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HB 728

Health, State Board of; permanent pump and haul of sewage, agritourism

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Christie Craig and 1 co-sponsor

HB 728 empowers Virginia's State Board of Health to permanently regulate pump-and-haul sewage systems at agritourism farms, replacing temporary case-by-case approvals with standardized statewide rules.

Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB728)
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Bill Summary · HB 728

Legislative bill overview

HB 728 authorizes Virginia's State Board of Health to establish permanent regulations for "pump and haul" sewage systems serving agritourism facilities. Currently, such systems operate under temporary or case-by-case approval. The bill would create standardized, long-term permitting procedures for these decentralized waste management systems at farms offering tourism activities.

Why is this important

Agritourism operations (farm stays, vineyard events, agricultural conferences) generate seasonal or concentrated sewage loads that traditional septic systems may not handle adequately. Permanent regulations would provide legal clarity for farm operators planning infrastructure investments while ensuring public health and environmental protection standards are consistently applied across the state.

Potential points of contention

  • Environmental concerns: Permanent pump-and-haul systems require regular truck transport; opponents may worry about groundwater protection, nutrient loading in disposal areas, and whether permanent approval is appropriate for sensitive watersheds
  • Regulatory burden vs. rural flexibility: Farmers may resist standardized state regulations as restrictive, while environmental advocates could argue permanent approvals aren't rigorous enough compared to traditional sewage treatment
  • Cost allocation: Unclear who bears infrastructure and monitoring costs—individual operators, counties, or the state—which affects both agritourism profitability and taxpayer impact

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

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