VirginiaSB1632026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Pesticide control; agencies or persons exempt or partially exempt.

Sponsored By: Ryan T. McDougle (Republican)

Became Law

Summary

Pesticide control; agencies or persons exempt or partially exempt. Provides that volunteers associated with state agencies, municipal corporations, or other governmental agencies shall be certified as commercial applicators or registered technicians for the use of pesticides, provided that such certification is valid only when applying or supervising application of pesticides used by such governmental agencies. The bill also exempts from applicator certification requirements any unpaid volunteer who uses any nonrestricted herbicide with the express authorization of a state agency for the sole purpose of controlling invasive plants or noxious weeds on properties owned by such state agency.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Exemptions for doctors, janitors, labs, painters

Some people are exempt from pesticide certification. This includes lab researchers using restricted‑use pesticides in the lab. Doctors and veterinarians are exempt when they apply pesticides as drugs or to control pests in corpses. Janitorial and cleaning services are exempt if they use only nonrestricted sanitizers, disinfectants, and germicides. People who apply paints with pesticide ingredients are exempt if the pesticides in the paint are not restricted‑use. The agency can also exempt more low‑risk classes by regulation.

Supervised boat painters can skip certificates

A painter who applies restricted‑use marine antifoulant paint does not need their own certificate if a commercial applicator directly supervises them on site. One certified commercial applicator may supervise no more than eight painters at a time.

Volunteers can spray nonrestricted herbicides under supervision

Unpaid volunteers expressly authorized by a state or local agency can use nonrestricted herbicides to control invasive plants or noxious weeds on that agency’s property without certification. A certified commercial applicator must directly supervise the work. Before spraying, the agency must give training on risks, equipment, protective gear, environmental protections, and herbicide‑specific information.

No certification for some workplace pesticide use

Employees do not need certification when they use only nonrestricted pesticides on property their employer owns or leases as part of their job. This exemption does not cover public areas at schools, health care, day care, or convalescent facilities. It also does not cover places with open food, or recreational land over five acres. Other parts of the law can still require certification in specific cases.

Government applicators need certification; agencies skip fees

Government employees, volunteers, and representatives who apply or supervise pesticides must be certified as commercial applicators or registered technicians. Their certification only covers pesticide work done for their agency. State and local government agencies do not pay pesticide certification fees, but they must follow all pesticide rules.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Ryan T. McDougle

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 321 • No: 0

House vote 3/2/2026

Passed House Block Vote

Yes: 98 • No: 0

House vote 3/2/2026

Passed House Block Vote

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote 2/25/2026

Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 2/25/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/26/2026

Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/23/2026

Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/22/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/22/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/20/2026

Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0335)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 335 (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

    3/10/2026Senate
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB163)

    3/5/2026Senate
  6. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB163ER)

    3/5/2026Senate
  7. Enrolled

    3/5/2026Senate
  8. Signed by President

    3/5/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/5/2026House
  10. Passed House Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/2/2026House
  11. Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House

    3/2/2026House
  12. Passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/2/2026House
  13. Passed by temporarily

    3/2/2026House
  14. Read third time

    3/2/2026House
  15. Read second time

    2/27/2026House
  16. Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N)

    2/25/2026House
  17. Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)

    2/25/2026House
  18. Assigned HACNR sub: Natural Resources

    2/24/2026House
  19. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    2/3/2026House
  20. Read first time

    2/3/2026House
  21. Placed on Calendar

    2/3/2026House
  22. Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (38-Y 0-N 0-A)

    1/26/2026Senate
  23. Passed Senate

    1/26/2026Senate
  24. Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    1/23/2026Senate
  25. Read second time

    1/23/2026Senate

Bill Text

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