The bill amends the West Virginia Commercial Feed Law by removing the sunset provisions that required an additional registration fee for permits to sell or market commercial pet food, which was set to expire on June 1, 2027, and June 30, 2027. This means that the additional fees of $50 for pet food in packages over 10 pounds and $35 for pet food in packages of 10 pounds and under will continue indefinitely. These fees are designated to be deposited into the West Virginia Spay Neuter Assistance Fund to support spay and neutering services provided by licensed veterinarians in the state.

Additionally, the bill makes several technical changes to the language regarding permits and registrations. It clarifies that individuals must apply for permits or registrations at least 30 days prior to expiration or intended business engagement, and it specifies that permits and registrations are non-transferable. The bill also updates the language to use gender-neutral terms, replacing "his/her" with "his or her" in relevant sections. Overall, the bill aims to ensure ongoing funding for spay and neutering services while streamlining the permit application process for commercial feed and pet food distributors.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 19-14-5
Committee Substitute: 19-14-5