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HB710 • 2026

Invasive plant species installation; written notification to property owners, civil penalty.

An Act to amend and reenact § 3.2-809 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services; invasive plant species installation; written notification to property owners; civil penalty.

Agriculture Crime
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Pence
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details on how often property owners will receive notifications about invasive plants, leaving this detail uncertain.

Invasive Plants Notification and Penalty Act

This act changes penalties for tradespeople who do not inform property owners about invasive plants before installing them, replacing criminal charges with civil fines.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the penalty from a Class 1 misdemeanor to a civil fine of up to $250 for the first violation.
  • Increases the fine to $500 for a second violation and $1,000 for each additional violation.
  • Requires tradespeople who install plants on the invasive species list to give property owners written notice.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Tradespeople involved in proposing or installing plants.
  • Property owners receiving plants that are listed as invasive.

Terms To Know

Invasive plant species
Plants that can harm the environment, economy, and human health by outcompeting native plants.
Civil penalty
A fine imposed for breaking a rule or law, rather than being charged with a crime.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact amount of fines beyond the maximum limits.
  • It is unclear how often property owners will receive notifications about invasive plants.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 412 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0412)

  3. 2026-03-10 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

  4. 2026-03-10 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  5. 2026-03-04 House

    Signed by Speaker

  6. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Signed by President

  7. 2026-03-04 House

    Enrolled

  8. 2026-03-04 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB710ER)

  9. 2026-03-04 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB710)

  10. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Read third time

  11. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Passed Senate Block Vote (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

  12. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Rules suspended

  13. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  14. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  15. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  16. 2026-02-24 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (14-Y 0-N)

  17. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  18. 2026-02-11 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

  19. 2026-02-10 House

    Read third time and passed House (95-Y 2-N 0-A)

  20. 2026-02-09 House

    Read second time

  21. 2026-02-09 House

    committee substitute agreed to

  22. 2026-02-09 House

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  23. 2026-02-09 House

    Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

  24. 2026-02-06 House

    Read first time

  25. 2026-02-04 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute (22-Y 0-N)

  26. 2026-02-04 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    Committee substitute printed 26106450D-H1

  27. 2026-02-04 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB710)

  28. 2026-01-28 Agriculture

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N)

  29. 2026-01-28 Agriculture

    House subcommittee offered

  30. 2026-01-28 Agriculture

    House subcommittee offered

  31. 2026-01-27 Agriculture

    Assigned HACNR sub: Agriculture

  32. 2026-01-26 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB710)

  33. 2026-01-13 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103374D

  34. 2026-01-13 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services; invasive plant species installation; written notification to property owners; civil penalty.
Provides that the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services may assess a civil penalty in an amount of not more than $250 for a first violation, $500 for a second violation, and $1,000 for each subsequent violation to any tradesperson involved with proposing or installing plants who fails to provide written notification to property owners when such plants are on the Department of Conservation and Recreation's list of invasive plant species. Current law provides that any such tradesperson who fails to provide such written notice is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. This bill is identical to SB 383.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
An Act to amend and reenact §
3.2-809
of the Code of Virginia, relating to Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services; invasive plant species installation; written notification to property owners; civil penalty.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
3.2-809
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
3.2-809
. Penalty for violation.
Any
A. Except as provided in subsection B, any
person who fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter or the regulations adopted hereunder is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
B. The Board may assess a civil penalty of not more than $250 for a first violation, $500 for a second violation, and $1,000 for each subsequent violation to any tradesperson who fails to provide written notification to property owners in accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to subsection C of §
3.2-802
. The proceeds of such civil penalty shall be deposited into the Plant Pollination Fund established in §
3.2-2806
.