VA HB 129
enactedDeer; permit may be issued to kill if damaging residential plants and certain property.
Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower
Quick answers
Did VA HB 129 pass?
Yes. VA HB 129 has been enacted into law as of 2026-04-13. Latest recorded action (2026-04-13): Approved by Governor-Chapter 912 (effective 7/1/2026)
What is VA HB 129 about?
Killing of deer damaging residential plants and certain property. Allows the Director of the Department of Wildlife Resources or his designee to issue a permit to kill a limited number of antlered deer when such deer cause damage to residential plants and the Director or his designee determines, upon inspection, that there is clear and convincing evidence that the damage was done by antlered deer. Upon a landowner or lessee's request, the bill also requires the Director or his designee to issue a permit to kill antlerless deer on commercial agricultural production lands when such deer cause damage to fruit trees, Christmas trees, crops, horticultural plants, or personal property utilized for commercial agricultural production within the Commonwealth. When such damage is caused by antlered deer, the bill requires the Director or his designee to issue a permit to kill a limited number of antlered deer if the Director or his designee determines that there is clear and convincing evidence that the damage was done by antlered deer. The bill also changes the extent to which a person can assist in hunting when his hunting license has been revoked or suspended in the Commonwealth by prohibiting such person from assisting in hunting until the hunting restriction has been lifted. Current law allows such a person to assist in hunting after a certain period of time.
Who sponsors VA HB 129?
Mitchell Cornett is the primary sponsor of VA HB 129.
Description
Killing of deer damaging residential plants and certain property. Allows the Director of the Department of Wildlife Resources or his designee to issue a permit to kill a limited number of antlered deer when such deer cause damage to residential plants and the Director or his designee determines, upon inspection, that there is clear and convincing evidence that the damage was done by antlered deer. Upon a landowner or lessee's request, the bill also requires the Director or his designee to issue a permit to kill antlerless deer on commercial agricultural production lands when such deer cause damage to fruit trees, Christmas trees, crops, horticultural plants, or personal property utilized for commercial agricultural production within the Commonwealth. When such damage is caused by antlered deer, the bill requires the Director or his designee to issue a permit to kill a limited number of antlered deer if the Director or his designee determines that there is clear and convincing evidence that the damage was done by antlered deer. The bill also changes the extent to which a person can assist in hunting when his hunting license has been revoked or suspended in the Commonwealth by prohibiting such person from assisting in hunting until the hunting restriction has been lifted. Current law allows such a person to assist in hunting after a certain period of time.
- Introduced
- 2026-01-02
- Latest action
- 2026-04-13 — Approved by Governor-Chapter 912 (effective 7/1/2026)
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Sponsors
- Mitchell Cornettprimary
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
2026-01-02
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102876D
filing,introduction
2026-01-02
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
referral-committee
2026-01-19
Assigned HACNR sub: Agriculture
referral-committee
2026-01-28
House subcommittee offered
2026-01-28
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N)
substitution
2026-02-04
Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute (21-Y 1-N)
committee-passage
2026-02-04
Committee substitute printed 26106494D-H1
substitution
2026-02-06
Read first time
reading-1
2026-02-09
Read second time
reading-2
2026-02-09
committee substitute agreed to
substitution
2026-02-09
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
substitution
2026-02-10
Read third time and passed House (88-Y 9-N 0-A)
passage,reading-3
2026-02-11
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-11
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
referral-committee
2026-02-11
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB129)
2026-02-24
Senate subcommittee offered
2026-02-25
Assigned HACNR sub: Rural Affairs
referral-committee
2026-03-03
Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute (13-Y 2-N)
committee-passage
2026-03-04
Committee substitute printed 26108431D-S1
substitution
2026-03-04
Substitute bill reprinted 26108431D
2026-03-05
Rules suspended
2026-03-05
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-05
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-03-06
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-03-06
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB129)
2026-03-09
Read third time
reading-3
2026-03-09
Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to
2026-03-09
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
substitution
2026-03-09
Passed Senate with substitute (33-Y 7-N 0-A)
passage
2026-03-10
Senate substitute agreed to by House (91-Y 8-N 0-A)
substitution
2026-03-30
Enrolled
enrolled
2026-03-30
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB129ER)
passage
2026-03-30
Signed by President
passage
2026-03-31
Signed by Speaker
passage
2026-03-31
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
enrolled,executive-receipt
2026-03-31
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
executive-receipt
2026-04-02
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB129)
2026-04-13
Approved by Governor-Chapter 912 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive-signature
Versions
Documents
Votes
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute
2026-01-28 · pass · 10-0
Member-level votes (10)
- Rodney T. Willett: yes
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- Jackie H. Glass: yes
- Amy J. Laufer: yes
- Marty Martinez: yes
- John Chilton McAuliff: yes
- Virgil Thornton: yes
- Tony O. Wilt: yes
- Michael J. Webert: yes
- Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: yes
Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute
2026-02-04 · pass · 21-1
Member-level votes (22)
- Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
- Nadarius E. Clark: yes
- Kathy K.L. Tran: no
- Shelly A. Simonds: yes
- Rodney T. Willett: yes
- Charniele L. Herring: yes
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- Jackie H. Glass: yes
- Phil M. Hernandez: yes
- Amy J. Laufer: yes
- Marty Martinez: yes
- John Chilton McAuliff: yes
- Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
- Virgil Thornton: yes
- Lily V. Franklin: yes
- R. Lee Ware: yes
- Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: yes
- Tony O. Wilt: yes
- Michael J. Webert: yes
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
- Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: yes
- Hillary Pugh Kent: yes
H VOTE:
2026-02-10 · pass · 88-9
Member-level votes (100)
- Jessica L. Anderson: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- Alex Q. Askew: yes
- Terry L. Austin: yes
- Jason S. Ballard: yes
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: not voting
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
- Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
- Katrina Callsen: yes
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
- Betsy B. Carr: yes
- Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
- Mike A. Cherry: yes
- Nadarius E. Clark: no
- Laura Jane Cohen: yes
- Joshua G. Cole: yes
- Nicole Cole: yes
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
- Mitchell Cornett: yes
- Rae Cousins: no
- Will Davis: yes
- Karrie K. Delaney: yes
- Lindsey Dougherty: yes
- Mark C. Downey: yes
- Michael B. Feggans: yes
- Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: yes
- Lily V. Franklin: yes
- Margaret A. Franklin: yes
- Debra D. Gardner: not voting
- Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: yes
- Jackie H. Glass: yes
- Timothy P. Griffin: yes
- Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
- Karen Hamilton: yes
- C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
- Dan I. Helmer: yes
- Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
- Phil M. Hernandez: no
- Charniele L. Herring: no
- M. Keith Hodges: yes
- Patrick A. Hope: no
- Hillary Pugh Kent: yes
- Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
- Terry G. Kilgore: yes
- Barry D. Knight: not voting
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- Amy J. Laufer: yes
- James A. "Jay" Leftwich: yes
- Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
- Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
- