I am opposed to any all bill that make it easier to cheat in elections like these bills being presented. I am opposed to any and all bills that make same sex marriage acceptable. I am opposed to any and all bills that allow full term abortion and allow minors to have abortions with out the parents knowledge. I am opposed to any and all bills that would allow minors to undergo transgender surgery . I am opposed to any and all bills that will raise taxes while the politicians are trying to give themselves a 150% increase no that is not acceptable.

As a Virginia voter, I support HB 28 and thank Delegate Henson for introducing it. Maintaining public confidence in the accuracy and integrity of our voter data is essential. Conducting systematic voter list changes too close to an election creates confusion and undermines trust. HB 28 provides reasonable, commonsense protections. Thank you.

Many election officials in Loudoun County oppose HB28. It jeopardizes election integrity by preventing broad reviews or cross-checks (e.g., with other states, postal data, or federal databases) during the critical pre-election window, potentially allowing ineligible voters to remain on rolls when ballots are cast and counted. In close races, outdated or inaccurate rolls heighten fraud risks and erode public confidence. Virginia should reject arbitrary restrictions on roll hygiene in favor of continuous, robust verification to protect fair and trustworthy voting.

Oppose Democrats and Socialists forcing gerrymandering in Virginia. We know that the left is trying to get power. We know the illegal aliens are one source for getting democratic votes. What happened to following the Rule of Law in America and following it without causing chaos, lockdowns, destruction, propaganda, riots, censoring, spying, fraudulent schemes, mail in ballots, and other forms of corruption?

OPPOSE HB 28Accurate voter rolls are essential for public confidence in election outcomes, and this bill creates unnecessary barriers to achieving that goal. HB 28 imposes a 90-day 'quiet period' before all elections and prohibits systematic removal of ineligible voters, risking inaccurate voter rolls. Doubles the time for non-citizens to respond to notifications and places unnecessarily delays critical to updating voter lists. Restrictions on timely voter roll maintenance undermines election integrity by potentially allowing ineligible individuals to remain registered. Please vote NO

I do not support HB28. It imposes unnecessary restrictions on timely voter roll maintenance thereby undermining election integrity by potentially allowing ineligible individuals to remain registered.

• As proposed, the bill’s minimum impact will eliminate 6 months of time for updates due to the yearly June Primary and November General elections. • Many localities have additional special primary elections each year – a 90-day quiet period would further restrict a registrar from fulfilling their duty to maintain accurate voter rolls per federal requirement. • An additional 90-days would be eliminated during the years with a Presidential Primary o The National Change of Address (NCOA) updates are typically completed during January or February – the bill would prohibit this update in time for the Presidential Primary • This legislation severely restricts registrars’ responsibly to maintain accurate voter registration rolls, and increases costs for duplicate and unnecessary mailings, staff time, decreases election officers’ ability to run efficient precincts, adds to voter confusion when not notified of polling place locations. • Therefore I strongly oppose HB28.

Dear Members of the Virginia Legislative Committee, I am writing to express my opposition to HB 28, which mandates a regular periodic review of voter registration records. As a concerned citizen of Virginia with a deep interest in maintaining fair and accessible elections, I believe this bill introduces unnecessary barriers to voting and risks disenfranchising eligible voters. HB 28 requires the Department of Elections to conduct frequent reviews of voter rolls with the intent of removing individuals deemed ineligible. While the goal of ensuring accurate voter records is commendable, this legislation places an undue burden on local election officials by mandating reviews without providing adequate resources or clear guidelines for implementation. This could lead to inconsistent application across jurisdictions, resulting in confusion and potential errors in voter roll maintenance. Furthermore, the bill risks disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, such as low-income individuals, the elderly, and those with limited access to documentation, who may struggle to verify their eligibility during these reviews. Such outcomes could undermine trust in our electoral system and suppress voter participation. As a Virginian who values the democratic process, I am particularly concerned about the impact of HB 28 on my community. Many of my neighbors and fellow citizens, including those who have recently moved or face economic challenges, may find themselves inadvertently removed from the rolls due to administrative oversights or inability to respond promptly to verification requests. I have witnessed firsthand how difficult it can be for some to navigate bureaucratic processes, and I fear this bill will exacerbate those challenges, effectively silencing voices that deserve to be heard on Election Day. Our state should prioritize policies that encourage participation, not create hurdles that could prevent law-abiding citizens from exercising their fundamental right to vote. I respectfully urge the committee to reconsider HB 28. While maintaining accurate voter records is important, this legislation risks disenfranchisement and places unnecessary strain on election officials without ensuring fair or equitable outcomes. Virginia deserves an electoral system that is both secure and accessible, and I believe HB 28 falls short of that standard. Thank you for considering my perspective and for your dedication to serving the Commonwealth. Sincerely, Deborah Wahlstrom

