HB1465 • 2026

Blue catfish; marketing & production, Marine Prod. Board to establish full-time equivalent position.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend and reenact § 3.2-2704 of the Code of Virginia, relating to powers and duties of the Marine Products Board; full-time equivalent position established; marketing and production of blue catfish.</p>

Labor

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Simonds
Last action: 2026-03-04
Official status: Continued
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact nature and scope of grants and funding opportunities are not detailed in the bill.

Blue Catfish Marketing Position

This bill requires the Marine Products Board to create a full-time position focused on identifying funding opportunities and managing money for blue catfish marketing in Virginia.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a new full-time equivalent position at the Marine Products Board to identify grants and other funding sources for blue catfish marketing and production.
Assigns this person the task of disbursing funds from identified grants and other resources for blue catfish marketing and production.

Who It Names or Affects

The Marine Products Board
Fishermen who catch blue catfish in Virginia

Terms To Know

full-time equivalent position: A job that is the same as one full-time employee, even if it's shared among multiple people.
grants: Money given by a government or organization to support specific projects or activities.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the exact amount of money available for blue catfish marketing efforts.
It is unclear what types of grants and funding opportunities will be identified by this new position.

Bill History

2026-03-04 Finance and Appropriations
Continued to 2027 in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
2026-02-24 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)
2026-02-18 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-18 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
2026-02-17 House
Read third time and passed House (94-Y 2-N 0-A)
2026-02-16 House
Read second time and engrossed
2026-02-15 House
Read first time
2026-02-13 Appropriations
Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
2026-02-13 Appropriations
Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
2026-02-13 Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources
Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)
2026-02-11 Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources
Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources
2026-02-11 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and referred to Appropriations (21-Y 1-N)
2026-02-11 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and referred to Appropriations (21-Y 1-N)
2026-02-04 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1465)
2026-02-04 Agriculture
Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (10-Y 0-N)
2026-01-30 Agriculture
Assigned HACNR sub: Agriculture
2026-01-23 House
Presented and ordered printed 26104983D
2026-01-23 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

Powers and duties of the Marine Products Board; full-time equivalent position established; marketing and production of blue catfish.
Directs the Marine Products Board to establish a full-time equivalent position to identify grants and other funding opportunities for the marketing and production of blue catfish in the Commonwealth and disburse moneys from such grants and funds.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

A BILL to amend and reenact §
3.2-2704
of the Code of Virginia, relating to powers and duties of the Marine Products Board; full-time equivalent position established; marketing and production of blue catfish.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §
3.2-2704
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§
3.2-2704
. Powers and duties of the Marine Products Board.

A. The Marine Products Board shall: (i) plan and conduct marketing, educational, and promotional campaigns and programs for Virginia marine products; (ii) carry on research and testing programs;
and
(iii) conduct activities relating to the catching, processing, conservation, and marketing of Virginia marine products
; and (iv) establish a full-time equivalent
position who shall be responsible for identifying grants and other funding opportunities for the marketing and production of blue catfish in the C
ommonwealth and
disbursing moneys from such grants and funds
.

B. The Marine Products Board may investigate, study, and formulate recommendations regarding regulation, conservation, and management of marine resources of the Commonwealth.

C. The Marine Products Board may make contracts and expend money from the Virginia Marine Products Fund necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The contracts, debts, and liabilities of the Marine Products Board shall not be an obligation of the Commonwealth, but shall be met utilizing the sums paid into the Virginia Marine Products Fund.

D. The Marine Products Board may cooperate with other state, regional, and national seafood organizations in research, advertising, publicity, education, and other means of promoting the sale and use of seafood, and may expend moneys of the Virginia Marine Products Fund for such purposes.