Committee backs HB 500 to create Oak Hill State Park; Loudoun County funds cited

The House committee voted to report HB 500, a bill to place more than 1,200 acres of Loudoun farm and forest land including Oak Hill (the historic home of President James Monroe) into the Virginia state park system, and referred the bill to appropriations after receiving testimony from local officials and conservation organizations.

Delegate McCullough (patron, transcript speaker 12) described HB 500 as a prepaid model for a state park that "will do much more than preserve just land and history." He told the committee the Conservation Fund purchased Oak Hill and that Loudoun County has provided $22,000,000 toward acquiring the property. "An endowment fund has been established that has already raised the funds to run the park for a minimum of 10 years," the patron said, and he emphasized the legislation "will not cost one dime of general fund dollars."

Representatives from conservation and preservation groups voiced support: Heather Richards of the Conservation Fund said the funding sources "are known" and asked for authorization to transfer the property into the state park system; Blair St. Leger Olsen (Virginia League of Conservation Voters and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation) called the gift "a rare opportunity" to conserve significant land at no cost to the Commonwealth. Loudoun County Representative Jonathan Freeman thanked the patrons and described the project as important to the local community.

Committee members asked whether the bill has a better chance this year than last; the patron said the Senate Agriculture Committee had already passed the Senate companion and the bill was in Senate Finance. The committee voted to report HB 500 with a substitute and to refer it to appropriations (recorded in committee as reported with substitute, unanimous vote in committee floor presentation).

Next steps: HB 500 proceeds to appropriations and to further Senate consideration where companion measures are pending.