HB728 • 2026

Health, State Board of; permanent pump and haul of sewage, agritourism

An Act to require the State Board of Health to amend regulations for permanent pump and haul of sewage; Planning District 23; agritourism.

Agriculture

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Leftwich
Last action: 2026-04-06
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on how many agritourism activities will be affected or what happens if an activity can connect to a sewer system.

Health Board Rules for Agritourism Sewage

This law changes rules to allow permanent sewage pumping and hauling for agritourism in Planning District 23 if an activity cannot connect to existing sewer systems or have their own onsite system.

What This Bill Does

Requires the State Board of Health to change its rules about pumping and hauling sewage.
Exempts certain agritourism activities from needing government supervision when they pump and haul sewage permanently in Planning District 23 if an activity cannot connect to a sewer system or have their own onsite sewage system.

Who It Names or Affects

The State Board of Health
People who run agritourism activities in Planning District 23

Terms To Know

Agritourism: Activities that combine agriculture and tourism, such as farm stays or educational tours.
Planning District 23: A specific area in Virginia where the new rules apply.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not specify what happens if an agritourism activity can connect to a sewer system.
It is unclear how many agritourism activities will be affected by this change.

Amendments

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

HB728AHC1

2026-02-10 • Committee

Health Subcommittee Amendment

Plain English: The amendment adds a condition under which agritourism activities can use permanent pump and haul for sewage when they cannot connect to an existing sewer or install their own on-site sewage system.

Adds a new clause allowing agritourism businesses to use permanent pump and haul services if they are unable to connect to an existing sewer system or establish their own on-site sewage system.

The amendment does not specify the exact criteria for determining when agritourism activities qualify for this exception.
It is unclear what additional regulations or requirements might apply specifically to agritourism businesses using permanent pump and haul services under these conditions.

HB728AH1

2026-02-12 • Committee

Health and Human Services Amendment

Plain English: The amendment adds a condition under which agritourism activities can use permanent pump and haul for sewage disposal when they cannot connect to an existing sewer or install their own on-site sewage system.

Adds a new clause allowing agritourism businesses to use permanent pump and haul services if they are unable to connect to an existing sewer system or establish their own on-site sewage system.

The amendment text does not specify the exact regulations that will be amended, only the condition under which permanent pump and haul can be used for agritourism activities.

Bill History

2026-04-06 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 212 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-06 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 212 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-06 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0212)
2026-03-14 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
2026-03-14 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-12 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-11 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-11 House
Enrolled
2026-03-11 House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB728ER)
2026-03-11 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB728)
2026-03-04 House
Senate substitute agreed to by House (95-Y 1-N 0-A)
2026-03-02 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-02 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-02 Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
2026-03-02 Education and Health
Education and Health Substitute agreed to
2026-03-02 Senate
Passed Senate with substitute (33-Y 7-N 0-A)
2026-03-02 Education and Health
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB728)
2026-03-02 Senate
Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-02 Senate
Passed Senate with substitute (30-Y 9-N 0-A)
2026-02-27 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-27 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-27 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-27 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-27 Education and Health
Committee substitute printed 26108683D-S1
2026-02-26 Education and Health
Reported from Education and Health with substitute (14-Y 1-N)
2026-02-26 Senate
Senate committee offered
2026-02-19 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB728)
2026-02-18 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-18 Education and Health
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
2026-02-17 House
Read third time and passed House (82-Y 14-N 0-A)
2026-02-16 House
Read second time
2026-02-16 House
committee amendment agreed to
2026-02-16 House
Engrossed by House as amended
2026-02-15 House
Read first time
2026-02-12 Health and Human Services
Reported from Health and Human Services with amendment(s) (19-Y 2-N)
2026-02-10 Health
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 1-N 1-A)
2026-02-04 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB728)
2026-01-21 Health
Assigned sub: Health
2026-01-13 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102304D
2026-01-13 Health and Human Services
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

Official Summary Text

State Board of Health; permanent pump and haul of sewage; agritourism.
Requires the State Board of Health to amend regulations to exempt in Planning District 23 the pumping and hauling of sewage associated with an agritourism activity from the prohibition on pumping and hauling sewage on a permanent basis unless done under the auspices and supervision of a government entity when the agritourism activity is unable to establish and maintain a connection to an existing sewer or onsite sewage system.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to require the State Board of Health to amend regulations for permanent pump and haul of sewage; Planning District 23; agritourism.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1.
§ 1. That the State Board of Health shall amend 12VAC5-
610-599
of the Virginia Administrative Code, Permanent pumping and hauling, to exempt in Planning District 23 the pumping and hauling of sewage associated with an agritourism activity, as that term is defined in §
3.2-6400
of the Code of Virginia, from the prohibition on pumping and hauling sewage on a permanent basis unless done under the auspices and supervision of a government entity when the agritourism activity is unable to establish and maintain a connection to an existing sewer or establish and maintain an onsite sewage system. Any pumping and hauling exempted pursuant to this act shall require storage facilities and vehicle specifications to conform to Article 7 (12VAC5-
610-990
et seq.) and Article 8 (12VAC5-
610-1020
et seq.) of Part V of Chapter 610 of the Virginia Administrative Code.