| Bills | Committee | Last action | Date |
| HB 19 - Ware - Atlantic menhaden; VIMS, et al., to study ecology, fishery impacts, and economic importance. | (H) Committee on Rules | (H) Continued to 2025 in Rules | 02/01/24 |
| notes: Directs the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) in collaboration with the Marine Resources Commission and certain stakeholders, as provided in the bill, to conduct a three-year study of the ecology, fishery impacts, and economic importance of the Atlantic menhaden population in the waters of the Commonwealth. The bill requires VIMS to provide a report on its findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources no later than October 1, 2027. | |||
| HB 33 - Clark - Public drinking water; Commissioner of Health's work group to study occurrence of microplastics. | (H) Committee on Rules | (H) Continued to 2025 in Rules | 02/01/24 |
| notes: Directs the Commissioner of Health to convene a work group to study the occurrence of microplastics in the Commonwealth's public drinking water and develop recommendations for the reduction of microplastics in the Commonwealth's public drinking water. The bill requires the work group to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committees on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and Health, Welfare and Institutions and the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and Education and Health by December 1, 2024. | |||
| HB 47 - Seibold - Invasive plant species; requirements for retail sales. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | (H) House sustained Governor's veto | 04/17/24 |
| notes: Requires, for the retail sale of any invasive plant species on a list established by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, such plant be accompanied by conspicuous signage that identifies the plant as invasive and includes the words "Plant with caution: invasive plant species. May cause environmental harm. Ask about alternatives." | |||
| HB 71 - Bulova - Combined sewer overflow outfalls; compliance with regulations, Chesapeake Bay Watershed. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0097) | 03/20/24 |
| notes: Extends from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026, the date by which certain combined sewer overflow (CSO) outfalls that discharge into the Chesapeake Bay Watershed must be in compliance with Virginia law, the federal Clean Water Act, and the Presumption Approach described in the EPA CSO Control Policy, unless a higher level of control is necessary to comply with a total maximum daily load. | |||
| HB 84 - Simonds - Mineral mining and exploration; public notification. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | (S) Passed by indefinitely in Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (10-Y 5-N) | 02/20/24 |
| notes: Requires an explorer conducting any mineral exploration activities, as those terms are defined in the bill, prior to the start of such activities, to (i) publish a notice in a newspaper having a general circulation in the locality where the exploration activity will occur at least once a week for two successive weeks, (ii) notify the governing body of such locality at least 15 days in advance of such activity, and (iii) notify all individual residences and properties within 500 yards of the property lines where the exploration activity will take place at least 15 days in advance of such activity. The bill requires such notices to include certain information related to the exploration activity. | |||
| HB 85 - Simonds - Mineral mining and processing; use of cyanide or a cyanide compound prohibited. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0135) | 03/26/24 |
| notes: Prohibits any miner or other person from using cyanide or a cyanide compound in any mineral mining or processing operation. | |||
| HB 122 - Sullivan - Environmental Quality, Department of; judicial review, authorization of projects, hearing & appeal. | (H) Committee on Labor and Commerce (S) Committee for Courts of Justice | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0717) | 04/08/24 |
| notes: Allows any person aggrieved by the final decision of the Department of Environmental Quality and who has participated in a proceeding for a permit to construct or operate a small renewable energy project under procedures adopted by the Department to seek judicial review of such action in accordance with the Administrative Process Act in the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond. The bill requires the court to hear and decide such action as soon as practicable after the date of filing. The bill provides that a party in interest to such action will have the right to appeal to the Supreme Court. | |||
| HB 220 - Orrock - Water facilities; staffing of licensed operators. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0178) | 03/28/24 |
| notes: Requires sewage treatment works, classified waterworks, and classified water treatment facilities to employ a licensed operator. The bill establishes protocol for an unexpected vacancy of the licensed operator position. The bill also permits remote monitoring of the facility by the licensed operator upon a demonstration of adequate monitoring technology. | |||
| HB 309 - Hope - Forestland and Urban Tree Canopy Conservation Plan; Department of Forestry shall establish. | (H) Committee on Appropriations (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0278) | 04/02/24 |
