# Virginia HB2638: Trees; conservation and replacement during development process. Virginia HB2638, Trees; conservation and replacement during development process., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Patrick A. Hope (Democratic); status to governor, last action 2025-04-02 (House sustained Governor's veto) (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2638-2025 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB2638 - State: Virginia - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: Trees; conservation and replacement during development process. - Status: to governor - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-01-13 - Last action: 2025-04-02, House sustained Governor's veto - Sponsor: Patrick A. Hope (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 5 (155 yes, 60 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## Summary Conservation and replacement of trees during development process. Expands certain existing local government authority to conserve or replace trees during the development process by expanding such authority statewide. The bill allows localities to establish higher tree canopy replacement percentages based on density per acre. The bill also alters the current process for granting exceptions to a local ordinance by altering a provision that requires the granting of an exception when strict application of the ordinance would result in unnecessary or unreasonable hardship to the developer and requiring that the locality concur with such alteration. The bill permits localities to monitor and assess the condition and coverage of tree canopies at development sites during the time period up to 20 years' maturity of the planted trees. The bill contains technical amendments. ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Patrick A. Hope (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-02-18 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 22 | 18 | | | 2025-02-13 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2025-02-11 | Senate | Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | pass | 8 | 7 | | | 2025-02-04 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 63 | 35 | | | 2025-01-29 | House | Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources | pass | 22 | 0 | | ## Actions (26) - 2025-04-02: House sustained Governor's veto (House) - 2025-03-24: Vetoed by Governor (Governor) - 2025-03-11: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor) - 2025-03-11: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025 (House) - 2025-03-10: Signed by President (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2638ER) (House) - 2025-03-07: Enrolled (House) - 2025-03-07: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2025-02-18: Passed Senate (22-Y 18-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-17: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2025-02-17: Read third time (Senate) - 2025-02-14: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2025-02-14: Read third time (Senate) - 2025-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-13: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2025-02-13: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2025-02-11: Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (8-Y 7-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 (63-Y 35-N) (House) - 2025-02-03: Read second time and engrossed (House) - 2025-02-03: Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar (House) - 2025-01-31: Read first time (House) - 2025-01-29: Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N) (House) - 2025-01-13: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (House) - 2025-01-13: Presented and ordered printed 25103897D (House) ## Bill text - Veto Explanation, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073288.HTML) - Enrolled, 2025-03-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1061201.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1061200.PDF) - Introduced, 2025-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1019842.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1019841.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 - [Veto Explanation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073288.HTML) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1061201.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1061200.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1019842.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1019841.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-HB2638-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).