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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 27, 2024
Time and Place: 30 mins. after adj. / Senate Room A (305) - GAB
Update: Removed - HB496

H.B. 107

Patron: Sullivan

Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund created. Creates the Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund to assist private developers with non-utility costs associated with the installation of public electric vehicle charging stations in certain localities. The bill provides that a private developer is eligible to receive grants of 70 percent of such non-utility costs for public electric vehicle charging stations installed in a city or county that meets the criteria of a distressed locality, as defined in the bill. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2028.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 17 of Title 45.2 an article numbered 10, consisting of sections numbered 45.2-1735, 45.2-1736, and 45.2-1737, relating to Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Program and Fund created.

24101049D

H.B. 122

Patron: Sullivan

Department of Environmental Quality; review and authorization of projects; hearing and appeal. Allows any interested party seeking judicial review for the final decision of the Department of Environmental Quality to seek judicial review of such decision by filing an action in the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond with 30 days after such decision in accordance with the Administrative Process Act. The bill requires the court to hear and decide such action as soon as practicable after the date of filing.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 10.1-1197.7 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Environmental Quality; review and authorization of projects; hearing and appeal.

24107131D

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. 309

Patron: Hope

Department of Forestry; Forest Conservation Plan required. Requires the Department of Forestry, in coordination with a technical advisory committee composed of stakeholders, to develop a Forestland and Urban Tree Canopy Conservation Plan no later than November 1, 2026, and update such plan every five years thereafter. The bill requires the Department to post and maintain on its website the most recent version of the Plan and submit the Plan to the Governor and Chairmen of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources no later than November 30, 2026, and November 30 every five years thereafter.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 11 of Title 10.1 a section numbered 10.1-1103.1, relating to Department of Forestry; Forestland and Urban Tree Canopy Conservation Plan required.

24105613D

H.B. 316

Patron: Bulova

Virginia Recycling Development Center established; report. Establishes the Virginia Recycling Development Center for the purposes of furthering the development of markets and processing for recycled commodities and products, to be run by a Director appointed and supervised by the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources. The bill creates the Virginia Recycling Development Center Advisory Committee, establishes reporting requirements, and creates the Recycling Market Development Fund to be used to fund the Center. The bill requires the Advisory Committee to make recommendations on the sources of potential funding for and detailed qualifying uses of the Fund and report its recommendations to the Secretary no later than October 1, 2024. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2038.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 14 of Title 10.1 an article numbered 3.8, consisting of sections numbered 10.1-1425.40 through 10.1-1425.43, relating to Virginia Recycling Development Center established; report.

24106658D

H.B. 420

Patron: Bulova

Temporary funding of federal park operations. Authorizes the Governor to provide funding and execute necessary agreements to allow the temporary operation of any Virginia property controlled by the National Park Service in the event of a federal government shutdown. Such authority shall be contingent on the U.S. Department of the Interior executing an agreement which authorizes the Commonwealth to operate such property. The bill states that the funds may come from the State Park Conservation Resources Fund, voluntary donations, funds allocated to the Department of Conservation and Recreation, or other sources. However, the bill clarifies that no funds originally allocated from the general fund shall be used to operate a federal park for more than 21 days without the approval of the General Assembly.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 10.1-202 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 10.1-201.1, relating to the temporary funding of federal park operations.

24102583D

H.B. 949

Patron: Lopez

Hazardous Substance Facility Response Plan; civil penalties. Requires a person that is required to submit a facility response plan under the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Water Act Hazardous Substance Worst Case Discharge Planning Regulations to submit evidence of an EPA-approved facility response plan to the Department of Environmental Quality within a certain time period and comply with such plan. The bill provides certain requirements for reporting, recordkeeping, and inspection and authorizes the Department of Environmental Quality to initiate a civil action to obtain certain equitable relief for violations of the bill's provisions. The bill imposes civil penalties for any person that negligently, willfully, or knowingly (i) discharges or causes to discharge a hazardous substance from a facility or (ii) fails to implement or comply with an EPA-approved facility response plan. Finally, the bill provides a delayed effective date contingent upon the effective date of the EPA’s final rule on Clean Water Act Hazardous Substance Worst Case Discharge Planning.

