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_ 502 Item Details($) Appropriations($) ITEM 359. First Year Second Year First Year Second Year FY2025 FY2026 FY2025 FY2026 second year from the Virginia Natural Resources Commitment Fund, a subfund of the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund, is hereby appropriated. The funds shall be dispersed by the department pursuant to § 10.1-2128.1, Code of Virginia. 2. The source of an amount estimated at $10,000,000 the first year and $10,000,000 the second year to support the nongeneral fund appropriation to the Virginia Natural Resources Commitment Fund shall be the recordation tax fee established in Part 3 of this act. 3. Out of this amount, a total of thirteen percent, or $1,300,000, whichever is greater, shall be appropriated to Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Districts for technical assistance to farmers implementing agricultural best management practices, and $8,700,000 for Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Assistance. Of the amount deposited for Cost-Share Assistance, seventy percent shall be used for matching grants for agricultural best management practices on lands in the Commonwealth exclusively or partly within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and thirty percent shall be used for matching grants for agricultural best management practices on lands in the Commonwealth exclusively outside of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. E.1. Out of the appropriation in this Item, $2,583,531 in the first year and $2,583,531 in the second year from the funds designated in Item 3-1.01.C. of this act are hereby appropriated to the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund and designated for deposit to the reserve fund established pursuant to paragraph B of Item 358. It is the intent of the General Assembly that all interest earnings of the Water Quality Improvement Fund shall be spent only upon appropriation by the General Assembly, after the recommendation of the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources, pursuant to § 10.1-2129, Code of Virginia. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 10.1-2128, 10.1-2129 and 10.1-2128.1, Code of Virginia, it is the intent of the General Assembly that the department use interest earnings from the Water Quality Improvement Fund and the Virginia Natural Resources Commitment Fund to support two five positions to administer the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program and provide support to Soil and Water Conservation Districts. grants from the fund. F. Out of the appropriation in this Item, $15,000 the first year and $15,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to support the Rappahannock River Basin Commission. The funds shall be matched by the participating localities and planning district commissions. G. Notwithstanding § 10.1-552, Code of Virginia, Soil and Water Conservation Districts are hereby authorized to recover a portion of the direct costs of services rendered to landowners within the district and to recover a portion of the cost for use of district-owned conservation equipment. Such recoveries shall not exceed the amounts expended by a district on these services and equipment. H. Unless specified otherwise in this Item, it is the intent of the General Assembly that balances in Soil and Water Conservation be used first, and then balances from Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost Share Assistance be used for the Commonwealth's statewide match for participation in the federal Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). I. The Water Quality Agreement Program shall be continued in order to protect the waters of the Commonwealth through voluntary cooperation with lawn care operators across the state. The department shall encourage lawn care operators to voluntarily establish nutrient management plans and annual reporting of fertilizer application. If appropriate, then the program may be transferred to another state agency. J.1. Out of the appropriation in this Item, $250,000 the first year and $250,000$750,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to the department to make available competitive grants to provide Chesapeake Bay meaningful watershed educational experiences. The department may enter into two-year contracts contingent on funding being available in the second year of the biennium. 2. Out of the appropriation in this item, $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to the Department to support two positions in the Office of Environmental Education to provide increased opportunities for education programs on environmental issues across the Commonwealth, pursuant to § 10.1-104, Code of Virginia. I VETO ITEM 359.J.1.-2. ON PAGES 502-503 /s/ Glenn Youngkin 5-2-25