Committee advances batch of land, agriculture and water bills; votes recorded on multiple measures
Summary
Committee reported a package of bills from subcommittees, including HB 134 (tribal conservation easement holder), HB 256 (environmental justice strategy), HB 291 (fishing tackle recycling), HB 326 (Fort Whitworth conveyance) and several agriculture measures; most bills were reported favorably and referred as noted.
The House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources processed a series of bills across its subcommittees and reported most measures favorably.
Natural Resources subcommittee reports included HB 134 (allowing federally recognized tribes to serve as conservation easement holders), which the committee reported by 16–1 after the subcommittee recommended reporting 10–0. HB 256 (requiring certain localities to consider environmental justice strategies in comprehensive plan reviews) was reported by the committee 13–6 after a 7–3 subcommittee recommendation. HB 291, requiring educational resources on responsible fishing tackle disposal, was reported with substitute (subcommittee 10–0; committee vote recorded in the hearing). HB 326 authorizing conveyance of Fort Whitworth to the Petersburg Battlefields Foundation was reported unanimously 19–0.
From the agriculture subcommittee, HB 65 (repeal of the Apple Board and Apple Fund) and HB 292 (allowing revenue commissioners to serve on agriculture and forestal district advisory committees) were both reported 20–0 and 10–0 respectively. HB 512, requiring a farm and forestry prosperity plan, was reported with substitute 21–0 after a subcommittee amendment.
Chesapeake Bay and water‑quality measures included HB 52 (beneficial use of dredged material) reported with amendments 21–0 and HB 348 (point‑of‑use/entry drinking water treatment and residential well testing/treatment fund) reported with amendments and referred to appropriations; HB 386 (pay-for-outcomes fund) and HB 599 (oyster stock assessment) were also recommended and referred to appropriations as noted in the hearing.
Several measures were reported with substitutes or referred to appropriations as part of committee procedure. Many motions were voice votes or unanimous recorded votes; the transcript records the individual roll or voice tallies where applicable.
Next steps: Bills reported to appropriations or forwarded to the floor will proceed through the legislative calendar for further action.
