House Bill 1659, a local-option measure that would allow localities to create a foundation and soil-management fund for private-property and common-interest-community repairs, passed the County, Cities and Towns Subcommittee No. 2 by an 8–0 vote.

Sponsor Delegate Henson described the measure as a local authorization to address foundation and soil management repairs that some counties cannot otherwise fund under existing Dillon Rule constraints. Witnesses from Newport Estates in Prince William County said they have experienced slope failures and stability problems caused by developer work that was not properly corrected, and that local resources were exhausted in addressing the problem. Jack Wallman, president of the Newport Estates homeowners association, and resident Jake Waldman urged the committee to approve the measure so counties could establish funds to help stabilize slopes and repair foundations.

The sponsor and witnesses said prior remediation reduced the immediate hazard but that the problem reemerged; the measure would allow localities, if they choose, to set up a fund into which the locality could pay and that could be used for soil- and foundation-management activities. Delegate Henson clarified that the bill is not an earmark of state funds but an authorization for local governments to establish and invest in a fund.

The subcommittee recorded an 8–0 vote in favor and sent the bill to the full committee.