2025 Virginia General Assembly Legislative Priorities
(Updated as of 2/2/25 @ 10:43pm)
This year’s Virginia General Assembly, when legislators get together to make a new set of laws, takes place from January 8 through February 22 with the Governor taking action on bills by March 24. Nature Forward, with help from several partners (such as VCN’s bill tracker), is tracking several key environmental bills this session. We’ve listed our top bills below, and update this page as we learn more about each bill throughout the session.
SPECIAL THANKS to Nature Forward volunteers Christine Powell and Anne DeNovo who worked with me since December 2023 to strategize on, select, and then track these bills each week during session!
GLOSSARY: If you need help getting up to speed on all of the terms used during legislative sessions, check out this helpful page from UVA of frequently used state-government terms.
DATA CENTER REFORM
Last year, legislators passed by every data center reform bill, with the comment that the issues should be studied. In December 2024, JLARC released its Data Center report, citing significant concerns on many fronts, such as insatiable energy needs that may not be able to be met, water usage impacts, and inappropriate citing near residences, schools, and parks. Below is just a sample of the data center bills that need our support (to see a complete list, check out Piedmont Environmental Council’s “Four Pillars” page with data center bills listed at the bottom):
- DIED IN THE SENATE – SB899 – Authorizes localities to get data on data center water consumption estimates and consider those estimates when deciding to approve a rezoning or special use permit.
SB899 barely passed out of Local Government on 1/27 but was frustratingly voted down 13-Y 26-N 1-A on 1/30 by the full Senate. - BOTH BILLS ARE PROGRESSING: ASK FOR SUPPORT NOW – HB1601 / SB1449 – Allows a locality to require a site assessment of the impact on surrounding resources by a proposed high-energy use facility (e.g. data center)
Both bills are progressing and will be heard by the opposite chamber. Please email your Senator if they are on the Senate Local Government Committee to ask for support of HB1601. Likewise please email your Delegate if they are on House Counties, Cities and Towns to ask for support of SB1449. (View talking points) - ASK SENATOR FOR SUPPORT NOW – SB960 – Protect residents and businesses from the risk and of subsidizing billions of dollars of data center industry’s energy infrastructure needs
SB960 will be up for a full Senate vote before the end of the day on 2/4. Please use our form to email your Senator to ask for their support of SB960. Unfortunately, companion bill HB2101 failed to progress. (View talking points) - ASK FOR SUPPORT NOW – SB1196 – Tie data center tax exemptions and benefits to clean energy and efficiency standards
If you see your legislator is on Finance and Appropriations, please email them to ask for their support. We are awaiting its addition to an upcoming docket. (View talking points) - DIED IN COMMITTEE: Several important data center bill have already failed to progress, including (1) HB2027 which would’ve ensured responsible data center growth through statewide regulatory review and (2) HB2035/SB1353 which was the most important “transparency” bill allowing robust reporting on energy use, water consumption and emissions.
Ecology / Conservation
- ASK FOR CONTINUED BILL SUPPORT NOW – HB1941 / SB1166 – Prohibits nurseries from selling 39 invasive plant species unless there is signage warning it is invasive
Both bills are progressing and will be heard by the opposite chamber. Please email your Senator if they are on the Senate Ag to ask for support of HB1941. Likewise please email your Delegate to ask for support of SB1166 (which does not yet have a committee assignment, but should soon). (View talking points) - ASK FOR SUPPORT NOW – SB1341 – Requires VDOT to establish a program for highway wildlife crossings and collect data on wildlife carcass removal to identify problem areas
Unfortunately, HB2025 was tabled in Appropriations, which means it’s dead for this season. However, the Senate version is still alive: Please use our form to email your Senator in support of SB1341 (View talking points) - ASK FOR SUPPORT NOW – HB2059 – Provides $230 million in annual funding to make more outdoor spaces accessible to all Virginians
If your legislator is on Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources please email them and ask for their support. We are unfortunately still awaiting the addition of this bill to the agenda. (View talking points)
Water
- ASK FOR SUPPORT NOW – HB1950 – Creates a large-scale Living Shorelines Fund for matching grants for local governments or federally recognized tribes
If your legislator is on Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources please email them and ask for their support. We are unfortunately still awaiting the addition of this bill to the agenda. (View talking points) - ASK FOR SUPPORT NOW – HB1618 – Provides for study of occurrence of microplastics in public drinking water
If your legislator is on Rules please email them and ask for their support. We are unfortunately still awaiting the addition of this bill to the agenda. (View talking points) - 1/23: FAILED TO PROGRESS – HB2348 – Requires sellers to disclose if property is located within a flood hazard area
This bill failed to proceed last year, but went to the Housing Commission over the summer and fall which produced this bill. It is a disappointment to see this transparency bill fail again this year. (View talking points)
Renewable energy
- ASK FOR BILL SUPPORT NOW – HB2037– Allow localities to require solar canopy over new non-residential parking projects
This bill passed House on 1/30 and will now switch chambers and be voted on by the Senate. Please email your senator asking to support this bill – we don’t know which Senate committee it will go to yet! (View talking points)
Want to browse other relevant bills and comment on them? Check out VCN’s bill tracker:

. . .