To the Constituents of the 37th House District:
The second full week of the 2024 General Assembly session has concluded, and the House of Delegates has hit full stride. Committees are working through the more than 1,500 bills introduced. Policy differences are becoming apparent as debate unfolds, with disagreement on the value of family farms, housing policy, and our constitutional rights on full display. I remain concerned about the legislation passed out of the House this week that makes major changes to the way family farms will be required to conduct business. Instead of trusting farmers and their employees to agree on terms of employment, this legislation mandates wages and will likely drive a significant number of our remaining family farms out of business. Seasonal workers come to the U.S. because they can earn more money than they can in their home countries. If this bill becomes law, the system that provides this opportunity will no longer be sustainable. Rather than have difficult jobs, there will be no jobs. I oppose this legislation and will continue to work with my colleagues to protect the farmers who put food on our tables. Generational family farms will become a relic of our past if policies like these are implemented.
Democrats have also introduced bills that would increase the cost of housing. This includes legislation creating rent control in Virginia and permitting localities the ability to mandate the installation of sprinkler systems in new residential construction. Rent control is a power given to local government to either set maximum housing rents or limit the amount of rent increases over a fixed period. While this may sound good in theory, the practical effect is that price controls create shortages and disincentivize property improvements. A study on rent control in San Francisco determined that it reduced available rental properties by 15 percent and “likely drove up citywide rents, damaging housing affordability.”
Mandating the installation of sprinkler systems in new townhome and apartment construction is well meaning but will only serve to exacerbate the high costs of purchasing a home. Townhomes are often the best option for new home buyers, and this mandate would further diminish the ability of someone who wants to build equity from having the opportunity to do so. As for legislation mandating sprinkler systems in new apartments, I was successful in leading the committee to kill this bill. New materials, technology and building standards continue to improve as it relates to fire detection and prevention. The reality is that housing affordability will not improve across Virginia if these policies become law.
There are also a significant number of bills that have been filed that would impact our Second Amendment rights, including bans on certain types of firearms. I will continue to join my Republican colleagues in voting against these bills and advocating for common sense approaches for those wanting to possess firearms. This includes a bill carried by one of my Republican colleagues to extend a tax credit for gun safes, something once considered bipartisan. Unfortunately, it did not make it out of subcommittee.
As for my bills, I am pleased to report that three have reported unanimously out of their respective sub and full committees. Two bills, HB839 and HB840, support the VA250 Commission’s efforts to celebrate and promote our nation’s 250th birthday in 2026. The third bill, HB237 implements recommendations from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to improve the GO Virginia program. GO Virginia encourages regional collaboration to identify, establish, and foster high paying job opportunities, and has been successful in doing so since being implemented in 2015. HB237 adds the Secretary of Labor, a position created after the establishment of GO Virginia, to the state board and reduces the local match so that funds to support these efforts can be more quickly deployed. Successful projects include establishment of the Blue Ridge regional health sciences talent pipeline, the Alleghany Drone Zone, and numerous CTE workforce and continuing education training programs.
This week local Treasurers and Commissioners of Revenue came to Richmond to discuss their respective office priorities. These Constitutional Officers provide a vital service for our local governments and are a great resource for constituents who have questions related to taxes and assessments. I also had the pleasure of meeting with members of the Alleghany and Craig 4-H and FFA Chapters. It is always refreshing to hear these young men and women talk about their passion for farming and volunteer experiences. These visits are always a great reminder that our younger generations do have the desire and capacity to work hard and serve others. To all the volunteers who take the time make these programs a success, thank you. Recognition of your commitment does not go unnoticed, and I was happy to see that my good friend Ms. Nancy Moga was joined by former Secretary of Health Dr. Bill Hazel as they both received awards for their long-time support of 4-H. Your commitment to our youth is the greatest service of all.
It is an honor to serve you in the Virginia House of Delegates. If I can be of assistance to you, or you would like to share your position on legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me at DelTAustin@House.Virginia.gov or 804-698-1037.
Delegate Terry L. Austin
37th House District
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