The Virginia House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee advanced a sweeping set of environmental and natural resources bills, including contested measures on menhaden quota management, PFAS in sewage sludge, hunting dogs on private property, and data center emissions standards, while carrying over a paraquat ban and continuing several bills to 2027.
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Delegate Bloxam argued the matter should be left to VMRC, ASMFC, and scientists, stating 'if MRC is going to handle it, we need to let them handle it' and calling the bill premature given that ASMFC assessed the stock as not overfished. Chair Herring countered that the legislature acts when problems appear and that the bill was designed to collect Virginia-specific data that had previously been blocked. Delegate Kent separately opposed the bill, questioning how a quota system applies to a migratory fish and noting that a 20% reduction had just been announced in the fall, questioning why additional spending was needed given existing studies.
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“This bill now as amendment, makes this purely a regulatory bill that imposes civil penalties for violation of the permit. It requires the permit in specific instances with exceptions after a fee. It allows DWR to promulgate regulations that would address this regulatory gap so that best practices would be promulgated and that good hunters aren't caught up in a criminal prosecution.”
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Sign in to subscribeGood morning. Everybody apologize for starting a couple minutes late. There were a few members chatting about a couple pieces of legislation on the side. So I apologize for the minute and a half delay. We have a few administrative items we want to address very quickly. And so at first, I'd like to take HB360 from Delegate Cole and I'd like to see a motion to re refer that bill to general laws. Second moved and seconded. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed? All right, we refer to general laws. Second, I'd like to take Delegate Shin's bill, HB 1238, and re refer that bill to county, cities and towns. Moved. And second. All those in favor say aye. All disposed. All right, that is taken care of. And then also at the request of the patron, we'd like to take HB387 from Delegate Krisic. We like to lay that bill on the table. Let's. I think we have to take a official vote on that. Let me catch up. Sorry. We got a second? Yeah, wait a second. Oh, sorry. Apologies. We'll do that after. Can we. After we do this, we'll take attendance.…
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