Bill Commons

VA HB 256

enacted

Comprehensive plan; environmental justice strategy.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

Quick answers

Did VA HB 256 pass?

Yes. VA HB 256 has been enacted into law as of 2026-04-13. Latest recorded action (2026-04-13): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0581)

What is VA HB 256 about?

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 SB 425.

Who sponsors VA HB 256?

Shelly A. Simonds is the primary sponsor of VA HB 256, joined by 8 cosponsors.

Description

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 SB 425.

Introduced
2026-01-09
Latest action
2026-04-13 — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0581)
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Shelly A. Simondsprimary
  • Marcia S. "Cia" Pricecosponsor
  • Jackie H. Glasscosponsor
  • Nadarius E. Clarkcosponsor
  • Irene Shincosponsor
  • Charlie Schmidtcosponsor
  • Margaret A. Franklincosponsor
  • Gretchen M. Bulovacosponsor
  • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parkercosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2026-01-09

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103226D

    filing,introduction

  2. 2026-01-09

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    referral-committee

  3. 2026-01-19

    Assigned HACNR sub: Natural Resources

    referral-committee

  4. 2026-01-21

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 3-N)

  5. 2026-01-28

    Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (15-Y 7-N)

    committee-passage

  6. 2026-01-30

    Read first time

    reading-1

  7. 2026-02-02

    Read second time and engrossed

    reading-2

  8. 2026-02-03

    Read third time and passed House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  9. 2026-02-04

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  10. 2026-02-04

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    referral-committee

  11. 2026-02-24

    Rereferred from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources to Local Government (13-Y 0-N)

    referral-committee

  12. 2026-03-02

    Reported from Local Government with substitute (8-Y 7-N)

    committee-passage

  13. 2026-03-02

    Committee substitute printed 26109038D-S1

    substitution

  14. 2026-03-03

    Rules suspended

  15. 2026-03-03

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  16. 2026-03-03

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  17. 2026-03-04

    Read third time

    reading-3

  18. 2026-03-04

    Local Government Substitute agreed to

  19. 2026-03-04

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    substitution

  20. 2026-03-04

    Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

    passage

  21. 2026-03-06

    Senate substitute agreed to by House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)

    substitution

  22. 2026-03-13

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  23. 2026-03-13

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB256ER)

    passage

  24. 2026-03-13

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  25. 2026-03-13

    Signed by President

    passage

  26. 2026-03-14

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  27. 2026-03-14

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

    executive-receipt

  28. 2026-04-13

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 581 (effective 7/1/2026)

    executive-signature

  29. 2026-04-13

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0581)

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Subcommittee recommends reporting

    2026-01-21 · pass · 7-3

    Member-level votes (10)
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • John Chilton McAuliff: yes
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: no
    • R. Lee Ware: no
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no

  • Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    2026-01-28 · pass · 15-7

    Member-level votes (22)
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • Marty Martinez: yes
    • John Chilton McAuliff: yes
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: no
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
    • Tony O. Wilt: no
    • Michael J. Webert: no
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: no

  • H VOTE:

    2026-02-03 · pass · 63-35

    Member-level votes (100)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: no
    • Jason S. Ballard: no
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: no
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Mitchell Cornett: no
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Will Davis: no
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Lindsey Dougherty: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • Margaret A. Franklin: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Timothy P. Griffin: no
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: no
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: no
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: no
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: not voting
    • Terry G. Kilgore: no
    • Barry D. Knight: not voting
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
    • Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
    • Marty Martinez: yes
    • John Chilton McAuliff: yes
    • Adele Y. McClure: yes
    • Garrett McGuire: yes
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: no
    • Joseph P. McNamara: no
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • James W. Morefield: no
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Delores Oates: no
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: no
    • Justin Pence: no
    • Eric Phillips: no
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: no
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Don Scott: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: no
    • Holly M. Seibold: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Irene Shin: yes
    • Marcus B. Simon: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • JJ Singh: yes
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: no
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
    • Wendell S. Walker: no
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: no
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: no
    • Madison Whittle: no
    • Bill Wiley: no
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: no
    • Tony O. Wilt: no
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
    • Scott A. Wyatt: no
    • Eric R. Zehr: no

  • Rereferred from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    2026-02-24 · pass · 13-0

    Member-level votes (15)
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: not voting
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Timmy French: not voting
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes

  • Reported from Local Government with substitute

    2026-03-02 · pass · 8-7

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: no
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: no
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: no
    • Bryce E. Reeves: no
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes

  • Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)

    2026-03-03 · pass · 40-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: yes
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • Passage R

    2026-03-04 · pass · 21-19

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: no
    • Christie New Craig: no
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: no
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
    • Tara A. Durant: no
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: no
    • T. Travis Hackworth: no
    • Christopher T. Head: no
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: no
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: no
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: no
    • Mark D. Obenshain: no
    • Mark J. Peake: no
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: no
    • Bryce E. Reeves: no
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
    • Richard H. Stuart: no
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
    • David R. Suetterlein: no
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • H VOTE:

    2026-03-06 · pass · 63-35

    Member-level votes (99)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: no
    • Jason S. Ballard: no
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: no
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: not voting
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Mitchell Cornett: no
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Will Davis: no
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Lindsey Dougherty: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • Margaret A. Franklin: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Timothy P. Griffin: no
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: no
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: no
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: no
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: no
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
    • Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
    • Marty Martinez: yes
    • John Chilton McAuliff: yes
    • Adele Y. McClure: yes
    • Garrett McGuire: yes
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: no
    • Joseph P. McNamara: no
    • Kirk McPike: yes
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • James W. Morefield: no
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Delores Oates: no
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: no
    • Justin Pence: no
    • Eric Phillips: no
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: no
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Don Scott: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: no
    • Holly M. Seibold: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Irene Shin: yes
    • Marcus B. Simon: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • JJ Singh: yes
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: no
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
    • Wendell S. Walker: no
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: no
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: no
    • Madison Whittle: no
    • Bill Wiley: no
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: no
    • Tony O. Wilt: no
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
    • Scott A. Wyatt: no
    • Eric R. Zehr: no

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB256

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

Source and document changesStatus and relationship changes

Use this data

Every field on this page is available from the free public API — no key or licence required. Fetch this bill as JSON: GET /api/v1/bills?jurisdiction=VA&identifier=HB 256. See the API docs or the MCP server for AI assistants.

Known limitations

  • Sponsor party and chamber affiliation are not yet captured by this API.
  • Committee referrals are not yet captured.

See the methodology page for data sources and limitations.