All Roll Calls
Yes: 166 • No: 70
Sponsored By: Amy J. Laufer (Democratic)
Became Law
Local authority to test and monitor the land application of sewage sludge within its political boundaries. Allows a locality to provide for testing and monitoring for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, as defined in relevant law, of the land application of sewage sludge within its political boundaries using an applicable test method established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The bill prohibits any expenses from such testing and monitoring from being eligible for reimbursement from the Sludge Management Fund.
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6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.
The law charges a fee on each dry ton of sludge spread on land. The applicator must tell the generator the estimated fee, collect it, and send it to the Department. It also sets a $5,000 initial permit fee and up to $1,000 for reissues or changes started by the permit holder. Money goes to the Sludge Management Fund to pay for permit processing, state monitoring, and DCR costs. Local testing done under local ordinances, including PFAS testing, is not eligible for reimbursement from this Fund.
Owners of sewage treatment works must have a valid permit to land apply, market, or distribute sludge. No one may contract to apply sludge without a current permit that lists locations and terms, and applications must include the landowner’s written consent. Sludge must meet treatment standards before delivery; on‑site changes are limited to adding lime or deodorants. The Board sets rules covering permits, treatment, site checks, sampling, records, local notice, nutrient plans, complaint investigations with a public database, public comment, and staging/signage/backup storage. Health and Conservation agencies get 30 days to recommend conditions, and the Department may add site‑specific rules (like buffers, truck routes, slopes, material limits, or time‑of‑day limits) with written notice and at least 14 days for response. Permit holders must show financial responsibility for cleanup, injuries, and property damage, and land disposal of lime‑stabilized and unstabilized septage is banned.
Local governments can require testing and monitoring of land‑applied sludge, including PFAS testing using EPA methods. Permit holders must give the local chief executive 100 days’ written notice before spreading (or a 100‑day advance site list), and must notify the Department 14 days before starting. The Department makes random, unannounced inspections while spreading is in progress. The Department also runs training for local staff on sampling, nutrient plans, complaints, and enforcement. Staff must finish this training before their locality can ask the Board for reimbursement; a refundable fee may apply.
Until July 1, 2030, public colleges and universities can apply sludge for research on land they own without the usual permits. They must notify the Department and all adjoining property owners at least 30 days before starting. They must follow setback and recordkeeping rules in the Virginia Pollution Abatement Permit Regulation.
You can ask the Department to collect and test sludge at a site before it is spread. Tests include trace elements, coliform count, and pH. The Department reviews the results and sends them to you. You must pay the sampling and testing costs, and your request must be on time.
Local zoning may designate or reasonably limit where sludge can be stored and may require special permits. Farm storage for on‑farm use is exempt if it is only for that farm and stored 45 days or less. Starting July 1, 2007, storage permit or variance applications are incomplete without local certification that the site matches zoning; the locality has 30 days or the site is deemed consistent. Surface incorporation into cropland soil may be required when practical and compatible with an NRCS‑standard soil conservation plan. The Board will set extended buffer distances for hay, pasture, forest, and for cropland where mixing is not practical, which can be used instead of mixing to protect nearby neighbors from odors and risks.
Amy J. Laufer
Democratic • House
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
All Roll Calls
Yes: 166 • No: 70
Senate vote • 3/10/2026
Passed Senate
Yes: 23 • No: 17
Senate vote • 3/5/2026
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)
Yes: 39 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/5/2026
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/4/2026
Reported from Finance and Appropriations
Yes: 11 • No: 4
Senate vote • 2/24/2026
Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
Yes: 9 • No: 5
House vote • 2/17/2026
Read third time and passed House
Yes: 62 • No: 34
House vote • 2/11/2026
Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute
Yes: 15 • No: 7
House vote • 2/9/2026
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute
Yes: 7 • No: 3
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0933)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 933 (effective 7/1/2026)
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
Signed by Speaker
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1072ER)
Enrolled
Signed by President
Passed Senate (23-Y 17-N 0-A)
Read third time
Passed by for the day
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
Rules suspended
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (11-Y 4-N)
Assigned HACNR sub: Water Usage
Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 5-N)
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Read third time and passed House (62-Y 34-N 0-A)
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
committee substitute agreed to
Read second time
Read first time
Chaptered
4/13/2026
Enrolled
3/30/2026
Substitute
2/11/2026
Substitute
2/10/2026
Introduced
1/14/2026
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