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HB 1579 Virginia House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

License taxes; local gas road improvement/Va. Coalfield Economic Development Authority tax, sunset.

Summary
License taxes; local gas road improvement and Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority tax; sunset. Extends from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2028, the expiration date for provisions permitting any county or city to impose a license tax at a rate not to exceed one percent on every person engaged in the business of severing gases from the earth for the purposes of funding improvements to public roads or as otherwise provided for the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority.
Issues: ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends expiration of 1% license tax on gas severing businesses to fund road improvements and economic development, maintaining tax-based funding for public services.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationExtends tax authority for funding public road improvements, directly advancing transportation infrastructure through dedicated revenue streams.95% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2024
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Dec 31, 2024 Signed Mar 19, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled → Chaptered · 1 edit
MINOR
This bill changes the sunset date for a severance tax on natural gas extraction in Virginia from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2028, extending the tax by two years. The change allows local governments to continue collecting revenue for road improvements and infrastructure projects in coalfield areas for a longer period.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains the same regarding which entities are taxed and how funds are used, but the timeline for when the tax expires has been extended.
TIMELINE

The sunset date for the local gas road improvement tax was changed from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2028, extending the tax by two years.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 13, 2025 · House of Delegates Jan 28, 2025

How they voted

40–0
Passed
Total votes 40
Feb 13, 2025
D Democratic21
21 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
26
Key actions
10
Committee
6
Mar 19, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 116 (Effective 07/01/25)
executive
Feb 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1579ER)
lower
Feb 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (36-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Jan 29, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations
upper
Jan 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (91-Y 7-N)
lower
Jan 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported from Finance (19-Y 2-N 1-A)
lower
Jan 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 1-N)
lower
Jan 17, 2025
Committee
Assigned Finance sub: Subcommittee #1
lower
Dec 31, 2024
Committee
Referred to Committee on Finance
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Will Morefield
Will Morefield
RRepublican
VA
43