Fair Elections Center SUPPORTS HB 28 because it prevents last minute mistakes and administrative errors from harming the voting rights of eligible people to vote in Virginia elections. These rules currently exist in federal law and are applied to federal elections in Virginia. These same principles of protecting eligible voters from last minute mistakes also apply in state elections.

HB 28 The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports the bill and thanks Delegate Henson for introducing HB 28. The bill provides for a 90-day quiet period before Virginia elections, when the state cannot conduct systematic voter purges. It parallels the federal law requiring a 90-day quiet period leading up to federal elections. It also protects voters by extending the time for our registrars to cancel the registration of voters deemed to be ineligible to vote and by allowing voters 28 days to respond to a notice of cancellation, which is double the amount of time they now have. Considering the unreliability of mail delivery, that is an important improvement to Virginia’s voter registration rules. HB 78 The League supports HB 78. Past experience shows that the law needs to be clarified. Local Electoral Boards’ post-election duties are prescribed in the Code of Virginia and further detailed in the official handbook for general registrars and electoral boards. Once these tasks are accomplished, the responsibility of certifying an election is not discretionary. The bill codifies this clarification. HB 968 The League thanks Chair Price for carrying HB 968, which is simply a prophylactic measure to ensure that machine-readable ballots are cast on ballot scanning machines. Machine tallies are far more accurate than humans at counting ballots. Using ballot scanners whenever the ballots are printed for that purpose will provide election results quickly and accurately. HB 1213 The League opposes HB 1213. The voters who affirm their identities declare, under penalty of law, that they are who they say they are. Requiring voters to provide additional personal data on their Voter ID Confirmation Statement would needlessly turn legitimate voters away from the ballot box. Thank you.

I am strongly opposed to all changes in HB 28. This includes but is not limited to time restraint changes such as; increasing time limits on systematic removal of ineligible voters from voter registration and extending period of time registrars have to cancel registrations from 30-60 days

My husband and I are extremely concerned about proposed abortion bills and legislation. We have lived in this state for many years and never dreamed of these bills moving forward and are aghast at the thought of it. We are vehemently opposed to any such passage of abortion and whole heartedly in favor of preserving and protecting all life espeically of the most vulnerable unborn life that all science now admits. Please say "no" to such bills.

We are in support of this bill instituting Counsel at First Appearance. This is working in James City County and is highly effective!

The problem with this and all of the other proposed statutory changes to the criminal code such as pregnant women not serving jail or prison time, the continued falling and failing sentencing guidelines for egregious criminal actions, forbidding plea agreements to include signing over 4th amendment rights, etc. is that none of you have actually been to jail or prison, arrested for a crime, or had a felony or prison sentence looming in your future or sat in a jail or prison cell when that door goes CLINK and locks behind you. So, you look at this as a two sided coin. Here in lies the fallacy, It is and never has been as simple as "lock them up" or "set them free" which is why after decades and decades of this debate- we are no better, no worse, just stagnate ....while millions of people and families suffer and two parties think they know best. How can I say this? As a drug addict who has been clean for 17 years, a mother, a wife and a powerfully intelligent woman who has made herself into a productive member of society and a force in the political arena- WITHOUT the program of intense cognitive rehabilitation COMBINED WITH jail accountability (break a rule- off you go back to Riverside) this program also once known as Chesterfield county Drug Court; which has now been minimized to "recovery court" where you have to use drugs 3-4 times before you get sent back to jail (so people are now dying in this once amazing program). My point being, you, me, none of us are looking at a two sided coin. We are looking at a multidimensional box, all on different sides of the room seeing a different side of the box (perspective and feelings) and without the ability to move where you are standing to see a different side of the box and change that perspective or accept it is even there and valid- you can never see that we are ALL looking at the same thing (the same box). And thus, you can never see that what has been and what you are attempting to do here will HELP NOONE, especially people caught in riptide and undercurrent of the generational criminal justice system. I am sure you have never had a once felon, now reformed, who will tell you and the public how GREATFUL they are to have been blessed with people who taught me accountability for my actions without fluff or threats, but actual black and white consequences for my actions that always ended in a day in jail or even weeks in jail -while at the same time supporting me with intensive therapy to overcome abuse and other contributing factors plus cognitive therapy treating the underlying problem no matter the offense- which is the behavior. I beg you to move your spot in the room to see a different side of the box, and recognize that the two sided coin has failed the public, families, offenders and the Commonwealth as a whole far too long

