# Virginia HB2238: Trees; preservation during development.

Virginia HB2238, Trees; preservation during development., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Marty Martinez (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-02-11 (Passed by indefinitely in Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with letter (12-Y 3-N)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2238-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB2238
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Trees; preservation during development.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-07
- Last action: 2025-02-11, Passed by indefinitely in Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with letter (12-Y 3-N)
- Sponsor: Marty Martinez (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (83 yes, 61 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Preservation of existing trees during development; certain localities. Allows a locality with a population of at least 75 people per square mile or a locality located within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, when assessing the adequacy of existing trees identified by the developer during the development process to be preserved or in assessing the overall impact of the development on existing trees, to require, by ordinance, the developer to (i) submit a survey or map detailing the location of critical root zones on the subject property, including any roots from mature trees that have grown over the subject property line to the abutting property or property adjacent to the subject property, or (ii) provide other information reasonably calculated to assist the locality to determine if such trees are sufficient to meet all or part of the tree canopy requirements.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Marty Martinez (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-11 | Senate | Passed by indefinitely in Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with letter | pass | 12 | 3 |   |
| 2025-02-04 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 52 | 45 |   |
| 2025-01-29 | House | Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources | pass | 13 | 9 |   |
| 2025-01-22 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 6 | 4 | 1 |

## Actions (11)

- 2025-02-11: Passed by indefinitely in Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with letter (12-Y 3-N) (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: Read third time and passed House (52-Y 45-N) (House)
- 2025-02-03: Read second time and engrossed (House)
- 2025-01-31: Read first time (House)
- 2025-01-29: Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (13-Y 9-N) (House)
- 2025-01-22: Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 4-N) (House)
- 2025-01-17: Assigned ACNR sub: Natural Resources (House)
- 2025-01-07: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (House)
- 2025-01-07: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25101754D (House)

## Bill text

- Amendment, 2025-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1047045.HTML)
- Introduced, 2025-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015669.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015667.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1047045.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015669.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015667.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2238-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).