STATE BILLVA HB 256PASSED

Comprehensive plan; environmental justice strategy.

Comprehensive plan; environmental justice strategy. Requires cities with populations greater than 20,000 and counties with populations greater than 100,000 to consider, beginning July 1, 2026, at the next and all subsequent reviews of the comprehensive plan, adopting an environmental justice strategy. The bill provides that the locality's strategy shall be to identify environmental justice and fenceline communities within the jurisdiction of the local planning commission and identify objectives and policies to reduce health risks, to promote civic engagement, to prioritize improvements and programs that address the needs of environmental justice and fenceline communities, as those terms are defined in the bill, and to establish baseline environmental and health conditions to characterize any disproportionate public health conditions in the identified fenceline communities. This bill is identical to SB 425.

Status: Passed; Signed or otherwise enacted
Status date: Apr 13, 2026; 213 days ago
Current chamber: House of Delegates
Session: 2026 Regular Session

VA HB 256 · PassedApr 13

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Bill details

Last action: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0581) · Apr 13, 2026

Bill history

Newest first.

Apr 13, 2026Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0581)

Apr 13, 2026Approved by Governor-Chapter 581 (effective 7/1/2026)

Mar 14, 2026Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

Mar 14, 2026Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026House

Mar 13, 2026Signed by PresidentSenate

Mar 13, 2026Signed by SpeakerHouse

Mar 13, 2026Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB256ER)House

Mar 13, 2026EnrolledHouse

Show 21 earlier actions

Mar 6, 2026Senate substitute agreed to by House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)House

Mar 4, 2026Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Senate

Mar 4, 2026Engrossed by Senate - committee substituteSenate

Mar 4, 2026Local Government Substitute agreed toSenate

Mar 4, 2026Read third timeSenate

Mar 3, 2026Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)Senate

Mar 3, 2026Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate

Mar 3, 2026Rules suspendedSenate

Mar 2, 2026Committee substitute printed 26109038D-S1Senate

Mar 2, 2026Reported from Local Government with substitute (8-Y 7-N)Senate

Feb 24, 2026Rereferred from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources to Local Government (13-Y 0-N)Senate

Feb 4, 2026Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural ResourcesSenate

Feb 4, 2026Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)Senate

Feb 3, 2026Read third time and passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)House

Feb 2, 2026Read second time and engrossedHouse

Jan 30, 2026Read first timeHouse

Jan 28, 2026Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (15-Y 7-N)House

Jan 21, 2026Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 3-N)House

Jan 19, 2026Assigned HACNR sub: Natural ResourcesHouse

Jan 9, 2026Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural ResourcesHouse

Jan 9, 2026Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103226DHouse

Recorded votes

Subcommittee recommends reportingJan 21, 2026 · House · 1 yea · 0 nayPassed

Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (15-Y 7-N)Jan 28, 2026 · House · 15 yea · 7 nayPassed

Read third time and passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)Feb 3, 2026 · House · 63 yea · 35 nayPassed

Rereferred from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources to Local Government (13-Y 0-N)Feb 24, 2026 · Senate · 13 yea · 0 nayPassed

Reported from Local Government with substitute (8-Y 7-N)Mar 2, 2026 · Senate · 8 yea · 7 nayPassed

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Mar 3, 2026 · Senate · 40 yea · 0 nayPassed

Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Mar 4, 2026 · Senate · 21 yea · 19 nayPassed

Senate substitute agreed to by House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)Mar 6, 2026 · House · 63 yea · 35 nayPassed

Read the bill at the source

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Comprehensive plan; environmental justice strategy.

What it means for vendors

Bill details

Sponsors

Bill history

Recorded votes

Read the bill at the source

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Comprehensive plan; environmental justice strategy.

What it means for vendors

Bill details

Sponsors

Bill history

Recorded votes

Read the bill at the source

Start finding government buyers today.It's free.

Start finding government buyers today.
It's free.