HB 2034

Abstract

Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources; protection of existing tidal and nontidal wetlands; wetland restoration and creation; policy task force; report. Directs the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources to establish a policy task force to develop (i) strategies to protect existing tidal and nontidal wetlands and restore, create, and plan for the persistence of such wetlands in the Commonwealth and (ii) mechanisms to incorporate such strategies into appropriate plans, including the Virginia Flood Protection Master Plan and the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan, to address losses and adverse impacts from human activities and climate change. The bill requires the task force to include certain relevant stakeholders, to meet at least two times annually, to report its initial findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources by December 1, 2025, and to update its report at least every two years.

An Act to direct the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources to establish a policy task force to evaluate existing policies regarding wetlands protection, restoration, creation, and mitigation in the Commonwealth and other states; recommend policy changes necessary to accelerate tidal and nontidal wetland identification, restoration, creation, and protection; and explore emerging science and innovation to ensure wetland health and survival; report.