HB1266
Environmental Justice in Permitting Process Guidance Memo; DEQ to publish an updated version.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 11, 2026
House: Senate substitute agreed to by House (65-Y 34-N 0-A)
Chief Patron:
Kathy Tran (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. 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 ... (More) strategies to engage communities impacted by any such permit. The bill requires the public comment period process to include a public town hall 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. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/14/2026 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103003D
- 01/14/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
- 02/03/2026 - House: Placed on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Agenda
- 02/09/2026 - House: Assigned HACNR sub: Natural Resources
- 02/09/2026 - House: Placed on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Agenda
- 02/10/2026 - House: House subcommittee offered
- 02/11/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N)
- 02/11/2026 - House: Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)
- 02/11/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
- 02/11/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1266)
- 02/11/2026 - House: Committee substitute printed 26107166D-H1
- 02/11/2026 - House: Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources
- 02/13/2026 - House: Placed on Appropriations Agenda
- 02/13/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)
- 02/13/2026 - House: Reported from Appropriations (16-Y 6-N)
- 02/15/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/16/2026 - House: Read second time
- 02/16/2026 - House: committee substitute agreed to
- 02/16/2026 - House: Delegate Tran Floor amendments agreed to
- 02/16/2026 - House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute as amended
- 02/16/2026 - House: Engrossed bill reprinted 26107166D
- 02/17/2026 - House: Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 02/18/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- 02/18/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
- 02/23/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1266)
- 03/03/2026 - Senate: Senate committee offered
- 03/03/2026 - Senate: Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute (9-Y 5-N 1-A)
- 03/04/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26109125D-S1
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 03/06/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 03/09/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1266)
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Read third time
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (22-Y 18-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/11/2026 - House: Senate substitute agreed to by House (65-Y 34-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
