SEARCH SITE
VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL
- Code of Virginia
- Virginia Administrative Code
- Constitution of Virginia
- Charters
- Authorities
- Compacts
- Uncodified Acts
- RIS Users (account required)
SEARCHABLE DATABASES
- Bills & Resolutions
session legislation - Bill Summaries
session summaries - Reports to the General Assembly
House and Senate documents - Legislative Liaisons
State agency contacts
ACROSS SESSIONS
- Subject Index: Since 1995
- Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
- Summaries: Since 1994
Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
2024 SESSION
24105427DBe it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 15.2-2223.6 as follows:
§ 15.2-2223.6. Comprehensive plan; healthy communities strategy.
A. Beginning July 1, 2024, a locality may, during the next scheduled and all subsequent reviews of its comprehensive plan, as required in § 15.2-2230, consider adopting a healthy communities strategy that meets the requirements of this section.
B. The healthy communities strategy may include:
1. Identifying major sources of pollution or hazardous waste sites within the locality's jurisdiction, on the basis of data from any federal, state, or local environmental agency or health department;
2. Identifying policies to mitigate the unique or compounded health risks to residents that may be caused by the pollution sources or hazardous waste sites identified pursuant to subdivision 1 by means that include the reduction of pollution exposure; the improvement of air and water quality; emergency management; resilience to increased flooding and excessive heat; and the promotion of public facilities, food access, safe and sanitary homes, and physical activity;
3. Identifying objectives and policies to promote civic engagement in public decision-making processes by residents;
4. Identifying objectives and policies that prioritize improvements and programs that promote healthy communities, including affordable broadband Internet access, job training, access to healthy foods, access to aging in place assistance, equitable access to public parks and greenways, increased tree canopy, public transit services, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, electric vehicle charging, and other clean transportation options; and
5. Identifying objectives and policies that encourage linking public transit with community and health services and siting or co-locating health services in unconventional settings to ensure convenient access for all community members.