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Virginia lawmakers advanced a slate of measures aimed at flooding, wetlands, urban trees and pollution as the General Assembly reached its midpoint, but proposals involving oyster and menhaden research and statewide solar planning failed to move forward.
The legislative deadline known as crossover requires bills to pass their chamber of origin before receiving consideration in the other chamber.
Flood and storm protections advance
House Bill 2034, introduced by Del. Shelly Simonds, would strengthen efforts to preserve Virginia’s tidal and nontidal wetlands. The ecosystems filter water, absorb runoff and help reduce flooding. The House passed the measure and sent it to the Senate.
Two other House bills would give local governments greater authority to preserve and replace trees, which can cool neighborhoods and lower energy use. HB 2630 from Del. Rodney Willett and HB 2638 from Del. Patrick Hope both advanced to the Senate.
Legislation opening Community Flood Preparedness funding to federally recognized tribal governments also cleared its first hurdle. HB 2077, introduced by Del. Paul Krizek, passed the House, while Sen. David Marsden’s companion measure, SB 1335, passed the Senate.
The House also approved two flood-planning resolutions. HJ 434 from Del. Michael Feggans calls for studying how the state and local governments could finance Coastal Storm Risk Management plans. HJ 437 from Del. Kelly Convirs-Fowler would reestablish the Joint Subcommittee on Recurrent Flooding. Both moved to the Senate.
Species research stalls
Efforts to fund scientific assessments of two important Chesapeake Bay species did not advance.
One proposal called for an oyster stock assessment to support management of Virginia’s oyster population. Another initiative, introduced by Del. Paul Milde and paired with a proposed $3 million budget amendment, sought a study of menhaden in the Bay.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation said more research is needed to understand how climate change, industrial fishing and other pressures affect menhaden, a critical forage fish.
A separate measure targeting invasive blue catfish remains alive. Simonds’ HB 2782 would eliminate the daily one-fish limit on blue catfish longer than 32 inches, potentially increasing the removal of the predators from tidal portions of the James, Rappahannock and York rivers. The House passed the bill, which is now before the Senate.
Statewide solar proposal falls short
Legislation designed to help localities evaluate utility-scale solar projects did not survive crossover.
The proposals from Sens. Creigh Deeds and Jeremy McPike and Del. Rip Sullivan would have created a state advisory body and required a regional energy plan. Supporters argued that coordinated planning could help Virginia pursue its clean-energy goals while limiting the loss of farmland and forests.
Pollution programs receive budget support
Budget proposals continued funding for three major pollution-reduction strategies: agricultural best management practices, wastewater treatment plant upgrades and the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund.
The matching-grant fund supports projects such as stream restoration and rain gardens that curb polluted runoff. Agricultural measures—including fencing cattle out of waterways and planting trees and grasses beside streams—can also reduce pollution entering local waters and the Chesapeake Bay.
Virginia sewage treatment plants have already cut nutrient pollution through upgrades backed by previous General Assembly investments.
Jay Ford, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Virginia policy manager, described flood protection, storm preparation and pollution reduction as bipartisan concerns. He welcomed the measures that advanced but said the failure of the menhaden, oyster and comprehensive clean-energy proposals underscored the environmental challenges still facing Virginia and the Bay.