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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 20, 2024
Time and Place: 30 mins. after adj. / Senate Room A (305) - GAB
Update:Added-HB62, 223, 580, 804, 848, 1354, 1531; Removed-HB1157

H.B. 62

Patron: Campbell

Animal Cruelty Conviction List established. Requires the Superintendent of State Police to establish no later than January 1, 2027, and to maintain the Animal Cruelty Conviction List and to make the List available to the public on the website of the Department of State Police. The bill specifies that the List include the names of persons convicted of certain felony animal cruelty offenses on or after July 1, 2024. The bill requires persons convicted of any such offense to pay a fee of $50 per conviction to fund the maintenance of the List. The bill also requires the Department to remove a person's name and information from the List 15 years after its listing if he has no additional felony conviction of any such offense.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 9 of Chapter 65 of Title 3.2 a section numbered 3.2-6573.1, relating to establishment of Animal Cruelty Conviction List.

24102944D

H.B. 84

Patron: Simonds

Mineral mining and exploration; public notification. Requires an explorer conducting any mineral exploration activities, as those terms are defined in the bill, prior to the start of such activities, to (i) publish a notice in a newspaper having a general circulation in the locality where the exploration activity will occur at least once a week for two successive weeks, (ii) notify the governing body of such locality at least 15 days in advance of such activity, and (iii) notify all individual residences and properties within 500 yards of the property lines where the exploration activity will take place at least 15 days in advance of such activity. The bill requires such notices to include certain information related to the exploration activity.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 45.2 a chapter numbered 13.1, consisting of sections numbered 45.2-1305 and 45.2-1306, relating to mineral mining and exploration; public notification.

24101898D

H.B. 85

Patron: Simonds

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

A BILL to amend and reenact § 45.2-1105 of the Code of Virginia, relating to mineral mining and processing; use of cyanide or a cyanide compound prohibited.

24101899D

H.B. 213

Patron: Watts

Emissions inspections; fees; agreement for services and service charge fees. Increases from $3,500 to $5,000 the amount the emissions inspection program coordinator may be paid per year from each motor vehicle emissions inspection station for the provision and maintenance of each set of required equipment. The bill also increases the maximum charge for an emissions inspection from $28 to $30 and allows emissions inspection stations and on-road emissions inspectors to charge a credit card service charge that does not exceed three percent of the emissions inspection fee and that is not included in the maximum amount that may be charged for the emissions inspection fee.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-1177.1 and 46.2-1182 of the Code of Virginia, relating to emissions inspections; fees; agreement for services and service charge fees.

24106136D

H.B. 223

Patron: Orrock

Cruelty to animals; possession and ownership of animals. Provides that any person convicted of felony cruelty to animals may be prohibited by the court from possession or ownership of animals for life and that any person convicted of misdemeanor cruelty to animals may be prohibited by the court from possession or ownership of animals for a period of up to five years. The bill provides that any person who violates such prohibition shall be punished for contempt of court, and the court shall order that any animal possessed or owned by such person may be disposed of by a local governing body or delivered to another person with a right of property in the animal. Under current law, such prohibition is limited to companion animals and a period equal to the statutory maximum period of incarceration.

The bill further provides that any person who has his rights to possession or ownership of companion or equine animals prohibited pursuant to a felony conviction may petition the court where such conviction occurred for a restoration of his rights after five years from the date of conviction.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 3.2-6570 of the Code of Virginia, relating to cruelty to animals; possession and ownership of companion or equine animals.

24106189D

H.B. 288

Patron: Wiley

Stationary blinds for waterfowl; providing location of blinds to Department of Wildlife Resources. Requires a person that is obtaining a waterfowl blind license, at the time of the transaction, to provide the unique location of each stationary waterfowl blind to the Department of Wildlife Resources, identified as standardized latitude and longitude coordinates, using the decimal degrees format with a minimum of five digit precision. The bill further requires the Department to publish such coordinates by November 1 of each year, excluding any customer personal information, on its website in a searchable, publicly accessible, and conspicuous manner. This bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025.

 A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 29.1-344 and 29.1-345 of the Code of Virginia, relating to stationary blinds for waterfowl; providing location of blinds to Department of Wildlife Resources.

