# Virginia SB851: Rainwater harvesting systems, certain; local ordinances for use.

Virginia SB851, Rainwater harvesting systems, certain; local ordinances for use., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by J.D. "Danny" Diggs (Republican); status to governor, last action 2025-03-21 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0358)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB851-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB851
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Rainwater harvesting systems, certain; local ordinances for use.
- Status: to governor
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-03
- Last action: 2025-03-21, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0358)
- Sponsor: J.D. "Danny" Diggs (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (361 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Local ordinances for the use of certain rainwater harvesting systems. Provides that existing local ordinances adopted prior to July 1, 2025, governing rainwater harvesting systems shall continue in force; however, in the event of a conflict between a Board of Health regulation and a local ordinance adopted prior to July 1, 2025, the Board regulation shall govern, except when the conflicting local ordinance is more stringent. The bill prohibits a locality from adopting any local ordinance requiring owners of Tier 4 rainwater harvesting systems to connect to any municipal water supply or impose any penalty, including condemnation proceedings, on such owner for failing to connect to a municipal water supply.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: J.D. "Danny" Diggs (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-02-17 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 95 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-17 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 96 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-12 | House | Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-07 | House | Referred from Counties, Cities and Towns and referred to Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-31 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-31 | Senate | Passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-30 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 39 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025-01-28 | Senate | Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-20 | Senate | Rereferred from Local Government and Rereferred to Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | pass | 15 | 0 |   |

## Actions (33)

- 2025-03-21: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0358) (Governor)
- 2025-03-21: Approved by Governor-Chapter 358 (Effective 07/01/25) (Governor)
- 2025-03-03: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor)
- 2025-03-03: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 3, 2025 (Senate)
- 2025-02-22: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB851) (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB851ER) (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-02-17: Passed House Block Vote (96-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-17: Reconsideration of House passage agreed to by House (House)
- 2025-02-17: Passed House Block Vote (95-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-17: Read third time (House)
- 2025-02-14: Read second time (House)
- 2025-02-12: Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2025-02-07: Referred from Counties, Cities and Towns and referred to Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2025-02-06: Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (House)
- 2025-02-06: Read first time (House)
- 2025-02-06: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2025-01-31: Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: Read second time and engrossed (Senate)
- 2025-01-30: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2025-01-30: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2025-01-30: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2025-01-28: Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-20: Rereferred from Local Government and Rereferred to Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2025-01-15: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB851) (Senate)
- 2025-01-03: Referred to Committee on Local Government (Senate)
- 2025-01-03: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25102960D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2025-03-21: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1072667.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1072666.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2025-02-19: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1055839.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1055838.PDF)
- Introduced, 2025-01-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013610.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013609.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1072667.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1072666.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1055839.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1055838.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013610.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1013609.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB851-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).