2025 Regular SessionVirginia Legislature

SB851: Rainwater harvesting systems, certain; local ordinances for use.

Legislative Summary

Local ordinances for the use of certain rainwater harvesting systems. Provides that existing local ordinances adopted prior to July 1, 2025, governing rainwater harvesting systems shall continue in force; however, in the event of a conflict between a Board of Health regulation and a local ordinance adopted prior to July 1, 2025, the Board regulation shall govern, except when the conflicting local ordinance is more stringent. The bill prohibits a locality from adopting any local ordinance requiring owners of Tier 4 rainwater harvesting systems to connect to any municipal water supply or impose any penalty, including condemnation proceedings, on such owner for failing to connect to a municipal water supply.

Demographic Impact

Overall analysis of equity impact

Neutral
Low Confidence

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Bill History

1/3/2025
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25102960D
Senate
1/3/2025
Referred to Committee on Local Government
Senate
1/15/2025
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB851)
Senate
1/20/2025
Rereferred from Local Government and Rereferred to Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (15-Y 0-N)
Senate
1/28/2025
Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (14-Y 0-N)
Senate
1/30/2025
Rules suspended
Senate
1/30/2025
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 1-A)
Senate
1/30/2025
Passed by for the day
Senate
1/31/2025
Read second time and engrossed
Senate
1/31/2025
Rules suspended
Senate
1/31/2025
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading) (40-Y 0-N)
Senate
1/31/2025
Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)
Senate
2/6/2025
Placed on Calendar
House of Delegates
2/6/2025
Read first time
House of Delegates
2/6/2025
Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
House of Delegates
2/7/2025
Referred from Counties, Cities and Towns and referred to Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (Voice Vote)
House of Delegates
2/12/2025
Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N)
House of Delegates
2/14/2025
Read second time
House of Delegates
2/17/2025
Read third time
House of Delegates
2/17/2025
Passed House (95-Y 0-N)
House of Delegates
2/17/2025
Reconsideration of House passage agreed to by House
House of Delegates
2/17/2025
Passed House (96-Y 0-N)
House of Delegates
2/19/2025
Enrolled
Senate
2/19/2025
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB851ER)
Senate
2/19/2025
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB851)
Senate
2/19/2025
Signed by Speaker
House of Delegates
2/19/2025
Enrolled
Senate
2/19/2025
Enrolled
Senate
2/22/2025
Signed by President
Senate
3/3/2025
Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 3, 2025
Senate
3/3/2025
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025
3/21/2025
Approved by Governor-Chapter 358 (Effective 07/01/25)
3/21/2025
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0358)

Roll Call Votes

Passed House (96-Y 0-N)
2/17/2025
96
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
4
Absent
Result: PASSED
Passed House (95-Y 0-N)
2/17/2025
95
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
5
Absent
Result: PASSED
Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N)
2/12/2025
22
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
0
Absent
Result: PASSED
Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)
1/31/2025
40
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
0
Absent
Result: PASSED
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading) (40-Y 0-N)
1/31/2025
40
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
0
Absent
Result: PASSED
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 1-A)
1/30/2025
39
Yea
0
Nay
1
Not Voting
0
Absent
Result: PASSED
Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (14-Y 0-N)
1/28/2025
14
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
1
Absent
Result: PASSED
Rereferred from Local Government and Rereferred to Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (15-Y 0-N)
1/20/2025
15
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
0
Absent
Result: PASSED

Status Information

Current Status
Passed(3/21/2025)
Chamber
Senate

Sponsors

Republican: 1

Primary Sponsor

Danny Diggs
Danny Diggs
Republican

Documents

Chaptered
Bill Text3/21/20254.4 KB
Enrolled
Bill Text2/19/20254.5 KB
Introduced
Bill Text1/3/20255.6 KB
Fiscal Note/Analysis
Fiscal Note/Analysis2/19/2025101.0 KB
Fiscal Note/Analysis
Fiscal Note/Analysis1/15/202597.6 KB