                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS (§ 59.1-293.18)

A. Any nonresident manufacturer of liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products
that has not registered to do business in the Commonwealth as a foreign
corporation or business entity shall, as a condition precedent to being included
in the directory established by the Attorney General pursuant to &#xA7;
59.1-293.12, appoint and continually engage without interruption the services of
an agent in the Commonwealth to act as agent for the service of process in any
action or proceeding against such nonresident manufacturer concerning or arising
out of the enforcement of this chapter, and such nonresident manufacturer may be
served in any manner authorized by law. Such service shall constitute legal and
valid service of process on the nonresident manufacturer. The manufacturer shall
provide the name, address, telephone number, and proof of the appointment and
availability of such agent to the Attorney General.

B. The manufacturer shall provide notice to the Attorney General 30 calendar
days prior to termination of the authority of an agent and shall further provide
proof to the satisfaction of the Attorney General of the appointment of a new
agent no less than five calendar days prior to the termination of an existing
agent appointment. In the event an agent terminates an agency appointment, the
manufacturer shall notify the Attorney General of the termination within five
calendar days and shall include proof to the satisfaction of the Attorney
General of the appointment of a new agent.

C. Any manufacturer whose liquid nicotine or nicotine vapor products are sold in
the Commonwealth who has not appointed and engaged the services of an agent as
required by this section shall be deemed to have appointed the Secretary of the
Commonwealth as its agent for service of process. The appointment of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth as agent shall not satisfy the condition precedent
required in subsection A to be included in the directory.

HISTORY: 2024, cc. 793, 828.