Crossover

Believe it or not, as of this weekend we have reached “crossover” – the day that bills introduced and passed in one chamber of the General Assembly “cross over” to be voted on by the other.

If you think this session is flying by, you have good reason to believe so – this year legislators are in a “short session.” A typical short-session would have 45-days. However, for political reasons, a procedural vote needed to make session 45 days was voted down – causing session to be just 30 days. In order to extend the session to its customary 45 day duration, the Governor called a Special Session to ensure legislators have a “full” short session.

No new bills will be introduced or considered now that we have reached crossover. Instead, the state House and Senate will consider only legislation that has successfully passed the opposite chamber. While we are heartened to see many of our priorities successfully making it through, this does mean that the list of bills that are still “alive” has whittled down slightly and we can refocus our advocacy efforts on those that remain.

VCN has taken a position on 81 bills this short session.
After crossover, our list of bills narrows as bills get left in their chamber of origin.

Due to the short session, House of Delegates members are capped at seven bills a piece and State senators get twelve bills each, which amounts to a maximum of 700 House bills and 480 Senate bills. To put that in context – we passed over 100 pro-environment bills last year alone.

VCN has taken a position on 81 bills this short session, up from the last short session in 2019.
A majority of VCN’s supported bills were introduced in the House, meaning most of our bills have crossed over to the Senate.

Bills to Watch

Now that we’ve reached crossover and our list of remaining conservation bills has been whittled down, our Policy Managers flagged bills that may need more advocacy support to get through the rest of session during our Post-Crossover Briefing (Tuesday, Feb 10th).  You can see these bills broken down by our issue areas below.

For a full list of bills which the Virginia Conservation Network has taken a position on, please visit our Bill Tracker.


Bill Tracker

A pie graph of VCN’s remaining bills broken down by issue area.

Water

  • Pipeline Accountability (SB1265/SB1311). These bills improve the administrative review of fracked gas pipelines in order to reduce pipeline impact on water quality. Support of these bills is led by Appalachian Voices, see talking points for SB1265 here & SB1311 here.
  • Reduce single-use plastic pollution (HB1902/HB2159) Virginia’s natural resources are under siege from plastics – they are found in our air, water, and soil. HB1902 bans the distribution of “Styrofoam,” also known as polystyrene or EPS. Polystyrene is a single-use waste that makes up to 10-40% of litter found in streams and can easily break into microplastics which persist in the environment forever. The Balloon Bill (HB2159) prohibits the intentional release of balloons, which is one of the top 5 pieces of solid pollution found on our shorelines. You can read more about reducing plastic waste and find action items on our blog here.
  • Chemical Conversion (OPPOSE SB1164). Chemical “recycling” is not an economically or environmentally sustainable way to reduce plastic waste. This bill would make it easier for harmful, polluting facilities to expand across Virginia with the most severe impacts likely placed on vulnerable populations. Opposition to these bills is led by Clean Fairfax, see talking points here.

Land Conservation

  • Ensuring Integrity of Conservation Easements (HB1760/SB1199). Conservation easements are a critical tool for protecting Virginia’s most valuable habitats, working farms and forests, scenic viewsheds, and cultural landscapes. These bills are focused on promoting the conservation goals of the easement itself when an interpretation question is raised. Support for this bill is led by The Piedmont Environmental Council and The Nature Conservancy, see talking points here. You can read more about conservation easements and find action items on our blog here.
  • Wildlife Corridors (SB1274). This bill builds on the Virginia Wildlife Corridor Action Plan (WCAP), which will compile and condense the best available science on the status of habitat connectivity in Virginia. SB1274 directs DCR, VDOT, and the State Forester to integrate wildlife corridors identified in the WCAP into their own strategic planning guidance documents. This will help ensure that wildlife corridors are considered and protected across Virginia and across agency jurisdictions. This will allow agencies to best integrate wildlife connectivity, and the corresponding public safety considerations, into their existing operations. Support for this bill is led by Wild Virginia, see talking points here.

