• Reforestation of Timberlands Funds (RT)- Restored the $300,000 cut to the RT program fund to fully fund the RT program and fixed an oversight on accounting system payments for DOF.
• Water Quality Inspection Fee- Eliminated the proposed $100 water quality inspection fee, and restored $500,000 for water quality inspections.
• Sale of DOF lands- transferred the proceeds of DOF lands from the DOF to the General Fund. Will need to assess impacts on state forest nursery operations.

• Coyote and Black Vulture Technical Assistance-Restored full funding, which had been eliminated in the Governor's budget.
• Food Establishment Inspection Fees- Removed proposed fee increases for food establishment inspections & restored $400,000 in funds for the program.
• Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID) - Reduced funding by an additional $780,000 from the fund, leaving $1 million for AFID. The fund currently has $2.3 million in unappropriated balances.
• Farm Business Development Program- Eliminated funding for the new program, which was established in the budget in 2016, but did retain the employee position for the program.
• Organic Marketing Specialist- Eliminated funding for the new position, which was established in the budget in 2016. 

• Ag BMP Cost Share Program - $6.7 million from a water quality reserve fund was appropriated in the House & Senate budgets, in addition to the $8.8 million for FY18 that was included in introduced budget. Total funds for BMPs totals $15.5 million. 
• CREP Funding- $500,000 from the water quality reserve fund for CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program), matches $1 million in federal funds.
• Technical Assistance- TA funding was authorized up to $2.1 million.
• Resource Management Plan Incentives- Study language was included in both budgets to request DCR to explore additional incentives to encourage more farmers to implement RMPs.

• Virginia Cooperative Extension at Virginia Tech - Restored the $2.04 million budget reduction for VCE at Virginia Tech, and corrected the "fund split" concern that has led to reduced funding for VCE over the past 3 years. In addition, included budget language to review economic development opportunities for agriculture and forestry, through a cooperative effort at VT and VSU.
• Shortage of Ag Teachers - Study by VSU and VT  cooperative extension to study and develop recommendations for addressing shortage of ag teachers in Virginia.

• Burn ban- exception for freeze protection of orchard or vineyard, HB 1793, Fariss (R- Rustburg)- SUPPORT
• Update: Signed by the Governor, effective 7/1/17.
• Running bamboo; cutting by localities; ordinance prohibiting spread; designation of certain plants. SB 964, Hanger (R- Mount Solon) & HB 2154, Rasoul (D-Roanoke) -SUPPORT
• Update: SB 964 signed by Governor; HB 2154 awaiting Governor's approval
• Industrial hemp; license to grow outside of research program, SB 1306, Vogel (R-Winchester)
• Update: Left in Appropriations Committee with no action.
• Repeals required reports on Farmers' markets; farm and forest land conversion, HB 1781, Plum (D- Reston)
• Update: Approved by the Governor, effective 7/1/17.
• Gubernatorial appointments to boards; membership and terms, including changing VDACS board appointments to July 1, HB 2285, Cole (R-Fredericksburg)
• Update: Awaiting action by the Governor.
• Resolution celebrating the life of Alvin W. Blaha, HR 282, Aird (D-Petersburg) & SR 98, Ruff (R-Clarksville)
• Update: Approved by House & Senate

• Alcoholic beverage control; nonprofit banquet licensees; sale of wine for off-premises consumption, HB 1694, Marshall, Danny (R-Danville)
• Update: Approved by the Governor this week.
• Alcoholic beverage control; banquet licenses for wineries and breweries, HB 2418, Robinson, (R-Midlothian)
• Update: Approved by the Governor this week.
• Alcoholic beverage control; cider shall be treated as wine for all purposes of ABC law, HB 2433, Bulova (D- Fairfax)-SUPPORT
• Update: Approved by the Governor this week.
• Alcoholic beverage control; applications for retail license, SB 1382, Ebbin (D- Alexandria)
• Update: Approved by House this week and waiting for the Governor's signature 

• Marine Resources Commission; oyster planting grounds; notice of application for lease. HB 2297, Miyares (R- Virginia Beach) & SB 1144, DeSteph (R-Virginia Beach)
• Update: SB 1144 approved by the Governor this week; HB 2297 approved by the Senate and waiting for the Governor's signature 
• Oyster ground lease; certain dredging projects, HB 1796, Stolle (R- Virginia Beach) 
• Update: HB 1796 approved by the Senate and waiting for the Governor's signature
• Establish Working waterfront development areas, SB 1203, Lewis (D-Accomac)
• Update: Approved by the Governor this week

• Rural Coastal Virginia Economic Development Authority created. HB 2055, Hodges (R-Urbanna)
• Update: Final version approved and on its way to the Governor.
• Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority; Chief Executive Officer, powers and duties, HB 2471, Jones (R-Suffolk), SB 1574, Ruff (R-Clarksville)
• Update: Conference committee reports were agreed to by the House and Senate and now waiting for the Governor's signature 

