into a profitable venture as not many folks are willing to travel the distance to pick up our goods in person. Having the ability to ship these products would open up so many opportunities for us to make more money, enabling us to get out of our vast debt from my previous cancer treatments. You see, I am a cancer survivor. And though I am so very thankful to be alive and well, after all the years of medical treatment we have found ourselves in deep debt. Each month we struggle, and though we are far better off financially than many others, it is still a struggle that I would not wish on anyone. Having the ability to expand our cottage food business means FINANCIAL STABILITY. We make too much money to qualify for state or government assitance, but not enough to pay all our bills. Even with us both working full time jobs, there is just more "month", than there is "money". This bill has the power to change that by giving us more outlets to offer our products. In addition, we would be able to offer our products with other local business such as local Mercantile Shops, and retail establishments all over the Commonwealth. This is a win/win for all parties involved. Generating more TAXABLE revenue for the state should also be mentioned as a MAJOR PLUS for this bill. In conclusion, I strongly urge you to support H.B. 402 and Virginia cottage food producers, like me. Thank you for your time.

Thank you for your time today. I started a small part-time cottage baker business to help support my family and its needs in the summer. Americans are wanting more options that are not processed foods but homemade. Allowing online sales, allowing limited wholesale is a win win situation for the state as well as the cottage baker, as this would increase the money the state is receiving. It is a win- win situation for the baker that allows them to have more sales. If the sale goes awry, this on the seller and not the state as this would allow the individual to plan more wisely in their business transactions. I would encourage the state to also allow farmstands in various communities in the summer to encourage agriculture and growth as well as promote local charm and affordability for all. ASullivan

I started a business last year with my son and daughter. Our primary product is microgreens. We are based in a small town area, so our customer base is limited. The proposed changes for online sales would allow us to expand our customer base. I have also been approached by a few local restaurants expressing interest in our microgreens. By allowing wholesale options, we could then sell to these restaurants. This would provide us with a more stable revenue, especially at this time of year when most farmers markets are not operating. Our goal, as with any business, is to grow and become profitable. The proposed changes to the cottage law would give us the opportunity to grow our business, as this is only our second year, without the burden of extra expenses associated with online and wholesale sales.

I urge you to support HB 402, which will allow Virginians to more easily provide food for each other during these uncertain economic times. As I’m sure you’re aware, people across the Commonwealth face issues with the cost of putting food on the table. This has occurred for many reasons, not the least of which are tariffs. Much of our food supply comes from overseas and is therefore made more expensive by tariffs, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Our current cottage food laws can be expanded through this bill to allow for more local commerce which does not incur the additional cost of tariffs. Home kitchen commerce in everyday staples like meat and milk is not currently permitted, leaving families no choice but to purchase these items from the grocery store which often sources these items from far away, including overseas, incurring additional costs. Passing this bill will allow local producers to transact directly with consumers, greatly lowering costs and increasing options for Virginians whose budgets are already being stretched. The legislature can be part of the solution here, but to do so it must allow everyday Virginians to solve this problem, neighbor to neighbor, using what we already have or can make right here.

Testimony in Support of H.B. 402 House Committee on Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources – Agriculture Subcommittee Linda Dupie January 28, 2026 Dear Chairman Willet and members of the House Agriculture Subcommittee, Small businesses like mine are the backbone of Virginia’s local economy. Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of H.B. 402, which would modernize our cottage food law and help businesses like mine grow and serve our communities more effectively. My name is Linda Dupie, and I am the owner of Fredericksburg Bakes, a cottage food business I started in 2025 after discovering my passion for baking during the pandemic. I specialize in cookies, scones, and cinnamon rolls, selling them at local vendor events and through pre-orders. However, the current law restricts my ability to accept online orders and payments, making it difficult for customers to buy from me. Many potential customers leave my website because the ordering process is complicated and inconvenient. Last month alone, I lost several orders due to these limitations. Reforming the law would allow me to serve more customers, including those who cannot attend events in person. It would also enable me to participate in limited wholesale opportunities, helping me build revenue and expand my business. Like other small businesses, cottage food producers pay taxes and contribute to our communities. We deserve access to the same tools and opportunities to grow and succeed. Expanding sales options would not only benefit my business but also strengthen our local economy and provide greater convenience for customers. With improved flexibility, I could reach homebound individuals, support local events, and contribute more to community initiatives. In conclusion, I strongly urge you to support H.B. 402 and empower Virginia’s cottage food producers to thrive. Supporting this bill means supporting hundreds of small businesses and the communities they serve. Thank you for your time and consideration. Linda Dupie

I have owned and operated my treat business, KP’s Kake Pops & Treats, for over a decade. I’m very proud to be a small business owner in Virginia and my story helped progress the cottage food laws changes in 2024. Overall my experience with the legislative process has been positive so I’m happy to support even more progress now. By amending the current laws to allow online and through-the-mail-sales, delivery, online payments, and limited wholesale options, it opens the door for cottage bakers to grow their business. Especially in the last few years, I’ve had to turn down wholesale opportunities. These were not huge companies, but rather other small businesses with brick and mortar shops that wanted to sell my cake pops. This would have benefited both of our businesses but I had to turn these opportunities down to stay compliant with the current laws. Progress has been made but more can be done.

Written Testimony in Support of HB402 My name is Lynne Driscoll and I live in Fairfax County, Virginia. I strongly support House Bill 402 (HB402). HB402 modernizes Virginia’s cottage food laws by removing outdated restrictions that limit how home-based food businesses operate. It reflects today’s marketplace by allowing common practices such as online and phone orders, while still maintaining transparency and consumer safety. This bill expands economic opportunity for small entrepreneurs, many of whom rely on home-based businesses to supplement income or build toward future growth. By reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens, HB402 helps protect small producers and encourages local commerce. I urge you to support HB402 and help strengthen small businesses and local communities across Virginia. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Lynne Driscoll Fairfax County, Virginia

HB 1396 I think we are past the time in which dogs are needed to hunt. It's dangerous for land owners and promotes animal cruelty. I have plenty of horror stories i can share as well as a potential animal neglect tip i can share with you regarding a possible hunting organization.

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

Virginia Loggers Association supports HB 543 and adding the Forest Sustainability Fund Program under the State Forester. The Forest Sustainability Fund allows localities to seriously consider forest land use and offering a lower tax rate to forest landowners. This should result in many more forest landowners retaining their forest in working forests for the long term and maintain a strong forest products industry in Virginia. We hope the committee and the legislature will act favorably on HB 543. Ron Jenkins, Executive Director, VLA

Incorporate small acreage 3acre minimum. Help incentives landowners to preserve and manage habitat and forests for wildlife. Even small woodland lots have the ability to sustain habitat and prevent erosion, act as wind breaks, act as Stream Managemment Zones, Riparian Buffer Zones and prevent runoff into watersheds. Landowners on small acreage that has forests should be able to get loggers in to thin their property and help create better wildlife habitat. Landowners with creeks or rivers on their property even with small acreage should also be able to benefit from their efforts to sustain and protect habitat and watershed.

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I surveyed Diamond Back Terrapins in 2011 as a volunteer. These were greatly reduced or absent near private vacation homes. The reason was mortality. These turtles live for eighty years, so every loss is a big one. They are caught in recreational pots near vacation homes. Waterman our in the Bay will not see them in their pots, but traps in the small inlets near homes are catching enough of them to reduce their numbers or eliminate them. The bycatch reduction devices only cost a couple of dollars are are easy to install. A home with only a few pots can easily install these. It would be a great benefit to these iconic Virginia creatures.

I, including many Va watermen have received tickets from Marine Police for missing license stickers or plates on gillnet, pound net, and other gear. Almost all of the time these licenses are missing because wind and waves in bad weather have removed them. In most cases we do not fish this gear every day and when we do find a license sticker or plate missing from our gear then we have to go back to the VMRC office or Marine agent to get a duplicate. Abolishing the 24 hour period just make plain sense and is completely fair. The first violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor, a second one within 12 months is a class 3....pretty harsh. If this committee is against eliminating this regulation, then gives us 10 days.

Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

Seven generations for the future

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

HB 1396 I think we are past the time in which dogs are needed to hunt. It's dangerous for land owners and promotes animal cruelty. I have plenty of horror stories i can share as well as a potential animal neglect tip i can share with you regarding a possible hunting organization.

Please vote YES on this.

I support this bill. There most certainly should be a list of people who are found guilty of harming an animal that is public. I say they remain on there for life of the individual.

I support HB701. I've seen too many beautiful trees strangled by invasive English ivy while garden stores go on selling more ivy.

Vote to help our community!

