HB500 • 2026

New state park; Dept. of Conservation & Recreation to acquire prop. to establish in Loudoun County.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to authorize the Department of Conservation and Recreation to acquire certain property to establish a new state park in Loudoun County.</p>

Agriculture

Enacted

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

Sponsor: McAuliff
Last action: 2026-03-03
Official status: Continued
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific information on the cost of acquiring the property or the exact date when the park will open.

New State Park in Loudoun County

This bill allows the Department of Conservation and Recreation to acquire land from the Conservation Fund to establish a new state park in Loudoun County.

What This Bill Does

Allows the Department of Conservation and Recreation to acquire approximately 1,240 acres of real property and any buildings or structures thereon between Little River Turnpike, James Monroe Highway, and Tail Race Road, known as Oak Hill Farm, from the Conservation Fund.
The acquired land will be used for establishing and operating a state park that provides outdoor recreation and historic interpretation opportunities.

Who It Names or Affects

The Department of Conservation and Recreation
People who own property in Loudoun County, especially those related to Oak Hill Farm

Terms To Know

Conservation Fund: A fund used to protect land and natural resources.
Historic interpretation: Teaching about history through stories, artifacts, and activities at a site.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the exact cost of acquiring the property.
It is unclear if all owners of Oak Hill Farm agree to sell their land.
The specific date for opening the new state park is not provided in the bill.

Bill History

2026-03-03 Finance and Appropriations
Continued to 2027 in Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)
2026-02-27 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB500)
2026-02-26 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Committee substitute printed 26108618D-S1
2026-02-24 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (11-Y 0-N 3-A)
2026-02-24 Senate
Senate committee offered
2026-02-24 Senate
Senate committee offered
2026-02-13 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-13 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
2026-02-12 Appropriations
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB500)
2026-02-12 House
Read third time and passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-11 House
Read second time
2026-02-11 House
committee substitute rejected
2026-02-11 House
committee substitute agreed to
2026-02-11 House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
2026-02-10 House
Read first time
2026-02-06 Appropriations
Reported from Appropriations with substitute (22-Y 0-N)
2026-02-06 Appropriations
Committee substitute printed 26107137D-H2
2026-02-04 Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 0-N)
2026-02-04 Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources
House subcommittee offered
2026-02-03 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB500)
2026-01-30 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Committee substitute printed 26106591D-H1
2026-01-28 Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources
Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources
2026-01-28 House
Incorporates HB239 (Lopez)
2026-01-28 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
2026-01-21 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB500)
2026-01-12 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103090D
2026-01-12 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

Department of Conservation and Recreation; acquisition of property to establish a state park; Loudoun County.
Allows the Department of Conservation and Recreation to acquire from the Conservation Fund approximately 1,240 acres of real property and any buildings or structures thereon between Little River Turnpike, James Monroe Highway, and Tail Race Road, known as Oak Hill Farm, in Loudoun County for the purpose of establishing and operating a state park on such property. This bill incorporates HB 239.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL NO. 500

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

on February 24, 2026)

(Patrons Prior to Substitute--Delegates McAuliff and Lopez [HB 239])

A BILL to authorize the Department of Conservation and Recreation to accept certain property to establish a state park in Loudoun County.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.
§ 1.
That in accordance with an
d
as evidence of
General Assembly approval pursuant to
§
10.1-104
of the C
ode of Virginia, the Department of Conservation and Recreation
(the Department)
is hereby authorized to accept
or
acquire
on behalf of the Commonwealth, upon terms and conditions the Department deems proper, with the approval of the Governor and by deed in a form approved by the Attorney General, a conveyance from
T
he
Conservation Fund
of

a parcel

of
approximately
1,240 acres
of real property
and any buildings or structures thereon
between
Little River Turnpike, James Monroe Highway, and Tail Race Road
in Loudoun County
, known as
Oak Hill Farm,

for the purpose of establishing and operating a state park
that provides
outdoor
recreation and historic
interpretation
opportunities and supports
agricultural
uses
on such property.