Powers of local government; trees during development process; replacement and conservation. (SB537)

Introduced By

Progress

✓	Introduced
☐	Passed Committee
☐	Passed House
☐	Passed Senate
☐	Signed by Governor
☐	Became Law

Description

Powers of local government; trees during development process; replacement and conservation. Expands to all localities provisions that currently only allow certain localities to adopt an ordinance providing for the planting and replacement of trees during the development process. The bill adds more flexibility for implementation and management of tree canopy banks, tree canopy credits, and tree canopy requirements. The bill changes and updates standards, reference documents, and published reference texts. The bill expands options for localities to disburse funds to charitable organizations. The bill adds percentage specifications for ordinances related to cemeteries. The bill removes the prohibition of invalidating local ordinances adopted before July 1, 1990, the allowance of 10-year minimum requirements for pre-1990 ordinances, and the inability to invalidate an ordinance adopted pursuant to the section relating to the replacement of trees during development process in certain localities. The bill provides guidelines for the Stakeholder Advisory Group, established by the bill to provide recommendations on the provisions of the bill, and its meetings; exemptions from the Administrative Process Act, section-specific definitions for public comment; and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The main provisions of the bill have a delayed enactment date of January 1, 2023; the remaining provisions are effective in due course. Read the Bill »

Status

01/12/2022: Awaiting a Vote in the Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee

History

Date	Action
01/12/2022	Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/22 22102580D
01/12/2022	Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources