VirginiaSB4252026 Regular SessionSenate

Comprehensive plan; environmental justice strategy.

Sponsored By: Lamont Bagby (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Comprehensive plan; environmental justice strategy. Requires cities with populations greater than 20,000 and counties with populations greater than 100,000 to consider, beginning July 1, 2026, at the next and all subsequent reviews of the comprehensive plan, adopting an environmental justice strategy. The bill provides that the locality's strategy shall be to identify environmental justice and fenceline communities within the jurisdiction of the local planning commission and identify objectives and policies to reduce health risks, to promote civic engagement, to prioritize improvements and programs that address the needs of environmental justice and fenceline communities, as those terms are defined in the bill, and to establish baseline environmental and health conditions to characterize any disproportionate public health conditions in the identified fenceline communities. This bill is identical to HB 256.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Local plans must address environmental justice

Beginning July 1, 2026, cities over 20,000 people and counties over 100,000 must, at their next comprehensive plan review, consider adding an environmental justice strategy. The strategy identifies each environmental justice and fenceline community in the locality. It maps major pollution sources and hazardous waste sites using federal, state, or local data. It also sets baseline environmental and health conditions using public health data or new local data.

More investment in environmental justice areas

The strategy sets goals to cut health risks in environmental justice and fenceline neighborhoods. It calls for lower pollution exposure, better air and water, stronger emergency plans, and resilience to flooding and extreme heat. It requires policies to build civic engagement so residents can shape local decisions. It prioritizes upgrades like low‑cost internet and digital skills, job training, healthy food access, aging‑in‑place help, more parks and trees, better transit, bike and walkways, EV charging, and other clean transport. It also encourages linking transit to health and community services and placing care sites where access is easy.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Lamont Bagby

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 268 • No: 155

Senate vote 3/13/2026

Conference report agreed to by Senate

Yes: 21 • No: 18

House vote 3/12/2026

Conference report agreed to by House

Yes: 63 • No: 34

Senate vote 2/23/2026

Senate acceded to request

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/18/2026

House substitute rejected by Senate

Yes: 0 • No: 38

House vote 2/16/2026

Passed House with substitute

Yes: 63 • No: 35

House vote 2/13/2026

Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute

Yes: 15 • No: 6

Senate vote 1/29/2026

Read third time and passed Senate

Yes: 21 • No: 19

Senate vote 1/28/2026

Local Government Amendments agreed to

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/27/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/27/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/26/2026

Reported from Local Government with amendments

Yes: 8 • No: 5 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0582)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 582 (effective 7/1/2026)

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

    3/31/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026Senate
  5. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB425ER)

    3/30/2026Senate
  7. Enrolled

    3/30/2026Senate
  8. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  9. Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

    3/13/2026Senate
  10. Conference report agreed to by House (63-Y 34-N 0-A)

    3/12/2026House
  11. Conference Report released

    3/12/2026
  12. House Conferees: Simonds, Clark, Kent

    2/24/2026House
  13. Conferees appointed by House

    2/24/2026House
  14. Senate acceded to request (38-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/23/2026Senate
  15. Senate Conferees: Bagby, Aird, Stanley

    2/23/2026Senate
  16. Conferees appointed by Senate

    2/23/2026Senate
  17. House requested conference committee

    2/19/2026House
  18. House insisted on substitute

    2/19/2026House
  19. House substitute rejected by Senate

    2/18/2026Senate
  20. Passed House with substitute (63-Y 35-N 0-A)

    2/16/2026House
  21. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    2/16/2026House
  22. committee substitute agreed to

    2/16/2026House
  23. Read third time

    2/16/2026House
  24. Read second time

    2/15/2026House
  25. Committee substitute printed 26107960D-H1

    2/13/2026House

Bill Text

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