| notes: Requires the Department of Forestry, in coordination with a stakeholder advisory group, to develop a Forest Conservation Plan no later than November 1, 2025, and update such plan every five years thereafter. The bill requires the Department to post and maintain on its website the most recent version of the Plan and submit the Plan to the Governor and Chairmen of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources no later than November 30, 2025, and November 30 every five years thereafter. | |||
| HB 320 - Bulova - Pesticide control exemptions; herbicide applications by unpaid volunteers. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0720) | 04/08/24 |
| notes: Exempts from the provisions of state pesticide laws and regulations any unpaid volunteer who uses or supervises the use of any nonrestricted herbicide with the express authorization of a local political subdivision for the sole purpose of controlling invasive plants or noxious weeds on properties owned by such local political subdivision. The bill provides that such unpaid volunteer shall use such herbicide under the direct supervision of a certified applicator and the local political subdivision shall provide instruction to the unpaid volunteer prior to application on (i) the risks associated with the herbicide utilized, (ii) the proper use of equipment used to apply the herbicide, (iii) other information to prevent an unreasonable adverse effect on the environment, and (iv) any other information relevant to the specific herbicide utilized. | |||
| HB 333 - Jones - Environmental Justice, Virginia Council on; meetings and staffing, appointment of members. | (H) Committee on General Laws (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (H) House sustained Governor's veto | 04/17/24 |
| notes: Requires vacancies in the membership of the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice to be filled within 60 days of the vacancy occurring. Appointments made following the expiration of a term are also required to be made within 60 days of the expiration of the term. The bill further directs any vacancy in existence on the date the bill's provisions take effect to be filled no later than July 31, 2024, and the appointment to fill such vacancy to be included in the Secretary of the Commonwealth's interim appointments communication to the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Privileges and Elections by August 1, 2024, in accordance with current law. | |||
| HB 357 - Simonds - Tidal and nontidal wetlands; DEQ to establish work group to develop strategies to protect, report. | (H) Committee on Rules | (H) Continued to 2025 in Rules | 02/01/24 |
| HB 406 - Clark - Clean Water Act; cooling water intakes at power plants. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources | (H) Continued to 2025 in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N) | 01/24/24 |
| notes: Requires the Department of Environmental Quality to promptly enforce federal regulations implementing a provision of the federal Clean Water Act for cooling water intakes at power plants to reduce negative impacts on fish populations in the waters of the Commonwealth. | |||
| HB 496 - Garrett - Waste tire disposal by tire producers and haulers; fee, requirements. | (H) Committee on Appropriations (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (S) Passed by indefinitely in Finance and Appropriations (12-Y 3-N) | 02/27/24 |
| notes: Requires a tire producer, as defined in the bill, to (i) dispose of all waste tires to a processing facility or a recycling center through a licensed hauler; (ii) ensure that the waste tires intended to be disposed of are placed in a secure location that is not readily accessible to the public; and (iii) register with the Department of Environmental Quality no later than October 1, 2024, and annually thereafter. The bill expands the purpose of the Waste Tire Trust Fund to include paying the costs of implementing the waste tire disposal requirements of tire haulers. The bill also increases the tire recycling fee from $0.50 to $2.00 beginning July 1, 2024. | |||
| HB 517 - Hope - European honey bee; designating as the official state pollinator. | (H) Committee on General Laws (S) Committee on General Laws and Technology | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0043) | 03/08/24 |
| notes: Designates the honey bee (Apis mellifera) as the official state pollinator. The bill contains a technical amendment. | |||
| HB 524 - Laufer - Natural gas pipelines; permit applications. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources | (H) Continued to 2025 in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources | 01/31/24 |
| notes: Requires applicants for federal licenses or permits for natural gas transmission pipelines with an inside diameter of at least 24 inches to submit a separate application, erosion and sediment control plan, and stormwater management plan to the Department of Environmental Quality concurrently with a Joint Permit Application. Current law requires such application standards for pipelines with an inside diameter of greater than 36 inches. The provisions of the bill apply to any natural gas transmission pipeline project greater of at least 24 inches in inside diameter that is subject to a certificate of public convenience and necessity under the federal Natural Gas Act and that has not commenced construction by July 1, 2024, notwithstanding any previous certification previously issued or waived by the Department of Environmental Quality or the State Water Control Board. | |||
| HB 656 - Wiley - Regulated land-disturbing activities; submission and approval of erosion and sediment control plan. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0104) | 03/20/24 |
