HB521
Marine Resources Commission; powers and duties, wetlands, report.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 14, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Chief Patron:
Phil Hernandez (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Marine Resources Commission; powers and duties; wetlands; work group; report.
Requires the Marine Resources Commission to ensure that, in promulgating minimum standards for protection and conservation of wetlands, no net loss of existing wetland acreage and functions is achieved. The bill requires permits for the use and development of wetlands to contain requirements for compensating impacts on wetlands sufficient to ... (More) achieve no net loss of existing wetland acreage and functions. The bill also directs the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources to convene a stakeholder work group to address mitigation requirements for tidal nonvegetated wetlands and directs the work group to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources no later than July 1, 2027. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/13/2026 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102424D
- 01/13/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
- 01/19/2026 - House: Assigned HACNR sub: Chesapeake
- 01/23/2026 - House: Placed on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Agenda
- 01/26/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521)
- 01/26/2026 - House: House subcommittee offered
- 01/26/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (9-Y 1-N)
- 01/27/2026 - House: Placed on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Agenda
- 01/28/2026 - House: Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with amendment(s) (19-Y 3-N)
- 01/30/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/02/2026 - House: Read second time
- 02/02/2026 - House: committee amendment agreed to
- 02/02/2026 - House: Engrossed by House as amended
- 02/03/2026 - House: Read third time and passed House (74-Y 24-N 0-A)
- 02/04/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- 02/04/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
- 02/06/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521)
- 02/24/2026 - Senate: Assigned HACNR sub: Water Usage
- 02/24/2026 - Senate: Senate subcommittee offered
- 02/24/2026 - Senate: Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute (8-Y 6-N)
- 02/26/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26108480D-S1
- 02/26/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 02/26/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/26/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 02/27/2026 - Senate: Read third time
- 02/27/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day
- 02/27/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521)
- 03/02/2026 - Senate: Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to
- 03/02/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
- 03/02/2026 - Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/04/2026 - House: Senate substitute agreed to by House (70-Y 25-N 0-A)
- 03/11/2026 - House: Enrolled
- 03/11/2026 - House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB521ER)
- 03/11/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521)
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Signed by President
- 03/12/2026 - House: Signed by Speaker
- 03/14/2026 - House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
- 03/14/2026 - Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
