SB 851 Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Rainwater harvesting systems, certain; local ordinances for use.

Summary

Local ordinances for the use of certain rainwater harvesting systems. Provides that existing local ordinances adopted prior to July 1, 2025, governing rainwater harvesting systems shall continue in force; however, in the event of a conflict between a Board of Health regulation and a local ordinance adopted prior to July 1, 2025, the Board regulation shall govern, except when the conflicting local ordinance is more stringent. The bill prohibits a locality from adopting any local ordinance requiring owners of Tier 4 rainwater harvesting systems to connect to any municipal water supply or impose any penalty, including condemnation proceedings, on such owner for failing to connect to a municipal water supply.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Feb 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Jan 3, 2025 Signed Mar 21, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled → Chaptered · 1 edit

MINOR

This bill converts SB 851 from an enrolled draft to a chaptered law, making it officially part of Virginia's statutes. The substantive policy content remains unchanged, with only formatting adjustments for the final published version.

TECHNICAL

Converted from draft format to official chaptered statute format with proper chapter number (358) and approval date (March 21, 2025)

Floor votes · Senate Jan 31, 2025 · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2025

How they voted

40–0

Passed

Total votes 40

Jan 31, 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

Key actions

Committee

Mar 21, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 358 (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

Upper · Passed

Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB851ER)

upper

Feb 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed House (96-Y 0-N)

lower

Feb 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed House (95-Y 0-N)

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N)

lower

Feb 7, 2025

Committee

Referred from Counties, Cities and Towns and referred to Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (Voice Vote)

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns

lower

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day

upper

Jan 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (14-Y 0-N)

upper

Jan 20, 2025

Committee

Rereferred from Local Government and Rereferred to Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (15-Y 0-N)

upper

Jan 3, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Local Government

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors