Photo: Wind turbines and Blackbirds, Jessie Brantwein
In the 2020 session of the Virginia General Assembly, legislators passed several important conservation bills. A terrific source of information on the status of conservation-related legislation is the VCN Bill Tracker, which is maintained by the Virginia Conservation Network .
The 2020 session adjourned, but Governor Ralph Northam can still act on bills sent to him for signature, and the legislature can reconvene to respond to his actions. In light of the coronavirus risk, there have been media reports that the legislature may reconvene to address the state’s response and the budget. The Governor has until April 6 to approve a bill, send it back with recommended changes, veto it or allow it to be enacted without taking any action. The legislature reconvenes on April 22 to respond to the Governor’s action.
Waiting for the Governor’s Action:
Clean Energy Economy Act: The bill replaces the existing voluntary renewal energy portfolio system goals with mandatory goals requiring utilities and supplier to produce energy from 100 percent renewable sources by 2045. A final version that resolves the differences between the Senate and House versions was sent to the Governor for signature. (See ASNV’s Letter in support of the bill here.)
Bills Signed:
Drones: ASNV is happy to report that the Governor has already signed the bill allowing local jurisdictions to regulate take-off and landing of private drones from or to property owned by the local government, such as park land. The General Assembly in 2019 passed a bill to limit local governments’ authority, even when drones could harass or endanger wildlife such as nesting eagles. This new law reverses that law. The Virginia Department of Aviation will adopt rules and regulations to govern those local restrictions by January 1, 2021, in consultation with stakeholders.
Wildlife Corridors: The Governor has also signed the bill to encourage development of wildlife corridors to connect fragmented wildlife habits separated by human activities such as roads. The new law requires several agencies, including the Department of Inland Game and Fisheries, to develop a plan identifying areas separated by human activities and recommend wildlife crossing projects to promote driver safety and wildlife connectivity.
Bills Continued:
TNR of Unowned Cats: ASNV also reported earlier that the House of Delegates Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources committee “continued” H.B. 1727, a bill to legalize the release of unowned cats into the environment if they have been neutered and inoculated once for rabies. Under current law, that action is an illegal abandonment. Because the bill was “continued,” a relevant committee can act on it before the end of 2020, possibly sending it to the House of Delegates for consideration in the 2021 session. ASNV will continue to promote keeping cats indoors.