# Virginia HB52: Marine Resources Commission; beneficial use of dredged material.

Virginia HB52, Marine Resources Commission; beneficial use of dredged material., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0908)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB52-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB52
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Marine Resources Commission; beneficial use of dredged material.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-12-29
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0908)
- Sponsor: Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 8 (237 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Marine Resources Commission; beneficial use of dredged material. Provides that, beginning December 1, 2027, it is the policy of the Commonwealth to promote the beneficial use of dredged material, as defined in the bill, and that the Marine Resources Commission shall require the beneficial use of dredged material for all permits involving dredged material unless such approaches are not suitable based on criteria developed by the Commission. The bill also adds the sites of projects that are consistent with the beneficial use of dredged material to the sites that are given priority consideration for the disposal of that portion of dredged material determined to be suitable for such use by the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources. The bill directs the Commission to establish a work group to assist in the development of any regulations or guidance to implement the provisions of the bill. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee on Recurrent Flooding.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- New reuse rules for Virginia dredging projects: mixed, low. Beginning December 1, 2027, Virginia promotes beneficial reuse of material dredged from the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Reuse must be feasible and follow federal and state laws and rules. Qualifying uses restore underwater grasses or islands, stabilize eroding shores, or create, restore, or…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | Senate | Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 13 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 98 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-28 | House | Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with amendment(s) | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-26 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 10 | 0 |   |

## Actions (32)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0908) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 908 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB52) (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 (HB52ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (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: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Assigned HACNR sub: Water Usage (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB52) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Engrossed by House as amended (House)
- 2026-02-02: committee amendments agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-02: Read second time (House)
- 2026-01-30: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-28: Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-26: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-26: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (10-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB52) (House)
- 2026-01-19: Assigned HACNR sub: Chesapeake (House)
- 2025-12-29: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (House)
- 2025-12-29: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102052D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224551.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224550.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210481.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210480.PDF)
- Engrossed, 2026-02-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100708.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100707.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-01-28: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100567.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-01-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097035.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097180.HTML)
- Introduced, 2025-12-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082175.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082174.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/1224551.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224550.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210481.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210480.PDF)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100708.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100707.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100567.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097035.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097180.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082175.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082174.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB52-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).