2012 SESSION

Convened January 11, 2012
Adjourned sine die March 10, 2012
Reconvened April 18, 2012
Adjourned sine die April 18, 2012

AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND FOOD

(P) Passed (F) Failed (V) Vetoed (I) Incoporated into other legislation

(C) Carried over

Agricultural and forestal districts; adds James City County to list of counties authorized to create. Amending §§ 15.2-4402 and 15.2-4407. (Patron-Pogge, HB 371 (Chapter 419))

Agricultural animals; regulation of care and handling. Amending § 3.2-300; adding § 3.2-6503.2. (Patron-Black, SB 610 (C))

Bear hound training; allows training of dogs to hunt bears to occur from 4:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. Amending § 29.1-520. (Patron-Wilt, HB 95 (Chapter 226); Puckett, SB 147 (Chapter 69))

Beehive Grant Fund and Beehive Grant Program; created. Adding §§ 3.2-4415 and 3.2-4416. (Patron-Scott, E.T., HB 300 (Chapter 412); Deeds, SB 354 (Chapter 473))

Cats and dogs; requires veterinarians to keep records of devocalization procedures, etc., penalty. Amending § 3.2-6570; adding § 54.1-3812.2. (Patron-Hope, HB 158 (C))

Companion animals; notice to organizations of scheduled euthanizations. Amending § 3.2-6546. (Patron-Kory, HB 650 (F))

Companion animals, tethering of; allows any locality to regulate by ordinance. Amending § 3.2-6544. (Patron-Alexander, HB 888 (F))

Cool-season lawn and turf seed; permits sale of up to 15 months after completion of required germination test. Amending §§ 3.2-4000, 3.2-4008, and 3.2-4015. (Patron-Scott, E.T., HB 301 (Chapter 297))

Cottage food production operation; sales directly to consumers only. Amending §§ 3.2-5120 and 3.2-5130; adding § 3.2-5146. (Patron-Black, SB 221 (F))

Dangerous dog registry; changes procedure for registering. Amending §§ 3.2-6540 and 3.2-6542. (Patron-Orrock, HB 537 (Chapter 236); Blevins, SB 305 (Chapter 107))

Environmental laboratory certification program; exempts certain laboratories from application when testing to determine soil fertility, animal manure nutrient content, etc. Amending § 2.2-1105. (Patron-Scott, E.T., HB 302 (Chapter 753); Watkins, SB 52 (Chapter 99))

Farm stores; exempts stores that are owned and operated by farmer from State inspection. Amending § 3.2-5130. (Patron-Ransone, HB 998 (F))

Farm utility vehicles; allows locality to exempt from taxation those used exclusively for agricultural purposes. Amending § 58.1-3505. (Patron-Fariss, HB 743 (Chapter 272))

Farm vehicles; increases gross vehicle weight rating associated with exemption from registration for those used for agricultural and horticultural purposes only. Amending §§ 46.2-665, 46.2-666, and 46.2-670. (Patron-Cline, HB 746 (Chapter 174))

Farm vehicles; increases maximum distance vehicle may be driven on highway to obtain supplies and to transport farm produce or livestock. Amending §§ 46.2-665 and 46.2-666. (Patron-Fariss, HB 742 (F))

Food inspections; exempts private homes that process and prepare pickles, relishes, and salsas. Amending § 3.2-5130. (Patron-Habeeb, HB 46 (F))

Forestry, Department of; limits payments from timber sales to localities. Amending §§ 10.1-1107 and 10.1-1156. (Patron-Ransone, HB 995 (Chapter 248); Ruff, SB 428 (Chapter 197))

Forestry, Department of; use of methyl bromide gas fumigation. Amending § 10.1-1114. (Patron-Knight, HB 239 (Chapter 621); Watkins, SB 126 (Chapter 101))

Fox and coyote penning; Class 1 misdemeanor for purpose of hunting or killing with dogs. Adding § 29.1-525.2. (Patron-Plum, HB 695 (F); Marsden, SB 202 (C))

Genetically-engineered food; requirement to be labeled, penalty. Amending §§ 3.2-5120 and 3.2-5123. (Patron-Vogel, SB 606 (F))

Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund; established, report. Adding §§ 3.2-303 through 3.2-309. (Patron-Landes, HB 766 (Chapter 622); Stanley, SB 128 (Chapter 466))

Horse racing industry; joint subcommittee to study. (Patron-Scott, E.T., HJR 172 (F))

Invasive plants; Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services to adopt regulations to control. Amending §§ 3.2-800, 3.2-802, 3.2-804, and 3.2-805. (Patron-Hope, HB 396 (C))

Land preservation tax credit; increased for working farmers. Amending §§ 58.1-511 and 58.1-512. (Patron-Hanger, SB 403 (C))

Lawn maintenance fertilizer; when applied and results in application of nitrogen at rates consistent with nitrogen rates recommended for turf grass in Virginia Nutrient Management Standards and Criteria shall be offered for sale, etc., in State. Amending § 3.2-3607; adding § 10.1-104.2:1. (Patron-Lingamfelter, HB 1210 (Chapter 796))

Overweight permits; provides for issuance for operation of certain vehicles used for hauling farm animal feed. Adding § 46.2-1144.2. (Patron-Scott, E.T., HB 303 (F))

Protective orders; court may include provisions granting petitioner care, custody, and control of an animal. Amending §§ 16.1-253, 16.1-253.1, 16.1-253.4, 16.1-279.1, 19.2-152.8, 19.2-152.9, and 19.2-152.10. (Patron-McClellan, HB 363 (F))

Real estate tax; roll-back taxes shall not apply to property that loses its designation as devoted to agricultural or horticultural use, etc. Amending § 58.1-3237. (Patron-Orrock, HB 82 (C))

Special use permit; locality may require permit for storage or disposal of certain non-agricultural waste. Amending § 15.2-2288. (Patron-Hugo, HB 1076 (Chapter 455))

Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission; adds City of Petersburg as member. Amending § 3.2-3102. (Patron-Dance, HB 495 (F))

Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Fund; uses. Amending § 3.2-3108. (Patron-Cox, M.K., HB 1182 (Chapter 629))

Trap, Neuter, and Return programs; permits operation of formal program relating to feral cats, exempts participants from notification by individuals finding companion animals. Amending §§ 3.2-6500 and 3.2-6551; adding § 3.2-6504.1. (Patron-Deeds, SB 359 (F))