SB383 • 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

Enacted

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The specific list of invasive plants managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation is not detailed in this act.

Invasive Plants Notification and Penalty Act

This act changes the punishment for tradespeople who do not warn property owners about invasive plants from a criminal charge to a civil penalty.

What This Bill Does

Changes the law so that tradespeople who don't warn property owners about invasive plants get fined, not jailed.
Sets fines at $250 for the first time, $500 for the second time, and $1,000 for each time after that.

Who It Names or Affects

Tradespeople who work with plants
Property owners

Terms To Know

Invasive Plant Species: Plants that can harm the environment, economy, or human health.
Civil Penalty: A fine given by a government agency for breaking rules.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if property owners are not notified.
It is unclear how the fines will be enforced or collected.

Bill History

2026-04-08 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 413 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-08 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0413)
2026-03-10 Senate
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
2026-03-10 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-05 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-05 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-05 Senate
Enrolled
2026-03-05 Senate
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB383ER)
2026-03-05 Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB383)
2026-03-02 House
Read third time
2026-03-02 House
Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-02 House
Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House
2026-03-02 House
Passed House Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-27 House
Read second time
2026-02-25 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N)
2026-02-12 House
Placed on Calendar
2026-02-12 House
Read first time
2026-02-12 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
2026-02-09 Senate
Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-06 Senate
Read second time
2026-02-06 Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-06 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to
2026-02-06 Senate
Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-05 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-05 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-05 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-05 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-04 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Committee substitute printed 26105869D-S1
2026-02-04 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB383)
2026-02-03 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute (14-Y 0-N)
2026-01-28 Rural Affairs
Senate subcommittee offered
2026-01-28 Rural Affairs
Assigned HACNR sub: Rural Affairs
2026-01-26 Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB383)
2026-01-13 Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100169D
2026-01-13 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation 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 HB 710.

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
.