Bill > HB5533

This bill aims to clarify and strengthen the Right to Farm Act in West Virginia. It defines "agricultural residential land" as land used for urban agriculture, such as raising up to six chickens or maintaining an apiary. The bill prohibits local governments from banning or requiring permits for urban agriculture, and it expands protections against nuisance lawsuits for agricultural operations that comply with state and federal laws. The bill also gives the state Commissioner of Agriculture preemptive authority over the regulation and placement of apiaries, superseding any local ordinances. Overall, the bill seeks to promote and protect agricultural activities, including residential agriculture, within the state.