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HB1266Introduced in the House of Delegates

Environmental Justice in Permitting Process Guidance Memo; DEQ to publish an updated version.

Passed

Introduced by Kathy Tran, District 18

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

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 strategies to engage communities impacted by any such permit. The bill requires the public comment period process to include two public town halls 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.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0461)

April 8, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

6 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

House of DelegatesStage: Senate substitute agreed to by House (65-Y 34-N 0-A) · March 11, 2026

65

Yes

34

No

0

Absent or Not Voting

99 delegates recorded in this House of Delegates vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

What do people think?

Citizen Voice

How would you vote on this bill?

An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.

One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.

See how each delegate voted

DelegateDistrictVote
Patrick Hope1Yes
Adele McClure2Yes
Alfonso Lopez3Yes
Charniele Herring4Yes
Kirk McPike5Yes
Richard Sullivan6Yes
Karen Keys-Gamarra7Yes
Irene Shin8Yes
Karrie Delaney9Yes
Dan Helmer10Yes

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103003D

  2. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

  3. Assigned HACNR sub: Natural Resources

  4. House subcommittee offered

  5. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N)

  6. Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)

  7. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1266)

  8. Committee substitute printed 26107166D-H1

  9. Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources

  10. Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)

  11. Reported from Appropriations (16-Y 6-N)

  12. Read first time

  13. Floor offered Delegate Tran Amendments

  14. Read second time

  15. committee substitute agreed to

  16. Delegate Tran Floor amendments agreed to

  17. Engrossed by House - committee substitute as amended

  18. Engrossed bill reprinted 26107166D

  19. Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A)

  20. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  21. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

  22. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1266)

  23. Senate committee offered

  24. Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute (9-Y 5-N 1-A)

  25. Committee substitute printed 26109125D-S1

  26. Rules suspended

  27. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  28. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  29. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  30. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1266)

  31. Passed by for the day

  32. Read third time

  33. Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to

  34. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

  35. Passed Senate with substitute (22-Y 18-N 0-A)

  36. Senate substitute agreed to by House (65-Y 34-N 0-A)

  37. Enrolled

  38. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1266ER)

  39. Signed by President

  40. Signed by Speaker

  41. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  42. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  43. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1266)

  44. Approved by Governor-Chapter 461 (effective 7/1/2026)

  45. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0461)

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