Environment

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2026

HB 1266: Environmental Justice in Permitting Process Guidance Memo; DEQ to publish an updated version.

Department of Environmental Quality; Environmental Justice in the Permitting Process Guidance Memo; cumulative impacts. Directs the Department of Environmental Quality to publish an updated version of the Environmental Justice in the Permitting Process Guidance Memo for public comment. The bill requires the updated memo to consider how to assess the cumulative impacts of the types of permits covered in the guidance memo and outreach strategies to engage communities impacted by any such permit. The bill requires the public comment period process to include two public town halls held no later than July 31, 2026, and requires the Department to respond to the public comments by October 31, 2026. The Department is required to issue the final guidance memo by December 31, 2026.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires public participation plans for permits affecting environmental justice communities, strengthening community input in environmental decision-making.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 89: Powers of service districts; control of invasive plant species.

Powers of service districts; control of invasive plant species. Allows a service district created within a locality to control the spread of any plant that is identified on the list of invasive plant species established by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. This bill is identical to HB 388.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill authorizes service districts to control invasive plant species, directly protecting ecosystems and biodiversity from environmental harm per conservation mandates.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 508: Small renewable energy projects; agrivoltaics definition.

Small renewable energy projects; agrivoltaics definition. Provides a definition of "agrivoltaics" for the purposes of small renewable energy projects. This bill incorporates HB 899 and is identical to SB 340.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyDefines agrivoltaics to co-locate solar energy with agriculture, prioritizing renewable energy integration while sustaining farming - directly advancing renewable energy infrastructure and policy.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentDefines agrivoltaics to co-locate solar energy with agriculture, promoting renewable energy integration and sustainable land use per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Virginia · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 340: Small renewable energy projects; agrivoltaics definition.

An Act to amend and reenact § 10.1-1197.5, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to small renewable energy projects; agrivoltaics definition.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyDefines agrivoltaics to integrate solar energy with agriculture, advancing renewable energy infrastructure through co-location policies.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentDefines agrivoltaics to co-locate solar energy with agriculture, promoting renewable energy integration while sustaining farmland, directly advancing clean energy adoption and land-use efficiency.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 341: Plastic bag tax; distribution to towns.

Plastic bag tax; distribution to towns. Requires that any town located within a county that has imposed a disposable plastic bag tax receive a distribution of revenues collected by the county based on the local sales tax distribution formula for appropriations to towns. The bill restricts a town's use of such revenues to the same purposes allowable for a county or city.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes plastic bag tax and mandates revenue distribution to towns via sales tax formula, creating new local funding source for allowable government purposes.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPlastic bag tax reduces single-use plastic pollution, directly advancing environmental protection goals through waste reduction.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 950: Unmanned aircraft systems; use by public bodies, search warrant required, exceptions.

Use of unmanned aircraft systems by public bodies; search warrant required; exceptions. Adds the Department of Environmental Quality to the list of exceptions to the warrant requirement for the use of an unmanned aircraft system by public bodies for the implementation and civil enforcement of the Virginia Water Resources and Wetlands Protection Program, the Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Act, and erosion and sediment control in localities without a Virginia Erosion and Stormwater Management Program against a permittee.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAdds DEQ to exceptions for drone use without warrants to enforce water/wetlands protection and stormwater management laws, strengthening environmental enforcement.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 388: Powers of service districts; control of invasive plant species.

HB 388 allows service districts within local communities (like water or parks authorities) to manage invasive plant growth on their properties. The bill specifically grants these districts the authority to control invasive plants, without specifying methods or requiring new funding. It directly affects service districts operating in cities or towns, expanding their existing powers to address plant invasions. The bill passed the House unanimously (90-8) and is now pending review by the Local Government Committee.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill enables service districts to control invasive plants, a conservation practice protecting native ecosystems from ecological harm, aligning with environmental protection indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 70: Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund; projects in low-income geographic areas, nature-based solutions.

Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund; projects; low-income geographic areas and nature-based solutions. Provides that the Department of Conservation and Recreation shall give additional weight to projects located in low-income geographic areas and projects that incorporate nature-based solutions when distributing loans or grants from the Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund to particular local governments. The bill allows the Virginia Resources Authority to contract with any person to serve as a program administrator to be approved by the Department to assist in the distribution of loans and grants to local governments. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee on Recurrent Flooding.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill prioritizes nature-based environmental projects in low-income areas for funding, advancing conservation and resilience through targeted resource allocation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

failed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 2, 2026

HB 1013: Diamondback terrapin protection areas; MRC to develop in portions of Chesapeake Bay, etc.

Marine Resources Commission; Chesapeake Bay; diamondback terrapin protection areas; use of bycatch reduction devices on crab traps; penalty. Requires the Marine Resources Commission, in collaboration with the Crab Management Advisory Committee and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, to develop and establish by December 1, 2027, diamondback terrapin protection areas in those portions of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries where interactions may occur between diamondback terrapins and any nets, traps, pots, or other fishing devices or gear. The bill directs the Commission to require by regulation bycatch reduction devices, as defined in the bill, on all recreational crab pots placed within any such diamondback terrapin protection area established by the Commission. A violation of such regulation is a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates diamondback terrapin protection areas and mandates bycatch reduction devices to conserve species and habitat in Chesapeake Bay, directly advancing environmental conservation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

Track

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Mar 31, 2026

HB 369: Electric utilities; renewable portfolio standard program, zero-carbon electricity, etc.

Electric utilities; renewable energy portfolio standard; zero-carbon electricity; accelerated clean energy buyers. Revises the conditions under which accelerated clean energy buyers, defined in existing law as accelerated renewable energy buyers, may contract with Appalachian Power or Dominion Energy Virginia to obtain renewable energy certificates (RECs). The bill exempts an accelerated clean energy buyer obtaining capacity, energy, or RECs from qualifying resources or facilities from the assignment of non-bypassable costs associated with compliance with the renewable portfolio standard program based on the amount and type of renewable energy certificates obtained in proportion to such accelerated clean energy buyer's total electric energy consumption. This bill is identical to SB 598.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExpands renewable portfolio standard to include nuclear/fusion as zero-carbon sources, directly advancing clean energy adoption under RPS framework.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExpands renewable portfolio standard to include nuclear/fusion as zero-carbon, promoting clean energy adoption and reducing emissions95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment