All Roll Calls
Yes: 221 • No: 2
Sponsored By: Dan I. Helmer (Democratic)
Became Law
Apple Board; repeal. Repeals the Apple Board and Apple Fund effective July 1, 2028, and provides that any funds remaining in the Apple Fund as of July 1, 2028, shall be transferred to the Governor's Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund. The bill provides that the excise tax levied on apples grown in the Commonwealth shall not be collected for the 2026 harvest season and requires the chair of the Apple Board to file a report with the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services no later than June 30, 2028, with a statement of total receipts and disbursements of the Apple Board for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028. This bill is identical to SB 390.
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16 provisions identified: 12 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
Virginia stops collecting the apple excise tax after July 1, 2026. The Apple Board’s laws and powers end on July 1, 2028. Starting July 1, 2026, current Board members serve until July 1, 2028; only vacancies to finish unexpired terms can be filled. Any money left in the Apple Fund on July 1, 2028 moves to the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund.
You may keep engineering and construction drawings filed only for a building permit private until the building is finished. Safety and environmental details stay public. Private parties at Fort Monroe can request confidentiality for trade secrets and financial records tied to leases, permits, or similar agreements. Requests must be in writing and identify the records.
If you give trade secrets or private financials to VDOT for an audit, investigation, or study, you can ask to keep them private. If you submit trade secrets to the State Inspector General for an audit or special investigation, you can also request protection. You must ask in writing, identify the records, and explain why. The agency issues a written decision on the scope of protection.
In public buying and construction prequalification, you can mark trade secrets and proprietary data as private. In public‑private project talks, staff evaluations and marked business data can stay confidential. Franchise bidders can also protect new‑tech or financial capacity details. You must request protection in writing and identify the records.
Private solar providers can keep proprietary information they share under a solar services agreement confidential under the public records law. Financial terms of those agreements still must be disclosed when required. Developers can keep financial records in local affordable‑housing loan files private if tied to a competitive HUD or VHDA application and public release would hurt their bargaining position; once HUD or VHDA makes them public, the locality cannot withhold them. Employers and sponsors can keep trade secrets, pay data, and private financials given to the Department of Workforce Development and Advancement for apprenticeship programs confidential.
Public bodies can keep confidential some records from recruiting or retaining businesses when disclosure would hurt bargaining. The Virginia Resources Authority can protect nonpublic proprietary and financial records it receives. Nonpublic financial statements filed with industrial development financing applications can be withheld.
Private energy suppliers can keep nonpublic inventory and sales data given for state planning out of public records. Businesses that share proprietary data for solar service or carbon‑sequestration agreements can request confidentiality. You must ask in writing and explain why. The protection focuses on trade secrets and nonpublic financials.
Commodity board members serve four‑year terms, unless filling a vacancy. Boards elect a chair; members are unpaid but can be reimbursed for actual expenses from the board’s special funds. Apple producers’ sales data given to the State Apple Board stay private.
Applicants to the Innovation Partnership Authority and DHCD can protect trade secrets, nonpublic financials, and unreleased research. The Tobacco Commission and the Health Research Board can keep proprietary application materials and staff evaluations confidential. Applicants should request this in writing and identify the records.
Money in listed farm commodity funds (like the Apple Fund, Peanut Fund, Plant Pollination Fund, and the Virginia Agricultural Foundation Fund) can only be used for each fund’s stated purpose. If a federal law or agreement clearly overrides a Virginia commodity assessment rule, the state does not enforce that rule while the federal rule is in place.
Proprietary information that health carriers, PBMs, wholesalers, or manufacturers submit under listed laws is protected. Companies and providers can keep trade secrets given to Medicaid advisory bodies private. Carriers can also protect proprietary filings to the State Health Commissioner. These protections cover business‑sensitive and nonpublic data.
Local government telecom and cable providers can protect proprietary information when openness would harm their competitive position. Local wireless service authorities can do the same, while still releasing records required by law. Wireless carriers’ trade secrets related to E‑911 submissions remain confidential.
DRPT and VDOT can keep some federally exempt rail and study data confidential. Airports seeking state aviation funds can protect proprietary financials with a written request. The Port Authority may withhold proprietary business records. The Space Flight Authority and private partners can protect rate and financial information when openness would hurt bargaining.
Trade secrets given to DEQ can be kept private if you ask in writing and identify them. If the Department believes you handle waste, you must provide plans and information on request; trade secrets stay nonpublic but can go to EPA if required. Agricultural landowners can keep proprietary data confidential, except in enforcement. Vendors can protect equipment‑approval submissions; fisheries data that reveal a person or vessel stay private; pre‑1992 confidential toxic‑substance filings remain confidential.
Public bodies may meet in private for many listed topics. This applies now and runs through July 1, 2026. A similar list continues starting July 1, 2026. Topics include hiring, student issues, land deals, legal advice, procurement, economic development, and security briefings.
Parts of the act have a delayed start. The first‑enactment provisions take effect on July 1, 2028. This sets when those changes begin.
Dan I. Helmer
Democratic • House
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
All Roll Calls
Yes: 221 • No: 2
Senate vote • 3/2/2026
Passed Senate
Yes: 40 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/26/2026
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)
Yes: 40 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/26/2026
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/24/2026
Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Yes: 11 • No: 2
House vote • 2/3/2026
Read third time and passed House Block Vote
Yes: 98 • No: 0
House vote • 1/28/2026
Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Yes: 22 • No: 0
House vote • 1/21/2026
Subcommittee recommends reporting
Yes: 10 • No: 0
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0023)
Approved by Governor-Chapter23 (Effective - see bill)
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB65)
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB65ER)
Enrolled
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day
Read third time
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Rules suspended
Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (11-Y 2-N)
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Read third time and passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
Read second time and engrossed
Read first time
Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N)
Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB65)
Assigned HACNR sub: Agriculture
Chaptered
3/31/2026
Enrolled
3/6/2026
Introduced
12/30/2025
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