HB 2030 Virginia House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Environmental Justice Task Force; established, report.

Summary

Environmental Justice Task Force; report. Establishes the Environmental Justice Task Force, for the purpose of furthering environmental justice in the Commonwealth, consisting of appointees from the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Department of Emergency Management, Department of Energy, Department of Housing and Community Development, Department of Health, Department of Transportation, State Corporation Commission, and Virginia Economic Development Partnership. The bill requires the Task Force to advise the Governor and state agencies of the Commonwealth and establish certain policies to be used by such state agencies on environmental justice issues, particularly issues related to historically economically disadvantaged communities. The bill directs the Task Force to report its findings and conclusions to the Governor and General Assembly by November 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, regarding its activities.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 7, 2025 Last action Feb 4, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended by the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources to modify the Environmental Justice Task Force's composition, legal definitions, and reporting requirements. The substitute version adds the Department of Environmental Quality to the Task Force membership, changes the legal definition of environmental justice communities from § 56-576 to § 2.2-234, removes Justice40 compliance requirements, and replaces the annual reporting deadline with a requirement for each Task Force agency to report annually on compliance with § 2.2-235.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing Justice40 federal initiative requirements and the mandate for federal agencies to conduct cumulative impact assessments. The applicability was modified by adding the Department of Environmental Quality to the Task Force membership and changing the legal definition of environmental justice communities.

SCOPE

Removed the requirement for Task Force agencies to encourage federal agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to conduct cumulative environmental and health impact assessments and evaluate Justice40 compliance.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the Task Force membership to include the Department of Environmental Quality instead of the Department of Energy.

Replaced the annual reporting requirement to the Governor and General Assembly with a requirement for each Task Force agency to report annually on compliance with § 2.2-235.

DEFINITION

Changed the legal definition of environmental justice communities from § 56-576 to § 2.2-234 of the Code of Virginia.

Added a new definition for 'infrastructure projects' covering roads, highways, bridges, public transportation, dams, ports, harbors, and maritime facilities.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute and referred to Rules (13-Y 9-N)

lower

Jan 14, 2025

Committee

Assigned ACNR sub: Natural Resources

lower

Jan 7, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors