RICHMOND—Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s grassroots advocates were busy throughout the 2026 General Assembly session, weighing in on legislation affecting agriculture and the farmers who supply the commonwealth’s food and fiber.
Some of that legislation will have an impact on rural Virginians and other residents as well. Among the bills and amendments addressed in 2026 included truth in labeling, notification for invasive species, streamlining deer kill permits, and minimum wage changes including impacts to the farmworker exemption.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a bill requiring alternative- and manufactured-protein products to include a label that identifies their ingredients and origin, and prohibit misbranding or misrepresentation.
Under the legislation, food would be considered misbranded if marketed as a meat or poultry product but “contains a manufactured-protein food product,” without a clear and prominent qualifying term. The product label will need to include a term such as “plant-based,” “cell-cultured,” “lab-grown,” or “vegan.”
“Clear and accurate labeling is not just a consumer transparency issue—it’s about fairness, integrity and protecting the livelihoods of Virginia’s livestock farmers,” said Katelyn Jordan, VFBF assistant director of governmental relations.
Spanberger also signed legislation that establishes escalating civil penalties for retailers, landscapers and contractors who fail to provide written notification to property owners when recommending or installing plants the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation lists as invasive.
Invasive species can spread beyond private landscapes and into natural and agricultural areas—disrupting ecosystems, harming farmland and economies. Building on efforts to curb their spread, penalties for not notifying property owners now include no more than $250 for a first violation, $500 for a second and $1,000 for each subsequent violation.
“Invasive species threaten our farms by damaging crops, increasing costs and disrupting operations,” Jordan said. “An informed consumer is critical to stopping their spread and protecting our farmland from future infestations.”
Virginia farmers continue to face issues from deer damaging farmland, agricultural operations and rural economies, with crop and yield losses in the thousands of dollars.
New legislation simplifies the kill permit process, making it easier to reauthorize permits and removing the shooter list requirement. The bill also clarifies that permits have no limit for culling antlerless deer causing damage to agricultural operations.
“This bill cuts unnecessary red tape by streamlining the kill permit process, giving farmers faster, more efficient tools to protect their operations while maintaining proper oversight,” Jordan explained.
Labor also was a big topic during this year’s session. Spanberger signed a bill increasing the Virginia minimum wage in phases. Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, minimum wage will increase to $13.75/hour, which will then increase to $15/hour by Jan. 1, 2028.
“Changes to the minimum wage have ripple effects all the way up and down the supply chain,” Jordan said. “We need to do everything we can to keep our small farmers farming.”
Media: Contact Jordan at 804-241-4042.