Chair Watts and Members of the Courts of Justice - Criminal Subcommittee: My name is Erin George and I am the National Director of Policy at The Bail Project. I write to the subcommittee today in support of HB 127. The Bail Project is a national nonprofit organization that provides cash bail assistance and court return support like transportation and court date reminders to low-income people across the country. Since 2017, we have supported nearly 40,000 people who return to 92% of their court appearances. Working directly with our clients and their families, we have seen first hand the difference that access to counsel at the earliest stages can make in an individual’s case, and in their ability to secure pretrial freedom. In Virginia, people detained pretrial can sit in jail for days, and in some places a week or more, before they speak to a lawyer. When they do appear in court, they often face a complex and technical hearing alone, making them more likely to be detained pretrial or face an unaffordable bail amount. HB 127 is a vital step towards guaranteeing Virginians’ constitutional right to counsel and upholding due process. Appointing defense counsel as soon as an individual's liberty is at stake increases procedural justice and efficiency, improves court appearance rates, and reduces the amount of time people spend in jail while awaiting trial. By mandating counsel at first appearance in jurisdictions with a public defender’s office, HB 127 builds upon progress already underway in the Commonwealth. Several jurisdictions across the Commonwealth are already implementing counsel at first appearance (CAFA). In Fairfax County, a CAFA pilot program limited the negative consequences of pretrial detention, reduced racial disparities in who is appointed counsel, and reduced the number of overall bond motions – alleviating stress on the judicial system. HB 127 will support these jurisdictions and encourage others to adopt the practice. Evidence from across the country also points to the success of counsel at first appearance. In Maryland, individuals provided counsel at bail hearings were 2.5 times more likely to be released on their own recognizance, 4 times more likely to have their bail amount reduced, and 2 times more likely to be released on the day of arrest. In Michigan, three county pilot programs reduced the amount of time a defendant spends in jail between arraignment and release, reduced the number of hearings, and resulted in more cases resolved at the first appearance. [1] CAFA improves not only pretrial fairness, it makes courts more efficient. Passing HB 127 is in the best interest of pretrial justice and public safety. People detained pretrial simply because they cannot afford bail and have no one to advocate for their release are at an increased risk of losing their jobs, their homes, and custody of their children, and are more likely to become justice-involved again in the future. Counsel at first appearance reduces these harms, upholds efficiency and fairness in the pretrial system, and promotes safer communities. I urge you to vote yes on HB 127. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Erin George [1] See National Legal Aid & Defender Association, Access to Counsel at First Appearance: A Key Component of Pretrial Justice, prepared by Michael Mrozinski and Claire Buetow (Washington, DC: NLADA, 2020), 5, https://www.nlada.org/sites/default/files/NLADA%20CAFA.pdf.

Comments Document

I am Scott E. Peyton, Director of Government Affairs at Prison Fellowship, and I am writing to express Prison Fellowship’s support for HB127. At its core, HB127 reflects a fundamental constitutional principle: liberty must be safeguarded through fair and timely due process whenever it is at risk. Virginia’s Patrick Henry, a leading champion of the Bill of Rights, believed that individual liberties must be protected through clear constitutional safeguards, especially in criminal proceedings where the state's power weighs heavily against the individual. That enduring commitment to liberty through due process continues to guide our understanding of justice today. HB127 honors Virginia’s constitutional tradition by reinforcing the protections that secure liberty through fair and timely due process. By strengthening access to counsel at the earliest stage of a criminal case, the bill upholds the presumption of innocence, advances due process, and reflects the principles that inspired the adoption of the Bill of Rights itself. For these reasons, Prison Fellowship respectfully urges your support of HB127.

