STATE BILLVA HB 521PASSED

Marine Resources Commission; powers and duties, impacts on wetlands, report.

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.

Status: Passed; Signed or otherwise enacted
Status date: Apr 6, 2026; 220 days ago
Current chamber: House of Delegates
Session: 2026 Regular Session

VA HB 521 · PassedApr 6

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Bill details

Last action: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0161) · Apr 6, 2026

Sponsor

PHPhil HernandezRepresentative · Democrat · HD-094Primary sponsor

Bill history

Newest first.

Apr 6, 2026Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0161)

Apr 6, 2026Approved by Governor-Chapter 161 (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 12, 2026Signed by SpeakerHouse

Mar 11, 2026Signed by PresidentSenate

Mar 11, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521)House

Mar 11, 2026Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB521ER)House

Show 30 earlier actions

Mar 11, 2026EnrolledHouse

Mar 4, 2026Senate substitute agreed to by House (70-Y 25-N 0-A)House

Mar 2, 2026Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Senate

Mar 2, 2026Engrossed by Senate - committee substituteSenate

Mar 2, 2026Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed toSenate

Feb 27, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521)House

Feb 27, 2026Passed by for the daySenate

Feb 27, 2026Read third timeSenate

Feb 26, 2026Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)Senate

Feb 26, 2026Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate

Feb 26, 2026Rules suspendedSenate

Feb 26, 2026Committee substitute printed 26108480D-S1Senate

Feb 24, 2026Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute (8-Y 6-N)Senate

Feb 24, 2026Senate subcommittee offeredSenate

Feb 24, 2026Assigned HACNR sub: Water UsageSenate

Feb 6, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521)House

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 (74-Y 24-N 0-A)House

Feb 2, 2026Engrossed by House as amendedHouse

Feb 2, 2026committee amendment agreed toHouse

Feb 2, 2026Read second timeHouse

Jan 30, 2026Read first timeHouse

Jan 28, 2026Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with amendment(s) (19-Y 3-N)House

Jan 26, 2026Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (9-Y 1-N)House

Jan 26, 2026House subcommittee offeredHouse

Jan 26, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521)House

Jan 19, 2026Assigned HACNR sub: ChesapeakeHouse

Jan 13, 2026Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural ResourcesHouse

Jan 13, 2026Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102424DHouse

Recorded votes

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (9-Y 1-N)Jan 26, 2026 · House · 9 yea · 1 nayPassed

Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with amendment(s) (19-Y 3-N)Jan 28, 2026 · House · 19 yea · 3 nayPassed

Read third time and passed House (74-Y 24-N 0-A)Feb 3, 2026 · House · 74 yea · 24 nayPassed

Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute (8-Y 6-N)Feb 24, 2026 · Senate · 8 yea · 6 nayPassed

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Feb 26, 2026 · Senate · 40 yea · 0 nayPassed

Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Mar 2, 2026 · Senate · 21 yea · 19 nayPassed

Senate substitute agreed to by House (70-Y 25-N 0-A)Mar 4, 2026 · House · 70 yea · 25 nayPassed

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