2026 SESSION

HOUSE SUBSTITUTE

26106061D

HOUSE BILL NO. 1110

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

on ________________)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Delegate Hodges)

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 27 of Title 3.2 a section numbered 3.2-2705.1, relating to Marine Products Board; blue catfish; Chesapeake Wild Harvest certification.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 27 of Title 3.2 a section numbered 3.2-2705.1 as follows:

§ 3.2-2705.1. Chesapeake Wild Harvest certification for blue catfish.

A. For the purposes of this section:

"Chesapeake Wild Harvest" means any blue catfish that is (i) taken or caught in the Chesapeake Bay or its tributaries and (ii) processed in the Commonwealth.

"Processed" means a substantial transformation at a U.S. Department of Agriculture-inspected facility in the Commonwealth whereby a blue catfish is slaughtered, cut, deboned, filleted, or otherwise changed into different marketable forms.

B. The Marine Products Board shall establish and maintain a voluntary Chesapeake Wild Harvest certification and labeling program for blue catfish products that meet the definition of Chesapeake Wild Harvest pursuant to subsection A.

C. A person shall not label any product as Chesapeake Wild Harvest unless such product meets the definition of Chesapeake Wild Harvest pursuant to subsection A.