Environment

passed · Virginia · House of Delegates Mar 4, 2026

HB 134: Virginia Conservation Easement Act; definition of federally recognized tribe.

Virginia Conservation Easement Act; definitions; federally recognized tribes. Provides that a federally recognized tribe, as defined in the bill, can be a conservation easement holder and that such a tribe is not bound by the same restrictions on the location of a principal office or the duration of existence that are placed on other types of easement holders. This bill is a recommendation of the Commission on Updating Virginia Law to Reflect Federal Recognition of Virginia Tribes.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEnables federally recognized tribes to hold conservation easements without restrictions, facilitating land protection and conservation efforts per the bill's purpose.85% 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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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 · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 157: Loudoun County; DCR to accept property to establish a state park.

Department of Conservation and Recreation; acceptance of property to establish a state park; Loudoun County. Authorizes the Department of Conservation and Recreation to accept 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 in Loudoun County, known as Oak Hill Farm, for the purpose of establishing and operating a state park on such property.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill authorizes DCR to accept land for a state park, directly conserving natural resources and protecting habitat through land preservation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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in committee · Virginia · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 588: Solar facilities; Department of Energy to develop criteria to determine appropriateness of sites.

Department of Energy; developing criteria to determine the appropriateness of sites for solar facilities. Requires the Department of Energy (the Department) to develop a set of criteria to be used by reviewers to (i) assess the appropriateness of potential siting areas and (ii) assign a siting appropriateness score from one to 100 for each area and to establish a scoring committee to review applications for proposed solar facilities. Beginning January 1, 2027, the bill requires every completed land use application for a proposed solar facility to be forwarded by the host locality to the Department for evaluation and scoring. The bill provides that the locality shall continue to have final authority for approval or disapproval of a proposed solar facility.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyDevelops criteria for solar facility siting, enabling streamlined renewable energy infrastructure development without restrictions or fossil fuel favoritism.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes criteria to facilitate solar facility siting, promoting clean energy development and environmental protection through renewable infrastructure expansion.92% 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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in committee · Virginia · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 473: Occoquan Reservoir; low-flow protections for drinking water safe yield.

Occoquan Reservoir; low-flow protections for drinking water safe yield. Requires any Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit issued after July 1, 2026, authorizing the diversion of sewage or reclaimed water from a publicly owned treatment works for reuse that would otherwise discharge into the Occoquan Reservoir, the Occoquan River, Bull Run, or any of their tributaries above the Occoquan Reservoir to incorporate certain low-flow protection requirements for drinking water safe yield if the total diversion amount allowed by the permit exceeds 500,000 gallons per day. The bill also prohibits the issuance of any Virginia Water Protection Permit after July 1, 2026, authorizing the withdrawal of water for consumptive uses from the Occoquan Reservoir, the Occoquan River, Bull Run, or any of their tributaries above the Occoquan Reservoir for any purpose other than agricultural or irrigation purposes or for continued operation, expansion, or relocation of existing public water supply withdrawals.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires low-flow protections in permits for water reuse to maintain drinking water safe yield, preventing pollution and ensuring reservoir sustainability for environmental protection.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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in committee · Virginia · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 422: Virginia Conservation Easement Act; definition of federally recognized tribe.

Virginia Conservation Easement Act; definitions; federally recognized tribes. Provides that a federally recognized tribe, as defined in the bill, can be a conservation easement holder and that such a tribe is not bound by the same restrictions on the location of a principal office or the duration of existence that are placed on other types of easement holders. This bill is a recommendation of the Commission on Updating Virginia Law to Reflect Federal Recognition of Virginia Tribes.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEnables federally recognized tribes to hold conservation easements, expanding land protection tools for environmental conservation without restrictive barriers.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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in committee · Virginia · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 393: Virginia's Great Outdoors Act; established, creates data center land conservation tax.

Virginia's Great Outdoors Act established; land preservation distributions and appropriations. Creates a data center land preservation tax on and after January 1, 2027, in an amount equal to $3 per square foot of each data center facility footprint, as defined in the bill, and directs no less than $250 million of revenues from the tax to be distributed for various land protection and preservation purposes, including into the Virginia Tribal Commitment Fund, as created in the bill. The bill also repeals provisions requiring the Governor to include in the budget bill or in his amendments to the general appropriation act a recommended appropriation from the general fund, up to $20 million, for land preservation as follows: (i) 80 percent of the unissued credits to the Virginia Land Conservation Fund, of which at least 50 percent must be used for acquisitions with public access; (ii) 10 percent to the Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fund; and (iii) 10 percent to the Virginia Farmland and Forestland Preservation Fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates $3/sq ft data center tax to fund land preservation with $250M minimum allocation, directly advancing fiscal management for conservation programs.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates $3/sq ft tax on data centers to fund land preservation with $250M+ revenue, directly advancing conservation goals per bill language.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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