Virginia 2024 Regular Session Status: Enacted

HB 85 — Mineral mining and processing; use of cyanide or a cyanide compound prohibited.

Last action — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0135)

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced December 28, 2023. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on March 26, 2024.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 80% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 13 sponsors

    1 primary, 12 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 6 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Mineral mining and processing; use of cyanideor a cyanide compound prohibited. Prohibits any miner or otherperson from using cyanide or a cyanide compound in any mineral miningor processing operation.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

18 added · 19 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendment to Bill HB 85 makes it explicitly illegal for any miner to use cyanide or cyanide compounds in mineral mining and processing operations. This change is significant because cyanide can be extremely toxic and poses serious environmental and health risks. By prohibiting its use, the law aims to enhance safety standards in mining practices and protect natural resources in Virginia.

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Latest
SESSION ENROLLED VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY –– CHAPTER E An Act to amend and reenact § 45.2-1105 of the Code of Virginia, relating to mineral mining andN processing;
VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- 2024 SESSION CHAPTER 135 An Act to amend and reenact § 45.2-1105 of the Code of Virginia, relating to mineral mining and processing;
R [H 85] O Approved L L 1.
[H 85] Approved March 26, 2024 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1.
E § 45.2-1105.
§ 45.2-1105.
No miner or other person shall (i) knowingly damage any shaft, lamp, instrument, air course, or the prescription of a licensed physician;
No miner or other person shall (i) knowingly damage any shaft, lamp, instrument, air course, or brattice or obstruct any airway;
(ii) carry in a mine any intoxicating liquors or controlled drugs without the prescription of a licensed physician;
(vi) use cyanide or a cyanide compound in any mineral Act.ng or processing operation;
(vi) use cyanide or a cyanide compound in any mineral mining or processing operation;
or (vi) (vii) disobey any order issued pursuant to the provisions of the B.
or (vi) (vii) disobey any order issued pursuant to the provisions of the Act.
Each miner at any mine shall comply fully with the provisions of the Act and other miningHlaws of the Commonwealth, including regulations adopted by the Department, that pertain to his dutie8.
B.
E R
Each miner at any mine shall comply fully with the provisions of the Act and other mining laws of the Commonwealth, including regulations adopted by the Department, that pertain to his duties.
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Action History

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0135)

  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 135 (effective 7/1/24)

  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024

  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024

  5. Signed by President

  6. Signed by Speaker

  7. Impact statement from DPB (HB85ER)

  8. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB85ER)

  9. Enrolled

  10. Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)

  11. Read third time

  12. Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)

  13. Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (15-Y 0-N)

  14. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

  15. Constitutional reading dispensed

  16. VOTE: Block Vote Passage (100-Y 0-N)

  17. Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (100-Y 0-N)

  18. Read second time and engrossed

  19. Read first time

  20. Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N)

  21. Impact statement from DPB (HB85)

  22. Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)

  23. Assigned ACNR sub: Natural Resources

  24. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

  25. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101899D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 12 co-sponsors · 135 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (12)

Not signed on (135)

135 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 135 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)

Passed 39 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 39001
Total 39001
% of votes cast 98%0%0%3%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ebbin, Adam P. — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Yea
Hashmi, Ghazala F. — Yea
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Not Voting
McGuire, John J., III — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
T. Travis Hackworth — Yea
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Yea
Timmy French — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)

Passed 40 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 40000
Total 40000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ebbin, Adam P. — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Yea
Hashmi, Ghazala F. — Yea
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
McGuire, John J., III — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
T. Travis Hackworth — Yea
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Yea
Timmy French — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (15-Y 0-N)

Passed 15 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 15000
Total 15000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Hashmi, Ghazala F. — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Russet Perry — Yea
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
T. Travis Hackworth — Yea
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Yea
Timmy French — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

VOTE: Block Vote Passage (100-Y 0-N)

Passed 99 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 99000
Total 99000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Anne Ferrell Tata — Yea
Arnold, Jonathan, E. P. — Yea
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Batten, Amanda E. — Yea
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Yea
Bonita G. Anthony — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
Bulova, David L. — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Yea
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Yea
Cordoza, A.C. — Yea
Coyner, Carrie E. — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Delores Oates — Yea
Earley, Mark L., Jr. — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Yea
Ennis, N. Baxter — Yea
Eric Phillips — Yea
Eric R. Zehr — Yea
Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. — Yea
Freitas, Nicholas J. — Yea
Gilbert, C. Todd — Yea
Green, W. Chad — Yea
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Yea
Higgins, Geary — Yea
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Yea
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Yea
James W. Morefield — Yea
Jason S. Ballard — Yea
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Yea
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Kannan Srinivasan — Yea
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Kent, Hillary Pugh — Yea
Knight, Barry D. — Yea
Laura Jane Cohen — Yea
LeVere Bolling, Destiny — Yea
Lovejoy, Ian T. — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Yea
Maldonado, Michelle Lopes — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Yea
Marty Martinez — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Jones — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Yea
Mike A. Cherry — Yea
Milde, Paul V. — Yea
Mundon King, Candi — Yea
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Obenshain, Chris — Yea
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. — Yea
Owen, David — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
Phillip A. Scott — Yea
R. Lee Ware — Yea
Rae Cousins — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Yea
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Rozia A. Henson, Jr. — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Yea
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Sickles, Mark D. — Yea
Taylor, Kim A. — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Yea
Terry L. Austin — Yea
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Yea
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Yea
Timothy P. Griffin — Yea
Tony O. Wilt — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Yea
Will Davis — Yea
Wren M. Williams — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N)

Passed 22 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 22000
Total 22000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Bulova, David L. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. — Yea
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Kent, Hillary Pugh — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Yea
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
R. Lee Ware — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Yea
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Yea
Tony O. Wilt — Yea

Official roll call →

Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)

Passed 10 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 10001
Total 10001
% of votes cast 91%0%0%9%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
Alfonso H. Lopez — Not Voting
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Yea
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
R. Lee Ware — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Yea
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

environment
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 85 do?
Mineral mining and processing; use of cyanideor a cyanide compound prohibited. Prohibits any miner or otherperson from using cyanide or a cyanide compound in any mineral miningor processing operation.
Who sponsors HB 85?
HB 85 is sponsored by Shelly A. Simonds, Nadarius E. Clark, Debra D. Gardner, Rozia A. Henson, Jr., Amy J. Laufer, Alfonso H. Lopez, Marty Martinez, Sam Rasoul, David A. Reid, Irene Shin, Marcus B. Simon, Michelle Lopes Maldonado, and Green, W. Chad.
What is the current status of HB 85?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced December 28, 2023. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 85?
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