A bill sponsored by Virginia state Del. Alfonso H. Lopez seeks to expand nutrient credit usage opportunities for regulated organizations while upholding existing water quality safeguards. The measure proposes additional flexibility for compliance, as described by the Virginia State House.
HB952, introduced Jan. 14, 2026, for the 2026 regular session, formally targets the “Chesapeake Bay Watershed Nutrient Credit Exchange Program; certain industrial stormwater permittees.”
The outline below draws directly from the introduced bill text and incorporates clarifying interpretation where needed.
HB952 would update Virginia’s nutrient credit policies to broaden access for covered parties needing to meet nitrogen and phosphorus discharge limits, maintaining local water quality safeguards. If enacted, it would permit municipal storm sewer (MS4) system operators, select construction stormwater permittees, confined animal feeding operations, and specific industrial stormwater or VPDES sites to buy, use, and transfer credits under detailed requirements regarding timing, certification, type, and location. MS4s could partner to achieve group allocations using a shared plan; all compliance plans must be publicly disclosed. The proposal additionally affirms that using credits cannot curtail state authority to set tougher limits to protect local waterways if necessary.
The bill is shepherded by Rep. Alfonso H. Lopez (D-3rd District) together with Rep. Chris S. Runion (R-35th District).
Lopez has introduced 21 additional bills since the session began.
His academic background includes a BA from Vassar College (1992) and a JD from Tulane University (1995).
Elected in 2024, Lopez, a Democrat, represents Virginia’s 3rd House district, succeeding Will Morefield.
In Virginia, the bill lawmaking process begins with introduction in either the House of Delegates or Senate. After assignment to a committee for deliberation and potential revision, it goes to both chambers for debate and votes. If passed in both houses, it proceeds to the governor, who may sign, veto or allow the bill to become law without signing. Each regular legislative session starts the second Monday in January; lawmakers introduce several hundred bills each time, but not all bills become law.
| Patron(s) | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alfonso H. Lopez and Chris S. Runion | HB952 | 01/14/2026 | Chesapeake Bay Watershed Nutrient Credit Exchange Program; certain industrial stormwater permittees. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez and Virgil Thornton | HB237 | 01/14/2026 | Va. Coastal Resilience Master Plan; identifying areas where marshes may migrate in face of sea rise. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez, Adele Y. McClure, Betsy B. Carr, Destiny LeVere Bolling, Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Irene Shin, Karen Keys-Gamarra, Kathy K.L. Tran, Kimberly Pope Adams, Leslie Chambers Mehta, Marcia S. “Cia” Price, Phil M. Hernandez, Rae Cousins, and Rozia A. Henson, Jr. | HB238 | 01/14/2026 | Minimum wage and overtime wages; payment, definitions, misclassification of workers, civil actions. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez, Kathy K.L. Tran, Rae Cousins, and Virgil Thornton | HB338 | 01/14/2026 | Building Service employees; authority of local governments, definition. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez, Adele Y. McClure, Destiny LeVere Bolling, Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Irene Shin, Karen Keys-Gamarra, Kathy K.L. Tran, Marcia S. “Cia” Price, Michelle Lopes Maldonado, Phil M. Hernandez, and Rae Cousins | HB339 | 01/14/2026 | Employee protections; wage and hour, health and safety, and mining safety provisions. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez | HB902 | 01/14/2026 | Financial institutions; out-of-state credit unions. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez | HB905 | 01/14/2026 | Persons other than ministers who may perform rites of marriage; clerk may issue order. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez | HB908 | 01/14/2026 | Towing advisory boards; changes membership. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez, Atoosa R. Reaser, Irene Shin, Kannan Srinivasan, Kathy K.L. Tran, Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler, Rae Cousins, and Saddam Azlan Salim | HB911 | 01/14/2026 | Limited-duration licenses, driver privilege cards, and permits; validity periods for documents. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez, Alex Q. Askew, and Betsy B. Carr | HB913 | 01/14/2026 | Public Instruction, Superintendent of; reverse certain recent actions, etc. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez | HB914 | 01/14/2026 | Local Environmental Impact Fund; created. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez, Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Bonita G. Anthony, and Michelle Lopes Maldonado | HB915 | 01/14/2026 | Local taxation; tax extension for federal government shutdown. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez, Jackie H. Glass, Nadarius E. Clark, and Dan I. Helmer | HB916 | 01/14/2026 | Concealed handgun permit; demonstrated competence, effective clause. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez | HB919 | 01/14/2026 | Retail Sales and Use Tax; impose firearm and ammunition tax. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez and Barbara A. Favola | HB921 | 01/14/2026 | Electric utilities; licensed retail suppliers, renewable portfolio standard requirements. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez | HB922 | 01/14/2026 | County manager plan of government; affordable dwelling unit ordinance. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez | HB925 | 01/14/2026 | Virginia Human Rights Act; unlawful discriminatory practices, civil actions, statute of limitations. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez | HB926 | 01/14/2026 | Outdoor shooting of firearm on property without reasonable care; prohibition, penalty. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez | HB935 | 01/14/2026 | Virginia Clean Energy and Battery Storage Promotion Program; established, report. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez | HB949 | 01/14/2026 | Covenants not to compete; exceptions, civil penalty. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez | HB950 | 01/14/2026 | Unmanned aircraft systems; use by public bodies, search warrant required, exceptions. |
| Alfonso H. Lopez | HB951 | 01/14/2026 | Housing and Community Development, Board of; ad hoc committees. |
