VirginiaSB5222026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Forest Sustainability Fund; Office of Working Lands Preservation to manage.

Sponsored By: Angelia Williams Graves (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Office of Working Lands Preservation; powers and duties; Forest Sustainability Fund. Adds management of the Forest Sustainability Fund to the powers and duties of the Office of Working Lands Preservation within the Department of Forestry. This bill is identical to HB 543.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

New office to protect farms and forests

The law creates the Office of Working Lands Preservation. It makes model rules for local programs that buy development rights. It teaches the public and helps farmers and localities use tools like use-value taxes and easements. It runs the Virginia Farm Link Program and helps manage the Forest Sustainability Fund with the State Forester.

Aid for counties with forest use tax

The law creates the Forest Sustainability Fund. Counties or cities with a forest use value tax ordinance can apply each year by November 15. They must submit the ordinance and last year’s revenue forgone from forest-use assessment. The State Forester allocates money in proportion to forgone revenue. No locality gets more than it forwent, and each share is between 0.5% and 4% of available funds. Money may be used only for public education, outdoor recreation, or forest conservation projects.

Local land preservation grants need 1:1 match

The state sets up a nonreverting fund to pay for farmland and forest preservation. The Office gives grants to local programs that buy development rights. Each program must match every state dollar with one local dollar (1:1). Grant policies include incentives for counties and cities that use use-value taxation.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Angelia Williams Graves

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 312 • No: 0

House vote 3/2/2026

Passed House Block Vote

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote 3/2/2026

Passed House Block Vote

Yes: 98 • No: 0

House vote 2/25/2026

Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

Yes: 22 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/2/2026

Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/30/2026

Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/29/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/29/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/27/2026

Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0824)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 824 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/13/2026Governor
  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

    3/10/2026Senate
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB522)

    3/5/2026Senate
  6. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB522ER)

    3/5/2026Senate
  7. Enrolled

    3/5/2026Senate
  8. Signed by President

    3/5/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/5/2026House
  10. Passed House Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/2/2026House
  11. Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House

    3/2/2026House
  12. Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/2/2026House
  13. Read third time

    3/2/2026House
  14. Read second time

    2/27/2026House
  15. Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N)

    2/25/2026House
  16. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    2/5/2026House
  17. Read first time

    2/5/2026House
  18. Placed on Calendar

    2/5/2026House
  19. Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/2/2026Senate
  20. Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    1/30/2026Senate
  21. Read second time

    1/30/2026Senate
  22. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    1/29/2026Senate
  23. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    1/29/2026Senate
  24. Passed by for the day

    1/29/2026Senate
  25. Rules suspended

    1/29/2026Senate

Bill Text

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