VirginiaEnvironmental Justice in Permitting Process Guidance Memo; DEQ to publish an updated version.
What it does
Department of Environmental Quality; Environmental Justice in the Permitting Process Guidance Memo; cumulative impacts. Directs the Department of Environmental Quality to publish an updated version of the Environmental Justice in the Permitting Process Guidance Memo for public comment. The bill requires the updated memo to consider how to assess the cumulative impacts of the types of permits covered in the guidance memo and outreach strategies to engage communities impacted by any such permit.
More detail
The bill requires the public comment period process to include two public town halls held no later than July 31, 2026, and requires the Department to respond to the public comments by October 31, 2026. The Department is required to issue the final guidance memo by December 31, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 8Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0461)Latest
- Apr 8Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 461 (effective 7/1/2026)Became Law
- Apr 1Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1266)
- 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 House and Senate (HB1266ER)Major
- Mar 30EnrolledMinor
- Mar 11Senate substitute agreed to by House (65-Y 34-N 0-A)Major
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 10Passed Senate with substitute (22-Y 18-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 10Engrossed by Senate - committee substituteMajor
- Mar 10Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to
- Mar 10Read third timeMinor
- Mar 9Passed by for the day
- Mar 9Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1266)
- Mar 6Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Mar 5Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 5Rules suspended
- Mar 4Committee substitute printed 26109125D-S1Major
- Mar 3Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute (9-Y 5-N 1-A)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 3Senate committee offered
- Feb 23Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1266)
- Feb 18Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural ResourcesMinor
- Feb 18Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 17Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 16Engrossed bill reprinted 26107166D
- Feb 16Engrossed by House - committee substitute as amendedMajor
- Feb 16Delegate Tran Floor amendments agreed toMajor
- Feb 16committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Feb 16Read second timeMinor
- Feb 16Floor offered Delegate Tran Amendments
- Feb 15Read first timeMinor
- Feb 13Reported from Appropriations (16-Y 6-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Reported from Appropriations. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 13Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)
- Feb 11Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural ResourcesMinor
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Committee substitute printed 26107166D-H1Major
- Feb 11Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1266)
- Feb 11Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)Minor
- Feb 11Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N)Major
- Feb 10House subcommittee offered
- Feb 9Assigned HACNR sub: Natural ResourcesMinor
- Jan 14Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural ResourcesMinor
- Jan 14Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103003DIntroduced