# Virginia HB521: Marine Resources Commission; powers and duties, impacts on wetlands, report.

Virginia HB521, Marine Resources Commission; powers and duties, impacts on wetlands, report., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Phil M. Hernandez (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0161)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB521-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB521
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Marine Resources Commission; powers and duties, impacts on wetlands, report.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0161)
- Sponsor: Phil M. Hernandez (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (241 yes, 78 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

Marine Resources Commission; powers and duties; wetlands; work group; report. Requires the Marine Resources Commission to ensure that, in promulgating minimum standards for protection and conservation of wetlands, no net loss of existing wetland acreage and functions is achieved. The bill requires permits for the use and development of wetlands to contain requirements for compensating impacts on wetlands sufficient to achieve no net loss of existing wetland acreage and functions. The bill also directs the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources to convene a stakeholder work group to address mitigation requirements for tidal nonvegetated wetlands and directs the work group to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources no later than July 1, 2027.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Virginia must protect wetlands and shorelines: benefit, low. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission must preserve wetlands and prevent their damage and destruction while allowing necessary economic development. It must follow state standards protecting shorelines and sensitive coastal habitats from rising seas and coastal hazards.
- Developers gain flexibility to alter wetlands: mixed, medium. The law removes a rule barring changes that unreasonably disturb wetlands with major ecological value. This gives developers and other permit applicants more flexibility, but removes a specific environmental safeguard. Other permit standards remain, including compensation for wetland impacts to ach…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Phil M. Hernandez (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-04 | House | Senate substitute agreed to by House | pass | 70 | 25 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 21 | 19 |   |
| 2026-02-26 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-26 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | Senate | Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute | pass | 8 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 74 | 24 |   |
| 2026-01-28 | House | Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with amendment(s) | pass | 19 | 3 |   |
| 2026-01-26 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 9 | 1 |   |

## Actions (38)

- 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0161) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 161 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-14: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-12: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-11: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB521ER) (House)
- 2026-03-11: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-11: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Senate substitute agreed to by House (70-Y 25-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-02: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521) (House)
- 2026-02-27: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Committee substitute printed 26108480D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Assigned HACNR sub: Water Usage (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Senate subcommittee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute (8-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521) (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 (74-Y 24-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Engrossed by House as amended (House)
- 2026-02-02: committee amendment 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) (19-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2026-01-26: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-26: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (9-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-01-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521) (House)
- 2026-01-19: Assigned HACNR sub: Chesapeake (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102424D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216918.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216917.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199341.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199340.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182527.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182526.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177642.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177641.PDF)
- Engrossed, 2026-02-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100718.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100717.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-01-28: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100570.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-01-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097186.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097077.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084791.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084790.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/1216918.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216917.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199341.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199340.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182527.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182526.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177642.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177641.PDF)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100718.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100717.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100570.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097186.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097077.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084791.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084790.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB521-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).