VirginiaHB1092026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Noxious weeds; amends definition, commercial viability, phase-out period, report.

Sponsored By: Holly M. Seibold (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services; noxious weeds; commercial viability; report. Amends the definition of noxious weed to remove the exclusion for living plants or parts thereof that are commercially viable or commercially propagated in Virginia and removes the requirement that the Noxious Weeds Advisory Committee include in its recommendations to the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services an analysis of the current and potential in-state commercial viability of a plant species. The bill requires a plant that is designated by the Board as a noxious weed and commercially propagated in Virginia to be subject to a phase-out period of two years for grasses, forbs, and vines; four years for shrubs; and seven years for trees. The bill directs the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services to conduct a review of the legislative and regulatory authority of the Board pertaining to the control of noxious weeds and report his findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources by November 1, 2026.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Looser noxious-weed rules for growers

The law narrows what can be labeled a noxious weed. Plants with commercially viable in-state production, or that are commercially propagated in Virginia, are not labeled noxious weeds. If a commercially propagated plant is still listed, growers get time to wind down: 2 years for grasses, forbs, and vines; 4 years for shrubs; 7 years for trees. Routine farm work — management, tilling, planting, or harvesting — is not treated as “moving” under weed rules. Before any listing, a scientific advisory review must weigh harm to crops, waters, health, the environment, and the economy, and consider in-state commercial viability.

Landscapers must warn about invasive plants

The Board must adopt rules that require tradespersons who propose or install plants to give property owners written notice when the plant is on the state’s invasive plant list. Landscapers and similar trades must provide this notice when proposing or installing the plant. Homeowners get clear, written information before invasive plants are added.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Holly M. Seibold

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 219 • No: 2

Senate vote 2/27/2026

Passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/24/2026

Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

Yes: 14 • No: 0

House vote 2/10/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 96 • No: 2

House vote 2/4/2026

Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 1/28/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0066)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 66 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/6/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/10/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    3/10/2026House
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB109)

    3/4/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB109ER)

    3/4/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/4/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/4/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/4/2026House
  10. Passed Senate Block Vote (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/27/2026Senate
  11. Read third time

    2/27/2026Senate
  12. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    2/26/2026Senate
  13. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/26/2026Senate
  14. Rules suspended

    2/26/2026Senate
  15. Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (14-Y 0-N)

    2/24/2026Senate
  16. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    2/11/2026Senate
  17. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/11/2026Senate
  18. Read third time and passed House (96-Y 2-N 0-A)

    2/10/2026House
  19. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    2/9/2026House
  20. committee substitute agreed to

    2/9/2026House
  21. Read second time

    2/9/2026House
  22. Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

    2/9/2026House
  23. Read first time

    2/6/2026House
  24. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB109)

    2/6/2026House
  25. Committee substitute printed 26106452D-H1

    2/4/2026House

Bill Text

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