Updated on April 8, 2025
Throughout the 2025 Virginia legislative session, lawmakers took important steps to address critical environmental issues, including efforts to conserve trees, reduce pollution, and strengthen climate resilience. While progress was made, there is still much work to do to restore and protect Virginia’s rivers, streams, and the Bay for future generations. Read on for key updates from the session and how CBF played a role in advocating for clean water policies.
Fully Funding Programs to Achieve Clean Water
We are pleased to see the following key investments included in this year’s budget to protect our waterways:
- $50 million to provide climate resilience funding. With the need for flood resilience funding at an all-time high, it is essential that community-scale efforts to address increasing flood issues continue without interruption. Legislators have allocated this investment to the Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF), which provides vital grants to localities across the state—from Winchester to Hampton, Danville to Fairfax—to build much-needed resilience against both coastal and inland flooding.
- $28 million for the Virginia Agricultural Cost-Share program. Robust and reliable funding is essential for meeting water quality goals. This program provides technical expertise and operational support to farmers who adopt sound, cost-effective conservation practices, like fencing cattle out of streams or planting streamside trees and grasses, that will benefit local water quality and the Chesapeake Bay.
- $250,000 to reduce the predatory pressure of the invasive blue catfish in Virginia’s waters. These predators threaten native species like menhaden, striped bass, shad, and blue crabs, which are critical to commercial and recreational fisheries and vital to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.
We are disappointed that Governor Youngkin vetoed $40 million in funding for the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) in the final version of the budget. SLAF helps cities and counties reduce polluted runoff from urban and suburban lands by providing matching grants to localities for projects such as wetland construction, living shoreline installation, and stream restoration work. We will work to ensure this critical funding is included again in future sessions.
Protecting Virginia’s Vital Wetlands
The Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Sackett v. EPA removed federal protections from many wetlands nationwide, especially those that are isolated or lack direct surface connections to other waters. This ruling has left many of Virginia’s wetlands, which play a crucial role in supporting communities, local economies, and ecosystems, vulnerable to loss and degradation. Now more than ever, Virginia’s existing state laws and regulations for both tidal and nontidal wetlands are essential. Wetlands are among the most productive and vital ecosystems in Virginia, offering benefits like flood mitigation, water quality improvement, erosion control, wildlife habitat, and climate resilience.
CBF urged legislators to support HB 2034 (introduced by Delegate Simonds), which directs the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources to establish an interagency policy task force to develop strategies for protecting the existing tidal and nontidal wetlands of the Commonwealth, and develop plans for wetland restoration, creation, and migration to address adverse impacts from human activities and climate change. We are pleased that HB 2034 was signed by the Governor.
Providing Localities with Needed Planning and Resources for Utility-Scale Solar Siting
To meet the Virginia Clean Economy Act goals to transition the Commonwealth to renewable energy generation, we need to accelerate the deployment of utility-scale solar. While this deployment will require significant swaths of land, regulations will soon be finalized, as laid out with the passage of HB 206 in 2022, to help minimize impacts on the Commonwealth’s valuable natural resources, especially our most outstanding forest cores.
Many localities considering local zoning approval for these projects lack the necessary planning and expertise to evaluate whether or not to approve these projects. CBF advocated for the General Assembly to create a regional energy planning framework that would help all regions of the Commonwealth plan for the renewable energy transition. Additionally, we encouraged the General Assembly to create an interagency task force to act as an advisory body to localities considering zoning approvals for utility-scale solar projects to ensure localities are evaluating objective information when considering these projects. We urged legislators to support Senator Deeds’ SB 1190, which would have established the Virginia Energy Facility Review Board and the Virginia Clean Energy Technical Assistance Center, and were disappointed that the senate voted against it. CBF will continue to push for legislators to support localities and provide essential resources for utility-scale solar siting.
Advancing Resilience Across the Commonwealth
The Commonwealth has made significant progress in bolstering climate resilience and water quality initiatives, including the establishment of the CFPF to help localities mitigate flood risks. However, climate change impacts—from sea level rise and more intense storms in coastal areas to severe flooding in regions previously unaffected—pose ongoing challenges and must be addressed. In Hampton Roads, sea level rise combined with land subsidence increases flooding risks for communities, infrastructure, and military installations, while Hurricane Helene recently devastated homes and infrastructure in Southwest Virginia.
To build resilience statewide, CBF urged legislators to strengthen support for programs like CFPF, make funds accessible to tribal communities, and create a Living Shoreline Fund to expand natural defenses against erosion and storm surge. These measures are vital to protect Virginia’s economy, safeguard public health, and preserve the natural environment in the face of escalating climate threats. Specifically, CBF advocated for support of the following bills:
- HB 2077 (introduced by Delegate Krizek) will modify CFPF guidelines to allow federally-recognized tribal governments to have access to the funding. We’re pleased to see the Governor has signed this bill into law.
- HB 1950 (introduced by Delegate Hernandez) and HB 2453 (introduced by Delegate Hodges) would create a Living Shorelines Fund. Unfortunately, these bills failed to pass out of the House Appropriations Commerce, Agriculture, and Natural Resources subcommittee. CBF will continue to advocate for the creation of this critical fund in future sessions.
- HB 1949 (also introduced by Delegate Hernandez) would have directed the Office of Commonwealth Resiliency to study the criteria needed to assign responsibility between the state and localities for each entities’ portion of the cost of CSRM feasibility studies and plan implementation. This bill did not advance from the House Committee on Rules.
Additionally, CBF called on legislators to support HJ 434 (introduced by Delegate Feggans), which directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study how localities and others should monetarily contribute to CSRM studies—and whether a separate fund should be created to support these studies. We also advocated for legislators to support HJ 437 (introduced by Delegate Convirs-Fowler), which reestablishes the Joint Subcommittee of Recurrent Flooding. We are pleased the house and senate have adopted both of these resolutions.
