SB 499 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Chesapeake Bay Pay for Outcomes Fund; established, report.

Summary

Chesapeake Bay Pay for Outcomes Fund established; report. Establishes the Chesapeake Bay Pay for Outcomes Fund to provide outcome-based payments for verified reductions in nutrient and sediment pollution from nonpoint sources within the Chesapeake Bay watershed of the Commonwealth. The Department of Environmental Quality is directed to (i) administer the Fund; (ii) establish a competitive solicitation process for awarding payments from the Fund; and (iii) submit an annual report detailing the projects approved for funding, obligations from the Fund, and outcomes to the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and Finance and Appropriations and the House Committees on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and Appropriations by October 1 each year.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Mar 9, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute → Finance and Appropriations Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was transferred from the Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee to the Finance and Appropriations Committee, indicating a shift in legislative focus from program design to budgetary oversight. The substantive policy content regarding the Chesapeake Bay Pay for Outcomes Fund remains largely unchanged, with the primary differences being formatting adjustments and the addition of a report requirement in the bill title.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; the transfer between committees does not alter the fund's purpose, eligibility criteria, or operational mechanisms.

TIMELINE

Committee assignment changed from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources to Finance and Appropriations, with the proposed date updated from February 3, 2026 to February 10, 2026.

TECHNICAL

Added 'report' to the bill title, indicating a requirement for the Department to submit a report, though specific reporting details are not included in the provided text.

Formatting changes including line breaks, spacing, and page number references were adjusted during the committee transfer process.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 11, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 9, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed

Total votes 39

Feb 11, 2026

D Democratic20

20 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

Key actions

Committee

Mar 9, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (21-0)

house of delegates

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Appropriations

lower

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (15-Y 0-N)

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

Assigned SACNR sub: Water Usage

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors