A view of the Virginia House of Delegates Chamber in Richmond. (Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury)
Hundreds of bills are filed for General Assembly consideration each year. In this weekly series, the Mercury takes a look at a few of lawmakers’ 2024 proposals that might not otherwise make headlines during the whirlwind legislative session.
House Bill 1167 : Letting localities prohibit the sale of English ivy
HB 1167 from Del. Paul Krizek, D-Alexandria, would give local governments the authority to prohibit the sale of English ivy, with violations punishable by up to $50 for the first infraction and $200 for a subsequent one within 12 months.
The delegate’s bill comes amid a growing conversation in the General Assembly around the issues surrounding invasive species, like English ivy. Krizek told the House Agriculture Subcommittee last week his bill is almost identical to current laws on running bamboo, another harmful invasive plant.
Even though Virginia considers English ivy to be invasive and research has shown it can cause immense — sometimes irreparable — damage to infrastructure and native species, the state does not prohibit its sale.