VA SB425

Requires cities with populations over 20,000 and counties over 100,000 to consider adopting an environmental justice strategy during comprehensive plan reviews, beginning July 1, 2026

Mandates identification of environmental justice communities and fenceline communities within local jurisdictions, along with major pollution sources and hazardous waste sites

Requires strategies to include objectives for reducing health risks in affected communities through pollution reduction, improved air and water quality, emergency management, and climate resilience measures

Directs localities to establish policies promoting civic engagement by environmental justice community members and prioritizing improvements such as broadband access, job training, healthy food access, public transit, and green infrastructure

Requires establishing baseline environmental and health conditions using existing public health data to characterize disproportionate health impacts in fenceline communities