HB 597 VA

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Became Law

Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund established; voluntary contributions; report. Establishes the Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund to provide grants for projects that conserve or enhance wildlife corridors prioritized by the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan and associated wildlife crossing infrastructure projects. The Director of the Department of Wildlife Resources shall administer the Fund in collaboration with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Department of Forestry, and the Department of Transportation. The Director of the Department of Wildlife Resources shall submit a report to the General Assembly by November 1 of each odd-numbered year concerning the amount of public and private funding received by the Fund, the awarding of grants from the Fund, and the progress of funded projects, including data on the use of project infrastructure by wildlife. The bill also provides mechanisms for individuals to make voluntary contributions to the Fund through a Department of Motor Vehicles electronic transaction and an individual income tax return.

• Shelly A. Simonds Democratic · primary

1. Jan 13, 2026 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105131D · lower
2. Jan 13, 2026 Referred to Committee on Appropriations · lower
3. Jan 20, 2026 Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources · lower
4. Feb 11, 2026 Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N) · lower
5. Feb 11, 2026 Reported from Appropriations (15-Y 7-N) · lower
6. Feb 12, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB597) · lower
7. Feb 13, 2026 Read first time · lower
8. Feb 16, 2026 Read second time and engrossed · lower
9. Feb 17, 2026 Read third time and passed House (65-Y 32-N 0-A) · lower
10. Feb 18, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) · upper
11. Feb 18, 2026 Referred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations · upper
12. Mar 6, 2026 Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N) · upper
13. Mar 9, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
14. Mar 9, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
15. Mar 9, 2026 Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) · upper
16. Mar 10, 2026 Read third time · upper
17. Mar 10, 2026 Passed Senate (25-Y 15-N 0-A) · upper
18. Mar 30, 2026 Enrolled · lower
19. Mar 30, 2026 Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB597ER) · lower
20. Mar 30, 2026 Signed by President · upper
21. Mar 31, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
22. Mar 31, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 · lower
23. Mar 31, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 · executive
24. Apr 1, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB597) · lower
25. Apr 13, 2026 Approved by Governor-Chapter 636 (effective 7/1/2026) · executive
26. Apr 13, 2026 Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0636) · executive

The published texts of this bill as it moves through the legislature. Each links to the official document on the state legislature site. Data from OpenStates.

• Chaptered · PDF
• Chaptered · HTML
• Enrolled · PDF
• Enrolled · HTML
• Introduced · PDF
• Introduced · HTML