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SB 1151

Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Premium Assistance Program and Fund; established, sunset.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Timmy French

Virginia establishes a state-funded insurance premium assistance program for livestock pasture and forage producers, with automatic program expiration unless legislatively reauthorized.

Left in Finance and Appropriations
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Bill Summary · SB 1151

Legislative bill overview

SB 1151 establishes a Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance Premium Assistance Program in Virginia with an accompanying fund to subsidize insurance premiums for agricultural producers. The bill includes a sunset provision, meaning the program would automatically expire unless reauthorized by the legislature at a future date.

Why is this important

Livestock producers face significant financial risk from forage crop failures due to drought, weather, or disease—risks that can threaten farm viability. By reducing insurance costs through premium assistance, the program aims to help farmers access crop insurance more affordably and stabilize agricultural operations, particularly in rural areas dependent on pasture-based farming.

Potential points of contention

  • State funding mechanism: The bill requires appropriations to fund premium subsidies; lawmakers may debate whether this represents an appropriate use of state resources versus market-based solutions
  • Program scope and beneficiaries: Questions may arise about eligibility criteria, farm size limits, and whether assistance benefits large agricultural operations disproportionately versus small family farms
  • Sunset clause effectiveness: The automatic expiration creates uncertainty for farmers planning long-term insurance strategies and may lead to future debates over program continuation and funding renewal

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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