• Va Polytechnic Institute and State University and Va State University; purpose and courses of study. HB 1569, Orrock (R-Thornburg)- SUPPORT
• Update: Approved by Governor this week.
• Teacher licensure; career and technical education; certain local waivers, HB 1770, Freitas (R-Culpeper), SB 1583, Suetterlein (R-Roanoke)
• Update:Both chambers agreed to the Governor's amendments and passed both bills

• Clean Power Plan; state implementation plan; General Assembly approval. HB 1974, O'Quinn (R-Bristol)
• Update: Bill did not make it out of conference committee

• Produce Safety Rule- Allows Va. to implement federal Produce Safety Rule, SB 1195, Stuart (R-Montross)- SUPPORT 
• Update: Senate agreed to amendments by a vote of 25-14; now to the Governor.

• Proffers; notice of amendment, HB 1797, Stolle (R-Virginia Beach)
• Update: Awaiting action by the Governor.
• Zoning Appeals, Board of; clarifies provisions referring to appeal costs, includes governing body, HB 1994, Habeeb (R-Salem)
• Update: Awaiting action by the Governor.
• Local collection fees, HB 2442, Ingram (R-Hopewell)
• Update: Awaiting action by the Governor.
• Commissioner of Highways; commercial establishment entrances, HB 2463, Hodges (R-Urbanna)
• Update: Approved by Senate.
• Zoning; delinquent charges, HB 2469, Jones (R-Suffolk)
• Update: Awaiting action by the Governor.

• Land preservation tax credit; per taxpayer limitation, SB 963, Hanger (R-Mount Solon)
• Update: Awaiting action by the Governor.
• Real property tax; special assessment for land preservation, HB 1476, Orrock (R-Thornburg)
• Update: Approved by the Governor, effective 7/1/17.
• Land preservation tax credits; withholding tax of nonresident owners, SB 1286, Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg)
• Update: Awaiting action by the Governor.

• Planning & Budget, Department of; establishment of Div. of Regulatory Management & Red Tape Commission, SB 1449,  Chase (R- Midlothian)
• Update: Did not advance from Appropriations Committee.
• Professions and occupations; active supervision of regulatory boards, HB 1566, Webert (R-Warrenton)
• Update: Amended in conference Committee but failed to pass the House

• Unmanned aircraft system; use of system to trespass, HB 2350, Minchew (R-Leesburg)
• Update: Approved by the Senate this week; on its way to the Governor.

Broadband

• Virginia Broadband Deployment Act; localities ownership of communications system, HB 2108, Byron (R-Lynchburg)
• Update: Amended version approved by House this week; on its way to the Governor.

• Landowner liability; recreational access. SB 1224 , Stuart (R-Montross)
• Update: Approved by House 71-25 this week and waiting on the Governor's signature 

• Tobacco Board; composition, increases assessment on bright flue-cured & type 21 dark-fired tobacco, HB 2254, Edmunds (R- Halifax) & SB 948, Ruff (R-Clarksville)- SUPPORT
• Update: Both bills signed by the Governor.

• Farm use vehicles; imposes a $250 fine for failing to comply with restrictions for use on highway, HB 1440, Bell, Richard P. (R-Staunton)-SUPPORT
• Update: Approved by Governor this week.
• Overweight permits for hauling Virginia-grown farm produce; validity throughout the Commonwealth, HB 1519, Knight (R-Virginia Beach)- SUPPORT
• Update: Approved by Senate unanimously this week.
• Reformulated gasoline; sale for farm use, HB 1520, Knight (R-Virginia Beach) & SB 899, DeSteph (R-Virginia Beach)
• Update: Conference Committee reports were agreed to by both chambers
• Farm use vehicles, certain; registration exemption, highway distance limitations, HB 2239, Fariss (R-Rustburg)- SUPPORT
• Update: Approved by Senate unanimously.
• Motor carrier size and weight limitations comply with federal law, includes milk hauler changes, SB 1384, Carrico (R-Galax)-SUPPORT
• Update: Approved by House unanimously and waiting for the Governor's signature 

• Conflict of Interests Act, State and Local Government; prohibited contracts, exceptions, HB 1472, Lingamfelter (R-Woodbridge) & SB 965, Hanger (R- Mount Solon)- SUPPORT
• Update: HB1472 approved by Governor. SB 965 approved by House.
• Watershed discharge permits; review of allocations, HB 1619, Bulova (D-Fairfax Station)
• Update: Approved by the Governor.
• Nutrient Offset Fund; sale of credits, HB 2311, Cox (R-Colonial Heights)
  • Update: Approved by Senate this week.

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