SB393 HFAT Shott 3-4

Fisher 3258

Delegate Shott moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows:

Eng. Senate Bill No. 393 -- “A Bill to amend and reenact §19-19-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto two new sections, designated §19-19-7 and §19-19-8, all relating to the right to farm; providing for amended definitions of “agriculture” and “agricultural land”; defining the term “agricultural operation”; limiting persons who may file a nuisance action against an agricultural operation; providing for protections to agricultural operations from nuisance actions under certain circumstances; prohibiting state and local agencies from bringing actions against agricultural operations for activities that are in material compliance with applicable state and federal laws, regulations, and permits; exempting agricultural operations from municipal requirements under certain circumstances; providing that protections from nuisance actions do not apply under certain circumstances; permitting that the protected status of an agricultural operation is assignable, alienable, and inheritable; making a person who brings a nuisance action against a protected agricultural operation liable for the costs and expenses of the agricultural operation in defending the action; limiting total damages to the diminished value of the subject property; providing for the exclusive compensatory damages that may be awarded to a claimant where the alleged nuisance originates from an agricultural operation; providing that the combined recovery of any claimant or claimant’s successor in interest against an agricultural operation shall not exceed the fair market value of his or her property; and prohibiting punitive damages being awarded to a claimant for nuisance actions originating from an agricultural operation.”

Adopted

Rejected