The Senate Rural Affairs Subcommittee voted 5-0 to report a bill sponsored by Sen. Stewart that raises statutory caps for local reimbursements when livestock or fowl are killed by animals. The sponsor described the measure as an "inflationary mechanism" that increases the maximum amounts localities may pay under existing processes.

Sen. Stewart said the bill raises the reimbursement cap for poultry and other fowl from up to $10 to up to $25, and raises the cap for cattle from up to $750 to up to $1,000. She said the statutory process for reimbursement — including a requirement that claimants obtain a judgment before seeking payment from a locality — remains in place.

The sponsor and witnesses emphasized this is a local program: the state sets the statutory maximums, but local governments administer reimbursements and may fund payments through sources such as dog-licensing fees. "This just raises it the up to amount that you can show. And there's no cost to the state. It's a local issue," Sen. Stewart said.

Martha Moore of the Virginia Farm Bureau testified in support. The subcommittee recorded a roll-call vote of 5-0 to report the bill.