HB549Introduced in the House of Delegates
Trees; conservation and replacement during development process in certain localities, report.
Introduced by Patrick Hope, District 1
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Conservation and replacement of trees during development process; work group; report. Expands certain existing local government authority to plant or replace trees during the development process by expanding such authority statewide. The bill allows localities to establish higher tree canopy replacement percentages based on density per acre. The bill also alters the current process for granting exceptions to a local ordinance by modifying a provision that requires the granting of an exception when the strict application of the ordinance would result in unnecessary or unreasonable hardship to the developer, and replacing it with a requirement that the locality concur with such a determination. The bill permits localities to monitor and assess the condition and coverage of tree canopies at development sites during a period of up to 20 years after the trees are planted. The bill also allows any town within Planning District 8 belonging to an eight-hour nonattainment area for air quality standards to require, by ordinance, that a subdivision or development provide for the preservation or replacement of trees on the development site such that the minimum tree canopy or cover 10 years after development is projected to meet specified coverage criteria. Under current law, the criteria apply to tree canopy coverage 20 years after development. Finally, the bill directs the Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience to convene a work group to conduct a comprehensive review of the tree canopy laws and regulations and report the work group's findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns and Senate Committee on Local Government by November 1, 2026. This bill incorporates HB 995 and is identical to SB 589.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0626)
April 13, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
5 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
6 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Conference report agreed to by Senate (22-Y 17-N 0-A) · March 14, 2026
22
Yes
17
No
1
Absent or Not Voting
40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | No |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | No |
| Chris Head | 3 | No |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | No |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | No |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | No |
| William Stanley | 7 | No |
| Mark Peake | 8 | No |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102406D
Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
Assigned HCCT sub: Subcommittee #3
House committee offered
House committee offered
Reported from Counties, Cities and Towns with substitute (16-Y 4-N 1-A)
Incorporates HB995 (Seibold)
Committee substitute printed 26106579D-H1
Read first time
Read second time
committee substitute agreed to
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
Read third time and passed House (64-Y 34-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on Local Government
Reported from Local Government with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
Committee substitute printed 26109044D-S1
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read third time
Local Government Substitute agreed to
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Passed Senate with substitute (24-Y 16-N 0-A)
Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 96-N 0-A)
Senate insisted on substitute (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Senate requested conference committee
House acceded to request
Conferees appointed by House
House Conferees: Hope, Helmer, Tata
Conferees appointed by Senate
Senate Conferees: Salim, Srinivasan, Suetterlein
Conference Report released
Conference report agreed to by House (63-Y 34-N 0-A)
House requested second conference committee
Conference Report released
Senate acceded to request for second conference committee (22-Y 17-N 0-A)
Second conferees appointed by Senate
Senate Conferees: Salim, Srinivasan, Suetterlein
Conferees appointed by House
House Conferees: Hope, McClure, Tata
Conference Report released
Conference report agreed to by House (63-Y 34-N 0-A)
Conference report agreed to by Senate (22-Y 17-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB549ER)
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 626 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0626)
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