| notes: Prohibits a person from engaging in any land-disturbing activity until, where Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit coverage is required, the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program (VESCP) authority has obtained evidence of such permit coverage from the Department of Environmental Quality's online reporting system prior to issuing its land-disturbance approval. Current law requires the VESCP authority to obtain such evidence of VPDES permit coverage prior to approving an erosion and sediment control plan. | |||
| HB 673 - Feggans - Resilient VA Revolving Fund; projects located in locality having low community resilience rating. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0816) | 04/17/24 |
| notes: Provides that the Virginia Resources Authority shall give projects in low-income geographic areas priority when distributing loans or grants from the Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund to particular local governments. | |||
| HB 870 - Bulova - Sewage sludge regulations; relief from administrative requirements, adverse and unusual weather. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0209) | 03/28/24 |
| notes: Requires the State Water Control Board, with the assistance of the Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Department of Health, to adopt regulations that include procedures for addressing administrative staging, signage, and additional on-site and alternative storage site requirements when routine and on-site storage facility capacity and holding times are anticipated to be exceeded for the purpose of protecting against the release of sewage sludge into state waters, and to account for increased intensity, frequency, and duration of storm events. The bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality to form a regulatory advisory panel consisting of certain stakeholders for the purpose of assisting the Board in developing the regulations as required by the bill. | |||
| HB 949 - Lopez - Hazardous Substance Facility Response Plans; reporting of substance discharge, etc. | (H) Committee on Appropriations (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (H) House sustained Governor's veto | 04/17/24 |
| notes: Directs the State Water Control Board to regulate aboveground storage tanks with a capacity of more than 1,320 gallons that contain hazardous substances other than oil. The bill directs the Board to adopt regulations that establish requirements for registration and other requirements of tank owners and that establish a schedule of registration and renewal fees. The bill authorizes the Board to take corrective action in the event of a discharge of a hazardous substance. The bill requires tank owners to notify certain parties in the event of a release of a regulated substance. The bill also creates the Hazardous Substance Aboveground Storage Tank Fund, with moneys from the Fund to be used solely for the administration of the bill, and provides for civil penalties for violations of requirements of the bill, with such moneys received to be deposited into the existing Virginia Environmental Emergency Response Fund. | |||
| HB 953 - Lopez - Local Environmental Impact Fund; localities to create a permanent and perpetual fund. | (H) Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (S) Committee on Local Government | (H) House sustained Governor's veto | 04/17/24 |
| notes: Allows localities to create a permanent and perpetual fund to be known as the Local Environmental Impact Fund. The bill provides that the Fund shall consist exclusively of appropriated local moneys and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf, and that the Fund is to be created for the purpose of granting funds to residents or locally owned businesses for the mitigation of environmental impacts. Such grants from the Fund shall be used only for the purchase of energy efficient (i) lawn care and landscaping equipment, (ii) home appliances, (iii) HVAC equipment, or (iv) micromobility devices. The Fund shall be administered and managed by the locality. | |||
| HB 1052 - Batten - Local government; alternative and conventional onsite sewage systems. | (H) Committee on Health and Human Services (S) Committee on Local Government | (S) Defeated by Senate (18-Y 21-N) | 02/28/24 |
| notes: Requires the Board of Health to establish a procedure for the Department of Health to prepare and submit a quarterly report to each local government that provides an accurate record of private properties categorized by the presence of an alternative or conventional onsite sewage system within each such local government. | |||
| HB 1085 - Rasoul - PFAS Expert Advisory Committee; established, monitoring sources. | (H) Committee on Appropriations (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0316) | 04/02/24 |
| notes: Requires the owner or operator of a publicly owned treatment works to monitor PFAS levels, as defined in the bill, in effluent, influent, and biosolids at least quarterly and report all such monitoring data on an applicable discharge monitoring report required by federal regulations. The bill requires the Department of Environmental Quality (the Department), in certain circumstances, to develop a PFAS action plan to identify and address sources of certain PFAS detected in a public water system's raw water source, perform outreach efforts regarding PFAS contamination, report annually on its activities, and work with certain entities in developing its PFAS action plans. The bill requires certain facilities that manufacture or use PFAS to report the use of such chemicals to the Department and to monitor such PFAS at least quarterly unless at another frequency at the direction of the Director of the Department. The bill also directs the Department and the Virginia Department of Health to jointly establish a PFAS Advisory Committee to assist with PFAS-related activities and appoint such committee's members to include legislative members and a wide range of nonlegislative citizen members and to report annually to the Governor and the General Assembly on the Committee's activities and recommendations. | |||
