KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Virginia

SB719 • 2026

Virginia Farm and Forest Prosperity Plan; OSAF to develop and implement comprehensive Plan, report.

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 2.1 of Chapter 2 of Title 2.2 a section numbered 2.2-203.4, relating to Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry; Virginia Farm and Forest Prosperity Plan; report.

Agriculture
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Marsden
Last action
2026-04-13
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Virginia Farm and Forest Prosperity Plan; OSAF to develop and implement comprehensive Plan, report.

Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry; Virginia Farm and Forest Prosperity Plan; report.

What This Bill Does

  • Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry; Virginia Farm and Forest Prosperity Plan; report.
  • Directs the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, during the first year of each new gubernatorial administration, to develop and implement a written comprehensive Virginia Farm and Forest Prosperity Plan that is designed to be enacted over the course of such gubernatorial administration's term.
  • The Secretary is directed to submit a report detailing the progress made toward the development and implementation of the Plan to the Governor and to the Chairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources by December 1 of the first year of each new gubernatorial administration.
  • This bill is identical to HB 512.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SB719ASC1

2026-01-27 • Committee

Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Amendment

Plain English: OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION 1/27/2026 SB 719 AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES 1.

  • OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION 1/27/2026 SB 719 AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES 1.
  • Line 21, introduced, after Commonwealth.
  • insert The Secretary shall coordinate with representatives of agriculture and forestry organizations, members of the agribusiness community, and other stakeholders they deem necessary, in developing the Plan.
SB719AS1

2026-01-29 • Committee

Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Amendment

Plain English: 1/29/2026 (SB719) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES 1.

  • 1/29/2026 (SB719) AMENDMENT(S) PROPOSED BY THE SENATE AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES 1.
  • Line 21, introduced, after Commonwealth.
  • insert The Secretary shall coordinate with representatives of agriculture and forestry organizations, members of the agribusiness community, and other stakeholders they deem necessary, in developing the Plan.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 831 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0831)

  3. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0831)

  4. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

  5. 2026-03-10 Governor

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

  6. 2026-03-05 House

    Signed by Speaker

  7. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Signed by President

  8. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Enrolled

  9. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB719ER)

  10. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB719)

  11. 2026-03-02 House

    Read third time

  12. 2026-03-02 House

    Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

  13. 2026-03-02 House

    Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House

  14. 2026-03-02 House

    Passed House Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A)

  15. 2026-02-27 House

    Read second time

  16. 2026-02-25 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

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

  17. 2026-02-05 House

    Placed on Calendar

  18. 2026-02-05 House

    Read first time

  19. 2026-02-05 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

  20. 2026-02-02 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB719)

  21. 2026-02-02 Senate

    Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  22. 2026-01-30 Senate

    Read second time

  23. 2026-01-30 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate as amended

  24. 2026-01-30 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Amendment agreed to

  25. 2026-01-30 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  26. 2026-01-29 Senate

    Rules suspended

  27. 2026-01-29 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  28. 2026-01-29 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  29. 2026-01-27 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with amendment (13-Y 0-N)

  30. 2026-01-27 Senate

    Senate committee offered

  31. 2026-01-26 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB719)

  32. 2026-01-14 Senate

    Presented and ordered printed 26105420D

  33. 2026-01-14 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry; Virginia Farm and Forest Prosperity Plan; report.
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, during the first year of each new gubernatorial administration, to develop and implement a written comprehensive Virginia Farm and Forest Prosperity Plan that is designed to be enacted over the course of such gubernatorial administration's term. The Secretary is directed to submit a report detailing the progress made toward the development and implementation of the Plan to the Governor and to the Chairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources by December 1 of the first year of each new gubernatorial administration. This bill is identical to HB 512.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 2.1 of Chapter 2 of Title 2.2 a section numbered
2.2-203.4
, relating to Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry; Virginia Farm and Forest Prosperity Plan; report.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 2.1 of Chapter 2 of Title 2.2 a section numbered
2.2-203.4
as follows:
§
2.2-203.4
. Virginia Farm and Forest Prosperity Plan; report.
A. During the first year of each new gubernatorial administration, the Secretary shall develop and implement a written comprehensive Virginia Farm and Forest Prosperity Plan (the Plan) that is designed to be enacted over the course of such gubernatorial administration's term. Strategic areas of focus for the Plan shall include the economic prosperity, diversification, and growth of the agriculture and forestry industries in the Commonwealth. In developing the Plan, the Secretary shall review the existing agriculture and forestry policies in effect at the commencement of the Governor's term of office. The Secretary shall make revisions to such existing policies as the Secretary deems necessary to ensure that it is appropriate for the Commonwealth.

The Secretary shall coordinate with representatives of agriculture and forestry organizations, members of the agribusiness community, and other stakeholders he deems necessary, in developing the Plan.
B. The Secretary shall submit a report detailing the progress made toward the development and implementation of the Virginia Farm and Forest Prosperity Plan to the Governor and to the Chairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources by December 1 of the first year of each new gubernatorial administration.