Land Use & Transportation

  • Improving Walkability and Bikeability (HB18414/HB1903/HB2262). This series of bills aims to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety through measures such as allowing localities to reduce speed limits, improving crosswalk visibility, and increases cyclists’ safety on roads. Support for these bills is led by Bike Walk RVA, see talking points for HB1841, HB1903, and the Bicyclist Safety Act. You can read more about safe walking and biking, and find action items, on our blog here.
  • Advancing Transportation Electrification (SUPPORT HB1979/HB2118/HB1965 + OPPOSE SB1380). Transportation continues to be Virginia’s largest source of carbon emissions (48%).  The adoption of EVs will provide significant reductions in transportation emissions. VCN supports the electrification of school buses through HB2118, which creates a new revenue fund through a “red-dye” diesel tax, and opposes electrification of school buses through SB1380, which gives electric utilities control of the program and the ability to unnecessarily increase ratepayer bills. VCN also advocates for transit electrification through the adoption of Clean Car Standards (HB1965) and EV point-of-sale rebates (HB1979). You can read more about Clean Car Standards, and find action items, on our blog here. 
  • Transit-Oriented Development (HJ542/HB2054). Public transportation systems across Virginia lack the necessary infrastructure to boost ridership, reduce traffic, and lower air pollution across the Commonwealth. HJ542 allows the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to conduct an audit to examine transit modernization necessities such as benches and shelters, bus electrification, GPS tracking, integrated payments, and more democratic governance structures to enable more mobile and resilient transit systems throughout Virginia. HB2054 will promote more effective and efficient local planning for transit-oriented development (TOD), building upon legislation passed last year, by calling for consideration of easing parking requirements to advance TOD.
  • Affordable Housing (SB1197/HB2053). Virginia faces an affordable housing crisis.  Building more housing closer to our urban centers will lower the cost of housing and help households across the state to live more sustainable and affordable lifestyles.  SB1197 will create a state equivalent of the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit which through rulemaking can be tailored to offer bonus incentives to developers that build housing in line with TOD principles. Additionally, a study on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) (HB2053) which include backyard cottages, basement apartments, or an apartment in an addition to the main home, will help local governments to develop and improve their ADU ordinances and address growing housing needs.

Clean Energy & Climate

  • Power Plant Transparency (HB1834/SB1247). These bills increase transparency for power plant closures and are part of an effort to minimize community impacts from these closures. Support for this bill is led by Appalachian Voices, see talking points here.
  • Environmental Justice (HB2074/SB1318). The Omnibus Environmental Justice Bill (HB2074) builds on the Virginia Environmental Justice Act of 2020 (“ VEJA”) which established the promotion of environmental justice as the official policy of the Commonwealth. The benefits and burdens of agencies’ environmental activities remain unequal among Virginians along lines of race, income, and geography. This bill seeks to redress this inequity by requiring government agencies at the state and local level to take specific actions to advance environmental justice. SB1318 has been amended significantly to only include codification of the Interagency Environmental Justice Working Group. Support for these bills is led by the New Virginia Majority.
  • Rate Reform (HB1914, HB1984, HB2049, HB2200, HB2160). This important series of bills aims to lower ratepayer’s bills, allow refunds of overcharges, and restore the SCC’s oversight to set fair rates. Support for these bills is led by Clean Virginia, see all talking points on our Bill Tracker. You can read more about electric utility rate reform, and find action items, on our blog here.
  • Gold Mining Study (HB2213). This legislation pauses the open-pit gold mine project in Buckingham County, near the historic African American community of Union Hill and the James River. Currently, there are few regulations in Virginia to shield water quality and public health from a large-scale mining operation, so this legislation gives state agencies the time they need to study the environmental and health impacts that gold mining could have on Buckingham and communities downstream. Support for this bill is led by VaLCV, see talking points here.