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Department of Wildlife Resources; premature separation and hybridization of mammalian wildlife prohibited; exceptions. Makes it unlawful to prematurely separate any mammalian wildlife offspring born in captivity from the mother prior to the offspring turning four months of age, except that wildlife offspring may be prematurely separated if a medical necessity exists pursuant to a written order from a veterinarian with appropriate species-specific experience and expertise licensed to practice in the Commonwealth. The bill excludes the following from its provisions: (i) agricultural animals; (ii) noncommercial transfers or trades between accredited zoological facilities; (iii) an accredited zoological facility, as defined in the bill, that retains the mammalian wildlife offspring separated by such zoological facility; (iv) the Department of Wildlife Resources, a person operating under a wildlife rehabilitator, scientific collection, or endangered and threatened species permit approved by the Department, or a person operating under a species recovery plan approved by the Department; (v) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; or (vi) any person rendering emergency neonatal aide, including the temporary separation of up to 72 hours until a licensed veterinarian can be engaged for assessment and treatment. The bill also makes it unlawful to intentionally and for commercial purposes propagate mammalian wildlife of different species, also known as hybridization. This bill is identical to HB 112.
Introduced
Jan 13, 2026
Last Action
Mar 10, 2026
Session
VA 2026
Sponsors
1 primary · 1 co
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
Signed by Speaker
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB344)
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB344ER)
Signed by President
Enrolled
Passed House (74-Y 25-N 0-A)
Read third time
Read second time
Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (19-Y 3-N)
Placed on Calendar
Read first time
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB344)
Read third time and passed Senate (26-Y 14-N 0-A)
Read second time
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)
Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
Rules suspended
Committee substitute printed 26107014D-S1
Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute (10-Y 3-N)
Senate committee offered
Senate committee offered
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104692D
Get a plain-English explanation of what this bill does, who it affects, and why it matters.
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Jennifer B. Boysko
William M. Stanley, Jr.