Legislative Issues

The 2026 General Assembly Session will convene on January 14, 2026 and adjourn on March 14, 2026.

February 22, was Budget Sunday, and both the Virginia Senate and the House of Delegates unveiled the amendments made by the respective Chambers to outgoing Governor Youngkin’s introduced biennium budget. Review the budget amendment spreadsheet below to see a side by side comparison of SWCD funding priorities. In the final days of the 2026 Session, the House and the Senate will now work to reconcile the differences between the two budget bills – including the differences in our primary issues of VACS, VCAP and dam rehab funding. As these bills go into conference under the leadership of respective subcommittee chairs, we will continue to monitor and share the progress towards the final budget bill that will be delivered to the Governor at the end of this Session.

The VASWCD is encouraging you to choose a date to visit with your local legislators and connect with the VASWCD to organize a personalized legislative day. Contact Kendall Tyree, Executive Director to organize your own personal legislative outreach experience at the GA. Access email and phone number information for legislators on the Virginia General Assembly website.

Send an email to your legislator highlighting your district work and our legislative agenda priorities to include – admin/ops funding, agriculture best management cost share support, restoration of VCAP cost share and additional funds for TA, environmental education, septic and major dam rehab. Please copy your VASWCD Executive Director on emails you may send to legislators. VASWCD staff will connect in person then with your representative as follow up to discuss these needs and highlight the work within your district. If you need support in crafting an email to send please let staff know and we will share a template.

It is important your voice is heard. The VASWCD is willing to assist with local SWCD outreach including the organization of zoom meetings or a local legislative tour. Uncertain who represents your area, check out the “Who’s Your Legislator“ tool for reference of elected officials by SWCD/locality. 

The following VASWCD legislative items are also of importance:

  • 2026 Legislative Agenda – As approved by members at the VASWCD Annual membership meeting on December 9, 2025 and to be used in advocating district needs. Use this as for talking points of key issues with your legislators. 
  • 2026 Legislative Handouts on SWCD Program Impacts: Check back to find additional talking points and ideal documents to leave behind/share with a legislator.
    • Restore VCAP Funding – Impact Handout – Use this as a leave behind with legislators to share impact of the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP) and it’s program efforts. Request support of VCAP budget amendments that provide financial, technical and education support to property owners installing small-scale stormwater best management practices. These BMPs help mitigate erosion, poor drainage, or standing water on properties while reducing nutrients to Virginia’s waterways and supporting Chesapeake Bay model efforts. Use this preset webpage tool to craft your own email about VCAP funding needs and impact to send directly to money committee members – https://vaswcd.org/help-support-vcap/. 
    • 2025 VASWCD Annual Report – Use this as a leave behind with legislators to share the general work and impact of the Virginia Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts and its Educational Foundation.
  • Policy Book – As approved with edits by the full membership on December 9, 2025. Policies are approved every three years. 
  • General Assembly Updates (PPT 2.6.26)– These slides provide a summary and impact of budget and bills of interest to VASWCD. Contact VASWCD staff if you have any questions or if there are additional pieces of legislation you wish tracked. View video recording here https://youtu.be/zTnD8dgsRsg. 
  • Contact your Legislator – Now is the time to contact Delegates and Senators who are considering priority investments in Virginia’s soil and water district needs. Don’t know your legislator visit – Who’s My Legislator to map your representative. The proposed state budget released on December 17, 2025 provides for VACS funding of nearly $280 million. It also eliminates VCAP funding beginning July 1, 2026 and claws back $25 million for SWCD major dam rehab needs. Easy copy-and-paste messages for you to consider sharing with your legislator may be posted here during session.
  • Budget Amendments (updated 2.25.26) pursued by VASWCD in support of VASWCD Legislative Agenda and that may impact SWCDs are available for review in the General Assembly Tracking Report spreadsheet. February 22, was Budget Sunday, and both the Virginia Senate and the House of Delegates unveiled the amendments made by the respective Chambers to outgoing Governor Youngkin’s introduced biennium budget. Overall we support the funding levels as demonstrated in the Senate version of the budget bill and will be advocating on these issues to conference committee members. In regards to our top priorities, as reflected in the above spreadsheet,
    • The House removed $36.2 million in ag cost share, leaving a gap now of an estimated $44.7 million to meet the Ag Needs Assessment level.The Senate retained funding for the Virginia Ag Cost Share (VACS) program as per the introduced budget yet a gap of $8.2 million remains in meeting the Ag Needs Assessment in year one of the biennium. Neither chamber provided funds in y ear two of the budget for Ag Cost Share outside of the $10 million allocated by the Recordation Fee.
    • VCAP was funded at $2 million in year one of the biennium in the House while in the Senate it received the requested $8 million.
    • The cap on the WQIF reserve was removed in the House budget but remains in the Senate version of the budget. This language change is one we hope prevails also in the final budget.
    • Dam rehab funds for high hazard repairs of SWCD dams was restored in the Senate at $25 million. These dollars were clawed back in the Governor’s proposed budget. The House did not restore these funds. This leaves SWCDs liable for high hazard dams that cannot be repaired without state funding support and will fail to be in compliance with regulation.

The VASWCD is also a member of VirginiaForever, a unique, diverse coalition of businesses, environmental organizations, and outdoor enthusiasts that advocates for increased government funding for water quality improvements and land conservation across the Commonwealth – including SWCD efforts. It is the only statewide organization that has a primary focus on increasing funding for natural resources protection.

We encourage SWCDs to review materials from the following zoom sessions held recently to help inform about session and budget expectations. If you are interested in joining the Legislative Committee please contact Kendall.Tyree@vaswcd.org.

  • Legislative Training: Understanding the Legislative Process, the Work of your VASWCD & the SWCD Role and Impact. Additional material: Tips on Effectively Working with Congress (government relations/lobbying) by John Peterson, VASWCD Legislative Committee Co-Chairman

These legislative reports relating to SWCD funding and the organization of water quality programs are of importance:

  • Preliminary Report of the Chapters 735 and 736 (2023) Stakeholder Advisory Group – Published January 2024 – Section 62.1-44.119:2 of the Code of Virginia directs the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry and the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources to convene a stakeholder advisory group (of which the VASWCD serves) that reviews “annual progress and make recommendations towards the implementation of the Commonwealth’s agricultural commitments” in the Phase III Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP).
  • Chesapeake Bay Commission Technical Assistance Report – The report details the importance of technical assistance and the need for improved support and funding.
  • Chesapeake Bay and Virginia Waters Clean-Up Plan Report – The report in Chapter 4 encompasses the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s report of “Annual Funding Needs for Effective Implementation of Agricultural Best Management Practices” pursuant to subsection C of §10.1-2128.1 of the Code of Virginia. This report also satisfies reporting requirements in §2.2-220.1 of the Code of Virginia regarding the Chesapeake Bay 2000 Agreement.
  • 2013 Virginia Soil & Water Conservation District Funding Study

Additional Information, bookmark these websites to quickly access legislation and General Assembly contact info: