HB492 • 2026

Public utilities; vegetation management in public parks.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 5 of Chapter 10 of Title 56 a section numbered 56-260.2, relating to vegetation management by public utilities in public parks.</p>

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Seibold
Last action: 2026-02-18
Official status: Failed
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify the exact measures for determining what constitutes best reasonable efforts and how disagreements between utilities and localities are resolved.

Public Utilities Must Work with Localities on Park Vegetation

This law requires public utilities to consult with local governments before managing trees and plants in public parks, ensuring that any trimming or pruning is only done as needed for reliable service.

What This Bill Does

Requires public utilities to consult with the locality before managing vegetation in public parks.
Limits tree trimming and plant removal by public utilities to what is necessary for maintaining reliable utility services.

Who It Names or Affects

Public utilities
Local governments that own or operate public parks

Terms To Know

public utility: A company that provides a public service, such as electricity or water.
locality: The government of a city, county, or town.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what happens if the utility and locality cannot agree on vegetation management.
Does not provide details about how to measure 'best reasonable efforts'.

Amendments

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

HB492AHC1

2026-01-22 • Committee

Subcommittee #3 Subcommittee Amendment

Plain English: The amendment changes the requirement for public utilities to 'aim' at managing vegetation in public parks to a more flexible approach of making 'best reasonable efforts'.

Changes the wording from 'public utilities shall aim' to 'public utilities shall make best reasonable efforts'

The amendment does not specify what constitutes 'best reasonable efforts', leaving some ambiguity about the exact requirements for public utilities.

HB492AH1

2026-01-27 • Committee

Labor and Commerce Amendment

Plain English: The amendment changes the requirement for public utilities to 'aim' at managing vegetation in public parks to a more flexible approach of making 'best reasonable efforts'.

Changes the wording from 'public utilities shall aim' to 'public utilities shall make best reasonable efforts' when managing vegetation in public parks.

The amendment does not specify what constitutes 'best reasonable efforts', leaving some ambiguity about how this new requirement will be interpreted and enforced.

Bill History

2026-02-18 House
Left in Labor and Commerce
2026-01-30 House
Motion to rerefer to Labor and Commerce agreed to
2026-01-30 Labor and Commerce
Rereferred to Labor and Commerce
2026-01-29 House
Read first time
2026-01-27 Labor and Commerce
Reported from Labor and Commerce with amendment(s) (13-Y 9-N)
2026-01-22 Subcommittee #3
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (6-Y 2-N)
2026-01-19 Subcommittee #3
Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3
2026-01-19 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (HB492)
2026-01-12 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102120D
2026-01-12 Labor and Commerce
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

Official Summary Text

Public utilities; vegetation management in public parks.
Requires a public utility, when managing trees, shrubs, or other plants located in any public park owned or operated by a locality, to consult with the locality and aim to trim or prune such trees, shrubs, or other plants only to the extent necessary to preserve the reliability of service.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB 492

LABOR AND COMMERCE

1. Line 16, introduced, after
and

strike

aim

insert

make best reasonable efforts