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 Yes ✓ Supports 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 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 Mar 6, 2026

SB 519: Land and urban areas; DCR shall assess how best to achieve permanent conservation by 2036, report.

Department of Conservation and Recreation; permanent land conservation feasibility; report. Directs the Department of Conservation and Recreation to assess how best to achieve permanent conservation by 2036 of (i) 20 percent of the land area of the Commonwealth and (ii) 10 percent of urban areas of the Commonwealth. The bill directs the Department to submit a report on its findings and any recommendations to achieve such permanent conservation goals 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 November 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes 20% land conservation goal by 2036 and mandates annual conservation reports, directly advancing environmental protection through land conservation targets.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 457: Electric utilities; renewable energy portfolio standard eligible sources, etc.

Electric utilities; renewable energy portfolio standard eligible sources; zero-carbon electricity generating nuclear facilities. Provides that, for the purposes of the renewable energy portfolio standard, eligible sources include zero-carbon electricity generating nuclear facilities located in the Commonwealth.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExpands renewable energy portfolio standard to include zero-carbon nuclear facilities, advancing clean energy goals under renewable standards.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExpands renewable energy portfolio standard to include zero-carbon nuclear facilities, promoting clean energy adoption and reducing emissions per bill summary.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ 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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in committee · Virginia · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 415: 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 grant funding for renewable energy projects on brownfields from $100 to $200 per kW, directly advancing clean energy infrastructure development.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIncreases renewable energy grants on brownfields/coal mines, promoting clean energy development on contaminated sites per Commission recommendation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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in committee · Virginia · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 684: Va. Recycling Development Center & Va. Recycling Infrastructure Fund; established & created, report.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 2 of a chapter numbered 14.4, consisting of sections numbered 10.1-1465.1 through 10.1-1465.15, relating to establishing the Virginia Recycling Development Center and the Virginia Recycling Infrastructure Fund; supporting statewide recycling infrastructure; incentivizing voluntary stewardship programs; authorizing public-private partnerships; and addressing priority materials including waste tires, mattresses, and bulky waste.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes recycling infrastructure fund, addresses waste materials (tires/mattresses), and incentivizes stewardship programs to enhance environmental protection and waste reduction.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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