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HB1266 • 2026

Environmental Justice in Permitting Process Guidance Memo; DEQ to publish an updated version.

An Act to direct the Department of Environmental Quality to publish an updated version of the Environmental Justice in the Permitting Process Guidance Memo to consider how to assess the cumulative impacts of certain permits.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Tran
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify consequences for missing deadlines, nor does it define which permits are covered in the guidance memo. Additionally, there's no information on enforcement and implementation of the final guidance memo.

Environmental Justice in Permitting Process Guidance Memo Update

This act requires the Department of Environmental Quality to update its Environmental Justice in the Permitting Process Guidance Memo and consider how to assess cumulative impacts from permits, with public input.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to publish an updated version of the Environmental Justice in the Permitting Process Guidance Memo for public comment.
  • The DEQ must include ways to measure the total effects of certain permits and strategies for reaching out to affected communities.
  • Public comments are gathered through two town halls by July 31, 2026.
  • The DEQ has until October 31, 2026, to respond to public comments.
  • A final guidance memo must be issued by December 31, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Department of Environmental Quality
  • Communities impacted by permits covered in the guidance memo

Terms To Know

cumulative impacts
The combined effects of multiple actions or activities on the environment and communities.
public town halls
Meetings where members of the public can discuss issues with government officials.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what happens if the DEQ misses the deadlines.
  • The bill does not define which permits are covered by this guidance memo.
  • It is unclear how the final guidance memo will be enforced or implemented after its release.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB1266AH1

2026-02-16 • Member

Delegate Tran Amendments

Plain English: The amendment changes references from the 'Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources' to the 'Department of Environmental Quality' in the bill text.

  • Changes line 6 by replacing 'Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources' with 'Department of Environmental Quality'.
  • Changes line 10 by replacing 'Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources (the Secretary)' with 'Department of Environmental Quality (the Department)'.
  • Changes line 15 by replacing 'Secretary' with 'Department'.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 461 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0461)

  3. 2026-04-01 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1266)

  4. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  5. 2026-03-31 Governor

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

  6. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  7. 2026-03-31 Governor

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

  8. 2026-03-31 House

    Signed by Speaker

  9. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  10. 2026-03-31 Governor

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

  11. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Signed by President

  12. 2026-03-30 House

    Enrolled

  13. 2026-03-30 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1266ER)

  14. 2026-03-11 House

    Senate substitute agreed to by House (65-Y 34-N 0-A)

  15. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Read third time

  16. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Read third time

  17. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Read third time

  18. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

  19. 2026-03-10 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to

  20. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Passed Senate with substitute (22-Y 18-N 0-A)

  21. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Read third time

  22. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  23. 2026-03-09 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1266)

  24. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  25. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  26. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Rules suspended

  27. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Rules suspended

  28. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  29. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  30. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  31. 2026-03-04 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Committee substitute printed 26109125D-S1

  32. 2026-03-03 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute (9-Y 5-N 1-A)

  33. 2026-03-03 Senate

    Senate committee offered

  34. 2026-02-23 Natural Resources

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1266)

  35. 2026-02-20 House

    Reengrossed by House as amended

  36. 2026-02-20 House

    Engrossed by House as amended

  37. 2026-02-18 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  38. 2026-02-18 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

  39. 2026-02-18 House

    Engrossed by House as amended

  40. 2026-02-17 House

    Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A)

  41. 2026-02-16 Natural Resources

    Engrossed bill reprinted 26107166D

  42. 2026-02-16 House

    Floor Offered

  43. 2026-02-16 House

    Read second time

  44. 2026-02-16 House

    committee substitute agreed to

  45. 2026-02-16 House

    Delegate Tran Floor amendments agreed to

  46. 2026-02-16 House

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute as amended

  47. 2026-02-15 House

    Read first time

  48. 2026-02-13 Appropriations

    Reported from Appropriations (16-Y 6-N)

  49. 2026-02-13 Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)

  50. 2026-02-11 Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources

    Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources

  51. 2026-02-11 Natural Resources

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N)

  52. 2026-02-11 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)

  53. 2026-02-11 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1266)

  54. 2026-02-11 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    Committee substitute printed 26107166D-H1

  55. 2026-02-10 Natural Resources

    House subcommittee offered

  56. 2026-02-09 Natural Resources

    Assigned HACNR sub: Natural Resources

  57. 2026-01-14 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103003D

  58. 2026-01-14 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

Department of Environmental Quality; Environmental Justice in the Permitting Process Guidance Memo; cumulative impacts.
Directs the Department of Environmental Quality to publish an updated version of the Environmental Justice in the Permitting Process Guidance Memo for public comment. The bill requires the updated memo to consider how to assess the cumulative impacts of the types of permits covered in the guidance memo and outreach strategies to engage communities impacted by any such permit. The bill requires the public comment period process to include two public town halls held no later than July 31, 2026, and requires the Department to respond to the public comments by October 31, 2026. The Department is required to issue the final guidance memo by December 31, 2026.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to direct the Department of Environmental Quality to publish an updated version of the Environmental Justice in the Permitting Process Guidance Memo to consider how to assess the cumulative impacts of certain permits.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1.
§ 1. That the Department of Environmental Quality (the Department) shall publish an updated version of the Environmental Justice in the Permitting Process Guidance Memo for public comment. Such updated guidance memo shall consider how to assess the cumulative impacts of the types of permits covered in the guidance memo and outreach strategies to engage communities impacted by any such permit. The public comment period process for such updated guidance memo shall include two public town halls held no later than July 31, 2026. The Department shall respond to public comments by October 31, 2026, and issue the final guidance memo no later than December 31, 2026.