Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy is member of the Virginia Conservation Network. The talking points below are derived from materials produced by VCN and their members. We have highlighted links to additional talking points for these bills as well. A link for contact information  is at the bottom of the page.

Support – Ensuring Integrity of Conservation Easements, HB1760

Patrons: Webert and Gooditis

• Conservation easements are a critical tool for protecting Virginia’s most valuable habitats, working lands, scenic viewsheds and cultural landscapes.
• This legislation ensures that courts interpret easements in a way that achieves the conservation purposes for which the easement was created.

Assigned to Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources: subcommittee Natural Resources

From our partner, PEC: https://www.pecva.org/region/regional-state-national-region/general-assembly/take-action-in-support-of-land-conservation-legislation/

Support – Agricultural Best Management Practices, HB1763

Patron: Wilt

• Agricultural best management practices (or BMPs), such as fencing cattle out of streams, are one of most cost-effective investments to improve water quality in local streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.

Assigned to Finance Subcommittee #2

Support – Neonicotinoid Pesticides; local regulation and notice, HB2030

Patron: Krizek

• This bill aims to protect pollinators in our community from outdoor spray of neonicotinoids (neonics). There is a major concern that neonics play a major contributing role in pollinator declines.
• They are under scrutiny due to their persistence in the soil, ability to leach into the environment, high water solubility, and potential negative health implications for nontarget organisms such as pollinators.

Assigned to Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources subcommittee Agriculture

Support – Replacement and conservation of trees during development, HB2042

Patron: Guy

• The current statute limits localities’ authority to preserve and conserve their tree canopies. This bill enables localities to adopt higher replacement percentages (than the current range cap of 10-30%) where trees are used to meet water quality, flooding management, and equity goals.
• This bill expands the provisions in the statute, Va. Code 15.2-961.1. to allow local governments to establish a tree fund or tree bank, providing offsite options for developers unable to achieve the canopy replacement percentages onsite.

Assigned to Counties, Cities & Towns subcommittee Land Use.

This bill has a companion bill, SB1393.

 Contact information for legislative contacts, Loudoun representatives and the Natural Resource Committee Members for the House and Senate.

The post 2021 Virginia General Assembly: House Bills appeared first on Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy.