VirginiaHB882026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Highway rights-of-way; invasive species.

Sponsored By: Amy J. Laufer (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Highway rights-of-way; invasive species. Prohibits the Commonwealth Transportation Board (the Board) and Commissioner of Highways from planting or causing or suffering to be planted any invasive plant on the list of invasive plants created by the Department of Conservation and Recreation on the right-of-way of any state highway. Current law prohibits the planting of three listed plants if the governing body of the locality declares such weeds or plants to be injurious and requires the Board to remove such plants. The bill removes such requirement for the Board to remove such plants and requires the Department of Transportation to conduct a review of the processes and resources that are necessary and appropriate to (i) determine the prevalence of invasive plants on the list of invasive plant species created by the Department of Conservation and Recreation and develop options for establishing and implementing a plan to remove or control such plants and manage such plants on an ongoing basis.

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

New rules to curb roadside invasives

The law bars the Board of Transportation and the Highway Commissioner from planting devil shoestring (Tephrosia virginiana), Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense), or barberry (Berberis vulgaris) on state highway rights-of-way after the county adopts a resolution saying these plants harm adjacent property and the species are on the state invasive list. If these plants are on a state highway right-of-way and were planted by the Board or Commissioner, the Board must dig them up and destroy them. If you own land next to a state or other public highway, you or your workers may remove and destroy these plants and any other plants that are or may become noxious or harmful to your property on the right-of-way next to your land. The Department of Transportation, with the conservation agency and advisors, reviews how common listed invasive plants are along state roads, develops options to control them, and reports findings to legislative money and transportation committees by December 1, 2027.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Amy J. Laufer

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 263 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/27/2026

Passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/25/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/19/2026

Reported from Transportation and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 15 • No: 0

House vote 2/12/2026

Read third time and passed House Block Vote

Yes: 98 • No: 0

House vote 2/6/2026

Reported from Appropriations with substitute

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 2/4/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

Yes: 7 • No: 0 • Other: 1

House vote 1/29/2026

Reported from Transportation with substitute and referred to Appropriations

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote 1/27/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations

Yes: 10 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0063)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 63 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/6/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/10/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    3/10/2026House
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB88)

    3/4/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB88ER)

    3/4/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/4/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/4/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/4/2026House
  10. Passed Senate Block Vote (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/27/2026Senate
  11. Read third time

    2/27/2026Senate
  12. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB88)

    2/26/2026House
  13. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    2/26/2026Senate
  14. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/26/2026Senate
  15. Rules suspended

    2/26/2026Senate
  16. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N)

    2/25/2026Senate
  17. Reported from Transportation and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

    2/19/2026Senate
  18. Referred to Committee on Transportation

    2/13/2026Senate
  19. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/13/2026Senate
  20. Read third time and passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/12/2026House
  21. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    2/11/2026House
  22. committee substitute agreed to

    2/11/2026House
  23. committee substitute rejected

    2/11/2026House
  24. Read second time

    2/11/2026House
  25. Read first time

    2/10/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation