# Virginia SB969: Mineral Mine Safety Act; definition of "surface mineral mine," use of cyanide or cyanide compound. Virginia SB969, Mineral Mine Safety Act; definition of "surface mineral mine," use of cyanide or cyanide compound., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Richard H. Stuart (Republican); status to governor, last action 2025-03-24 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0405)) (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB969-2025 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia SB969 - State: Virginia - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: Mineral Mine Safety Act; definition of "surface mineral mine," use of cyanide or cyanide compound. - Status: to governor - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-01-06 - Last action: 2025-03-24, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0405) - Sponsor: Richard H. Stuart (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 6 (304 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## Summary Mineral Mine Safety Act; definition of "surface mineral mine"; mine inspectors; certificate renewal; use of cyanide or cyanide compound. Amends the definition of "surface mineral mine" in the Mineral Mine Safety Act to exclude excavation or grading when conducted solely in aid of onsite farming or construction and under certain conditions enumerated in the bill. The bill amends the definition of "mining" in existing law, relating to the exemption from permits for a mining operation, to extend the required completion time from six months to one year for excavation or grading conducted to construct or expand a farm pond for agricultural irrigation or provision of water for livestock. The bill also amends the qualification requirements for mineral mine inspectors, removes references to the defunct Board of Mineral Mining Examiners, and prohibits the issuance of any permit for a mineral mining or processing operation that includes the use of cyanide or a cyanide compound. This bill is identical to HB 1887. ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Richard H. Stuart (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 | | | 2025-01-27 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 38 | 0 | | | 2025-01-23 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2025-01-21 | Senate | Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | pass | 14 | 0 | | ## Actions (28) - 2025-03-24: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0405) (Governor) - 2025-03-24: Approved by Governor-Chapter 405 (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 (SB969) (Senate) - 2025-02-19: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB969ER) (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) - 2025-02-04: Read first time (House) - 2025-02-04: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (House) - 2025-02-04: Placed on Calendar (House) - 2025-01-27: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (38-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-01-24: Engrossed by Senate (Senate) - 2025-01-24: Read second time (Senate) - 2025-01-23: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-01-23: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2025-01-23: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2025-01-21: Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (14-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-01-13: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB969) (Senate) - 2025-01-06: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (Senate) - 2025-01-06: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25103948D (Senate) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074236.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074235.PDF) - Enrolled, 2025-02-19: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1055815.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1055814.PDF) - Introduced, 2025-01-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014644.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014643.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/1074236.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1074235.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1055815.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1055814.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014644.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1014643.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) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB969-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).