VirginiaTrees; conservation and replacement during development process in certain localities, report.
What it does
Conservation and replacement of trees during development process; work group; report. Expands certain existing local government authority to plant or replace trees during the development process by expanding such authority statewide. The bill allows localities to establish higher tree canopy replacement percentages based on density per acre.
More detail
The bill also alters the current process for granting exceptions to a local ordinance by modifying a provision that requires the granting of an exception when the strict application of the ordinance would result in unnecessary or unreasonable hardship to the developer, and replacing it with a requirement that the locality concur with such a determination. The bill permits localities to monitor and assess the condition and coverage of tree canopies at development sites during a period of up to 20 years after the trees are planted. The bill also allows any town within Planning District 8 belonging to an eight-hour nonattainment area for air quality standards to require, by ordinance, that a subdivision or development provide for the preservation or replacement of trees on the development site such that the minimum tree canopy or cover 10 years after development is projected to meet specified coverage criteria. Under current law, the criteria apply to tree canopy coverage 20 years after development. Finally, the bill directs the Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience to convene a work group to conduct a comprehensive review of the tree canopy laws and regulations and report the work group's findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns and Senate Committee on Local Government by November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 549.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 8Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0511)Latest
- Apr 8Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 511 (effective 7/1/2026)Became Law
- Mar 31Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 31Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026Minor
- Mar 31Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 30Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 30Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB589ER)Major
- Mar 30EnrolledMinor
- Mar 14Conference report agreed to by Senate (22-Y 17-N 0-A)Minor
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt Conference Committee Report R. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Accede Second Conference Committee R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 14Conference report agreed to by House (64-Y 33-N 0-A)Minor
- Mar 14Conference Report released
- Mar 14House Conferees: Hope, McClure, Tata
- Mar 14Conferees appointed by House
- Mar 14Senate Conferees: Salim, Srinivasan, Suetterlein
- Mar 14Second conferees appointed by Senate
- Mar 14Senate acceded to request for second conference committee (22-Y 17-N 0-A)
- Mar 14House requested second conference committeeMinor
- Mar 13Conference Report released
- Feb 24House Conferees: Hope, McClure, Tata
- Feb 24Conferees appointed by House
- Feb 23Senate Conferees: Salim, Srinivasan, Suetterlein
- Vote recorded Accede Conference Committee R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 23Conferees appointed by Senate
- Feb 23Senate acceded to request (38-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 19House requested conference committeeMinor
- Feb 19House insisted on substituteMajor
- Feb 18House substitute rejected by Senate
- Vote recorded Concur House Substitute R. Result: fail.Upper
- Feb 16Passed House with substitute (64-Y 34-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 16Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Feb 16committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Feb 16Read third timeMinor
- Feb 15Read second timeMinor
- Feb 13Committee substitute printed 26107965D-H1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 13Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (16-Y 5-N)Minor
- Feb 13House committee offered
- Feb 4Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and TownsMinor
- Feb 4Read first timeMinor
- Feb 4Placed on Calendar
- Jan 29Read third time and passed Senate (24-Y 16-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 28Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
- Jan 28Read second timeMinor
- Jan 27Passed by for the day
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed R. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 27Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Jan 27Rules suspended
- Jan 27Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Jan 27Read first timeMinor
- Jan 26Reported from Local Government (10-Y 4-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Local Government. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 14Referred to Committee on Local GovernmentMinor
- Jan 14Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101913DIntroduced