# Virginia HB1443: Owners of sewage treatment works; land application, marketing, or distributing of sewage sludge.

Virginia HB1443, Owners of sewage treatment works; land application, marketing, or distributing of sewage sludge., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Alfonso H. Lopez (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0853)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1443-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1443
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Owners of sewage treatment works; land application, marketing, or distributing of sewage sludge.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-22
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0853)
- Sponsor: Alfonso H. Lopez (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 10 (275 yes, 60 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 7

## Summary

Owners of sewage treatment works; land application, marketing, or distribution of sewage sludge; perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances; testing requirements. Directs any owner of a sewage treatment works land applying, marketing, or distributing sewage sludge in the Commonwealth, beginning January 1, 2027, to collect representative samples of the sewage sludge intended to be land applied, marketed, or distributed and have such samples analyzed by an accredited laboratory for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The bill mandates certain outcomes for the land application of such sewage sludge depending on the concentration of PFAS in such sewage sludge. The bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality to modify all Virginia Pollution Abatement permits for the land application of sewage sludge and Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits for sewage treatment works that include sewage sludge prepared for land application, marketing, or distribution as soon as practicable. The bill requires the Department to utilize the PFAS Expert Advisory Committee (PEAC) or convene a work group to study and recommend approaches to reduce the occurrence of PFAS in sewage sludge intended for land application within the Commonwealth. The Department is required to report the recommendations of the PEAC or work group to the Governor and the Chairs of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources by November 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 386.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Sludge owners face new chemical testing: cost, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, treatment-works owners must collect representative samples of sludge intended for land application, marketing, or distribution in Virginia. An accredited laboratory must test for PFAS using EPA Method 1633, an applicable revision, or another state-allowed, EPA-approved me…
- Sludge generators pay new per-ton fees: cost, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, Board regulations must require a fee for each dry ton of sludge land applied in Virginia under permit. The land applier must tell the generator the estimated fee in advance unless notice is waived. The land applier collects payment from the generator and sends it to Virgi…
- Stronger safeguards and limits for farm sludge: mixed, medium. Beginning July 1, 2027, sludge averaging at least 50 micrograms per kilogram of either PFOS or PFOA cannot be land applied, marketed, or distributed. These averages cover a rolling 12-month period. Owners must arrange other treatment, use, or disposal until the average falls below 50. At 25 to unde…
- Local sludge controls preserve short farm storage: mixed, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, localities can reasonably restrict sludge storage through zoning rules tied to health, safety, welfare, and the environment. They can require special-use permits or special exceptions, even in agricultural zones. Applicants for state storage permits, variances, or permit…
- Local sludge monitors get training with fees: mixed, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality must establish training for local employees who test and monitor sludge land application. Localities with qualifying monitoring ordinances can request reimbursement for an employee's work only after that employee successfully…
- New handling safeguards for farm sludge: mixed, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, treatment-works owners must follow a valid state pollution permit to land apply, market, or distribute sludge. Sludge must meet state treatment standards before delivery to a land-application site. Its composition cannot be changed at approved application sites, apart fro…
- Public colleges get limited sludge research exemptions: mixed, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, research projects on land owned and operated by Virginia public colleges or universities are exempt from sludge land-application permitting requirements. Institutions must notify the state and every adjoining property owner at least 30 days before application. State setba…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Alfonso H. Lopez (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-11 | House | Senate substitute agreed to by House | pass | 74 | 24 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-17 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 67 | 29 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | House | Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute | pass | 17 | 5 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 8 | 2 |   |

## Actions (39)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0853) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 853 (Effective - see bill) (Governor)
- 2026-04-01: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1443) (House)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1443ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Senate substitute agreed to by House (74-Y 24-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-10: Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1443) (House)
- 2026-03-06: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Committee substitute printed 26108622D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Assigned HACNR sub: Water Usage (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Senate subcommittee offered (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1443) (House)
- 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed House (67-Y 29-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-16: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-16: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-16: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-13: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-11: Committee substitute printed 26107581D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-11: Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute (17-Y 5-N) (House)
- 2026-02-11: Incorporates HB880 (Kent) (House)
- 2026-02-09: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-02-09: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 2-N) (House)
- 2026-01-30: Assigned HACNR sub: Chesapeake (House)
- 2026-01-22: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (House)
- 2026-01-22: Presented and ordered printed 26103372D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222980.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222979.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212520.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212519.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1192067.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1192066.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189921.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189920.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142076.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142075.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135554.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135761.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135553.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135760.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094866.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094865.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222980.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222979.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212520.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1212519.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1192067.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1192066.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189921.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189920.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142076.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1142075.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135554.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135761.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135553.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135760.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094866.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094865.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1443-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).