Environment

passed · Virginia · House of Delegates Mar 3, 2026

HB 500: New state park; Dept. of Conservation & Recreation to acquire prop. to establish in Loudoun County.

Department of Conservation and Recreation; acquisition of property to establish a state park; Loudoun County. Allows the Department of Conservation and Recreation to acquire from the Conservation Fund approximately 1,240 acres of real property and any buildings or structures thereon between Little River Turnpike, James Monroe Highway, and Tail Race Road, known as Oak Hill Farm, in Loudoun County for the purpose of establishing and operating a state park on such property. This bill incorporates HB 239.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill acquires 1,240 acres for state park establishment, directly conserving natural resources and protecting habitat per stated purpose.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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passed · Virginia · Senate Feb 25, 2026

SB 461: Commercial electrofishing; MRC to temporarily prohibit in portions of Rappahannock River, report.

Marine Resources Commission; prohibition of commercial electrofishing in the Rappahannock River; report. Directs the Marine Resources Commission to temporarily prohibit commercial electrofishing in the portion of the Rappahannock River north of the Downing Bridge in Tappahannock until January 1, 2027, and to examine the practice of commercial electrofishing in the waters of the Commonwealth and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources no later than January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits commercial electrofishing in Rappahannock River to protect aquatic ecosystems and fish populations, aligning with conservation goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

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passed · Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 24, 2026

HB 1152: Carbon market participation; coastal and marine resources.

Department of Environmental Quality; carbon market participation; coastal and marine resources. Allows the Department of Environmental Quality to participate in any carbon market for the preservation, restoration, and sustainable management of the Commonwealth's coastal and marine resources on state-owned bottomlands and property and enter into agreements necessary to facilitate such participation. The bill requires the Department to hold exclusive title to such credits until such credits are sold. Any revenues resulting from the sale of such credits are required to be distributed as follows: 75 percent to the Oyster Replenishment Fund and 25 percent to the qualifying leaseholder.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes work group to evaluate fund for Blue-Green Carbon Credits, promoting carbon sequestration in coastal ecosystems and advancing environmental protection efforts.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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

HB 565: Electric utilities; renewable portfolio standard program, zero-carbon electricity, etc.

Electric utilities; renewable portfolio standard program; zero-carbon electricity; accelerated renewable energy buyers. Classifies zero-carbon electricity generating facilities that are not otherwise renewable portfolio standard (RPS) program eligible sources and that are placed into service in the Commonwealth after July 1, 2030, as RPS eligible sources. The bill permits an accelerated renewable energy buyer to contract to obtain bundled capacity, energy, and renewable energy certificates from solar, wind, or zero-carbon electricity generation located within the PJM region and placed in commercial operation on or before January 1, 2015, if investments to increase the maximum thermal power output of such facility occurred after January 1, 2015, or if a financial agreement for procurement of energy and capacity was entered into with such facility after January 1, 2015, to prevent the early retirement or decommissioning of such facility due to financial constraints.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyClassifies zero-carbon facilities as RPS-eligible, expands renewable energy requirements, and facilitates renewable energy contracts per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentClassifies zero-carbon facilities as RPS eligible, expanding renewable energy adoption and reducing emissions through mandatory utility procurement requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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

HB 1175: Electric utilities; request for proposals required for certain facilities.

Electric utilities; request for proposals required for certain facilities. Requires Appalachian Power and Dominion Energy Virginia, at least 15 months prior to seeking approval to construct or purchase a generating facility that emits carbon dioxide, to conduct a thorough evaluation of non-carbon-emitting electric generation options through an independent administrator selected by the State Corporation Commission and retained by such utility. The bill directs the Commission to review the framework and schedule of the request for proposals designed by the independent administrator and accept feedback from relevant stakeholders. The bill provides that if the results of the request for proposals indicate that a cost-effective set of proposed resources can meet the identified energy and capacity needs, such utility shall petition the Commission for approval of such resources.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires utilities to evaluate non-carbon options before approving CO2-emitting facilities, promoting renewable energy development and reducing fossil fuel dependence.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates evaluation of non-carbon-emitting options for new facilities, directly promoting clean energy and reducing CO2 emissions before construction approval.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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

HB 1090: Electric utilities; emissions intensity target program.

Electric utilities; emissions intensity target program. Requires the State Corporation Commission to develop an emissions intensity target program for Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Power to achieve net-zero emissions. The bill requires the Commission to promulgate regulations to implement its provisions by January 1, 2027. Upon the promulgation of such regulations, the bill repeals certain provisions that require Dominion Energy Virginia and American Electric Power to participate in a renewable energy portfolio standard program, authorize the State Air Pollution Control Board to promulgate certain regulations, and provide that the construction or purchase by a public utility of certain generation facilities is in the public interest.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates net-zero emissions for utilities via emissions intensity program, requiring regulatory implementation by 2027 to reduce fossil fuel dependence.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires net-zero emissions program for utilities, directly reducing emissions and advancing environmental protection goals per bill's mandate.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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

HB 599: Marine Science, Virginia Institute of; duties, oyster stock assessment, report.

Virginia Institute of Marine Science; duties; oyster stock assessment; report. Directs the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) to conduct, in collaboration with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC), a stock assessment of the oyster population in the waters of the Commonwealth beginning in calendar year 2026 and occurring no less frequently than every three years thereafter. The bill directs VIMS to report its findings and any recommendations to the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources, VMRC's Shellfish Management Division, and the Chairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources no later than December 1 of the calendar year in which such assessment has been conducted. The bill also directs VMRC to utilize the findings and recommendations of such assessment in its fisheries and restoration management decisions no later than July 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which such assessment has been conducted.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates regular oyster population assessments to monitor marine ecosystem health and inform conservation efforts, directly supporting environmental protection and natural resource management.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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

HB 386: Chesapeake Bay Pay for Outcomes Fund; established.

Chesapeake Bay Pay for Outcomes Fund established. 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 administer the Fund and to establish a competitive solicitation process for awarding payments from the Fund.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes fund for verified pollution reduction in Chesapeake Bay watershed, directly advancing environmental protection through outcome-based funding for nutrient/sediment control.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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

HB 1089: Va. Brownfield & Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund; increases kilowatt of nameplate capacity.

Virginia Brownfield and Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund. Increases from $100 per kilowatt of nameplate capacity from renewable energy sources that are located on brownfields to $200 per kilowatt of nameplate capacity from renewable energy sources that are located on brownfields the grant amount a project developer can receive from the Virginia Brownfield and Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund. This bill is a recommendation of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyIncreases renewable energy grant funding from $100 to $200/kW for brownfield projects, directly advancing clean energy infrastructure development.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIncreases grant funding for renewable energy on brownfields, promoting clean energy development and brownfield remediation per Commission recommendation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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

HB 1435: Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program; funds to small farms.

Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program; small farms. Provides that no less than 30 percent of the funds distributed to the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program used for matching grants for agricultural best management practices shall be granted to small farms, as defined in the bill.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates 30% of funds for small farms to implement agricultural best management practices, which reduce pollution and conserve resources per the bill's purpose.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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