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

On behalf of the Newport Estates HOA, I would like to thank the representatives of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and Delegate Henson for their work on this bill. By allowing a land exchange, Newport Estates will gain much needed access to our common area to address soil restoration and other future maintenance needs. Our single existing access point is not accessible. Any effort to disturb the area would pose significant risk.

Seven generations for the future

Vote to help our community!

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Please vote yes for this bill.

HB 1396 I think we are past the time in which dogs are needed to hunt. It's dangerous for land owners and promotes animal cruelty. I have plenty of horror stories i can share as well as a potential animal neglect tip i can share with you regarding a possible hunting organization.

Please vote YES on this.

Vote to help our community!

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

This is a responsible and good legislation. Easements as you know bind landowners to legal agreements and are done so for many reasons including conservation such as wildlife habitat, forest stewardship and wetlands preservation. We are also burdened by utility easements and are still taxed for land that we have access to, pay taxes on, own and are limited in use due to the power lines or underground utilities. This relief would incentivise landowners to do more Conservation and watershed protection.

I support both HB 1013 and HB 1396 Terrapin excluders are needed to prevent the deaths of diamondback terrapins in crab pots. The cost of installation of these devices is minimal and needs to be part of the cost of doing business for crabbers. I strongly support HB 1013. In Mathews County, hunting dogs being run on posted private property is a big problem. When confronted by landowners, hunters basically shrug their shoulders and say dogs don’t recognize property boundaries. They make no attempt to keep their dogs off of private property and frequently release them in areas where they know they will enter posted property. Some hunters get belligerent when told their dogs aren’t welcome. Dogs have killed domestic animals and livestock. We need more regulation on dog hunting and HB 1396 is a good start.

Oppose HB1013

I oppose this bill HB1013 I have worked on the waters of Virginia since I was 12 years old. I am now 63! Never have we ever had a turtle in our pots. Consider looking at farmers and the pollution they put on farmers land as fertilizer that run off I'm sure doesn't help the turtle habitat.

I strongly support HB 1013! We need to protect the terrapin turtles . They are a keystone species of the Bay and as more and more inhabitants of the Bay get depleted we need to provide protections for them. It’s not all about us and us eating big crabs. We need a balance so those turtles can survive. Business interests can not always trump everything. That is just wrong. Fishermen will survive with different traps but the turtles won’t unless we protect them.

I strongly oppose this bill.

HB1013 We need to vote no. This will hurt Waterman small business and consumers of blue crabs. Please vote no. HB1396. We already spend a lot of money with state and local businesses. We do not need another cost on top of what we already spend. It cost aboutv5 grand to feed dogs every year,vet bills and equipment for the care of the dogs. That is already a lot of revenue for the state and local counties.

This bill is a common-sense approach to protect a keystone species that is in serious decline due to human activities (designated as a tier 2A species of greatest conservation need under the Virginia Wildlife Action Plan). Crab pots, both those in use and lost ghost pots, are known to entrap and drown large numbers of Diamondback terrapins. The use of By-Catch Reduction Devices (BRD's) nearly eliminates the entry of Diamondback terrapins into crab pots. BRD's are low cost devices that can easily be installed on crab pots. These brackish water turtles serve to protect the health of coastal marshes which provide significant ecosystem services for Virginians. The species is also culturally connected with the many native peoples of the coastal region of Virginia. Note that most other states require BRD's on all crab pots. The approach in this bill targets the actions and cost incurred by watermen to those areas where this species resides. One suggestion to the bill would be in addition to referencing pre-made plastic orange BRD's, VIMS has instructions on how to make your own BRD's using galvanized wire. Our calculations bring the cost to under 10 cents for each homemade BRD.

I am a 7th generation of waterman and I am here to support VMRC in opposition to bill HB1013 and HB390. VMRC is for fishery management. I did not get an opportunity to register as a registered speaker but if one is made available to make brief comment. Thank you

Speaking pertaining to bill HB1013. I have been a commercial crabber for 30 years and I can not believe there is any good science to back this bill pertaining to turtle excluders on Crabpots. This will be a terrible burden on fisherman in an already struggling industry. Please before moving this forward there needs to be some more studies done. I welcome anyone who would like to ride along with me a for a day crabbing and show proof that this not the problem that it’s being portrayed to be.

I am a 7th generation of waterman and I am here to support VMRC in opposition to bill HB1013 and HB390. VMRC is for fishery management. I did not get an opportunity to register as a registered speaker but if one is made available to make brief comment. Thank you

We must do better to protect our natural surroundings. 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.

