Legislative Bulletin February 22, 2023 – Issue Update

Wednesday, February 22, 2023 - 05:00pm

Successfully opposed: Bill that would have eliminated local authority to retain trees on land not intended to be reforested artificially or naturally

HB2282 (Edmunds) failed to report by a bipartisan vote of 16-24 on the floor of the Virginia Senate this afternoon. This is expected to be the final vote on this bill as further consideration is not anticipated.

Thanks to everyone who helped VML oppose this bill!

As a reminder, HB2282 would have:

• created a new exemption from stormwater regulations for development.
• not affect any agricultural lands which currently have an exemption for clearing trees as part of forest management or converting a forested area to agricultural pasture.
• resulted in more trees being removed without complying with erosion and sediment control requirements.
• undermined local authority to protect local water quality and remove any opportunity to work with developers to maintain existing trees.

VML Contact: Mitchell Smiley, msmiley@vml.org