Bill
Bill > HB1350
VA HB1350
VA HB1350Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program; assessment for violations, etc., civil penalties.
summary
Introduced
01/19/2026
01/19/2026
In Committee
02/24/2026
02/24/2026
Crossed Over
02/09/2026
02/09/2026
Passed
03/09/2026
03/09/2026
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill Summary
Department of Environmental Quality; special orders; Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program; civil penalties. Increases the maximum civil penalty amount that the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality may assess for any special order to a person to comply with certain related laws, regulations, permits, and certifications from $10,000 to $32,500. The bill increases from $1,000 to $32,500 the maximum civil penalty that a locality authorized to administer a Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program is able to collect for any one violation of certain regulations, orders, ordinances, program provisions, conditions of land-disturbance approvals, and provisions of state law. The bill also provides, however, that for a land-disturbing activity that (i) disturbs an area measuring at least 10,000 square feet but less than one acre in an area not designated as a Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area and (ii) is not part of a larger common plan of development or sale that disturbs one or more acres of land, the civil penalty shall not exceed $5,000 for each violation, and a series of violations arising from the same set of facts shall not exceed $50,000.
AI Summary
This bill increases the maximum civil penalties that can be assessed for violations of Virginia's Erosion and Sediment Control Program. Specifically, the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) can now issue special orders with civil penalties up to $32,500, an increase from $10,000. Additionally, localities authorized to manage this program can collect civil penalties of up to $32,500 for any single violation of regulations, orders, ordinances, program rules, land-disturbance approval conditions, or state law, also an increase from $1,000. However, for certain smaller land-disturbing activities that disturb at least 10,000 square feet but less than one acre in areas not designated as Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas and are not part of a larger development of one acre or more, the maximum penalty per violation is capped at $5,000, with a series of violations from the same facts not exceeding $50,000. This legislation aims to provide stronger enforcement mechanisms for erosion and sediment control to protect the environment.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1350) (on 03/09/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1350 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1350/text/HB1350ER |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1350) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199428.PDF |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1350/text/HB1350H1 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1350/text/HB1350HC1 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1350/text/HB1350HC2 |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1350) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097170.PDF |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1350/text/HB1350 |
Loading...