My name is Rachel Rilee, and write in strong support of HB 1013. Diamondback terrapins are one of Virginia’s most iconic salt-marsh residents and a keystone species in our coastal ecosystems. But over the last fifty years, terrapin populations have collapsed by roughly 75%, and each year an estimated 80,000 terrapins drown in blue crab traps. With more than 3 million traps deployed annually and half of them lost or abandoned, this silent, unnecessary mortality is pushing the species toward an Endangered Species Act listing. Virginia’s own 2025 Wildlife Action Plan already designates terrapins as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need. The good news is that we have a proven, inexpensive solution. Bycatch Reduction Devices, also known as Turtle Excluder Devices, prevent 94% of terrapin deaths while having minimal impact on crab harvests. They cost less than a dollar, many states distribute them for free, and crabbers who use them gain access to Seafood Watch certification that can increase the value of their catch. Our neighboring states from New York to Florida have already enacted these requirements, and the science behind them comes from right here at home at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the nation’s leading terrapin research center. HB 1013 would require recreational traps and commercial traps in designated Terrapin protection areas to be outfitted with bycatch reduction devices. It is a simple, science-based, inexpensive solution to a problem that will cost Chesapeake Bay one of it’s most iconic residents if it is not addressed. For terrapins, the health of the bay, and the continued sustainability of our working waterfronts, I urge you to pass HB 1013.

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Diamondback Terrapin Protection Areas; Mandatory Blue Crab Gear Regulations House Bill 1013 imposes mandatory gear requirements on recreational and commercial blue crab pots based on asserted diamondback terrapin conservation concerns. The bill does so without establishing the factual predicates necessary to justify regulation of a managed fishery, and without engaging Virginia’s established fishery management framework. At its core, HB 1013 relies on an unproven premise: that blue crab pots in Virginia waters constitute a source of terrapin “bycatch.” The bill uses the term “bycatch” as a regulatory trigger without producing Virginia‑specific, peer‑reviewed Chesapeake Bay or Commonwealth waters evidence demonstrating (1) terrapin presence in the regulated areas, (2) interaction rates with crab pots, or (3) a causal relationship between crab pot use and terrapin mortality or injury in Virginia. Absent such findings, the term “bycatch” is not descriptive—it is conclusory. This raises a threshold evidentiary question that the bill leaves unanswered: Where are the existing, identified diamondback terrapin habitats in Virginia waters that justify mandatory regulation of blue crab gear? HB 1013 authorizes the creation of “protection areas” without identifying mapped, verified, or scientifically substantiated terrapin habitat within the Commonwealth. No baseline habitat data, population assessments, or Virginia‑specific impact analysis is cited. Regulation imposed without demonstrated presence, harm, or causation converts conservation policy into speculative restriction. Although framed as wildlife conservation, the bill’s operative effect is unmistakable: it regulates blue crab fishing practices. Yet HB 1013 is not presented as fishery management legislation, does not reference existing blue crab stock management plans, and does not address interstate obligations under the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Instead, it delegates broad discretion to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission without clear statutory standards to prevent conflict with existing fishery management authority. In a Dillon Rule state, such delegation without defined limits is especially problematic. The absence of a meaningful fiscal impact analysis compounds these defects. Virginia’s blue crab fishery is a cornerstone of the Commonwealth’s seafood economy. Mandatory gear requirements impose compliance, enforcement, and economic costs that have not been quantified, justified, or weighed against demonstrated conservation benefit. Conservation regulation must rest on documented Virginia‑specific science, clear statutory authority, and established fishery management principles. Until peer‑reviewed evidence substantiates both terrapin habitat presence and a causal bycatch relationship in Virginia waters, HB 1013 fails to meet the evidentiary threshold necessary to justify mandatory blue crab gear regulation. I am in full support of Conservation, under federal-state consistency and authorities. Not in support of co-mingling to Fishery Management: a highly regulated federal-state framework that requires very specific fishery based studies to further regulate Blue Crab. Amendment to Title 28.2 is respectfully requested to be fully reviewed under Fishery Management Federal and State frameworks, by Fishery Management first. There is no Virginia Chesapeake Bay evidentiary linked causal relationship provided to warrant amendment of Title 28.2

I urge you to support this Bill. I have researched this Bill out of concerns raised by local watermen. It seems like this Bill is science-driven and will not unfairly burden any crabbers that are in areas with low turtle populations. The crab pots in high turtle population areas should definitely have excluders but perhaps there is a grant program to help pay for it. This Bill is a reasonable approach that will conserve the terrapins while not unfairly burdening the crabbers.

Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

Vote no on this bill. I will hurt the crab industry.

I strongly oppose HB1013. This bill places additional financial burdens on Virginia’s watermen by requiring them to pay out of pocket for a “problem” that is not yet supported by sufficient, conclusive research. Our watermen already operate on narrow margins, facing rising fuel costs, regulatory pressures, and unpredictable environmental conditions. Requiring them to absorb new costs without clear, evidence-based justification is unfair and harmful to their livelihoods. Additionally, HB1013 grants the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) broad authority to determine where designated areas will be established, with limited transparency and little meaningful input from the watermen who depend on these waters to make a living. Decisions of this magnitude should not be made without robust stakeholder engagement, clear standards, and accountability. Before imposing new mandates and expenses on working watermen, the Commonwealth should ensure that the underlying issue is well-researched, clearly defined, and broadly agreed upon by independent experts and affected stakeholders. HB1013 fails to meet that standard and risks shifting the cost of uncertainty onto those least able to bear it. For these reasons, I urge legislators to reject HB1013 and instead pursue a more collaborative, science-driven approach that protects both Virginia’s marine resources and the watermen who have long been responsible stewards of them.

I strongly oppose HB 1013- this will destroy the blue crab fishery. I'm a commercial fisherman who depends on this fishery. It's 90% of my income, I've been doing this for 40 years. Im currently a member of the crab management advisory committee. We're currently addressing this in the committee and feel that we're better suited to address it than the Virginia legislature at this time. If I am required to put these excluders in my pots I will see a big decline in catch and also the size of the crabs will be smaller and less desirable to the consumer.

I strongly object to this bill. The environmental group that has been pushing these excluders at VMRC meetings to require them in commercial and/or recreational crab pots has been unsuccessful multiple times, with no scientific data to support their claim. The impact on commercial crabbing if this bill is passed would be significant. It would sharply reduce the annual catch, cost commercial crabbers significant funds to purchase excluders, and may, in fact, put some out of business. I have spoken to many crabbers, none, including myself as a Va crabber, have never seen a terrapin on the western side of the Bay. However, some crabbers on the Va eastern shore do see an occasional terrapin in their crab pots. Specifically in the creeks and shallow waters less then 6 ft. Passing this bill would significantly reduce Virginia's commercial catch and cost watermen and our crab wholesalers/retailers' significant amounts of money.

I oppose this bill due to have never had a turtle in any of my pots in the 15 years that I've been crabbing in Virginia. This will put such a cost that will put the crab prices through the roof. On top of that it will put the commercial crabbers out of business due to cost. Virginia also would loose a ton of taxes due to sales tremendous reduction in crab sales.

I oppose this bill because in the nine years I’ve been working on the water. I’ve never had an issue nor seen turtles in my crab pots

I oppose this bill because in the 9 years I’ve been working on the water I have never seen turtles in my crab pots

I highly disagree with the turtle extruder. I have been crabbing for 15 years and have never caught a turtle. I don't know anyone personally that has caught a turtle. I believe the information that has been given is very wrong. Also the cost and th decline in catch will drastically impact or lively hood. Please do not let this bill pass

I strongly oppose hb1013 99% of the crab pots in Va are set in waters that contain no turtles that could enter a crab pot. The insert proposed is so restrictive that it would eliminate the catching of the higher more valuable jimmy crabs that people love to eat. Bills like these do not solve problems but they do make certain people/companies rich while the little man struggling to survive poorer.

Strongly oppose,

I oppose House bill 1013

Oppose I love my crabs.

Strongly oppose HB 1013 as it is a major costly investment to recreational and commercial fisherman when the state has data that doesn’t show the turtles being harmed by our means of fishing

I do not support HB1013 and I’m asking the House of Delegates to oppose this bill because I believe there is a lot of misinformation about the type of pot watermen will be used for crabbing.

I love turtle they are one of my favorite creatures. But this bill will affect the lively hood of Virginia crab fishing and would destroy the life of a watermen so I oppose this bill and please vote no.

Please vote YES on this.

I am in support of this bill.