24106866D

H.B. 320

Patron: Bulova

Pesticide control exemptions; herbicide applications by unpaid volunteers. Exempts from the provisions of state pesticide laws and regulations any unpaid volunteer who uses any nonrestricted herbicide with the express authorization of a local political subdivision for the sole purpose of controlling invasive plants or noxious weeds on properties owned by such local political subdivision. The bill provides that such unpaid volunteer shall use such herbicide under the direct supervision of a certified commercial applicator and the local political subdivision shall provide instruction by a certified commercial applicator to the unpaid volunteer prior to application on (i) the risks associated with the herbicide utilized, (ii) the proper use of equipment used to apply the herbicide, (iii) the proper use of personal protective equipment, (iv) other information to prevent an unreasonable adverse effect on the environment, and (v) any other information relevant to the specific herbicide utilized.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 3.2-3931 of the Code of Virginia, relating to pesticide control exemptions; herbicide applications by unpaid volunteers.

24104585D

H.B. 580

Patron: Simonds

Task Force on Transparency in Publicly Funded Animal Testing Facilities; report. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to convene a Task Force on Transparency in Publicly Funded Animal Testing Facilities, consisting of legislators and stakeholders, for the purpose of identifying potential deficiencies in publicly funded animal testing facilities in the Commonwealth and recommending methods and context for making certain information about such animal testing facilities publicly available. The bill requires the Task Force to report its findings to certain committees of the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2024.

 A BILL to direct the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to convene the Task Force on Transparency in Publicly Funded Animal Testing Facilities; report.

24106700D

H.B. 596

Patron: Askew

Fisheries Innovation for Sustainable Harvest Fund established. Establishes the Fisheries Innovation for Sustainable Harvest Fund, to be administered by the Marine Resources Commission, for the purposes of supporting and promoting the economic growth and development of Virginia's seafood economy while enhancing the sustainability of Virginia's marine fisheries resources through the awarding of grants, revolving loans, or other financial tools. The bill provides that the Commercial Fishing Advisory Board shall advise the Commission on expenditures from the Fund and that royalties collected as a result of the generation or transmission of electrical or compressed air energy from offshore renewable sources and appropriated to the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium under current law shall instead be appropriated to the Fund.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 28.2-208.1 and 28.2-1208 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 28.2 a section numbered 28.2-208.3, relating to Fisheries Innovation for Sustainable Harvest Fund established.

24104728D

H.B. 759

Patron: Freitas

Food inspections; private homes; pickles and acidified vegetables; gross sales. Increases from $3,000 to $9,000 the gross sales annual revenue cap for sales of pickles and other acidified vegetables that have an equilibrium pH value of 4.6 or lower and are processed and prepared in a private home without an inspection as otherwise required to operate a food establishment. The bill expands the exemption for private homes where the resident processes and prepares certain food products to allow for such person to sell the food at a temporary event that operates for a period of no more than 14 consecutive days. The bill also clarifies that such person may advertise such food products over the Internet provided that the sale takes place in person and complies with certain restrictions.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 3.2-5130 of the Code of Virginia, relating to food inspections; private homes; pickles and acidified vegetables; gross sales.

24106149D

H.B. 804

Patron: Rasoul

Dangerous dog; extending the time for adjudication. Requires the court, unless good cause is determined by the court, to hold the evidentiary hearing pursuant to the dangerous dog summons within 30 days or as soon as practicable from the issuance of the summons. Under current law, the court is required to hold such hearing not more than 30 days from the issuance of the summons.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 3.2-6540 and 3.2-6540.03 of the Code of Virginia, relating to dangerous dogs; extending the time for adjudication.

24102883D

H.B. 848

Patron: Davis

Veterinary medicine; traineeships. Allows any veterinary medicine licensure applicant enrolled in a traineeship program to engage in the limited practice of veterinary medicine, as that term is defined by the Board of Veterinary Medicine, under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian. The bill directs the Board to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 54.1-3805.3, relating to veterinary medicine; traineeships.

24102313D

H.B. 1100

Patron: Carr

Conservation of trees during land development process. Expands current provisions that provide that certain localities in Planning District 8 (Northern Virginia) may, by ordinance, require conservation of trees during the land development process by making such provisions available to localities statewide. This bill incorporates HB 170 and HB 534.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 15.2-961.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to conservation of trees.

