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 incorporates HB 995 and is identical to SB 589.
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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 13Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0626)Latest
- Apr 13Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 626 (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 House and Senate (HB549ER)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 (63-Y 34-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 14Conference Report released
- Mar 14House requested second conference committeeMinor
- Mar 14Conference report agreed to by House (63-Y 34-N 0-A)Minor
- Mar 14Conference Report released
- Mar 12Senate Conferees: Salim, Srinivasan, Suetterlein
- Mar 12Conferees appointed by Senate
- Mar 11House Conferees: Hope, Helmer, Tata
- Mar 11Conferees appointed by House
- Mar 11House acceded to request
- Mar 10Senate requested conference committeeMinor
- Vote recorded Insist & Request R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 10Senate insisted on substitute (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Major
- Mar 6Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 96-N 0-A)
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: fail.Lower
- Mar 4Passed Senate with substitute (24-Y 16-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4Engrossed by Senate - committee substituteMajor
- Mar 4Local Government Substitute agreed to
- Mar 4Read third timeMinor
- Mar 3Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 3Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 3Rules suspended
- Mar 3Committee substitute printed 26109044D-S1Major
- Mar 2Reported from Local Government with substitute (9-Y 6-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Local Government with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 13Referred to Committee on Local GovernmentMinor
- Feb 13Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 12Read third time and passed House (64-Y 34-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Feb 11committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Feb 11Read second timeMinor
- Feb 10Read first timeMinor
- Feb 7Committee substitute printed 26106579D-H1Major
- Feb 6Incorporates HB995 (Seibold)
- Vote recorded Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 6Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (16-Y 4-N 1-A)Minor
- Feb 6House committee offered
- Feb 6House committee offered
- Jan 28Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #3Minor
- Jan 13Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and TownsMinor
- Jan 13Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102406DIntroduced