Legislation - HB0701

Title: Department of the Environment - Water Resources - Protection of Vernal Pools (Vernal Pool Wetlands Protection Act of 2026)
Sponsored by: Delegates Hill, Lehman, Terrasa, and Wu
Status: In the House - Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.
Analysis: Fiscal and Policy Note

Synopsis

Requiring the Department of the Environment to adopt regulations in a certain manner to identify and protect qualified vernal pools and buffer areas in the State; and requiring the Department, when issuing a permit for certain regulated activities, to protect qualified vernal pools that are listed by the Department in accordance with certain provisions under the Act and located within the geographic area covered by the permit.

Committees

Original:: Environment and Transportation Click to view Recorded Media

Details

Cross-filed with: SB0523

Bill File Type: Regular

Effective Date(s): October 1, 2026

History

Legislation History
Chamber House Calendar Date 2/02/2026 Legislative Date 2/02/2026 Action First Reading Environment and Transportation Proceedings
Chamber Calendar Date Legislative Date Action Text - First - Department of the Environment - Water Resources - Protection of Vernal Pools (Vernal Pool Wetlands Protection Act of 2026) Proceedings
Chamber House Calendar Date 2/04/2026 Legislative Date 2/04/2026 Action Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. Proceedings

Chamber	Calendar Date	Legislative Date	Action
House	2/02/2026	2/02/2026	First Reading Environment and Transportation
			Text - First - Department of the Environment - Water Resources - Protection of Vernal Pools (Vernal Pool Wetlands Protection Act of 2026)
House	2/04/2026	2/04/2026	Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.

File Code

Subjects

Statutes