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HB521Introduced in the House of Delegates

Marine Resources Commission; powers and duties, impacts on wetlands, report.

Passed

Introduced by Phil Hernandez, District 94

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

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 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.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0161)

April 6, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

4 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

House of DelegatesStage: Senate substitute agreed to by House (70-Y 25-N 0-A) · March 4, 2026

70

Yes

25

No

4

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 26102424D

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

  3. Assigned HACNR sub: Chesapeake

  4. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521)

  5. House subcommittee offered

  6. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (9-Y 1-N)

  7. Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with amendment(s) (19-Y 3-N)

  8. Read first time

  9. Read second time

  10. committee amendment agreed to

  11. Engrossed by House as amended

  12. Read third time and passed House (74-Y 24-N 0-A)

  13. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

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

  15. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521)

  16. Assigned HACNR sub: Water Usage

  17. Senate subcommittee offered

  18. Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute (8-Y 6-N)

  19. Committee substitute printed 26108480D-S1

  20. Rules suspended

  21. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

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

  23. Read third time

  24. Passed by for the day

  25. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521)

  26. Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to

  27. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

  28. Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  29. Senate substitute agreed to by House (70-Y 25-N 0-A)

  30. Enrolled

  31. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB521ER)

  32. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB521)

  33. Signed by President

  34. Signed by Speaker

  35. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

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

  37. Approved by Governor-Chapter 161 (effective 7/1/2026)

  38. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0161)

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