The bill amends the Code of West Virginia to establish the West Virginia Apiary Act, which clarifies that apiaries are recognized as protected agricultural operations. It includes a series of findings by the Legislature that highlight the critical decline of pollinators, particularly honeybees, and emphasizes the importance of protecting these species for the state's agricultural economy and food security. The findings also assert that beekeeping has a positive economic impact and that the private maintenance of honeybee colonies is essential for increasing pollinator populations.

In the revised legal language, the bill replaces the previous title "Inspection and Protection of Agriculture" with "The West Virginia Apiary Act" and introduces several findings that underscore the significance of pollinators and beekeeping. These findings articulate the necessity of regulating beekeeping practices under the authority of the Commissioner of Agriculture, thereby reinforcing the role of apiaries in supporting agricultural operations in West Virginia.

Statutes affected:
Originating in Committee: 19-13-1, 19-13-3