Comments Document

On behalf of the Quiyoughcohannock and Warraskoyack Indian Tribes on the Surry Side of the James River, and as the Tribal River Keeper to the Monitor Merrimac and the Chesapeake Bay. I stand in solidarity in support of HB1013 and ask you to vote YES. It will help to preserve the sea animals not intended to be collected in crab pots. Thank you, Principal Chief of the Tribes.

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

HB 1396 I think we are past the time in which dogs are needed to hunt. It's dangerous for land owners and promotes animal cruelty. I have plenty of horror stories i can share as well as a potential animal neglect tip i can share with you regarding a possible hunting organization.

Please vote YES on this.

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

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I support this bill. As all of the committee members know Blue Catfish are rapidly becoming the dominant species in Va tidal waters. Watermen have found baby crabs, soft shell crabs, speckled trout, striped bass and many other things in their stomachs. In recent months a 70 lb blue catfish was caught on a trot line at the Tappahannock bridge. VIMS studies show that on average Blue Catfish eat 5 to 9% of their body weight every day. VIMS estimates that the James River alone hold 60M lbs of these fish. A calculator can show you how much of our other food fish including menhaden that they eat. Labeling Blue Catfish fillets as Chesapeake Wild Harvest certification can only help get the public to eat more. This will also help in completion with Farm Raised Catfish sales.

Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

Please stop hound hunters right to retrieve on private property. We have multiple where incidents every year where hunting dogs attack our pets on our private property causing harm, loss of life, and vet bills. Private property should remain private year around.

Vote yes on this bill

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and their biologists have been discussing the impact of blue channel catfish in our waters including the Chesapeake Bay. These fish were introduced by the department and are a non native species in these waters. I know these fish are a source of income for sport fishing guides and Charters that target the large blue catfish. However, there is merit to opening up sustainable harvests fof local restaraunts, local fish markets and aquaculture. I support the initiatives taken by the DWR. You can get copies of the public comments on the blue catfish from the DWR from earlier this year.

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

Please vote YES on this.

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

Opposed to these bills

I agree woth this legislation and I hope you support it as well. As a landowner I understand the importance of protecting our wetlands, watershed, Riparian Buffer Zones, Stream Management Zones and our top soil from erosion. Under the Chesapeake Bay Act, Clean Water Act etc we have taken many measures to curb pollution of our waters due to erosion, runoff and more. This measure should also be supported in an effort to adapt to lessons learned, environmental stewardship and protection of our water.

I support HB1381. Don't contaminate people's drinking water!

Seven generations for the future

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries

Please support HB402. It will allow small cottage foods producers to grow reach a larger consumer base, without the need to upgrade to a commercial kitchen, which is exceedingly expensive and lots of red tape for permitting. This is also a way to make it less restrictive for anyone wanting to get started with home produced uninspected foods which will support independence and community food resilience and keep revenue cycling within the local economy.

This needs to be statewide and not just for the groundwater management area. It needs to be prohibited near watersheds, Riparian Buffer Zones, Stream Management Zone, homes using wells.

I am writing on behalf of Spotsylvania County to provide brief contextual background on HB1436 / SB617 and a narrow technical issue the County is currently encountering. In Spotsylvania County, several older industrial subdivisions were originally platted with private road systems and without access easements between individual lots and the public road network. Current development within these subdivisions complies with applicable stormwater regulations and includes execution of legally binding BMP Agreements that authorize County entry to perform maintenance in the event a property owner fails to meet their obligations. However, where no access easements exist across intervening private parcels, the County lacks a clear mechanism to physically access the stormwater facility, effectively limiting its ability to exercise existing enforcement authority. Although the BMP Agreements establish the County’s right to perform maintenance, they do not create or convey access rights across third-party parcels, and the absence of statutory entry authority post-construction limits enforceability where no easement exists. Following consultation with DEQ legislative staff on January 29, 2026, the County is requesting an amendment to the original version of the bill that does not delete any existing text, but rather expressly includes maintenance and corrective actions to the first paragraph of Sec. 62.1-44.15:39 Right of Entry. The proposed language does not alter permitting requirements, bonding provisions, or inspection authority during land-disturbing activity, and is limited solely to post-construction stormwater maintenance and enforcement. This is a technical clarification and not an expansion of government power. Clear access authority helps prevent infrastructure failure, property damage, and downstream pollution impacts. Thank you for considering this technical amendment.

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Invasives should be pulled or killed by herbicide and not be permitted to be sold in nurseries