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Bill > HB1443
VA HB1443
VA HB1443Owners of sewage treatment works; land application, marketing, or distributing of sewage sludge.
summary
Introduced
01/22/2026
01/22/2026
In Committee
02/18/2026
02/18/2026
Crossed Over
02/16/2026
02/16/2026
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill Summary
Owners of sewage treatment works; land application, marketing, or distribution of sewage sludge; perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances; testing requirements. Directs any owner of a sewage treatment works land applying, marketing, or distributing sewage sludge in the Commonwealth, beginning January 1, 2027, to collect representative samples of finished sewage sludge products and have such samples analyzed by an accredited laboratory for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The bill mandates certain outcomes for the land application of such products depending on the concentration of PFAS in such products. The bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality to modify all Virginia Pollution Abatement permits for the land application of sewage sludge and Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits for sewage treatment works that include sewage sludge prepared for land application, marketing, or distribution as soon as practicable. The bill requires the Department to convene a work group to study the occurrence of PFAS in sewage sludge intended for land application within the Commonwealth. The Department is required to report the recommendations of the work group to the Governor and the Chairs of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources by November 1, 2027.
AI Summary
This bill requires owners of sewage treatment works that land apply, market, or distribute sewage sludge (treated solid waste from wastewater treatment) in Virginia to test their finished sludge product for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of man-made chemicals, starting January 1, 2027. These tests must be conducted quarterly by an accredited laboratory using a specific U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) method, and the results must be submitted to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). If the analysis reveals certain concentrations of specific PFAS, namely perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) or perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), the bill restricts or prohibits land application of that sludge and mandates that the test results be sent to the landowners of properties where the sludge is intended for application. The DEQ is also directed to update existing permits to align with these new requirements before January 1, 2027, and to convene a work group to study PFAS in sewage sludge and report recommendations by November 1, 2027.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (3)
Last Action
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (on 02/18/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1443 |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1443) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1168766.PDF |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1443/text/HB1443H1 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1443/text/HB1443HC2 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1443/text/HB1443HC1 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1443/text/HB1443 |
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