Summary: Pet shops; posting of information about dogs;civil penalty. Provides for the assessment of a civil penaltyof up to $1,000 per violation when (i) any owner of a pet shop thatsells dogs does not maintain a written record for each dog in itspossession containing certain information or (ii) a pet shop thatsells dogs fails to post a notice stating that USDA's Animal andPlant Health Inspection Service inspection reports are availableprior to purchase. Currently, such violations are subject to theenforcement provisions of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.

Summary: Aerial pesticide application; civil penalty.Requires any commercial applicator or private applicator of pesticideswho uses fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft for the aerial application of such pesticides to any lands lying west of the Blue Ridge Mountainsto submit the following information to the Commissioner of Agricultureand Consumer Services no less than seven days prior to such application:(i) the location of such proposed application, (ii) the date andtime of such proposed application, and (iii) the brand name or common product name of the pesticide to be used in such proposed application.The bill provides that any commercial applicator or private applicatorwho violates the provisions of the bill shall be subject to a civilpenalty of $500 for a first offense and $2,500 for each additionaloffense.

Summary: Food product sales; waive government inspection.Exempts from certain inspection and permitting requirements foodproducts that are otherwise permitted by state law and are sold eitherat a farmers market or on the premises where such products were grownor produced. Consumers purchasing exempt food products will signa waiver provided by the seller that includes information about theproducts and the producers of such products.

Summary: Care of companion animals; adequate water.Amends the definition of "adequate water" as it relates to the careof companion animals to align with the federal Animal Welfare Actby specifying that water be provided in receptacles that are cleanedand sanitized before being used to provide water to a different dogor cat or a different social grouping of dogs or cats and to specifythe intervals at which dogs and cats must be provided clean, fresh,potable water unless restricted by a veterinarian.

Summary: Pet shops; sale of dogs or cats. Codifiesregulations proposed by the Virginia Department of Agriculture andConsumer Services governing the keeping of dogs and cats by pet shops,defined in the bill. The bill requires such pet shops to registerand pay a $250 annual registration fee to the Department. The billrequires pet shops in existence on July 1, 2023, to register withthe Department by January 1, 2024. The bill prohibits pet shops fromoffering dogs or cats for sale to research facilities and establishescertain standards of care for the keeping of dogs or cats. The billdirects the State Animal Welfare Inspector to conduct at least oneunannounced, annual inspection of each pet shop and provides certainstandards for the Inspector and pet shop owner in order to addressany violations.

Summary: Native plant species; state agencies. Directsthe Secretaries of Natural and Historic Resources, Agriculture andForestry, and Administration to coordinate the development of strategicactions for state agencies to take to prioritize the use of nativeplant species on state properties.

Summary: Animal testing; annual report; whistle blowerprotections created; Animal Welfare Whistle Blower Reward Fund established;civil penalty. Requires state and private facilities using animaltest methods to annually submit on or before December 1 to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services a report regarding the use of animals in biomedical or behavioral research for the preceding year.The bill also creates whistle blower protections for any violationsof any animal care requirements and establishes the Animal WelfareWhistle Blower Reward Fund to provide monetary rewards to personswho have disclosed any such violations. Finally, the bill providesthat violations will result in a civil penalty of not less than $500nor more than $2,500.

Summary: Animal care; seizure of animals; zoos. Addsanimals located at a zoo or petting zoo, defined in the bill, withagricultural animals as exceptions to the standards for seizure orimpoundment of companion animals.

Summary: Animal testing facilities; noncompliance withfederal laws and regulations; civil penalty. Establishes certainrestrictions and civil penalties for animal testing facilities, asdefined in the bill, that have received citations for noncompliancewith the federal Animal Welfare Act or regulations adopted thereunder.The bill requires animal testing facilities to register annually withthe Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, to pay an annualregistration fee to the Department, and to report citations receivedfor violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act or regulations adoptedthereunder to the Department.

Summary: Financing of dogs and cats prohibited. Prohibits financial institutions, access partners, or covered persons, as definedin relevant law, from offering, arranging, brokering, negotiating,placing, finding, or servicing in Virginia any type of loan, credit,or financing agreement for the financing, rental, lease, sale, orother transfer of a dog or cat. Current law prohibits financial institutionsfrom offering a loan or financing agreement for the rental, lease,or sale of a dog or cat where the animal is subject to repossessionupon default under the terms of the financing agreement. The billalso adds the financing of a dog or cat to a Virginia consumer asa prohibited activity. Current law prohibits the rental or leasing of a dog or cat to a Virginia consumer.

Summary: Elephants; pain-inflicting training tools prohibited; penalty. Adds elephants to the definition of "dangerous captiveanimal." The bill also prohibits (i) the use of a bullhook, ankus,baseball bat, axe handle, pitchfork, or similar instrument or a tooldesigned to inflict pain for the purpose of training or controllingthe behavior of an elephant and (ii) poking an elephant with suchan instrument or tool for the purpose of training or controllingthe behavior of the elephant. A violation is a Class 2 misdemeanor.