| Member Login
VA AWWA logo
VA AWWA
VA AWWA logo
  • ABOUT US
    • Our Organization
    • Section Leadership
    • Corporate Sponsors
  • TRAINING & EVENTS
  • COMMITTEES
    • Customer Service
    • Distribution System
    • Diversity Equity and Inclusion
    • Drinking Water Quality and Research
    • Education
    • Information Technology
    • Lab Practices
    • Leadership Academy
    • Membership Engagement
    • Plant Operations
    • Publications
    • Safety
    • Strategic Planning
    • Student Activities
    • Sustainable Utilities
    • Utility Management
      • Utility Management Committee
      • Small Community Utilities
      • One Water
    • WARN
    • Water Awareness and Outreach
    • Water for People
    • Water Reach
    • Water Resources & Environment
    • Water Utility
    • WaterJAM
    • Work for Water
    • Young Professionals
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Value of Membership
    • Get Started with VA AWWA
    • Splash into Rewards
    • Awards
    • Join a Committee
    • Submit an Article
    • Scholarships
  • RESOURCES
    • Diversity Equity and Inclusion
    • Career Center
    • Communication Archives
    • Legislative and Regulatory Updates
    • Small Water Systems
    • WARN
    • Drinking Water Week
    • Committee Leadership Resources
  • CONTACT US
  • JOIN AWWA

Legislative and Regulatory Updates

 
 
Virginia Legislative Tracking Summary
 
With the 2022 Legislative year beginning, the Water Utility Committee has posted bills below for your information and review. 
 
The bills listed below are specific to Drinking Water and Water Utilities.  A complete list of bills involving groundwater, wastewater, stormwater, etc., download the weekly report.   
 
 
Note:  Descriptions summarize bills as introduced. Due to amendments throughout the legislative session, the substance of the bill following the introduction may differ from the summary description. Please refer to the bill text for current provisions. Links are provided for your convenience. 
HB 548 (Hayes) City of Chesapeake; local government authority to require analysis of water
Posted on Jan 13, 2022
Adds the City of Chesapeake to the list of localities that may establish reasonable testing requirements to determine compliance with existing federal or state drinking water quality standards and require that such testing be done prior to the issuance of building permits.
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+HB548
Read more...
HB 919 (Orrock) Board of Health; regulations; maximum contaminant levels in water supplies and waterworks; effective date
Posted on Jan 13, 2022
Provides that the regulations that the Board of Health is required to adopt under current law establishing maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in all water supplies and waterworks in the Commonwealth for (i) perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorooctane sulfonate, and such other perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances as the Board deems necessary, (ii) chromium-6, and (iii) 1,4-dioxane shall become effective on or after July 1, 2025.
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+HB919
Read more...
HB 1297 (Webert) Comprehensive water supply planning process
Directs the SWCB to consider existing interjurisdictional arrangements in designating comprehensive water supply regional planning areas and to provide a mechanism for a locality to request a change of its designated regional planning area to an adjoining planning area. https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+HB1297
Read more...
SB 53 (Cosgrove) City of Chesapeake; local government authority to require analysis of water
Adds the City of Chesapeake to the list of localities that may establish reasonable testing requirements to determine compliance with existing federal or state drinking water quality standards and require that such testing be done prior to the issuance of building permits.
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+SB53
Read more...
HB 1011 (Guzman) Commissioner of Health; study of the occurrence of PFOA, PFOS, PFBA, PFHpA, PFHxS, PFNA, and other PFAS in the Commonwealth's public drinking water; report
Posted on Jan 13, 2022
Directs the Commissioner of Health to convene a work group to study the occurrence of PFAS, including PFOA, PFOS, PFBA, PFHpA, PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, PFHxA, PFPeA, and PFBS, in drinking water in the Commonwealth. The work group shall report its findings and recommendations by December 1, 2023.
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+HB1011
Read more...
HB 1200 (Ware) Landfill siting; proximity to private wells
Prohibits the siting of a new municipal solid waste landfill within one mile upgradient of any existing private well. https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=221&typ=bil&val=hb1200
 
