Environment

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 109: Noxious weeds; amends definition, commercial viability, phase-out period, report.

Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services; noxious weeds; commercial viability; report. Amends the definition of noxious weed to remove the exclusion for living plants or parts thereof that are commercially viable or commercially propagated in Virginia and removes the requirement that the Noxious Weeds Advisory Committee include in its recommendations to the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services an analysis of the current and potential in-state commercial viability of a plant species. The bill requires a plant that is designated by the Board as a noxious weed and commercially propagated in Virginia to be subject to a phase-out period of two years for grasses, forbs, and vines; four years for shrubs; and seven years for trees. The bill directs the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services to conduct a review of the legislative and regulatory authority of the Board pertaining to the control of noxious weeds and report his 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 by November 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRemoves exclusion for commercially viable plants from noxious weed definition, strengthening invasive species control to protect ecosystems and natural resources.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Virginia · House of Delegates Apr 6, 2026

HB 88: Highway rights-of-way; invasive species.

Highway rights-of-way; invasive species. Prohibits the Commonwealth Transportation Board (the Board) and Commissioner of Highways from planting or causing or suffering to be planted any invasive plant on the list of invasive plants created by the Department of Conservation and Recreation on the right-of-way of any state highway. Current law prohibits the planting of three listed plants if the governing body of the locality declares such weeds or plants to be injurious and requires the Board to remove such plants. The bill removes such requirement for the Board to remove such plants and requires the Department of Transportation to conduct a review of the processes and resources that are necessary and appropriate to (i) determine the prevalence of invasive plants on the list of invasive plant species created by the Department of Conservation and Recreation and develop options for establishing and implementing a plan to remove or control such plants and manage such plants on an ongoing basis.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates removal of invasive plants on highways and prohibits their planting, directly protecting native ecosystems and biodiversity from invasive species threats.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates removal of invasive plants on highway rights-of-way, maintaining infrastructure safety and functionality per transportation infrastructure standards.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports 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 Yes ✓ Supports 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 Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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 Yes ✓ Supports Environment

passed · Virginia · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 499: Chesapeake Bay Pay for Outcomes Fund; established, report.

Chesapeake Bay Pay for Outcomes Fund established; report. 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 (i) administer the Fund; (ii) establish a competitive solicitation process for awarding payments from the Fund; and (iii) submit an annual report detailing the projects approved for funding, obligations from the Fund, and outcomes to the Chairs 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 October 1 each year.

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

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passed · Virginia · Senate Mar 6, 2026

SB 336: Tier 2 emergency generators; SCC shall evaluate impact of requiring data centers to limit use, etc.

State Corporation Commission; data center generators. Directs the State Corporation Commission to evaluate the impact of requiring data centers to limit the use of Tier 2 generators and prioritize the use of Tier 4 equivalent or better generators. The bill requires the Commission to submit a report on any findings to the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and the House Committees on Appropriations and Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources no later than October 15, 2026.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentLimits Tier 2 generator use to true emergencies, reducing unnecessary emissions from planned outages that would otherwise contribute to pollution.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 Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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in committee · Virginia · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 627: Electric utilities; renewable energy portfolio standard program.

Electric utilities; renewable energy portfolio standard program. Repeals provisions (i) requiring Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power to participate in a renewable energy portfolio standard program that requires each such utility to procure and retire renewable energy certificates and (ii) permitting the recovery of certain costs associated with compliance with such program.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRepeals renewable energy portfolio standard requirements for utilities, removing mandates to procure renewable energy certificates and recover compliance costs.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRepeals renewable energy portfolio standards, removing utility mandates for clean energy procurement, weakening environmental protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Environment

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in committee · Virginia · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 470: 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 EnergyExpands renewable portfolio standard to include zero-carbon facilities post-2030 and enables renewable energy contracts, advancing clean energy adoption.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentClassifies zero-carbon facilities as RPS eligible, expanding renewable energy requirements to advance clean energy adoption and reduce emissions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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