Environment

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 256: Comprehensive plan; environmental justice strategy.

Comprehensive plan; environmental justice strategy. Requires cities with populations greater than 20,000 and counties with populations greater than 100,000 to consider, beginning July 1, 2026, at the next and all subsequent reviews of the comprehensive plan, adopting an environmental justice strategy. The bill provides that the locality's strategy shall be to identify environmental justice and fenceline communities within the jurisdiction of the local planning commission and identify objectives and policies to reduce health risks, to promote civic engagement, to prioritize improvements and programs that address the needs of environmental justice and fenceline communities, as those terms are defined in the bill, and to establish baseline environmental and health conditions to characterize any disproportionate public health conditions in the identified fenceline communities. This bill is identical to SB 425.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires cities/counties to adopt environmental justice strategies identifying pollution-impacted communities and reducing harm, advancing environmental protection goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Environmental Justice

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 597: Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund; created, voluntary contributions, report.

Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund established; voluntary contributions; report. Establishes the Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund to provide grants for projects that conserve or enhance wildlife corridors prioritized by the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan and associated wildlife crossing infrastructure projects. The Director of the Department of Wildlife Resources shall administer the Fund in collaboration with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Department of Forestry, and the Department of Transportation. The Director of the Department of Wildlife Resources shall submit a report to the General Assembly by November 1 of each odd-numbered year concerning the amount of public and private funding received by the Fund, the awarding of grants from the Fund, and the progress of funded projects, including data on the use of project infrastructure by wildlife. The bill also provides mechanisms for individuals to make voluntary contributions to the Fund through a Department of Motor Vehicles electronic transaction and an individual income tax return.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes fund for wildlife corridor conservation projects, directly advancing habitat preservation and environmental protection through dedicated funding and collaborative administration.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds wildlife crossing infrastructure projects, directly enhancing road safety and transportation infrastructure as part of corridor conservation.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Wildlife

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 8, 2026

SB 383: Invasive plant species installation; written notification to property owners, civil penalty.

Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services; invasive plant species installation; written notification to property owners; civil penalty. Provides that the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services may assess a civil penalty in an amount of not more than $250 for a first violation, $500 for a second violation, and $1,000 for each subsequent violation to any tradesperson involved with proposing or installing plants who fails to provide written notification to property owners when such plants are on the Department of Conservation and Recreation's list of invasive plant species. Current law provides that any such tradesperson who fails to provide such written notice is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. This bill is identical to HB 710.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires notification for invasive plant installations to prevent environmental harm, with penalties for non-compliance, directly supporting conservation of natural resources.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 8, 2026

SB 333: Remediated Mine Gas Grant Program; established, report.

Remediated Mine Gas Grant Program established; report. Directs the Department of Energy to establish the Remediated Mine Gas Grant Program to assist projects in the Commonwealth with capture and sequestration of remediated mine gas. The bill requires (i) the Department to award grants for the Program to taxpayers on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, and (ii) grant recipients to submit a report to the Department by October 1 of any year in which funds are made available for the Program. The bill also directs the Department to submit a report summarizing the information received from grant recipients to relevant committees of the General Assembly by January 1 after any year in which funds are made available for the Program.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyAuthorizes renewable energy generation from remediated mine gas under renewable portfolio standard, enabling utility investment in clean energy infrastructure with cost recovery.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAuthorizes use of remediated mine gas for clean energy, capturing methane emissions and promoting renewable generation per renewable portfolio standard95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Solar

in committee · Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 18, 2026

HB 1106: Electric utilities; renewable energy portfolio standard eligible sources, etc.

Electric utilities; renewable energy portfolio standard eligible sources; zero-carbon electricity generating nuclear facilities. Provides that, for the purposes of the renewable energy portfolio standard, eligible sources include zero-carbon electricity generating nuclear facilities located in the Commonwealth.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExpands renewable portfolio standard to include zero-carbon nuclear facilities, directly advancing clean energy standards and eligibility for renewable sources.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIncludes nuclear as zero-carbon source under renewable energy standard, expanding clean energy eligibility to reduce emissions and advance climate goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Nuclear Renewable Energy

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in committee · Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 6, 2026

HB 995: Trees; conservation of during land development process in Planning District 8 minimum tree canopy.

Conservation of trees during land development process; Planning District 8; minimum tree canopy or cover percentages requirements after development. Allows any locality within Planning District 8 belonging to an eight-hour nonattainment area for air quality standards to require, by ordinance, that a subdivision or development provide for the preservation or replacement of trees on the development site such that the minimum tree canopy or cover 10 years after development is projected to meet specified coverage criteria. Under current law, the criteria apply to tree canopy coverage 20 years after development. The bill also allows such localities to include in their tree canopy ordinance reasonable provisions preserving trees of outstanding age, size, species, beauty, or other special significance.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires minimum tree canopy preservation/replacement in development, directly conserving natural resources and enhancing urban green cover per bill's mandate.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality Conservation

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signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 88: Highway rights-of-way; invasive species.

Highway rights-of-way; invasive species. Prohibits the Commonwealth Transportation Board (the Board) and Commissioner of Highways from planting or causing or suffering to be planted any invasive plant on the list of invasive plants created by the Department of Conservation and Recreation on the right-of-way of any state highway. Current law prohibits the planting of three listed plants if the governing body of the locality declares such weeds or plants to be injurious and requires the Board to remove such plants. The bill removes such requirement for the Board to remove such plants and requires the Department of Transportation to conduct a review of the processes and resources that are necessary and appropriate to (i) determine the prevalence of invasive plants on the list of invasive plant species created by the Department of Conservation and Recreation and develop options for establishing and implementing a plan to remove or control such plants and manage such plants on an ongoing basis.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates removal of invasive plants on highways and prohibits their planting, directly protecting native ecosystems and biodiversity from invasive species threats.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates removal of invasive plants on highway rights-of-way, maintaining infrastructure safety and functionality per transportation infrastructure standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Roads & Highways

in committee · Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 11, 2026

HB 880: Biosolids; monitoring requirements for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Department of Environmental Quality; monitoring requirements for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in biosolids. Directs the Department of Environmental Quality to amend its regulations to require an owner of a sewage treatment works to sample and test sewage sludge for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), defined in the bill, once a month. The bill requires the results from such sampling to be subject to all existing reporting, compliance, and enforcement provisions.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires monthly PFAS testing in biosolids with enforcement provisions, strengthening monitoring of environmental contaminants per defined regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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in committee · Virginia · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 473: Occoquan Reservoir; low-flow protections for drinking water safe yield.

Occoquan Reservoir; low-flow protections for drinking water safe yield. Requires any Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit issued after July 1, 2026, authorizing the diversion of sewage or reclaimed water from a publicly owned treatment works for reuse that would otherwise discharge into the Occoquan Reservoir, the Occoquan River, Bull Run, or any of their tributaries above the Occoquan Reservoir to incorporate certain low-flow protection requirements for drinking water safe yield if the total diversion amount allowed by the permit exceeds 500,000 gallons per day. The bill also prohibits the issuance of any Virginia Water Protection Permit after July 1, 2026, authorizing the withdrawal of water for consumptive uses from the Occoquan Reservoir, the Occoquan River, Bull Run, or any of their tributaries above the Occoquan Reservoir for any purpose other than agricultural or irrigation purposes or for continued operation, expansion, or relocation of existing public water supply withdrawals.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires low-flow protections in permits for water reuse to maintain drinking water safe yield, preventing pollution and ensuring reservoir sustainability for environmental protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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vetoed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 86: Mattress Stewardship Program; established, definitions, report.

Mattress Stewardship Program established; report. Establishes the Mattress Stewardship Program that allows certain industry associations to administer the Program as a mattress recycling organization with the approval and certification from the Department of Environmental Quality. The bill requires certain producers, retailers, and renovators of mattresses to register with a certified mattress recycling organization and requires a producer to identify each mattress brand it sells or offers for sale in the Commonwealth on or before June 1, 2027. Prior to the Program going into effect, the bill requires a mattress recycling organization to submit a plan with certain criteria relating to the collection and recycling of mattresses and the implementation of the Program. The bill establishes annual reporting requirements for the mattress recycling organization. Finally, the bill establishes the powers and duties of the Department as they relate to the bill.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates mattress recycling program via DEQ to reduce landfill waste, aligning with pollution control and conservation goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

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