SB 344 VA

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To Executive

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.

• Jennifer B. Boysko Democratic · primary

1. Jan 13, 2026 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104692D · upper
2. Jan 13, 2026 Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources · upper
3. Jan 27, 2026 Senate committee offered · upper
4. Feb 3, 2026 Senate committee offered · upper
5. Feb 3, 2026 Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute (10-Y 3-N) · upper
6. Feb 4, 2026 Committee substitute printed 26107014D-S1 · upper
7. Feb 5, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
8. Feb 5, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
9. Feb 5, 2026 Passed by for the day (Voice Vote) · upper
10. Feb 6, 2026 Read second time · upper
11. Feb 6, 2026 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to · upper
12. Feb 6, 2026 Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) · upper
13. Feb 9, 2026 Read third time and passed Senate (26-Y 14-N 0-A) · upper
14. Feb 11, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB344) · upper
15. Feb 12, 2026 Placed on Calendar · lower
16. Feb 12, 2026 Read first time · lower
17. Feb 12, 2026 Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources · lower
18. Feb 25, 2026 Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (19-Y 3-N) · lower
19. Feb 27, 2026 Read second time · lower
20. Mar 2, 2026 Read third time · lower
21. Mar 2, 2026 Passed House (74-Y 25-N 0-A) · lower
22. Mar 5, 2026 Enrolled · upper
23. Mar 5, 2026 Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB344ER) · upper
24. Mar 5, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB344) · upper
25. Mar 5, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
26. Mar 5, 2026 Signed by President · upper
27. Mar 10, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 · upper
28. Mar 10, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 · executive
29. Apr 13, 2026 Governor's recommendation received by Senate · 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.

• Governor's Recommendation · HTML
• Enrolled · PDF
• Enrolled · HTML
• Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute · PDF
• Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute · HTML
• Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute · PDF
• Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute · HTML
• Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute · PDF
• Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute · HTML
• Introduced · PDF
• Introduced · HTML