Bill Text: VA SB1151 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Premium Assistance Program and Fund; established, sunset.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-05 - Left in Finance and Appropriations [SB1151 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2025-SB1151-Introduced.html
2025 SESSION
INTRODUCED
25100687D
SENATE BILL NO. 1151
Offered January 8, 2025
Prefiled January 7, 2025
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 3.2 a chapter numbered 5.1, consisting of sections numbered 3.2-511 through 3.2-514, relating to Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Premium Assistance Program and Fund established.
—————
Patron—French
—————
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
—————
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 3.2 a chapter numbered 5.1, consisting of sections numbered 3.2-511 through 3.2-514, as follows:
CHAPTER 5.1.
PASTURE, RANGELAND, AND FORAGE INSURANCE PREMIUM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
§ 3.2-511. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
"Fund" means the Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Premium Assistance Program Fund created pursuant to this chapter.
"PRF insurance" means the federal Rainfall Index Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage insurance program developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Risk Management Agency to help protect livestock producers from the risks of loss of forage for grazing or harvesting of hay due to the lack of precipitation.
"Program" means the Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Premium Assistance Program created pursuant to this chapter.
§ 3.2-512. Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Premium Assistance Program.
A. The Commissioner shall establish and administer the Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Premium Assistance Program to assist any person who is enrolled in PRF insurance.
B. The Department may reimburse a person who is enrolled in PRF insurance 50 percent of the person's annual PRF insurance premium, up to a maximum of $500. Such reimbursement shall be provided on a first-come, first-served basis and shall be subject to availability of funds.
C. A person is eligible to participate in the Program if such person (i) owns livestock that graze in the Commonwealth, (ii) is enrolled in PRF insurance and provides proof of payment of the annual premium for the insurance, and (iii) certifies to the Department that, within the past three years and in accordance with the general sampling recommendations from Virginia Cooperative Extension for the land enrolled in PRF insurance, soil samples have been taken from the land enrolled in PRF insurance and analyzed. An eligible person shall apply to the Department by the date and on the form established by the Commissioner to participate in the Program.
D. Any public or private soil testing laboratory may conduct the soil sample analysis required in subsection C.
E. The Commissioner may request from a Program participant who receives a reimbursement from the Fund documentation of the analysis of soil samples required in subsection C. Any Program participant who receives a reimbursement from the Fund and fails to provide such documentation when requested by the Commissioner shall be required to repay such reimbursement to the Fund.
§ 3.2-513. Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Premium Assistance Program Fund.
There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Premium Assistance Program Fund. The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated for such purpose and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this chapter. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Commissioner.
§ 3.2-514. Expiration of chapter.
The provisions of this chapter shall expire on July 1, 2030.
