I completely agree with previous commenter who made the following statement: I am writing in strong support of HB256 and appreciate the General Assembly’s attention to the need for environmental justice to be meaningfully integrated into local planning decisions across Virginia. For far too long, low-income communities and communities of color have borne the greatest burden of pollution, environmental hazards, and underinvestment — often living closest to highways, industrial facilities, and aging infrastructure. These same neighborhoods frequently lack access to clean air and water, safe housing, reliable transportation, green space, and health-supporting resources. Yet historically, comprehensive planning processes have failed to adequately identify or address these inequities. HB256 is an important step toward changing that. By requiring localities to consider adopting an environmental justice strategy during comprehensive plan updates, this bill helps ensure that environmental health, community voice, and equitable investment are treated as core planning priorities — not afterthoughts. Identifying environmental justice and fenceline communities allows local governments to better understand where cumulative impacts exist and to plan intentionally to reduce health risks and close long-standing gaps. I especially support the bill’s emphasis on civic engagement and prioritizing improvements that directly benefit impacted communities, including clean air and water initiatives, climate resilience investments, accessible transportation, healthy housing, and expanded green space. When planning reflects lived experience, outcomes are stronger and public trust is improved. HB256 does not mandate a one-size-fits-all solution, but instead provides a framework for local governments to plan more responsibly, transparently, and equitably. I urge you to support this legislation and help ensure that Virginia’s growth and development does not continue to leave vulnerable communities behind.

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I fully support HB256 as written.

-We appreciate that this legislation encourages localities to identify major sources of pollution or hazardous waste sites within their jurisdiction, and to establish objectives and policies that reduce health risks in environmental justice and fenceline communities. -HB256 provides a tool for integrating data into the comprehensive planning process that may help localities develop strategies, such as improving water quality or increasing resilience to flooding, that reduce local health burdens, protect waterways, and meaningfully engage affected communities.

I am writing in strong support of HB256 and appreciate the General Assembly’s attention to the need for environmental justice to be meaningfully integrated into local planning decisions across Virginia. For far too long, low-income communities and communities of color have borne the greatest burden of pollution, environmental hazards, and underinvestment — often living closest to highways, industrial facilities, and aging infrastructure. These same neighborhoods frequently lack access to clean air and water, safe housing, reliable transportation, green space, and health-supporting resources. Yet historically, comprehensive planning processes have failed to adequately identify or address these inequities. HB256 is an important step toward changing that. By requiring localities to consider adopting an environmental justice strategy during comprehensive plan updates, this bill helps ensure that environmental health, community voice, and equitable investment are treated as core planning priorities — not afterthoughts. Identifying environmental justice and fenceline communities allows local governments to better understand where cumulative impacts exist and to plan intentionally to reduce health risks and close long-standing gaps. I especially support the bill’s emphasis on civic engagement and prioritizing improvements that directly benefit impacted communities, including clean air and water initiatives, climate resilience investments, accessible transportation, healthy housing, and expanded green space. When planning reflects lived experience, outcomes are stronger and public trust is improved. HB256 does not mandate a one-size-fits-all solution, but instead provides a framework for local governments to plan more responsibly, transparently, and equitably. I urge you to support this legislation and help ensure that Virginia’s growth and development does not continue to leave vulnerable communities behind.

Isn't that racist and against the current federal standards?

HB256 will require localities to think about environmental justice as they develop their comprehensive plan. I have engaged with the development of my city's comp plan and this makes a lot of sense. Incorporating environmental justice into planning can avoid problems before they get big and show that a locality values all its residents' health. Please pass HB256.

Comments Document

Written statement regarding a study conducted on Virginia's comprehensive plans in 2025 related to environmental justice and climate resilience planning. Thank you for considering the results of the study. Sincerely, Leslie Hoglund, PhD, MEd Associate Professor of Public Health Norfolk State University

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