There’s also the issue that, during the original 7 year ratification period, a few states rescinded their ratifications of the ERA. Their plan to make Virginia the key 38th state to ratify, assumes that those states were not allowed to rescind their ratifications.
A state has the right to change its mind. They’re still short of 38.
Congress would need to restart the process and the votes to pass it again in Congress aren’t there.