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 hazardous substances; Hazardous Substance Facility Response Plans; civil penalties.

24107034D

H.B. 985

Patron: Tran

High polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pavement sealants; prohibition; civil penalty. Prohibits the sale or distribution of any pavement sealant that contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations greater than one percent by weight on or after July 1, 2024, except that a retailer may continue to sell any existing inventory that remains in stock on that date. The bill also prohibits the application or use of such sealants on or after July 1, 2025. Any person who violates either prohibition is subject to a civil penalty of $250, to be paid into the Virginia Environmental Emergency Response Fund.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 10.1-2500 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 20 of Title 62.1 a section numbered 62.1-196.1, relating to high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pavement sealants; prohibition; civil penalty.

24100710D

H.B. 1002

Patron: Anthony

Division of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency; powers and duties. Requires the Department of Energy's Division of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency to identify and monitor any federal grant programs, loan programs, or other opportunities for federal funding to further the Commonwealth's energy efficiency goals.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 45.2-1701 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Division of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency; powers and duties.

24103690D

H.B. 1157

Patron: Krizek

Consultation with federally recognized Tribal Nations in the Commonwealth; permits and reviews with potential impacts on environmental, cultural, and historic resources. Requires the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Historic Resources, and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to establish policies and procedures for consulting with federally recognized Tribal Nations in the Commonwealth when evaluating certain permits and reviews relating to environmental, cultural, or historic resources that potentially impact those federally recognized Tribal Nations in the Commonwealth. The bill directs the Secretary of the Commonwealth to designate an Ombudsman for Tribal Consultation to facilitate communication and consultation with federally recognized Tribal Nations in the Commonwealth and requires the Ombudsman to develop by September 1, 2024, a list of localities in which federally recognized Tribal Nations in the Commonwealth shall be consulted to effectuate the provisions of the bill. The bill codifies Executive Order 82 (2021).

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-401.01, 10.1-1003, 10.1-1188, 10.1-2206.1, 10.1-2214, 10.1-2305, 56-46.1, and 62.1-266 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding sections numbered 10.1-104.02, 10.1-1186.3:1, 10.1-2205.1, and 28.2-104.01, relating to consultation with federally recognized Tribal Nations in the Commonwealth; permits and reviews with potential impacts on environmental, cultural, and historic resources.

24106459D

H.B. 1186

Patron: Tran

Department of Conservation and Recreation; two-year pilot program; all-terrain power wheelchairs in state parks. Provides that the Department of Conservation and Recreation shall establish a two-year pilot program beginning October 1, 2024, and ending October 30, 2026, to enhance accessibility for individuals with limited mobility in Virginia's state parks by providing all-terrain power wheelchairs that may be used by such persons during their visits. The bill permits the Department to choose the locations for the pilot program and enter into a contract for the purchase of all-terrain power wheelchairs to be used in the pilot program. The bill allows the Department to adopt guidelines to administer the pilot program and requires the Department to submit a report on the outcome of the pilot program to the Chairmen of the House Committees on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and Appropriations and the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and Finance and Appropriations by November 1, 2026.

A BILL to direct the Department of Conservation and Recreation to create a two-year pilot program to provide all-terrain power wheelchairs to enhance state park accessibility for individuals with limited mobility.

24101600D

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. 1460

Patron: Webert

Virginia Verified Meat certification. Prohibits any person from labeling any product as Virginia Verified Meat if it does not meet the definition of that term in the bill and allows any person not employed by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to be eligible to certify Virginia Verified Meat claims if approved by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 34 of Title 3.2 a section numbered 3.2-3403, relating to Virginia Verified Meat certification.

24105254D

H.B. 1466

Patron: Bloxom

Mineral mines; farm pond construction or expansion. Provides that, for laws relating to mineral mines, the definition of mining shall not be construed to limit a one-time construction or expansion of a farm pond for agricultural irrigation or provision of water for livestock to beneficially reuse the soil or sand, provided that such pond construction or expansion project (i) is a one-time activity on that parcel of land, (ii) is completed within six months, (iii) results in a pond that is less than three acres in total, and (iv) has all necessary permits and local approvals in place before such activity begins.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 45.2-1200 of the Code of Virginia, relating to mineral mines; farm pond construction or expansion.

24107342D