# Virginia SB453: Intentional discharge of untreated sewage onto land or into waters of the Commonwealth; penalty.

Virginia SB453, Intentional discharge of untreated sewage onto land or into waters of the Commonwealth; penalty., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Richard H. Stuart (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0946)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB453-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB453
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Intentional discharge of untreated sewage onto land or into waters of the Commonwealth; penalty.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0946)
- Sponsor: Richard H. Stuart (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 10 (283 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Intentional discharge of untreated sewage onto land or into waters of the Commonwealth; civil penalty. Establishes a maximum civil penalty of $50,000 per violation for any person found to have intentionally discharged untreated sewage onto land or into waters of the Commonwealth.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Intentional sewage polluters face costly penalties: cost, low. Anyone who intentionally releases untreated sewage onto land or into Virginia waters faces a civil penalty of up to $50,000 per violation. This penalty applies instead of the law’s general civil penalty limits.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Richard H. Stuart (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-05 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 95 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | House | Reported from Appropriations | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | House | Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and referred to Appropriations | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 14 | 0 |   |

## Actions (37)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0946) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 946 (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 (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-11: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB453) (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB453ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Passed House Block Vote (95-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-05: Read third time (House)
- 2026-03-04: Read second time (House)
- 2026-03-02: Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-26: Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources (House)
- 2026-02-25: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB453) (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-18: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (House)
- 2026-02-18: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-18: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-13: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB453) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Committee substitute printed 26107803D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-27: Assigned HACNR sub: Water Usage (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB453) (Senate)
- 2026-01-20: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/20/2026 1:50 pm) (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100087D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224665.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224664.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201457.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201456.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145751.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145750.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090341.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090340.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/1224665.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224664.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201457.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1201456.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145751.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145750.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090341.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090340.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)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB453-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).