Bill Commons

VA HB 521

enacted

Marine Resources Commission; powers and duties, impacts on wetlands, report.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

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Quick answers

Did VA HB 521 pass?

Yes. VA HB 521 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-04-06): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0161)

What is VA HB 521 about?

Marine Resources Commission; powers and duties; wetlands; work group; report. Requires the Marine Resources Commission to ensure that, in promulgating minimum standards for protection and conservation of wetlands, no net loss of existing wetland acreage and functions is achieved. The bill requires permits for the use and development of wetlands to contain requirements for compensating impacts on wetlands sufficient to achieve no net loss of existing wetland acreage and functions. The bill also directs the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources to convene a stakeholder work group to address mitigation requirements for tidal nonvegetated wetlands and directs the work group to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources no later than July 1, 2027.

Who sponsors VA HB 521?

Phil M. Hernandez is the primary sponsor of VA HB 521.

Description

Marine Resources Commission; powers and duties; wetlands; work group; report. Requires the Marine Resources Commission to ensure that, in promulgating minimum standards for protection and conservation of wetlands, no net loss of existing wetland acreage and functions is achieved. The bill requires permits for the use and development of wetlands to contain requirements for compensating impacts on wetlands sufficient to achieve no net loss of existing wetland acreage and functions. The bill also directs the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources to convene a stakeholder work group to address mitigation requirements for tidal nonvegetated wetlands and directs the work group to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources no later than July 1, 2027.

Introduced
2026-01-13
Latest action
2026-04-06 — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0161)
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Phil M. Hernandezprimary

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2026-04-06

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0161)

  2. 2026-04-06

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 161 (effective 7/1/2026)

    executive-signature

  3. 2026-03-14

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

    executive-receipt

  4. 2026-03-14

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  5. 2026-03-12

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  6. 2026-03-11

    Signed by President

    passage

  7. 2026-03-11

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521)

  8. 2026-03-11

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB521ER)

    passage

  9. 2026-03-11

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  10. 2026-03-04

    Senate substitute agreed to by House (70-Y 25-N 0-A)

    substitution

  11. 2026-03-02

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

    passage

  12. 2026-03-02

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    substitution

  13. 2026-03-02

    Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to

  14. 2026-02-27

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521)

  15. 2026-02-27

    Passed by for the day

  16. 2026-02-27

    Read third time

    reading-3

  17. 2026-02-26

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  18. 2026-02-26

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

  19. 2026-02-26

    Rules suspended

  20. 2026-02-26

    Committee substitute printed 26108480D-S1

    substitution

  21. 2026-02-24

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

    committee-passage

  22. 2026-02-24

    Senate subcommittee offered

  23. 2026-02-24

    Assigned HACNR sub: Water Usage

    referral-committee

  24. 2026-02-06

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521)

  25. 2026-02-04

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    referral-committee

  26. 2026-02-04

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  27. 2026-02-03

    Read third time and passed House (74-Y 24-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  28. 2026-02-02

    Engrossed by House as amended

  29. 2026-02-02

    committee amendment agreed to

    amendment-passage

  30. 2026-02-02

    Read second time

    reading-2

  31. 2026-01-30

    Read first time

    reading-1

  32. 2026-01-28

    Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with amendment(s) (19-Y 3-N)

    committee-passage

  33. 2026-01-26

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (9-Y 1-N)

  34. 2026-01-26

    House subcommittee offered

  35. 2026-01-26

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521)

  36. 2026-01-19

    Assigned HACNR sub: Chesapeake

    referral-committee

  37. 2026-01-13

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    referral-committee

  38. 2026-01-13

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102424D

    filing,introduction

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)

    2026-01-26 · pass · 9-1

    Member-level votes (10)
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: no
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes

  • Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with amendment(s)

    2026-01-28 · pass · 19-3

    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: yes
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
    • Tony O. Wilt: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: no
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: yes

  • H VOTE:

    2026-02-03 · pass · 74-24

    Member-level votes (100)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • Jason S. Ballard: no
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
    • 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: yes
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: yes
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: not voting
    • Terry G. Kilgore: yes
    • 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: yes
    • 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: yes
    • 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: yes
    • 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: yes
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: no
    • Madison Whittle: no
    • Bill Wiley: yes
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: no
    • Tony O. Wilt: yes
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
    • Scott A. Wyatt: no
    • Eric R. Zehr: no

  • Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute

    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

  • H VOTE:

    2026-03-04 · pass · 70-25

    Member-level votes (99)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • Jason S. Ballard: no
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
    • 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.: not voting
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Timothy P. Griffin: no
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: not voting
    • 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: yes
    • 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: yes
    • 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: yes
    • 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: yes
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: no
    • Tony O. Wilt: yes
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: not voting
    • 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/HB521

Attribution

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

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