| HB 1135 - Hodges - Blue catfish; DACS, et al., to review efforts to create a market. | (H) Committee on Appropriations (S) Committee on Rules | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0218) | 03/28/24 |
| notes: Directs the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in collaboration with certain stakeholders, to convene a work group to evaluate strategies to reduce the negative ecological effects of blue catfish and to increase the sales and marketing of blue catfish. The bill requires the work group to (i) review past and ongoing efforts to promote the creation of a market for blue catfish, (ii) identify and explore potential sectors for the blue catfish market, and (iii) identify any actions that the Commonwealth can take to promote and expand the market for blue catfish. The bill requires the Department to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Chairmen 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 December 1, 2024. | |||
| HB 1157 - Krizek - Federally recognized Tribal Nations in the Commonwealth; agencies to consult on permits and reviews. | (H) Committee on Appropriations (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0830) | 04/17/24 |
| notes: Requires the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Historic Resources, and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to establish policies and procedures for consulting with federally recognized Tribal Nations in the Commonwealth when evaluating certain permits and reviews relating to environmental, cultural, or historic resources that potentially impact those federally recognized Tribal Nations in the Commonwealth. The bill directs the Secretary of the Commonwealth to designate an Ombudsman for Tribal Consultation to facilitate communication and consultation with federally recognized Tribal Nations in the Commonwealth and requires the Ombudsman to develop by September 1, 2024, a list of localities in which federally recognized Tribal Nations in the Commonwealth shall be consulted to effectuate the provisions of the bill. The bill codifies Executive Order 82 (2021). | |||
| HB 1295 - Campbell - Drinking water; maximum contaminant levels, water treatment systems. | (H) Committee on Health and Human Services | (H) Continued to 2025 in Health and Human Services | 02/08/24 |
| notes: Directs the State Board of Health to adopt regulations to utilize point-of-use or point-of-entry drinking water treatment or filtration to remove or significantly reduce concentrations of contaminants of concern that meet or exceed any maximum contaminant level or health advisory for the same contaminant adopted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The bill also establishes the Rural Water Supply Program and Fund to allow the Department of Health's Office of Drinking Water to test and treat contaminated drinking water for individuals on private wells and small rural public water systems. | |||
| HB 1379 - Lovejoy - Environmental Quality, Department of; consolidation of annual report. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0112) | 03/20/24 |
| notes: Consolidates varying due dates for certain reports relating to the Department of Environmental Quality to the Governor and the General Assembly to November 1 and requires such reports be submitted as part of one annual report. The bill removes the requirement that the Roanoke River Basin Bi-State Commission submit its annual report to the Governor and General Assembly of North Carolina. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025. | |||
| HB 1431 - Hodges - Alternative onsite sewage systems; approval of treatment units. | (H) Committee on Health and Human Services (S) Committee on Education and Health | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0419) | 04/04/24 |
| notes: Requires the Department of Health to approve treatment units for alternative onsite sewage systems if they meet certain NSF/ANSI standards or certain testing requirements. | |||
| HB 1458 - Hernandez - Chief Resilience Officer of the Commonwealth; moves position under the Governor, etc. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0753) | 04/08/24 |
| notes: Moves the position of Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) from under the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources to under the Governor and creates an Office of Commonwealth Resilience to support the CRO in his functions and duties. The bill requires the CRO to convene an Interagency Resilience Working Group to support the coordination of planning and implementation of resilience efforts, eliminates the position of Special Assistant to the Governor for Coastal Adaptation and Protection, and requires the Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation to convene an Advisory Review Committee to assist in the distribution of loans and grants from the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund. The bill also requires the Director to convene an Advisory Review Committee to assist in the distribution of loans and grants from the Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund and adds the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources and the CRO to the list of those with whom the Virginia Resources Authority is required to consult in directing the distribution of loans or grants from the Fund. The bill requires the Department to make available for public inspection at the office of the Department and on a publicly accessible website records of each application for grants and loans from the two Funds and the actions taken thereon. | |||
