Bill Commons

VA HB 397

enacted

Clean energy and community flood preparedness; market-based trading program.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

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Quick answers

Did VA HB 397 pass?

Yes. VA HB 397 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-04-13): Approved by Governor-Chapter 920 (effective 7/1/2026)

What is VA HB 397 about?

Clean energy and community flood preparedness; market-based trading program. Directs the Department of Environmental Quality and the State Air Pollution Control Board to establish and maintain a market-based trading program consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative program, as defined in existing law, to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generating units in the Commonwealth. This bill is identical to SB 802.

Who sponsors VA HB 397?

Charniele L. Herring is the primary sponsor of VA HB 397, joined by 13 cosponsors.

Description

Clean energy and community flood preparedness; market-based trading program. Directs the Department of Environmental Quality and the State Air Pollution Control Board to establish and maintain a market-based trading program consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative program, as defined in existing law, to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generating units in the Commonwealth. This bill is identical to SB 802.

Introduced
2026-01-12
Latest action
2026-04-13 — Approved by Governor-Chapter 920 (effective 7/1/2026)
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Charniele L. Herringprimary
  • Saddam Azlan Salimcosponsor
  • David W. Marsdencosponsor
  • Irene Shincosponsor
  • Sam Rasoulcosponsor
  • Marcia S. "Cia" Pricecosponsor
  • Patrick A. Hopecosponsor
  • Kannan Srinivasancosponsor
  • Margaret A. Franklincosponsor
  • Nadarius E. Clarkcosponsor
  • Betsy B. Carrcosponsor
  • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parkercosponsor
  • Bonita G. Anthonycosponsor
  • Elizabeth R. Guzmancosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2026-04-13

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 920 (effective 7/1/2026)

    executive-signature

  2. 2026-03-10

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

    executive-receipt

  3. 2026-03-10

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  4. 2026-03-05

    Signed by President

    passage

  5. 2026-03-05

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  6. 2026-03-05

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB397)

  7. 2026-03-05

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB397ER)

    passage

  8. 2026-03-05

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  9. 2026-03-02

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

    passage

  10. 2026-02-27

    Passed by for the day

  11. 2026-02-27

    Read third time

    reading-3

  12. 2026-02-26

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  13. 2026-02-26

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

  14. 2026-02-26

    Rules suspended

  15. 2026-02-24

    Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (8-Y 6-N)

    committee-passage

  16. 2026-02-04

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    referral-committee

  17. 2026-02-04

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  18. 2026-02-03

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

    passage,reading-3

  19. 2026-02-02

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    substitution

  20. 2026-02-02

    committee substitute agreed to

    substitution

  21. 2026-02-02

    Read second time

    reading-2

  22. 2026-01-30

    Read first time

    reading-1

  23. 2026-01-29

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB397)

  24. 2026-01-28

    Committee substitute printed 26105867D-H1

    substitution

  25. 2026-01-28

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

    committee-passage

  26. 2026-01-21

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)

    substitution

  27. 2026-01-21

    House subcommittee offered

  28. 2026-01-19

    Assigned HACNR sub: Natural Resources

    referral-committee

  29. 2026-01-12

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    referral-committee

  30. 2026-01-12

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104232D

    filing,introduction

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

    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 with substitute

    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
  • Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    2026-02-24 · pass · 8-6

    Member-level votes (15)
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: no
    • Richard H. Stuart: not voting
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
    • David R. Suetterlein: no
    • T. Travis Hackworth: no
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Timmy French: no
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: no
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
  • Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)

    2026-02-26 · 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

    2026-03-02 · 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

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

Attribution

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

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

Session-wide evidence can include changes to other bills:

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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 397. See the API docs or the MCP server for AI assistants.

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