SB 474 — Atlantic Menhaden Research Fund; established, report.

Summary

Virginia Institute of Marine Science; Atlantic Menhaden Research Fund established; report. Establishes the Atlantic Menhaden Research Fund to be used by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), in collaboration with Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) and relevant stakeholders, to produce research relating to Atlantic menhaden necessary to inform a scientifically defensible and ecologically meaningful harvest limit for Atlantic menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay and an annual report summarizing such research. VIMS is directed to annually report its progress, findings, recommendations, and a proposal for expenditures and disbursements from the Fund for the following year to the Chairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources, the Ecological Reference Point Work Group of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the Menhaden Management Advisory Committee of VMRC no later than October 1 of each year.

Bill Text

• Introduced View text Current pdf

Compared against the Code of Virginia as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 1 section(s) of the Code of Virginia: 28.2-1102.1.

• 28.2-1102.1

  A.

  Inserts “A.”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the At

  Inserts “There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the At”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  lantic Menhaden Research

  Inserts “lantic Menhaden Research”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  Fund, referred to in this section as "the 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

  Inserts “Fund, referred to in this section as "the 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”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  established

  Inserts “established”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  in subsection B

  Inserts “in subsection B”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  . Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by

  Inserts “. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  the Dean

  Inserts “the Dean”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  and

  Inserts “and”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  Director

  Inserts “Director”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  of the Institute

  Inserts “of the Institute”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  .

  Inserts “.”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  B.

  Inserts “B.”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  1.

  Inserts “1.”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  The

  Inserts “The”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  Institute, in collaboration

  Inserts “Institute, in collaboration”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  with the Commission, shall utilize moneys from the Fund

  Inserts “with the Commission, shall utilize moneys from the Fund”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  to produce

  Inserts “to produce”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  research

  Inserts “research”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  relating to Atlantic menhaden

  Inserts “relating to Atlantic menhaden”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  necessary to inform a scientifically defensible and ecologically meaningful harvest limit for Atlantic menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay

  Inserts “necessary to inform a scientifically defensible and ecologically meaningful harvest limit for Atlantic menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  and an annual report summarizing such research. Such

  Inserts “and an annual report summarizing such research. Such”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  research and

  Inserts “research and”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  report shall

  Inserts “report shall”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  also

  Inserts “also”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  be

  Inserts “be”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  produced

  Inserts “produced”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  in collaboration

  Inserts “in collaboration”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  with

  Inserts “with”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  relevant stakeholders

  Inserts “relevant stakeholders”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  ,

  Inserts “,”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  including recreational anglers, the reduction and bait fishery sectors, and nongover

  Inserts “including recreational anglers, the reduction and bait fishery sectors, and nongover”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  nmental organizations.

  Inserts “nmental organizations.”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  2. The report

  Inserts “2. The report”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  shall address (i) the seasonal abundance of Atlantic menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay

  Inserts “shall address (i) the seasonal abundance of Atlantic menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  ;

  Inserts “;”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  (ii) the movement rates of Atlantic menhaden between the

  Inserts “(ii) the movement rates of Atlantic menhaden between the”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  coast of the

  Inserts “coast of the”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  Atlantic

  Inserts “Atlantic”.

• 28.2-1102.1

  Ocean

  Inserts “Ocean”.

Action History

1. July 21, 2026

   Continued from last session

2. February 03, 2026

   Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)

3. January 13, 2026

   Referred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations

4. January 13, 2026

   Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103641D

Sponsors

• David W. Marsden · Primary

Subjects