Read more...
HB 182 (Bloxom) Investor-owned water and water and sewer utilities; ratemaking proceedings
Posted on Jan 13, 2022
Requires the SCC, in any ratemaking proceeding for an investor-owned utility authorized to furnish water or water and sewer service initiated after January 1, 2022, to evaluate such utility on a stand-alone basis and, for purposes of establishing any revenue requirement and rates, utilize such utility's actual end-of-test period capital structure and cost of capital without regard to the cost of capital, capital structure, or investments of any other entities with which such utility may be affiliated. Requires SCC, in all proceedings initiated after January 1, 2022, in which SCC reviews the rates and associated earnings of an investor-owned utility authorized to furnish water or water and sewer service, to conduct such review utilizing the same cost of capital and capital structure adopted in the utility's most recent rate case in which such rates were set, without regard to later changes in the cost of capital or capital structure.
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+HB182
Read more...
SB 52 (Cosgrove) Pro rata reimbursements for installation of certain utilities
Posted on Jan 13, 2022
Requires localities that adopt subdivision ordinances that permit subdividers or developers to install certain utilities to provide within that ordinance the subdivider's or developer's entitlement to pro rata reimbursement for costs of such installations. Under current law, localities are permitted to provide such entitlement but are not required to do so.
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+SB52
Read more...
SB 500 (Lewis) Investor-owned water and water and sewer utilities; ratemaking proceedings
Requires the State Corporation Commission, in any ratemaking proceeding for an investor-owned utility authorized to furnish water or water and sewer service initiated after January 1, 2022, to evaluate such utility on a stand-alone basis and, for purposes of establishing any revenue requirement and rates, utilize such utility's actual end-of-test period capital structure and cost of capital without regard to the cost of capital, capital structure, or investments of any other entities with which such utility may be affiliated.
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+SB500
Read more...
HB 664 (Kory) Public utilities; delay of termination of service; serious medical condition; report
 
Posted on Jan 13, 2022
Requires the SCC to establish by regulation exemptions to termination of service by a public utility that provides electric, gas, water, and wastewater services for certain customers. The bill requires such regulations to require a public utility to delay termination of service for any residential customer (i) who has not filed a serious medical condition form with the public utility for 15 calendar days, upon oral or written notification from the residential customer that such customer or a family member residing with the customer has a serious medical condition; for such customers, the utility shall delay disconnection for at least 60 calendar days upon receiving a serious medical condition form during the 15-day period; (ii) who has filed a serious medical condition form with the public utility; for at least 60 days beyond the expiration of any required notice; (iii) who is experiencing financial hardship and whose serious medical condition will last beyond the 60-calendar-delay period described in clause (ii); for such customers, the utility shall work to establish a payment plan and make all due effort to avoid service termination; or (iv) who certifies to the utility that the customer's household includes primary  residents who are not younger than 65 years of age, not older than 12 months of age, or have a disability; for minimum of 60 calendar days beyond expiration of notice. 
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+HB664
Read more...
HB 841 (Lopez) Disaster or emergency; disconnection prohibitions for certain utilities
Prohibits electric, gas, water, and wastewater utilities from disconnecting service to a residential customer for nonpayment of bills or fees during a declared state of emergency, emergency, major disaster, disaster, resource shortage, or local emergency, as those terms are defined in the Code. The prohibition lasts for 60 days after the state of emergency, emergency, major disaster, disaster, resource shortage, or local emergency has ended, or state or local officials determine that the prohibition need no longer be in place.
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+HB841
Read more...
HB 1052 (Shin) Broadband providers and public utilities; late payment fees restricted
Prohibits a broadband provider or a public utility from charging (i) a residential customer a late payment fee or similar penalty that exceeds the lesser of 2.5 percent of the balance due or $5 or (ii) any interest on a residential customer's outstanding balance. The bill provides that "public utility" includes utilities that are not subject to the jurisdiction of the SCC and that provide electric, gas, or water or wastewater service in the Commonwealth.
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+HB1052
Read more...
HB 1054 (Shin) Disaster or emergency; weather extremes; disconnection prohibitions for
certain utilities; residential customers; report
Posted on Jan 13, 2022
Prohibits telecommunications electric, gas, water, and wastewater utilities and broadband companies from disconnecting service to a residential customer for nonpayment of bills or fees during a declared state of emergency, emergency, major disaster, disaster, resource shortage, or local emergency, as those terms are defined in the Code. The bill provides that the prohibition lasts for 60 days after the state of emergency, emergency, major disaster, disaster, resource shortage, or local emergency has ended, or state or local officials determine that the prohibition need no longer be in place, whichever occurs first. The bill further prohibits electric, gas, water, or wastewater utilities from disconnecting service to a residential customer for nonpayment of bills or fees during the heating period of each year, during the cooling period of each year, when the forecasted temperature low is below 32º Fahrenheit or the forecasted temperature high is to exceed 95 º Fahrenheit, and during, as declared by the National Weather Service, a winter storm watch or warning, winter weather advisory, freeze warning, heat advisory, or excessive heat watch or warning. Prior to disconnecting a residential customer for the repayment of bills, the utility shall apply any available resources to help reduce the customer's debt or enroll the customer in a repayment plan.
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+HB1054
Read more...
HB 1288 (Hudson) Public utilities; rate review by the State Corporation Commission
Provides that in any annual rate review of a public utility by the State Corporation Commission, the Commission may find that the rates of a public utility, including an investor-owned incumbent electric utility, are not just and reasonable and may take corrective action. Under the bill, the Commission may conduct an investigation into the rates of any public utility on its own initiative or upon application by an affected party. Additionally, when capped rates of service for investor-owned incumbent electric utilities expire or terminate, the bill permits the Commission to find that the rates are not just and reasonable and take corrective action.
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+sum+HB1288
Read more...

