HB 521 VA

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Became Law

Marine Resources Commission; powers and duties; wetlands; work group; report. Requires the Marine Resources Commission to ensure that, in promulgating minimum standards for protection and conservation of wetlands, no net loss of existing wetland acreage and functions is achieved. The bill requires permits for the use and development of wetlands to contain requirements for compensating impacts on wetlands sufficient to achieve no net loss of existing wetland acreage and functions. The bill also directs the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources to convene a stakeholder work group to address mitigation requirements for tidal nonvegetated wetlands and directs the work group to 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 July 1, 2027.

• Phil M. Hernandez Democratic · primary

1. Jan 13, 2026 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102424D · lower
2. Jan 13, 2026 Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources · lower
3. Jan 19, 2026 Assigned HACNR sub: Chesapeake · lower
4. Jan 26, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521) · lower
5. Jan 26, 2026 House subcommittee offered · lower
6. Jan 26, 2026 Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (9-Y 1-N) · lower
7. Jan 28, 2026 Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with amendment(s) (19-Y 3-N) · lower
8. Jan 30, 2026 Read first time · lower
9. Feb 2, 2026 Read second time · lower
10. Feb 2, 2026 committee amendment agreed to · lower
11. Feb 2, 2026 Engrossed by House as amended · lower
12. Feb 3, 2026 Read third time and passed House (74-Y 24-N 0-A) · lower
13. Feb 4, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) · upper
14. Feb 4, 2026 Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources · upper
15. Feb 6, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521) · lower
16. Feb 24, 2026 Assigned HACNR sub: Water Usage · upper
17. Feb 24, 2026 Senate subcommittee offered · upper
18. Feb 24, 2026 Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute (8-Y 6-N) · upper
19. Feb 26, 2026 Committee substitute printed 26108480D-S1 · upper
20. Feb 26, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
21. Feb 26, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
22. Feb 26, 2026 Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) · upper
23. Feb 27, 2026 Read third time · upper
24. Feb 27, 2026 Passed by for the day · upper
25. Feb 27, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521) · lower
26. Mar 2, 2026 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to · upper
27. Mar 2, 2026 Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute · upper
28. Mar 2, 2026 Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A) · upper
29. Mar 4, 2026 Senate substitute agreed to by House (70-Y 25-N 0-A) · lower
30. Mar 11, 2026 Enrolled · lower
31. Mar 11, 2026 Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB521ER) · lower
32. Mar 11, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521) · lower
33. Mar 11, 2026 Signed by President · upper
34. Mar 12, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
35. Mar 14, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 · lower
36. Mar 14, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 · executive
37. Apr 6, 2026 Approved by Governor-Chapter 161 (effective 7/1/2026) · executive
38. Apr 6, 2026 Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0161) · executive

The published texts of this bill as it moves through the legislature. Each links to the official document on the state legislature site. Data from OpenStates.

• Chaptered · PDF
• Chaptered · HTML
• Enrolled · PDF
• Enrolled · HTML
• Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute · PDF
• Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute · HTML
• Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute · PDF
• Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute · HTML
• Engrossed · PDF
• Engrossed · HTML
• Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Amendment · HTML
• Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Amendment · HTML
• Chesapeake Subcommittee Amendment · HTML
• Introduced · PDF
• Introduced · HTML