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2024 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

Chair: David W. Marsden

Clerk: Michael Jackson,Ashleigh Hynst
Staff: Nathan Smith
Date of Meeting: February 16, 2024
Time and Place: 9:00 AM **Friday** / Senate Committee Room B (306) GAB
Update: Added:HB199,HB656,HB892,HB1085 / Removed:HB1403,HB1458

H.B. 47

Patron: Seibold

Invasive plant species; retail sales. Requires, for the retail sale of any invasive plant species on a list established by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, such plant be accompanied by conspicuous signage that identifies the plant as invasive and includes the words "Plant with caution: invasive plant species. May cause environmental harm. Ask about alternatives."

A BILL to amend and reenact § 10.1-104.6:2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to invasive plant species; retail sales.

24101355D

H.B. 71

Patron: Bulova

Combined sewer overflow outfalls; compliance with regulations; Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Extends from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026, the date by which certain combined sewer overflow (CSO) outfalls that discharge into the Chesapeake Bay Watershed must be in compliance with Virginia law, the federal Clean Water Act, and the Presumption Approach described in the EPA CSO Control Policy, unless a higher level of control is necessary to comply with a total maximum daily load.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 3 and 4 of Chapter 826 and §§ 3 and 4 of Chapter 827 of the Acts of Assembly of 2017, relating to combined sewer overflow outfalls; compliance with regulations; Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

24101008D

H.B. 199

Patron: Krizek

Virginia Brownfield and Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund and Program; allocation of funds. Removes the prohibition on the allocation of funds to the Virginia Brownfield and Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund and Program unless federal funds are available in an amount that would cover the entire cost of such an allocation.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 45.2-1725 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Virginia Brownfield and Coal Mine Renewable Energy Grant Fund and Program; allocation of funds.

24100640D

H.B. 220

Patron: Orrock

Water facilities; staffing; licensed operators. Requires sewage treatment works, classified waterworks, and classified water treatment facilities to employ a licensed operator. The bill establishes a protocol for responding to an unexpected vacancy of the licensed operator position. The bill also permits remote monitoring of the facility by the licensed operator upon a demonstration of sufficient technology for the remote operator to adequately monitor the waterworks or treatment facility and manage onsite operators.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 32.1-172.1 and by adding in Article 4 of Chapter 3.1 of Title 62.1 a section numbered 62.1-44.19:3.5, relating to water facilities; staffing; licensed operators.

24105932D

H.B. 330

Patron: Orrock

Financing of a dog or cat. Prohibits the financing of a dog or cat unless such financing complies with the provisions of state and federal law related to consumer credit.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 3.2-6513.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to financing of a dog or cat.

24106125D

H.B. 656

Patron: Wiley

Regulated land-disturbing activities; submission and approval of erosion and sediment control plan. Prohibits a person from engaging in any land-disturbing activity until, where Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit coverage is required, the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Program (VESCP) authority has obtained evidence of such permit coverage from the Department of Environmental Quality's online reporting system prior to issuing its land-disturbance approval. Current law requires the VESCP authority to obtain such evidence of VPDES permit coverage prior to approving an erosion and sediment control plan.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 62.1-44.15:55, as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to regulated land-disturbing activities; submission and approval of erosion and sediment control plan.

24102265D

H.B. 870

Patron: Bulova

Sewage sludge regulations; relief from administrative requirements; adverse and unusual weather events. Requires the State Water Control Board, with the assistance of the Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Department of Health, to adopt regulations that include procedures for addressing administrative, staging, signage, and additional on-site and alternative storage site requirements when routine and on-site storage facility capacity and holding times are anticipated to be exceeded for the purpose of protecting against the release of sewage sludge into state waters, and to account for increased intensity, frequency, and duration of storm events. The bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality to form a regulatory advisory panel consisting of certain stakeholders for the purpose of assisting the Board in developing the regulations as required by the bill.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 62.1-44.19:3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to sewage sludge regulations; relief from administrative requirements; adverse and unusual weather events.

24105015D

H.B. 892

Patron: Bulova

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Department of Forestry; Office of Farmland Preservation transferred. Transfers from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to the Department of Forestry the Office of Farmland Preservation and its powers and duties and reporting requirements, the Virginia Farm Link Program, the Century Farm Program, and the Virginia Farmland and Forestland Preservation Fund. The bill renames the Office as the Office of Working Lands Preservation. The bill makes technical amendments to effectuate the transfer. The bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality to annually provide certain information regarding nonpoint source nutrient credits to the Department of Forestry.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-1509.4, 3.2-102, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 10.1-1105.1, 46.2-749.102, and 58.1-512 of the Code of Virginia; to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 11 of Title 10.1 an article numbered 2.1, consisting of sections numbered 10.1-1119.2 through 10.1-1119.7; and to repeal Chapter 2 (§§ 3.2-200 through 3.2-205) of Title 3.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Department of Forestry; Office of Farmland Preservation transferred.

24104878D

H.B. 1025

Patron: Wilt

Claiming a deer, bear, turkey, or elk struck by motor vehicle. Allows any deer, bear, turkey, or elk that appears to have been killed in a collision with a motor vehicle to be claimed by and awarded to any person. Current law allows a deer or bear to only be claimed by and awarded to the driver of a motor vehicle who collides with such animal.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 29.1-539 of the Code of Virginia, relating to claiming deer, bear, turkey, or elk struck by motor vehicle.

24104241D

H.B. 1053

Patron: Knight

Destruction and disposal of abandoned watercraft by localities and state agencies. Allows localities and state agencies to apply, under certain conditions, to the Department of Wildlife Resources for an authorization to destroy and dispose of an abandoned watercraft.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 29.1-733.25 of the Code of Virginia, relating to destruction and disposal of abandoned watercraft by localities and state agencies.

24102298D

H.B. 1058

Patron: Hodges

Department of Wildlife Resources; singular license for waterfowl blinds in Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authorities. Requires the Department of Wildlife Resources to develop a singular license for all riparian stationary blinds issued to the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority and the Northern Neck Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority and to develop a fee schedule for such license.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 29.1-350.1, relating to Department of Wildlife Resources; singular license for waterfowl blinds in Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authorities.

24106331D

H.B. 1085

Patron: Rasoul

Department of Environmental Quality; PFAS; identification; monitoring; PFAS Expert Advisory Committee established; report. Requires, for every public water system, as defined in the bill, the Department of Health (VDH) to assist the Department of Environmental Quality (the Department) by transferring to the Department quarterly all validated monitoring results available to VDH that indicate PFAS MCL exceedances, as defined in the bill. In such circumstances, the Department is required to develop and implement a plan to prioritize and conduct PFAS assessments for identifying significant sources of PFAS in such public water system's raw water source or sources. The bill requires certain facilities, if deemed by the Department to be a potentially significant source of PFAS in the public water system's raw water source, (i) to perform and promptly report the results of quarterly discharge monitoring for one year and (ii) to report to the Department, within 90 days after being directed by the Department, its manufacture or use of PFAS. The bill establishes a PFAS Expert Advisory Committee to assist the Department and VDH in its PFAS-related efforts and requires the Committee to meet at least two times per year through June 30, 2027, and to annually report certain information to the Governor and the General Assembly by October 1. This bill incorporates HB 245.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 3.1 of Title 62.1 an article numbered 13, consisting of sections numbered 62.1-44.34:29 through 62.1-44.34:33, relating to Department of Environmental Quality; PFAS; identification; monitoring; PFAS Expert Advisory Council established; report.

24106954D