Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
HB 256: Comprehensive plan; environmental justice strategy.
Enacted Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 256 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 9, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Comprehensive plan; environmental justice strategy. Primary sponsor: Shelly Simonds (Democratic). It lists 8 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (April 13, 2026): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0581).
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Comprehensive plan; environmental justice strategy. Requires cities with populations greater than 20,000 and counties with populations greater than 100,000 to consider, beginning July 1, 2026, at the next and all subsequent reviews of the comprehensive plan, adopting an environmental justice strategy. The bill provides that the locality's strategy shall be to identify environmental justice and fenceline communities within the jurisdiction of the local planning commission and identify objectives and policies to reduce health risks, to promote civic engagement, to prioritize improvements and programs that address the needs of environmental justice and fenceline communities, as those terms are defined in the bill, and to establish baseline environmental and health conditions to characterize any disproportionate public health conditions in the identified fenceline communities. This bill is identical to SB 425.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 6
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelly Simonds | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 70 |
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 39 |
| Gretchen M. Bulova | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Nadarius Clark | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 84 |
| Margaret A. Franklin | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Jackie Glass | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 93 |
| Cia Price | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 85 |
| Charlie Schmidt | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Irene Shin | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 8 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0581)
- Approved by Governor-Chapter 581 (effective 7/1/2026)
- Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
- Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
- Signed by President
- Signed by Speaker
- Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB256ER)
- Enrolled
- Senate substitute agreed to by House (63-Y 35-N 0-A)
- Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
- Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
- Local Government Substitute agreed to
Showing 12 most recent of 29 actions. Full history