Thank you to all turfgrass and landscape persons who contacted members of the General Assembly regarding House Bill 2030. The Virginia Agribusiness Council worked closely with the bill’s patron and others regarding that piece of legislation. Below is the “new” HB2030 that was introduced today by the patron. This substitute verbiage passed both the House Ag Subcommittee and the House Ag, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources Committee. The bill now goes to the full House of Delegates and then to the Senate.

The substitute removes restrictions the original bill placed on professional applicators.

House Bill 2030. Click here for the complete substitute.

§ 3.2-3929.1. Application of neonicotinoid pesticides. In any residentially zoned, outdoor area, no person shall apply any aerosolized neonicotinoid insecticide for personal use on plants, unless such person (i) is certified or under the direct supervision of a certified applicator or (ii) first notifies the owner of any managed beehive that is located within the line of sight of the application area and marked with a visual indicator, as described by the Beekeeper Pollinator Protection voluntary best management practices authorized pursuant to § 3.2-108.1. Notice shall be given at least 24 hours prior to application and may be given by phone, email, or mail or in person at the address listed by the hive owner on the pollinator portal administered by the Department.

House Bill 2030 was recently introduced. Several provisions of that legislation are very anti industry, including:

(1) Notify, in writing, all residences living one-half mile before any application of a neonicotinoid product and (2) allow any city, town, or county to enact their own pesticide regulations. The first provision is impossible to achieve. The second is against Virginia law.

Please read our position letter about House Bill 2030.
Here is a link to the bill.

Please contact your representative to express your concern about House Bill 2030. The bill is currently is being considered by the House of Representative’s Agriculture Committee. Persons on that committee are the persons who must be contacted! Here are the members of that committee: Kenneth R. Plum (Chair), Gwendolyn W. (Wendy) Gooditis (Vice Chair), Roslyn C. Tyler, David L. Bulova, Alfonso H. Lopez, Kathy KL Tran, Daniel I. Helmer, Joshua G. Cole, Sally L. Hudson, Shelly A. Simonds, Rodney T. Willett, Nancy D. Guy, Angelia Williams Graves, R. Lee Ware, Daniel W. Marshall III, C. Todd Gilbert, Charles D. Poindexter, James E. Edmunds II, Tony O. Wilt, Michael J. Webert, Margaret B. Ransone, Robert S. Bloxom Jr.

Below is the contact information for each member of the House Agriculture Committee. Download a more detailed spreadsheet.

Delegate Capitol Phone District Phone Email

Kenneth R. Plum (Chair) (804) 698-1036 (703) 758-9733 DelKPlum@house.virginia.gov

Gwendolyn W. (Wendy) Gooditis (Vice Chair) (804) 698-1010 (540) 300-3857 DelWGooditis@house.virginia.gov

Roslyn C. Tyler (804) 698-1075 (434) 336-1710 DelRTyler@house.virginia.gov

David L. Bulova (804) 698-1037 (703) 310-6752 DelDBulova@house.virginia.gov

Alfonso H. Lopez (804) 698-1049 (571) 336-2147 DelALopez@house.virginia.gov

Kathy KL Tran (804) 698-1042 (703) 828-7173 DelKTran@house.virginia.gov

Daniel I. Helmer (804) 698-1040 (571) 445-0251 DelDHelmer@house.virginia.gov

Joshua G. Cole (804) 698-1028 (540) 642-0165 DelJCole@house.virginia.gov

Sally L. Hudson (804) 698-1057 (434) 202-6842 DelSHudson@house.virginia.gov

Shelly A. Simonds (804) 698-1094 (757) 276-3022 DelSSimonds@house.virginia.gov

Rodney T. Willett (804) 698-1073 DelRWillett@house.virginia.gov

Nancy D. Guy (804) 698-1083 (804) 689-1083 DelNGuy@house.virginia.gov

Angelia Williams Graves (804) 698-1090 (757) 524-4941 DelAGraves@house.virginia.gov

R. Lee Ware (804) 698-1065 (804) 598-6696 DelLWare@house.virginia.gov

Daniel W. Marshall III (804) 698-1014 (434) 797-5861 DelDMarshall@house.virginia.gov

C. Todd Gilbert (804) 698-1015 (540) 459-7550 DelTGilbert@house.virginia.gov

Charles D. Poindexter (804) 698-1009 (540) 576-2600 DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov

James E. Edmunds II (804) 698-1060 (434) 476-0077 DelJEdmunds@house.virginia.gov

Tony O. Wilt (804) 698-1026 (540) 208-0735 DelTWilt@house.virginia.gov

Michael J. Webert (804) 698-1018 (540) 999-8218 DelMWebert@house.virginia.gov

Margaret B. Ransone (804) 698-1099 (804) 472-4181 DelMRansone@house.virginia.gov

Robert S. Bloxom Jr. (804) 698-1000 (757) 824-3456 DelRBloxom@house.virginia.gov

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Maintaining a great relationship with both elected officials and with regulatory agencies is vital for our industry’s success. Join us as we work hard to educate both groups about the value of what we do. We protect the environment and provide well paying jobs for countless Virginians.

Download a one page industry issues handout.