KEY DATES for the 2022 General Assembly Session

Jan. 12 – Session convenes; pre-filed bill introduction deadline
Jan. 14 – Budget amendment and bill drafting request deadline (5pm)
Jan. 21 – Last day to introduce legislation (3pm)
Feb. 15 – Crossover deadline; beginning Feb. 16 each house may only consider the other’s bills
Feb. 20 – Money Committees Complete work on its own Budget Bill
Feb. 22 – Budget Amendments available by noon
Mar. 2 – Each house to complete work on other house’s Budget Bill and appoint conferees
Mar. 12 – Adjournment Sine Die
April 27 – Reconvened Session (“Veto Session”)

Virginia Regulatory Updates
 
With so much happening in the regulatory world, below are some highlights of actions and changes that Virginia Water Utilities might need to be aware of.  
 
January 10, 2022 - HB586 PFAS Study Report Released
 
January 5, 2022 - Governor-Elect Youngkin Announces Selection of Natural Resouces Secretary and Director of Environmental Quality
 
December 20, 2021 - Northam reverses decision to lay-off VDH-ODW Staff
 
December 16, 2021 - EPA Announces Intent to Strengthen Lead and Copper Regulations, Support Proactive Lead Service Line Removal Across the Country
 
 
<div>Virginia Regulatory Updates</div>
2022 Corporate Sponsorship
2022 Corporate Sponsorship
Dec 01, 2021 - Dec 31, 2022
Clean the Bay Day at First Landing State Park
Clean the Bay Day at First Landing State Park
Jun 04, 2022
First Landing State Park
Thoughtful Tuesday - Disability Inclusion Matters
Thoughtful Tuesday - Disability Inclusion Matters
Jun 07, 2022
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Virtual Event
Water for People - NOVA Hike
Water for People - NOVA Hike
Jun 18, 2022 11:00 AM
Wolf Trap Loop Trail - West Lot
VA AWWA Networking Event - Washington Nationals
VA AWWA Networking Event - Washington Nationals
Jun 18, 2022 4:35 PM
Nationals Park
Cybersecurity: The Ever-Changing Threat and Why Your Defenses Need to Adapt
Cybersecurity: The Ever-Changing Threat and Why Your Defenses Need to Adapt
Jun 22, 2022
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Online only
Cross Connection Devices: Inspection, Maintenance, and Testing- 40 Hours
Cross Connection Devices: Inspection, Maintenance, and Testing- 40 Hours
Jul 11, 2022 8:30 AM -
Jul 15, 2022 5:00 PM
Henrico County Water Treatment Plant
Annual Good Lab Practices Conference
Annual Good Lab Practices Conference
Jul 25, 2022 - Jul 26, 2022
Omni Charlottesville
Achieve and Maintain Compliance with the SDWA
Achieve and Maintain Compliance with the SDWA
Jul 28, 2022
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Paul D. Camp Community College: Workforce Development Center
Trending In An Instant: A Risk Communication Guide for Water Utilities
Trending In An Instant: A Risk Communication Guide for Water Utilities
Aug 09, 2022
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Online only
Save The Date! Webinar: LCRR Service Line Inventory Development
Save The Date! Webinar: LCRR Service Line Inventory Development
Aug 30, 2022
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Online only
WaterJAM 2022 - Our Water, Our Future
WaterJAM 2022 - Our Water, Our Future
Sep 12, 2022 - Sep 15, 2022
Virginia Beach Convention Center
Previous
Next
View More...
Sponsors
Timmons Group
McGill Associates
Ramboll
Arcadis
NewGen
Pollardwater
Stantec
Kennedy/Jenks Consultants Inc.
Ulliman Schutte Construction
AECOM
Ferguson
Dewberry
US Pipe and Foundry
HDR
Gannett Fleming, Inc.
Consolidated Pipe & Supply Company, Inc.
WR&A
Burns & McDonnell
Draper Aden Associates
AquaLaw
CDM Smith
Schnabel Engineering
Interested in being a sponsor?
Download the website sponsorship guide
        
 
Virginia Section American Water Works Association 
Social MediaRelated Links 
  PO Box 11992  |   Lynchburg, VA  24506   |    p. 434.386.3190   |   admin@vaawwa.org            vawarn.org 
   awwa.org 
  
© 2021 Virginia Section American Water Works Association. All rights reserved.
 drinktap.org 
      
Edit this page
Powered by MemberNova © 2002–2022  All rights reserved.
Privacy Statement | System Requirements