| SB 25 - Hackworth - Virginia Brownfield and Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund and Program; allocation of funds. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0001) | 03/08/24 |
| notes: Removes the prohibition on the allocation of funds to the Virginia Brownfield and Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund and Program unless federal funds are available in an amount that would cover the entire cost of such an allocation. | |||
| SB 243 - McPike - PFAS Expert Advisory Committee; established, monitoring sources. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0343) | 04/02/24 |
| notes: Requires the owner or operator of a publicly owned treatment works to monitor PFAS levels, as defined in the bill, in effluent, influent, and biosolids at least quarterly and report all such monitoring data on an applicable discharge monitoring report required by federal regulations. The bill requires the Department of Environmental Quality (the Department), in certain circumstances, to develop a PFAS action plan to identify and address sources of certain PFAS detected in a public water system's raw water source, perform outreach efforts regarding PFAS contamination, report annually on its activities, and work with certain entities in developing its PFAS action plans. The bill requires certain facilities that manufacture or use PFAS to report the use of such chemicals to the Department and to monitor such PFAS at least quarterly unless at another frequency at the direction of the Director of the Department. The bill also directs the Department and the Virginia Department of Health to jointly establish a PFAS Advisory Committee to assist with PFAS-related activities and appoint such committee's members to include legislative members and a wide range of nonlegislative citizen members and to report annually to the Governor and the General Assembly on the Committee's activities and recommendations. | |||
| SB 306 - Salim - Invasive plant species; requirements for retail sales. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (S) Passed by for the day | 04/17/24 |
| notes: Requires, for the retail sale of any invasive plant species for outdoor use on a list established by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, such plant be accompanied by conspicuous signage that identifies the plant as invasive. The bill requires the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services to designate the format, size, and content of such signage no later than October 1, 2024, and requires the Commissioner to issue a stop sale order and mark or tag a plant in a conspicuous manner when an invasive plant is for sale at a retail outlet without appropriate signage. In such case, the bill requires the Commissioner to give written notice of a finding made to the owner, tenant, or person in charge of such retail outlet and requires the stop sale order issued to remain in effect until the required signage is posted. Any person who violates the provisions of the bill is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $500. | |||
| SB 337 - Stuart - Eastern Virginia Groundwater Management Area; continued withdrawal permit for residential well. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0768) | 04/08/24 |
| notes: Directs the State Water Control Board to waive the expiration of any ground water withdrawal permit for a well that serves exclusively residential users, is located in the Eastern Virginia Groundwater Management Area north of the Occoquan River, and is located within five miles of any commercial or industrial permitted ground water withdrawal. The bill provides that such waiver shall continue in force until the commercial or industrial permitted ground water withdrawals have been halted for five years. The Department of Environmental Quality shall then assess whether the termination of the commercial or industrial permitted ground water withdrawals has substantially mitigated the stress upon the aquifer and redetermine whether the permit for the residential well shall be renewed. | |||
| SB 342 - Stuart - Virginia Waste Management Board; open burning of solid wastes, transportation of vegetative waste. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0235) | 03/28/24 |
| notes: Requires the Virginia Waste Management Board to amend regulations to allow for vegetative waste to be transported to another location for destruction if it is impractical or unsafe to destroy such waste on the premises of private property. | |||
| SB 365 - DeSteph - Regulated land-disturbing activities; submission and approval of erosion and sediment control plan. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0005) | 03/08/24 |
| notes: Prohibits a person from engaging in any land-disturbing activity until, where Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit coverage is required, the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program (VESCP) authority has obtained evidence of such permit coverage from the Department of Environmental Quality's online reporting system prior to issuing its land-disturbance approval. Current law requires the VESCP authority to obtain such evidence of VPDES permit coverage prior to approving an erosion and sediment control plan. | |||
| SB 372 - Ebbin - Combined sewer overflow outfalls; compliance with regulations, Chesapeake Bay Watershed. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0006) | 03/08/24 |
| notes: Extends from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026, the date by which certain combined sewer overflow (CSO) outfalls that discharge into the Chesapeake Bay Watershed must be in compliance with Virginia law, the federal Clean Water Act, and the Presumption Approach described in the EPA CSO Control Policy, unless a higher level of control is necessary to comply with a total maximum daily load. | |||
| SB 402 - Stuart - Blue catfish; DACS, et al., to review efforts to create a market. | (H) Committee on Appropriations (S) Committee on Rules | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0240) | 03/28/24 |
| notes: Requires the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to convene a work group of relevant stakeholders in order to support and encourage coordination regarding efforts to create a robust and resilient market for blue catfish. The work group shall (i) review past and ongoing efforts to promote the creation of a market for blue catfish, (ii) identify and explore potential sectors for the blue catfish market, and (iii) identify any actions that the Commonwealth can take to promote and expand the market for blue catfish. The Department shall submit a report of the findings and recommendations of the work group to the Governor, the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources, and relevant committees of the General Assembly no later than September 1, 2025. | |||
| SB 446 - Stuart - Environmental Resources, Board of; created. | (S) Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | (S) Continued to 2025 in Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (15-Y 0-N) | 01/23/24 |
| notes: Consolidates the State Air Pollution Control Board, State Water Control Board, and Virginia Waste Management Board and transfers the duties of such boards into a new Board of Environmental Resources. The bill establishes membership, term, meeting, and recording requirements for the Board and also establishes the position, powers, and duties of the Executive Director of the Board. | |||
| SB 461 - Marsden - Forestland and Urban Tree Canopy Conservation Plan; Department of Forestry to establish. | (H) Committee on Appropriations (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0354) | 04/02/24 |
| notes: Requires the Department of Forestry, in coordination with a stakeholder advisory group, to develop a Forest Conservation Plan no later than November 1, 2025, and update such plan every five years thereafter. The bill requires the Department to post and maintain on its website the most recent version of the Plan and submit the Plan to the Governor and Chairmen of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources no later than November 30, 2025, and November 30 every five years thereafter. | |||
| SB 464 - Stuart - Fisheries Innovation for Sustainable Harvest Fund; established. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0246) | 03/28/24 |
| notes: Establishes the Fisheries Innovation for Sustainable Harvest Fund for the purposes of supporting and promoting the economic growth and development of Virginia's seafood economy. The Fund shall be administered by the Marine Resources Commission for the sole purpose of supporting and promoting the economic growth and development of Virginia's seafood economy while enhancing the sustainability of Virginia's marine fisheries resources through the awarding of grants, revolving loans, or other financial tools. The bill provides that the Commercial Fishing Advisory Board shall advise the Commission on expenditures from the Fund and also requires royalties collected by the Commission on or after July 1, 2024, as a result of the generation or transmission of electrical or compressed air energy from certain offshore renewable sources to be credited to the Fund. The bill also provides that any such royalties appropriated to the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium under current law shall instead be appropriated to the Fund. | |||
| SB 580 - Deeds - Environmental Quality, Department of; judicial review, authorization of projects, hearing & appeal. | (H) Committee on Labor and Commerce (S) Committee for Courts of Justice | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0774) | 04/08/24 |
| notes: Allows any person aggrieved by the final decision of the Department of Environmental Quality regarding the authorization of a project and who has participated in a proceeding for a permit to construct or operate a small renewable energy project under procedures adopted by the Department to seek judicial review of such action in accordance with the Administrative Process Act in the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond within 30 days of such decision. The bill requires the court to hear and decide such action as soon as practicable after the date of filing. | |||
| SB 581 - Stuart - Environmental Quality, Department of; groundwater and surface water withdrawal permits. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0251) | 03/28/24 |
| notes: Authorizes the Department of Environmental Quality to utilize and incorporate comprehensive groundwater, surface water, and aquifer data in its decision-making processes related to the issuance and renewal of groundwater withdrawal permits and surface water withdrawal permits. Such data may include information relating to water levels, flow rates, and water quality. | |||
| SB 673 - Stuart - State Water Control Board; prioritization of water for human consumption and food production. | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (H) Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources | 03/04/24 |
| notes: Directs the Department of Environmental Quality and the State Water Control Board to prioritize the preservation of drinking water in all permitting and regulatory processes related to groundwater and surface water resources. | |||
| SB 674 - McDougle - Virginia Coastal Resilience Collaborative; changes references relating to coastal resilience policy | (H) Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (S) Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | (G) Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0013) | 03/08/24 |
| notes: Changes references relating to coastal resilience policy from the Coastal Policy Center at William and Mary School of Law to the Virginia Coastal Resilience Collaborative at The College of William and Mary in Virginia to reflect the dissolution of the Coastal Policy Center. The bill also adds the Collaborative to the list of entities with whom the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources may seek input and consultation in setting coastal resilience policies. | |||
| SB 698 - French - Dam Safety, Flood Prevention, and Protection Assistance Fund; percentage of funds available. | (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (S) Continued to 2025 in Finance and Appropriations (12-Y 3-N) | 02/07/24 |
| notes: Reduces from 50 percent to 30 percent the project match required of applicants to receive funds from the Dam Safety, Flood Prevention, and Protection Assistance Fund for grants (i) to a local government that owns a dam, (ii) to a local government for a dam located within the locality, or (iii) to a private entity that owns a dam for the design, repair, and safety modifications of such a dam if it is identified in a safety report. The bill provides that grants made from the Fund to a local government or private entity for the determination of the hazard classification for impounding structures, dam break analysis, the mapping and digitization of dam break inundation zones, incremental damage analysis, and other engineering requirements shall require no more than a 10 percent match by the applicant except that such applicant shall be required to provide a minimum of $5,000 of the cost of the project, if funded, and such match provided by such applicant may be used to pay the application fees for the necessary impounding structure operation and maintenance certificate. The bill removes the 50 percent limit on matching grants that owners of impounding structures may be eligible for from the Fund and other sources of funding available to the Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation to assist in the development of dam break inundation zone maps and for conducting incremental damage assessments in accordance with the Virginia Impounding Structure Regulations. The bill also removes the limitation that the total amount of expenditures for grants in any fiscal year are not to exceed 50 percent of the total noninterest or income deposits made to the Fund during the previous fiscal year together with the total amount collecte | |||
| SB 730 - Surovell - Nonliving shoreline stabilization structures; regulations. | (S) Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | (S) Continued to 2025 in Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (15-Y 0-N) | 01/30/24 |
| notes: Directs the Marine Resources Commission to promulgate regulations regarding the types of repairs or maintenance to nonliving shoreline stabilization structures in existence prior to July 1, 2020, that are exempt from or require permits. | |||
| SB 733 - Marsden - Chief Resilience Officer of the Commonwealth; moves position under the Governor. | (S) Committee on Finance and Appropriations | (S) Continued to 2025 in Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 2-N) | 02/06/24 |
| notes: Moves the position of Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) from under the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources to under the Governor and creates an Office of Commonwealth Resilience to support the CRO in his functions and duties. The bill requires the CRO to convene an Interagency Resilience Working Group to support the coordination of planning and implementation of resilience efforts, eliminates the position of Special Assistant to the Governor for Coastal Adaptation and Protection, and requires the Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation to convene an Advisory Review Committee to assist in the distribution of loans and grants from the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund. The bill also requires the Director to convene an Advisory Review Committee to assist in the distribution of loans and grants from the Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund and adds the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources and the CRO to the list of those with whom the Virginia Resources Authority is required to consult in directing the distribution of loans or grants from the Fund. The bill requires the Department to make available for public inspection at the office of the Department and on a publicly accessible website records of each application for grants and loans from the two Funds and the actions taken thereon. The Virginia Flood Resilience Advisory Committee replaces the Virginia Coastal Resilience Technical Advisory Committee effective February 1, 2025. | |||
| SJ 25 - Stuart - Groundwater supply in the Commonwealth; Department of Environmental Quality to study. | (H) Committee on Appropriations (S) Committee on Rules | (S) Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ25ER) | 03/05/24 |
| notes: Requests that the Department of Environmental Quality complete a one-year study of the groundwater supply in the Commonwealth with technical assistance provided by the State Water Control Board. The Department shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2024, and submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly. | |||