HB 65 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Apple Board; repealing Board and Apple Fund effective July 1, 2028, delayed effective date, report.

Summary

Apple Board; repeal. Repeals the Apple Board and Apple Fund effective July 1, 2028, and provides that any funds remaining in the Apple Fund as of July 1, 2028, shall be transferred to the Governor's Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund. The bill provides that the excise tax levied on apples grown in the Commonwealth shall not be collected for the 2026 harvest season and requires the chair of the Apple Board to file a report with the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services no later than June 30, 2028, with a statement of total receipts and disbursements of the Apple Board for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028. This bill is identical to SB 390.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Dec 30, 2025 Signed Mar 31, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled → Chaptered · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill finalizes the repeal of the Virginia Apple Board and its associated funds, which were previously scheduled to end on July 1, 2026. The legislation extends the expiration of the Apple Board and the excise tax on apples to July 1, 2028, allowing the board to continue operations for two additional years before its funds are transferred to the Governor's Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund. The text also includes minor formatting updates and clarifications to other sections regarding trade secret exclusions and closed meeting procedures.

Scope change

The bill extends the scope of the Apple Board's authority and funding by two years, changing the termination date from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2028.

TIMELINE

The expiration date for the Apple Board and the excise tax on apples grown in Virginia was extended from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2028.

FISCAL

Funds remaining in the Apple Fund after July 1, 2028, will be transferred to the Governor's Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund instead of being disbanded earlier.

ELIGIBILITY

No new appointments to the Apple Board will be made after July 1, 2026, but existing members will serve until the new expiration date of July 1, 2028.

TECHNICAL

Added a requirement for the State Board of Elections to review complaints regarding the personal use of campaign funds.

Updated the effective date for the repeal of the Apple Board chapter from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2028.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 26, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed

Total votes 39

Feb 26, 2026

D Democratic20

20 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican19

19 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 31, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter23 (Effective - see bill)

executive

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB65ER)

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (11-Y 2-N)

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time and passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N)

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)

lower

Jan 19, 2026

Committee

Assigned HACNR sub: Agriculture

lower

Dec 30, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors