VA HB 543
enactedForest Sustainability Fund; Office of Working Lands Preservation to manage.
Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower
Quick answers
Did VA HB 543 pass?
Yes. VA HB 543 has been enacted into law as of 2026-04-13. Latest recorded action (2026-04-13): Approved by Governor-Chapter 801 (effective 7/1/2026)
What is VA HB 543 about?
Office of Working Lands Preservation; powers and duties; Forest Sustainability Fund. Adds management of the Forest Sustainability Fund to the powers and duties of the Office of Working Lands Preservation within the Department of Forestry. This bill is identical to SB 522.
Who sponsors VA HB 543?
Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie is the primary sponsor of VA HB 543, joined by 6 cosponsors.
Description
Office of Working Lands Preservation; powers and duties; Forest Sustainability Fund. Adds management of the Forest Sustainability Fund to the powers and duties of the Office of Working Lands Preservation within the Department of Forestry. This bill is identical to SB 522.
- Introduced
- 2026-01-13
- Latest action
- 2026-04-13 — Approved by Governor-Chapter 801 (effective 7/1/2026)
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Sponsors
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegieprimary
- Charlie Schmidtcosponsor
- Sam Rasoulcosponsor
- Virgil Thorntoncosponsor
- Nadarius E. Clarkcosponsor
- Bonita G. Anthonycosponsor
- Elizabeth R. Guzmancosponsor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
2026-01-13
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103270D
filing,introduction
2026-01-13
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
referral-committee
2026-01-23
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB543)
2026-01-27
Assigned HACNR sub: Agriculture
referral-committee
2026-01-28
Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)
2026-02-04
Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-06
Read first time
reading-1
2026-02-09
Read second time and engrossed
reading-2
2026-02-10
Read third time and passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
passage,reading-3
2026-02-11
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-11
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
referral-committee
2026-02-24
Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (14-Y 0-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-26
Rules suspended
2026-02-26
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-26
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-27
Read third time
reading-3
2026-02-27
Passed Senate (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
passage
2026-03-04
Enrolled
enrolled
2026-03-04
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB543ER)
passage
2026-03-04
Signed by Speaker
passage
2026-03-04
Signed by President
passage
2026-03-05
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB543)
2026-03-10
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
enrolled,executive-receipt
2026-03-10
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
executive-receipt
2026-04-13
Approved by Governor-Chapter 801 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive-signature
Versions
Documents
Votes
Subcommittee recommends reporting
2026-01-28 · pass · 10-0
Member-level votes (10)
- Rodney T. Willett: yes
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- Jackie H. Glass: yes
- Amy J. Laufer: yes
- Marty Martinez: yes
- John Chilton McAuliff: yes
- Virgil Thornton: yes
- Tony O. Wilt: yes
- Michael J. Webert: yes
- Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: yes
Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
2026-02-04 · pass · 22-0
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.: yes
- Tony O. Wilt: yes
- Michael J. Webert: yes
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
- Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: yes
- Hillary Pugh Kent: yes
H VOTE:
2026-02-10 · pass · 98-0
Member-level votes (100)
- Jessica L. Anderson: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- Alex Q. Askew: yes
- Terry L. Austin: yes
- Jason S. Ballard: yes
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: not voting
- 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: yes
- Nadarius E. Clark: yes
- Laura Jane Cohen: yes
- Joshua G. Cole: yes
- Nicole Cole: yes
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
- Mitchell Cornett: yes
- Rae Cousins: yes
- Will Davis: yes
- Karrie K. Delaney: yes
- Lindsey Dougherty: yes
- Mark C. Downey: yes
- Michael B. Feggans: yes
- Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: yes
- Lily V. Franklin: yes
- Margaret A. Franklin: yes
- Debra D. Gardner: yes
- Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: yes
- Jackie H. Glass: yes
- Timothy P. Griffin: yes
- Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
- Karen Hamilton: yes
- 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: yes
- Terry G. Kilgore: yes
- Barry D. Knight: not voting
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- Amy J. Laufer: yes
- James A. "Jay" Leftwich: yes
- 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: yes
- Joseph P. McNamara: yes
- Delores L. McQuinn: yes
- Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
- James W. Morefield: yes
- May Nivar: yes
- Delores Oates: yes
- Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
- Justin Pence: yes
- Eric Phillips: yes
- 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: yes
- 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.: yes
- Wendell S. Walker: yes
- Jeion A. Ward: yes
- R. Lee Ware: yes
- Vivian E. Watts: yes
- Michael J. Webert: yes
- Madison Whittle: yes
- Bill Wiley: yes
- Rodney T. Willett: yes
- Wren M. Williams: yes
- Tony O. Wilt: yes
- Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: yes
- Scott A. Wyatt: yes
- Eric R. Zehr: yes
Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
2026-02-24 · pass · 14-0
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: yes
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
- 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
2026-02-27 · pass · 37-0
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: not voting
- 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: not voting
- Russet Perry: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: yes
- Bryce E. Reeves: yes
- Danica A. Roem: not voting
- 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
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:
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 543. 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.