Today, we are wrapping up the first of six weeks that make up the 2017 Virginia General Assembly session. Each January, our elected legislators convene in the Capitol to introduce, debate, and vote on potential policy change. To keep Network Partners and conservation supporters informed how these debates may influence our air, water, landscapes, and wildlife here in Virginia, Virginia Conservation Network will publish a weekly blog post throughout session highlighting the most notable bills and the status of those the conservation community has take positions on. Each week, we will also include upcoming events to add to your calendar, as well as noteworthy articles covering the Virginia General Assembly.
Bill tracker
The positions listed below have been taken by Virginia Conservation Network (VCN)’s Legislative Committee and Board of Directors and are supported by Virginia’s conservation community. To access talking points for these bills, simply click on the bill number.
| Hidden Bill Numbers | Issue Area | Bill Number | Patron | Description | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | SB324 | Edwards | Natural gas companies; right of entry upon property. | SUPPORT | |
| 3-1.01 #2s | Budget | 3-1.01 #2s | Hanger | Agriculture Cost Share Program Funding | SUPPORT |
| 3-1.01 #4h | Budget | 3-1.01 #4h | Landes | Agriculture Cost Share Program Funding | SUPPORT |
| 3-6.01 #1h | Budget | 3-6.01 #1h | Landes | Agriculture Cost Share Program Funding | SUPPORT |
| 3-6.01 #1s | Budget | 3-6.01 #1s | Hanger | Agriculture Cost Share Program Funding | SUPPORT |
| 88 #1h | Budget | 88 #1h | Gooditis | Increase Farmland Preservation Funding | SUPPORT |
| 98 #2h | Budget | 98 #2h | Landes | VNRLI | SUPPORT |
| 362 #1s | Budget | 362 #1s | Hanger | Agriculture Cost Share Program Funding | SUPPORT |
| 362 #2h | Budget | 362 #2h | Webert | Agriculture Cost Share Program Funding | SUPPORT |
| 362 #2s | Budget | 362 #2s | Hanger | Agriculture Cost Share Program Funding | SUPPORT |
| 362 #4h | Budget | 362 #4h | Landes | Agriculture Cost Share Program Funding | SUPPORT |
| 362 #6s | Budget | 362 #6s | Lewis | Agriculture Cost Share Program Funding | SUPPORT |
| 362 #8h | Budget | 362 #8h | Landes | Agriculture Cost Share Program Funding | SUPPORT |
| 363 #2h | Budget | 363 #2h | Krizek, Peace, Plum, Sickles, Watts | Increase Virginia Land Conservation Foundation Funding | SUPPORT |
| 363 #4s | Budget | 363 #4s | Reeves | Establish Brandy Station Cedar Mountain State Park | SUPPORT |
| 363 #5s | Budget | 363 #5s | Hanger | Increase Virginia Land Conservation Foundation Funding | SUPPORT |
| 363 #13s | Budget | 363 #13s | Howell | Increase Virginia Land Conservation Foundation Funding | SUPPORT |
| 374 #1h | Budget | 374 #1h | Knight, Landes | Increase Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fund | SUPPORT |
| 374 #2s | Budget | 374 #2s | Vogel | Increase Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fund | SUPPORT |
| 376 #1s | Budget | 376 #1s | Wagner | Watermen and oyster reefs increase funding each year by 1.5 million for oyster replenishment and by $500,000 for oyster restoration activities | SUPPORT |
| 376 #2h | Budget | 376 #2h | Bloxom | Watermen and oyster reefs increase funding each year by 1.5 million for oyster replenishment and by $500,000 for oyster restoration activities | SUPPORT |
| 376 #2s | Budget | 376 #2s | Lewis | Battlefield Preservation Fund to 2.5 million per year | SUPPORT |
| 450 #2s | Budget | 450 #2s | Peake | Rte. 29 Eastern Bypass | OPPOSE |
| C-45 #1s | Budget | C-45 #1s | Hanger | Stormwater Management - Provide $50 million to the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund grant progam for fiscal year 2019. | SUPPORT |
| C-45 #2h | Budget | C-45 #2h | Bulova | Stormwater Management - Provide $50 million to the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund grant progam for fiscal year 2019. | SUPPORT |
| HB23 | Anti-Regulatory | HB23 | Webert | Red Tape Reduction Commission; created, review of regulatory requirements, report. | OPPOSE |
