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 absent

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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 Yes ✓ Supports 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 absent

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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 absent

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

HB 619: Habitat Policy Oversight Committee; established, powers and duties, annual oversight report.

Marine Resources Commission; Habitat Policy Oversight Committee established; powers and duties; report. Establishes the Habitat Policy Oversight Committee within the Marine Resources Commission to advise the Commission and the Habitat Management Division of the Commission on policies within their jurisdiction and to support the Commission's coastal resilience efforts. The bill establishes the powers and duties of the Committee, provides that the Committee shall have nine voting members and two ex-officio members, and directs the Committee to submit an annual oversight report to the full Commission.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes committee to advise on habitat policies and support coastal resilience efforts, advancing environmental protection through governance structure.85% 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 115: Waste to Energy Grant Program; established, report.

Waste to Energy Grant Program established; report. Establishes the Waste to Energy Grant Program to incentivize eligible localities, defined by the bill as counties, cities, and towns located in Planning District 23, to dispose of their waste through use of a qualifying waste to energy plant, as defined by the bill. The bill provides that, for any year in which at least one grant is awarded by the Program, the Department of Environmental Quality must submit a report to the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, the House Committee on Appropriations, and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations detailing information on the utilization of the Program and its impact on waste management in grant recipient localities.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyEstablishes grants for waste-to-energy plants, a renewable energy method, funding infrastructure to convert waste into power within specified districts.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes grant program for waste-to-energy plants, reducing landfill waste and generating renewable energy, aligning with environmental protection goals.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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

HB 407: Light pollution education and dark sky preservation; DEQ shall serve as lead agency.

Light pollution education and dark sky preservation. Provides that the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) shall serve as the lead agency for public education and outreach related to light pollution. The bill requires DEQ, in coordination with the Department of Energy, the Department of Wildlife Resources, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), to develop and implement an education and outreach program to (i) inform the public about the impacts of light pollution on public health, safety, wildlife, and the environment; (ii) promote best practices for outdoor lighting, including energy-efficient and properly shielded outdoor lighting fixtures; and (iii) encourage voluntary adoption of lighting practices that reduce light pollution and energy waste. The bill further provides that DCR may designate qualifying areas within the Commonwealth as Dark Sky Preserves, as defined in the bill, and that a Dark Sky Preserve designation shall be voluntary and advisory and shall not create additional land use or lighting restrictions beyond those established by local ordinance. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates DEQ-led education on light pollution impacts, promoting dark sky conservation and reducing environmental light pollution.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

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

HB 767: Wildlife Resources, Board of; prescribing seasons/bag limits for taking wild birds, animals, & fish.

Board of Wildlife Resources; prescribing seasons and bag limits for taking wild birds, animals, and fish. Provides that when an investigation of the Board of Wildlife Resources shows, for any species of wild bird, animal, or fish within the jurisdiction of the Board, that there is an unusual scarcity of such wild bird, animal, or fish or a risk that the population of such wild bird, animal, or fish in any city or county could be eliminated, the Board shall prescribe the seasons and bag limits for such wild bird, animal, or fish in such city or county accordingly to promote the recovery and stabilization of such wild bird, animal, or fish population.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes protective seasons/bag limits for wildlife to prevent population decline, directly conserving natural resources through regulated harvesting.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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