I support this bill. As a person who used a PD, I had very limited access to them - why? Their case load was too big. I had a case that could give me a life sentence and I had 1 meeting with my PD. The only time we talked was 5-10 minutes before we went into the courtroom. Now ask yourself if you were literally fighting for your life with no knowledge of the legal system or your rights, would that be enough time to put a real defense together? For me, it wasn’t.

I support this bill because it will allow those charged with a crime to know more about their case. The court appearance will also allow defendants to see their lawyers and speak with them about elements in their case.

Please vote YES on HB247. This bill allows the court to consider diversion for a defendant with an intellectual or developmental disability – before sentencing. This bill may help that disabled person avoid the lifelong damage of a criminal record. And according to the Fiscal Impact Statement, this bill has no fiscal impact. Please vote YES on HB247.

Dear Members of the House Appropriations General Government and Capital Outlay Subcommittee, Please VOTE YES on HB247. This will allow a Judge to consider diversion for a defendant with intellectual or developmental disabilities before sentencing. If diversion is the outcome, then months of court appearances serve no purpose and often worsen mental health. For autistic individuals, repeated court dates can trigger severe anxiety, trauma, and crisis. When people receive support instead of punishment, they succeed—and the Commonwealth avoids the far higher costs of incarceration, emergency services, and repeated court involvement. There is no fiscal impact of this bill, according to the Fiscal Impact Statement. Please Vote YES on HB247. Sincerely

I am a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School in 1966 and have been a lawyer for almost 60 years and a law professor emeritus from the University of Detroit Mercy. I have written extensively on the subject of autism and the criminal justice system including: Caught in the Web of the Criminal Justice System: Autism, Developmental Disabilities, and Sex Offenses (2017) with co editor and contributor Emily Horowitz; Autism Spectrum Disorder in the criminal Justice System: A Guide to Understanding Suspects, Defendants and Offenders with Autism with Clare Allely (2022) along with a number of published book chapters. The mitigation of the assault statute and deferred disposition for autism and expungement are completely consistent with all of the information provided in my books and articles and I completely support their ultimate passage into law. It is the humane way to provide justice for people on the autism spectrum whose neurological wiring from birth makes these laws necessary.

Both HB 246 and HB 247 are so very important to ensure that our criminal justice system is fair and just. It is no secret that for far too many years behaviors that are a manifestation of a developmental disability have resulted in arrests, misdemeanors and felonies. Sincerest appreciation to Delegate Watts for being a voice for those who often have none. Her wisdom, compassion and determination are exemplary. Please pass these much needed bills. Thank you, Jude Harrison and family

These bills are important to me as a Disability CBO Leader in Arlington VA and as a neurodiverse individual residing in Arlington County Virginia. Please support and vote YES for both of these bills.

As the parent of a 20 year old daughter with profound autism, this legislation has been important to me since first introduced. Individuals on the autism spectrum and similar conditions are not afforded any latitude because of their disability. This bill is not asking for a blanket "pass", just that the mental/cognitive condition of a person be taken into consideration during an encounter with law enforcement. Similar bills have passed previously and been vetoed. I hope this is the year our loved ones are heard.

Dear Members of the House Courts of Justice, Criminal Subcommittee, Please Vote YES on HB247. I have a relative who has Autism. HB247 allows someone with intellectual disabilities (ID) or developmental disabilities (DD) to pause the case and ask the Judge to consider a deferred disposition earlier in the case rather than waiting until a plea. This makes it possible to divert someone with ID/DD out of the criminal justice system earlier in the court process. Please VOTE YES on HB247.

Dear Members of the House Courts of Justice, Criminal Subcommittee, Please Vote YES on HB2467. HB247 allows someone with intellectual disabilities (ID) or developmental disabilities (DD) to pause the case and ask the Judge to consider a deferred disposition earlier in the case rather than waiting until a plea. This makes it possible to divert someone with ID/DD out of the criminal justice system earlier in the court process. Please VOTE YES on HB247.