| HB58 | Energy | HB58 | Bell | State agencies; use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on outdoor lighting fixtures. | SUPPORT |
| HB61 | Land Conservation | HB61 | Ware | Battlefield property; termination of easement upon transfer to United States. | OPPOSE |
| HB72 | Land Use & Transportation | HB72 | Thomas | Statewide prioritization process project selection; cost of project to be considered. | OPPOSE |
| HB96 | Energy | HB96 | Rasoul | Electric utility regulation; suspension of reviews of earnings, transitional rate period. | SUPPORT |
| HB182 | Water | HB182 | Foy | Coal combustion residuals unit; closure by 2022. | SUPPORT |
| HB195 | Water | HB195 | Herring | Alexandria, City of; amending charter, tree planting and replacement. | SUPPORT |
| HB361 | Land Use and Transportation | HB361 | Rush | Billboards; relocation of certain signs. | OPPOSE |
| HB392 | Energy | HB392 | Keam | Electric utility regulation; solar energy. | SUPPORT |
| HB393 | Energy | HB393 | Keam | Electric utilities; net energy metering; program cap. | SUPPORT |
| HB400 | Water | HB400 | Keam | Replacement of trees during development process; Chesapeake Bay watershed. | SUPPORT |
| HB421 | Energy | HB421 | Sullivan | Multi-family residential building; sale of electricity to occupants. | SUPPORT |
| HB428 | Land Use & Transportation | HB428 | Marshall | Speed limits; minimum speed on certain highways. | OPPOSE |
| HB494 | Water | HB494 | Hodges | Land development; replacement of trees; locality within Chesapeake Bay watershed. | SUPPORT |
| HB665 | Energy | HB665 | Kilgore | Coal tax credits; reinstates Virginia coal employment and production incentive tax credit. | OPPOSE |
| HB668 | Land Use and Transportation | HB668 | Kilgore | Transportation funding in certain areas of the Commonwealth; price floor. | OPPOSE |
| HB801 | Anti-Regulatory | HB801 | O'Quinn | Stormwater regulation; no stricter than federal law. | OPPOSE |
| HB805 | Water | HB805 | O'Quinn | Stormwater management regulations; localities outside Chesapeake Bay watershed. | OPPOSE |
| HB822 | Water | HB822 | Knight | Menhaden; total landings. | SUPPORT |
| HB883 | Anti-Regulatory | HB883 | Webert | Regulatory budget program; established, administered by Department of Planning and Budget, report. | OPPOSE |
| HB904 | Water | HB904 | Robinson | Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); general exclusion for trade secrets. | OPPOSE |
| HB922 | Energy | HB922 | Bulova | Electric vehicle charging stations; local and public operation. | SUPPORT |
| HB1004 | Water | HB1004 | Byron | Stormwater; locality shall provide for full waiver of certain charges for public use airport runway. | OPPOSE |
| HB1082 | Anti-Regulatory | HB1082 | Vogel | Environmental regulations; no stricter than federal law. | OPPOSE |
| HB1094 | Water | HB1094 | Hodges | Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas; regulations, local permit to raise land. | OPPOSE |
| HB1141 | Energy | HB1141 | Rasoul | Interstate natural gas pipeline; Virginia Water Protection Permit; regulations. | SUPPORT |
| HB1150 | Water | HB1150 | Wilt | Pavement sealants containing coal tar prohibited. | SUPPORT |
| HB1187 | Energy | HB1187 | Hurst | Natural gas companies; right of entry upon property. | SUPPORT |
| HB1188 | Energy | HB1188 | Hurst | Natural gas pipelines; contingency plan; operation; discharge; penalty. | SUPPORT |
| HB1192 | Anti-Regulatory | HB1192 | Cline | Administrative Process Act; development and periodic review of regulations, report. | OPPOSE |
| HB1252 | Energy | HB1252 | Kilgore | Renewable energy power purchase agreements; pilot programs. | SUPPORT |
| HB1253 | Energy | HB1253 | Tran | Net energy metering by municipalities. | SUPPORT |
| HB1258 | Land Use & Transportation | HB1258 | Kilgore | Wireless communications infrastructure; zoning. | OPPOSE |
| HB1263 | Land Use & Transportation | HB1263 | Kilgore | Commonwealth Transportation Board prioritization process; factors considered in Bristol and Salem. | OPPOSE |
| HB1273 | Energy | HB1273 | Bulova | Virginia Alternative Energy and Coastal Protection Act. | SUPPORT |
| HB1294 | Energy | HB1294 | Rasoul | Interstate natural gas pipeline construction; water quality impact bond; statewide halt. | SUPPORT |
| HB1308 | Water | HB1308 | Hodges | Stormwater management; local plan review, acceptance of signed plan in lieu of review. | OPPOSE |
| HB1353 | Land Conservation | HB1353 | Ware | Battlefield property; incorporation into national park; transfer of easement held by Board. | OPPOSE |
| HB1374 | Water | HB1374 | Poindexter | Sewerage systems; state adoption of federal criteria; ammonia. | OPPOSE |
| HB1451 | Energy | HB1451 | Sullivan | Net energy metering; schools that generate more electricity than it consumes. | SUPPORT |
| HB1455 | Land Use & Transportation | HB1455 | Thomas | Commonwealth Transportation Board; implementing changes to SMART SCALE. | OPPOSE |
| HB1488 | Water | HB1488 | Helsel | Marine Resources Commission; oyster dredge, sanctuary area. | OPPOSE |
| HB1503 | Energy | HB1503 | Toscano | Community solar generation; establishment of facilities. | SUPPORT |
| HB1528 | Energy | HB1528 | Mullin | Electric utilities; retail competition. | SUPPORT |
| HB1566 | Water | HB1566 | Hodges | Stormwater; local plan review; acceptance of plan by professional engineer in lieu of review. | OPPOSE |
| HJ32 | Energy | HJ32 | Lindsey | Coal dust blown from moving trains. | SUPPORT |
| HJ93 | Water | HJ93 | Lopez | Study; stormwater best management practices; planting and preservation of trees; report. | SUPPORT |
| HJ101 | Energy | HJ101 | Toscano | Study; Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy; use of energy storage devices; report. | SUPPORT |
| HJ111 | Anti-Regulatory | HJ111 | Head | Constitutional amendment (second resolution); powers of General Assembly; suspensions. | OPPOSE |
| SB20 | Anti-Regulatory | SB20 | Chase | Red Tape Reduction Commission; created, review of regulatory requirements, report. | OPPOSE |
| SB31 | Land Use and Transportation | SB31 | Stanley | Interstate 73 Corridor Development Fund and Program; created. | OPPOSE |
| SB147 | Land Use & Transportation | SB147 | Edwards | Commonwealth Transportation Board; factors for project selection. | OPPOSE |
| SB191 | Energy | SB191 | Favola | Net energy metering; eligibility limits. | SUPPORT |
| SB207 | Land Use & Transportation | SB207 | Stuart | Statewide prioritization process project selection; cost of project to be considered. | OPPOSE |
| SB311 | Energy | SB311 | Edwards | Community solar gardens; SCC to establish standards for operation. | SUPPORT |
| SB313 | Energy | SB313 | Edwards | Community solar generation; establishment of facilities. | SUPPORT |
| SB344 | Water | SB344 | Peake | Sewage systems; state adoption of federal criteria; ammonia. | OPPOSE |
| SB367 | Water | SB367 | Newman | Regulation of stormwater; airports. | OPPOSE |
| SB378 | Energy | SB378 | Chafin | Coal tax credits; reinstates Virginia coal employment and production incentive tax credit. | OPPOSE |
| SB405 | Land Use & Transportation | SB405 | McDougle | Wireless communications infrastructure; zoning. | OPPOSE |
| SB450 | Land Conservation | SB450 | Dance | Battlefield property; incorporation into national park; transfer of easement held by Board. | OPPOSE |
| SB640 | Land Use and Transportation | SB640 | Marsden | Billboards; relocation of certain signs. | OPPOSE |
| SB646 | Energy | SB 646 | McPike | Electric utilities; fuel factor; gas pipeline capacity. | SUPPORT |
| SB698 | Energy | SB698 | Deeds | Erosion and sediment control; inspections; natural gas pipelines; stop work instructions; emergency. | SUPPORT |
| SB699 | Energy | SB699 | Deeds | Stormwater management; inspections; natural gas pipelines; stop work instructions; emergency. | SUPPORT |
| SB708 | Water | SB708 | Chase | Coal combustion residuals unit; closure. | SUPPORT |
| SB711 | Energy | SB711 | Wexton | Electric utilities; community renewable | SUPPORT |
| SB765 | Water | SB765 | Surovell | Coal ash ponds; mandatory testing of drinking water wells. | SUPPORT |
| SB766 | Water | SB766 | Surovell | Citizen water quality monitoring; use as evidence in enforcement actions. | SUPPORT |
