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HB 237

Va. Coastal Resilience Master Plan; identifying areas where marshes may migrate in face of sea rise.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Alfonso Lopez and 1 co-sponsor

Virginia DCR must create comprehensive floodplain resilience categories integrating GIS data and wetlands mapping to improve flood risk assessment and planning.

Approved by Governor-Chapter 915 (effective 7/1/2026)
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Bill Summary · HB 237

Legislative bill overview

HB 237 directs Virginia's Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to develop comprehensive floodplain and flooding resilience categories that incorporate geographic information systems (GIS) data and wetlands mapping. The bill establishes standards for how the state classifies and manages flood-prone areas with enhanced environmental data integration.

Why is this important

As climate change increases extreme precipitation events and sea-level rise threatens coastal and inland communities, improved floodplain mapping and resilience planning directly affect property values, insurance costs, emergency preparedness, and development decisions. Better data integration helps municipalities make informed land-use decisions and allows residents to understand their actual flood risk more accurately.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs: Comprehensive GIS mapping and wetlands analysis requires significant state resources; unclear who funds ongoing maintenance and updates
  • Property owner concerns: Enhanced flood zone designations could restrict development rights, lower property values, or trigger higher insurance premiums for affected landowners
  • Regulatory scope: The bill's relationship to existing federal flood mapping (FEMA) and whether state classifications supersede or complement federal standards remains ambiguous

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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