Please Vote YES on HB247- This bill allows a defendant with an intellectual disability (ID) or a developmental disability (DD) ask the Judge to consider a deferred prosecution at any point in the case. Currently, a deferred prosecution is only considered after a plea. This will allow diversion to be offered to someone with ID/DD earlier in the criminal justice process and prevent guilty pleas that are forced just to be able to access services. If the defendant’s ID/DD diagnosis substantially caused the criminal behavior then the Judge can pause the case and order a deferred prosecution. --If the conditions are met, which are set by the court, then the case is dismissed, and the charges are expunged. --Successful completion of the diversion ordered by the Judge means there can be a dismissal of the case without a conviction and then an expungement of these charges from the person's record, preserving their ability to access social services and supports. --Jails and prisons do not address disability related behaviors and diversion offers access to treatments and supports that can actually benefit the individual and prevent a recurrence of future offenses. The Judge maintains oversight and control, and yet judicial discretion is allowed. Please Vote YES on HB247

My older son, one of two on the autism spectrum, was dragged through the juvenile justice system twice when he shouldn’t have been. Once was due to his dad and his dad’s parents lying to the police (who never talked to my son nor explained any rights to him) and in court; the other was due to something he said to a classmate about another classmate whom took offense to it. He should NEVER have had to serve time in juvenile detention nor had to be on house arrest as, in both cases, he didn’t do anything. Unfortunately, due to his autism and mental illness, he was never allowed to speak to anyone about anything and ended up in JV detention and then 6 months on house arrest for something that ultimately got dismissed. Our justice system is completely backwards and broken, especially for people like my son who have trouble communicating in a calm and rational way. This should not be the case nor should it be tolerated. People like my son deserve a chance to have sentences deferred without a guilty plea and to be listened to by someone who understands them.

I’m writing in support of HB247, which allows deferred disposition in some criminal cases for persons with autism. If deferred disposition had been available in the past, it might have saved our family from catastrophe: A few years ago, our young adult son, who is on the autism spectrum, was arrested for downloading illegal images. He was evaluated by forensic and behavioral psychologists – who stated that his offense was directly related to his autism, that there was no criminal intent. Nonetheless, our son became a convicted felon, spent a year in jail, and will be listed on the sex offender registry for the rest of his life. He will struggle to find housing, employment, and community support. My husband and I worry about how he will survive once we are gone. If HB247 had been in effect, deferred disposition might have rescued our son’s life. In the future, I hope HB247 will help rescue the lives of other autistic individuals. Our criminal justice system should NOT be a one-size-fits-all, punishment-first regime.

Something’s should have been looked into before and changed way before now.

This is a good start, this bill! As the parent of an autistic young adult, life is hard enough on these youngsters such that any bill that takes into account their unique needs and inability to function under regular order and rules of engagement which may even challenge some non-impaired citizens, ought to be routinely considered by this Assembly.

I’m a RIF’d federal government employee. Foreign Service. I have a lot of experience and skills that I can bring to the Virginia state government. Employment with the state will help keep my skills and economic activity in Virginia. You have a lot of highly skilled former federal government employees in VA. It’ll make VA look good and benefit the state economy

The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) strongly supports House Bill 494, which establishes a hiring preference within the Commonwealth of Virginia for former federal employees who were terminated as a result of federal budget reductions or administrative restructuring. Federal employees—including members of the Foreign Service—bring extensive experience in public administration, policy implementation, fiscal management, and service to the public interest. When these individuals are involuntarily separated due to broad budgetary or organizational decisions, Virginia stands to benefit by ensuring their skills and institutional knowledge are not lost to the workforce. AFSA represents some 12,400 U.S. Foreign Service personnel serving overseas and in the United States from six U.S. Government agencies, including nearly 4,000 retirees. We are both a professional association and the official representative for members of the U.S. Foreign Service. Our members include Foreign Service employees from the Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Foreign Commercial Service, the Foreign Agricultural Service, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Thank you.

I'm writing on behalf of HB 494 which provides Virginia hiring preference for those federal employees who have lost their jobs. While I am a retired fed and this would not impact me, I spent 34 years in the U.S. Foreign Service working for the Department of State. My colleagues were some of the most highly trained, skillful, and dedicated people in the workforce today. If they have the opportunity to bring their problem-solving skills and work ethic to the state of Virginia, our fellow residents can only benefit. Foreign Service officers in particular possess unique skillsets in foreign languages as well as management in crisis situations. Most federal employees have gone through extensive clearance and training processes. They are ready to make a contribution from the first day and represent an amazing potential resource for the state. I hope that this bill would allow the state to take advantage of this terrific opportunity.