| SB767 | Water | SB767 | Surovell | Coal ash ponds; flaws in closure plans; delay of permit. | SUPPORT |
| SB768 | Water | SB768 | Surovell | Electric utilities; recovery of costs associated with closure in place of coal ash facilities. | SUPPORT |
| SB807 | Water | SB807 | Surovell | Electric utilities; rate adjustment clause costs of coal ash beneficiation facility. | SUPPORT |
| SB837 | Energy | SB837 | Suetterlein | Electric utilities; retail competition. | SUPPORT |
| SB950 | Energy | SB950 | Hanger | Pipeline construction; upland impacts; supplemental review. | SUPPORT |
| SB951 | Water | SB951 | Surovell | Eastern Virginia; hydraulic fracturing prohibited. | SUPPORT |
| SJ32 | Land Use and Transportation | SJ32 | Peake | Study; Virginia Department of Transportation; feasibility of eastern bypass for U.S. Route 29 | OPPOSE |
| SJ69 | Anti-Regulatory | SJ69 | Vogel | Constitutional amendment; legislative review of administrative rules. | OPPOSE |
| SB908 | Energy | SB908 | McClellan | Electric vehicle charging stations; local and public operation. | SUPPORT |
| HB1610 | Water | HB1610 | Knight | Menhaden; total landings. | SUPPORT |
| HB1241 | Water | HB1241 | Hugo | Car-washing fundraisers; use of biodegradable cleaners. | OPPOSE |
Mark your calendars!
Conservation Lobby Day | January 23 | Richmond, VA
Bills move fast in the Virginia General Assembly! Virginia Conservation (VCN) organizes Conservation Lobby Day to ensure a strong conservation voice is heard early in the legislative session. Volunteer advocates are invited to join professional staff of VCN Partners as we meet with state legislators and encourage them to support environmental policy advancements.
Featured Speakers
Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam
Delegate L. Scott Lingamfelter
Conservation Lobby Day Information
Monday, January 23, 2017
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church | Richmond, VA
Tickets $25 (student discounts available) | Register today!
Please note: Registration closes Friday, January 20, 2017.
Public Health Festival
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters will be hosting a public health festival at the Unitarian Church in Norfolk on Saturday, January 28 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Hampton Roads region is seeing the impacts of climate change on public health matters like air and water quality at an expedient rate, so this event will serve as a resource with local community partners who can offer solutions to help protect families from the dangers of changing climates. Healthcare professionals will be on site to help answer questions and provide resources for community members. We will also be joined by local elected officials who can speak to the solutions most helpful in responding to threats to clean air and water in Hampton Roads.
Questions? Please contact Jennessa Agnew at jagnewlcv@gmail.com
New to the General Assembly process? Here is the quick summary on what you need to know.
The Virginia General Assembly—the oldest lawmaking body in the United States—is composed of two chambers: the State Senate and House of Delegates. Forty senators serve four-year terms, while one hundred delegates are re-elected every two years. Each chamber uses committees to review the many bills presented each year. Energy bills are typically presented before the Commerce and Labor Committees. Bills on rail, roads, and similar issues go before the Transportation Committees. Most other conservation issues stand before the Agriculture and Natural Resource Committees.
A bill must pass through a committee before being considered by the full chamber in a floor vote. It then crosses over into the other chamber to go through the same process. Once passed by both chambers, the bill goes to the Governor for signing. The Governor can amend or veto legislation. The Virginia General Assembly reconvenes each April for a veto session to accept or override the Governor’s actions.
Virginia has one of the shortest General Assembly sessions in the country. Forty-five days in short-sessions and sixty days in long-session. 2017 is a short session.
