HB521
Marine Resources Commission; powers and duties, wetlands, report.
Status:
In Senate
Latest Action:
Feb. 4, 2026
Senate: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Chief Patron:
Phil Hernandez (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Introduced. Marine Resources Commission; powers and duties; wetlands.
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 December 1, 2026. (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