24106858D

H.B. 1167

Patron: Krizek

Local prohibition on the sale of English ivy; civil penalty. Authorizes any locality to adopt an ordinance prohibiting the sale of English ivy, with violations punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed $50 for a first violation and not to exceed $200 for a subsequent violation within 12 months.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-918.1, relating to local prohibition on the sale of English ivy; civil penalty.

24104616D

H.B. 1354

Patron: Martinez

Declawing cats; prohibition. Makes unlawful the practice of declawing cats for any person engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine except as necessary for a therapeutic purpose, as defined in the bill.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 38 of Title 54.1 a section numbered 54.1-3814, relating to declawing cats; prohibition.

24106640D

H.B. 1377

Patron: Webert

Soybean Board; assessment from sale of soybeans. Changes the amount of the assessment for research, education, publicity, and the promotion of the sale and use of soybeans, currently at $0.02 per bushel, to a rate of one half of one percent of the net market price per bushel.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 3.2-2307 and 3.2-2312 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Soybean Board; assessment from sale of soybeans.

24104222D

H.B. 1379

Patron: Lovejoy

Department of Environmental Quality reports; consolidation. Consolidates varying due dates for certain reports relating to the Department of Environmental Quality to the Governor and the General Assembly to November 1 and requires such reports be submitted as part of one annual report. The bill removes the requirement that the Roanoke River Basin Bi-State Commission submit its annual report to the Governor and General Assembly of North Carolina. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 10.1-1183.1, relating to Department of Environmental Quality reports; consolidation.

24107164D

H.B. 1403

Patron: Laufer

Dam Safety, Flood Prevention, and Protection Assistance Fund; percentage of funds available; owner match requirements.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 10.1-603.19 and 10.1-606.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Dam Safety, Flood Prevention, and Protection Assistance Fund; percentage of funds available; owner match requirements.

24105612D

H.B. 1458

Patron: Hernandez


Chief Resilience Officer of the Commonwealth; Office of Commonwealth Resilience; Interagency Resilience Working Group; Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund; Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund; Advisory Review Committee. Moves the position of Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) from under the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources to under the Governor and creates an Office of Commonwealth Resilience to support the CRO in his functions and duties. The bill requires the CRO to convene an Interagency Resilience Working Group to support the coordination of planning and implementation of resilience efforts, eliminates the position of Special Assistant to the Governor for Coastal Adaptation and Protection, and requires the Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation to convene an Advisory Review Committee to assist in the distribution of loans and grants from the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund. The bill also requires the Director to convene an Advisory Review Committee to assist in the distribution of loans and grants from the Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund and adds the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources and the CRO to the list of those with whom the Virginia Resources Authority is required to consult in directing the distribution of loans or grants from the Fund. The bill requires, for the two Funds, the Department to (i) make available for public inspection at the office of the Department and on a publicly accessible website records of each application for grants and loans and the actions taken thereon and (ii) provide an opportunity for a 30-day public comment period prior to each new grant or loan offering to solicit feedback on proposed revisions to the Funds’ manuals. This bill incorporates HB 948.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-215, 10.1-104.6:1, 10.1-603.25, 10.1-603.29, and 10.1-659 of the Code of Virginia; to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 2.2 a chapter numbered 4.2:3, consisting of sections numbered 2.2-435.13 and 2.2-435.14; and to repeal §§ 2.2-220.5 and 2.2-435.11 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Chief Resilience Officer of the Commonwealth; Office of Commonwealth Resilience.

24106321D

H.B. 1531

Patron: Tran

Cruelty to elephants; pain-inflicting training tools prohibited; actions for attachment; civil penalty. Prohibits using devices such as a bullhook, axe handle, or block and tackle or engaging in certain practices in order to discipline, train, or control the behavior of an elephant. The bill provides that any person who uses such devices or engages in certain practices that inflict fear or pain on or cause physical injury to an elephant is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for the first offense and not to exceed $5,000 for subsequent violations. Finally, the bill provides that an action in equity may be brought to request an attachment for any devices prohibited by the bill against a person violating the provisions of the bill.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 3.2-6589.1, relating to elephants; pain-inflicting training tools prohibited; actions for attachment; civil penalty.

24105745D