Investing in Students’ Environmental Literacy
Learning how humans impact the environment and understanding the value of Virginia’s extraordinary natural resources are essential parts of our state education standards, yet many students lack access to outdoor learning opportunities that bring this knowledge to life. Leading educators and the Virginia Department of Education recognize that hands-on, inquiry-based learning has wide-ranging benefits for both environmental literacy and academic success.
We urged legislators to allocate $1 million annually for a competitive grant program to expand Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences (MWEEs) across Virginia. While we were encouraged to see lawmakers propose a $500,000 increase in the state budget, we are disappointed that the Governor removed this increase, keeping funding at the current allocation of $250,000. Increased funding would ensure that all students benefit from hands-on, educational opportunities to learn about their environment. The funding also supports environmental literacy planning and professional development for teachers. MWEEs empower students through immersive learning that strengthens environmental literacy, critical thinking, and academic success in subjects like science, math, and social studies. Virginia's investment in environmental education has fallen far behind neighboring states, putting our students at a disadvantage. Increasing MWEE funding is necessary to enhance competitiveness with neighboring states, promote stewardship, support healthier lifestyles, and equip students with essential skills for the 21st-century workforce. While we did not secure an increased investment this year, we remain committed to advocating for steady, incremental growth in the years ahead.
Implementing an Oyster Stock Assessment
Oysters are not only a cultural and economic cornerstone of the Chesapeake Bay region but are also critical to water quality and shoreline resilience. These natural filters help remove sediments and excess nutrients from the Bay, and their reefs create essential habitats for a variety of marine species.
CBF urged legislators to fund an additional staff scientist at the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to develop a comprehensive oyster stock assessment, which is crucial for the recovery of Virginia’s iconic oyster population and the sustainable growth of this vital industry. By funding an oyster stock assessment, Virginia can gather data to optimize restoration and conservation efforts, helping both the environment and local watermen who rely on healthy oyster stocks. An assessment would allow us to target investments wisely, ensuring that resources are directed toward the most promising areas for growth and restoration. Legislators had the opportunity to make a lasting impact on water quality, marine biodiversity, and Virginia’s economy by supporting this essential initiative.
HB 2521 (introduced by Delegate Lopez) directed the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to conduct a stock assessment of the Commonwealth’s oyster population. While we are disappointed that the House of Delegates did not hear this bill and that the associated budget amendment was excluded from the budget, we will continue to advocate for this crucial assessment in future sessions.
Studying Menhaden Ecology, Fishery Impacts, and Economic Importance
Atlantic menhaden, a small yet vital fish found in the Chesapeake Bay, play a critical role in sustaining both the ecosystem and the economy. Acting as a key food source, menhaden nourish popular fish species like striped bass and flounder, which are essential for commercial and recreational fisheries, as well as birds such as osprey. However, the menhaden population faces challenges from low recruitment rates, changing water quality, and climate impacts, which threaten the balance of the Bay’s ecosystem and the many industries it supports.
We urged Virginia legislators to support Delegate Milde’s HB 2713 to provide funding for the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to conduct a comprehensive, three-year study on menhaden ecology, fishery impacts, and economic importance. This research would inform sustainable management, protect local jobs, and ensure a resilient Bay ecosystem. HB 2713 failed to advance during this session, but we will continue working to ensure funding for this important study is allocated.
Preserving and Expanding Virginia’s Tree Canopy
Virginia continues to lose tree canopy at an alarming rate due to development, road expansions, energy infrastructure, and other causes. To address this urgent issue, CBF advocated for legislators to support Delegate Willett’s HB 2630 which will enable developers to pay into a tree fund if they cannot meet canopy replacement requirements on site. This will provide local governments with additional funds to plant and maintain more trees on public and private property within their communities. The Governor has signed this bill into law, marking a significant milestone in advancing Virginia’s tree canopy goals.
We also supported Delegate Hope's HB 2638 to combat tree canopy loss by granting localities greater authority to require developers to replace cleared trees at higher percentages. This bill aimed to support local governments’ efforts to cost-effectively mitigate climate change, manage stormwater, and reduce urban heat island effects. HB 2638 successfully passed the General Assembly, but was vetoed by the Governor.
Studying Microplastics in Our Drinking Water
Microplastics are tiny fragments of plastics that contaminate waterways, wildlife, and people, and are the result of plastic breaking down over time. They are a threat to clean water, wildlife, and human health. Due to their chemical properties, microplastics carry several other pollutants with them that enhance their toxicity and pose risks to the environment and public health, including leaching into our drinking water.
HB 1618 (introduced by Delegate Clark) would have directed the Commissioner of Health to convene a workgroup to study the occurrence of microplastics in the Commonwealth’s drinking water and develop recommendations for reducing these microplastics. Unfortunately, this bill failed to advance from the House Committee on Rules. It is critical that Virginia legislators ensure the health of the Commonwealth’s drinking water supplies by understanding what toxins may be present in our water supply, and CBF will continue to work on this important issue in future sessions.
Be an Advocate for Clean Water Policies
We need advocates like you, now more than ever, to help advance policies that benefit clean water and Chesapeake Bay restoration goals. Sign up for our Action Network (if you haven’t already!) to be the first to know about important clean water policies—before, during, and after legislative session—and how you can help push them forward.
Ever wonder what it's like to stand up for clean water in person? On January 14, CBF and partner organizations hosted Clean Water Lobby Day, bringing together more than 120 volunteer advocates from across Virginia to meet one-on-one with their state legislators. For many, it was their first experience talking with lawmakers, urging support for environmental education, wetlands, and many other issues that hit close to home. Learn more about their experiences, and mark your calendar to join us next year on January 27, 2026!