As a federal contractor who has personally witnessed the chaos and harm caused by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), I am writing the General Assembly to voice my strong support for HB494. DOGE-driven budget cuts and contract cancellations have displaced thousands of highly skilled federal employees and contractors through no fault of their own. These workers, many of whom I call friend, provided essential public services, maintained critical infrastructure, and upheld national security- all for their love of mission and country. The arbitrary firings have destabilized families, damaged American soft power, and nearly tanked Virginia’s economy, all in service of tax cuts for the oligarchy. HB494 offers a sensible solution to Northern Virginia's new skilled labor challenges by granting hiring preference in state government to qualified former federal employees who were terminated due to DOGE initiatives or federal budget reductions. This bill ensures that Virginia can retain and enjoy top-notch professionals in its state government while helping families remain financially stable amidst the chaos coming from Washington. HB494 is a necessary corrective action that will strengthen the Commonwealth's workforce, and restore dignity to public servants who were displaced by the oligarchy. General Assembly members, I respectfully urge your passage of HB494.

On behalf of Chamber of Progress, a tech industry association supporting public policies to build a society in which all people benefit from technological advances, I respectfully urge you to oppose HB 797, which would impose a broad, mandatory third-party artificial intelligence (AI) verification regime that adds regulatory complexity without clear evidence of improved consumer protection or public safety.

We support this bill and thank the Delegate for bringing it forward. Ensuring meaningful access to language access services is critical in protecting the lives and safety of LEP survivors and their families.

Voices for Virginia's Children supports HB 1009, which strengthens language access across state agencies serving families and children. When parents can communicate effectively with caseworkers, healthcare providers, and other public servants, children benefit from more informed decision-making and better outcomes. This bill also ensures multilingual state employees are fairly compensated for the critical skills they bring to their roles. Investing in language access is an investment in equity for Virginia's increasingly diverse families.

LAJC supports HB 1009 because it helps create language accessibility in all public facing agencies to better serve limited and non-English speaking community members in the Commonwealth. Virginia is a linguistically diverse state. According to the American Community Survey in 2024, approximately 18% of Virginians speak a language other than English at home. This percentage is even higher is some parts of the state. Improving language accessibility in our government systems would ease a major barrier for Limited English Proficient community members (many of whom already experience other major challenges in accessing services). This bill would overall not only improve the quality of the experience these community members have but also build improve their trust and familiarity with our government systems in a vital time.

I am a Virginia resident and a language access professional whose work focuses on supporting educational institutions in the development of language access processes. My work involves helping schools establish systems that support meaningful, equitable communication between institutions and families who speak languages other than English. In my experience, clear and consistent language access processes and/or policies in educational settings often emerge only when there is internal expertise or when external guidance is introduced after challenges arise, including through the Department of Justice involvement. In the absence of strong proactive guidance, school are frequently left to interpret language access requirements on their own, resulting in uneven practices and uncertainty about what "meaningful access" should look like in day-to-day educational contexts. This is why HB1009 is important at the legislative level. Requiring state agencies to develop language access plans and establish clear expectations helps create stronger, more consistent guidance for educational institutions. State-level planning provides schools with a framework to build appropriate processes before problems arise, rather than relying on reactive measures or isolated expertise. In practice, when clear guidance on language access is not established at the state level, educational institutions are often left to determine expectations internally. Responsibility for language access planning may be assigned to departments or individuals whose primary roles related to instruction, student services, or family engagement, but who may not have specialized training in language access laws, policy development, or service design. This creates an additional burden for staff who are asked to build processes without sufficient framework or support, and can lead to inconsistent practices across schools and divisions. Over time, this lack of structure affects not only staff capacity, but also families and bilingual personnel who must navigate unclear or uneven systems. This need for clear guidance is becoming even more important as educational institutions explores new tools, including artificial intelligence, to support communication with multilingual families. Without established frameworks, schools may feel pressure to adopt emerging technologies without fully understanding their limitations, risks, or appropriate role within a comprehensive language access strategy. State-level planning helps ensure that innovation is grounded in principles of meaningful access, human oversight, and equity, rather than replacing thoughtful processes with fragmented or unvetted solutions. HB1009 helps shift language access planning from an individual or ad hoc responsibility to a coordinated, statewide approach. This strengthens sustainability, improves consistency, and better supports educational institutions in meeting their obligation to provide meaningful access for linguistically diverse families. For these reasons, I support HB1009 and encourage the committee to give it thoughtful considerations. Thank you for the opportunity to submit this testimony.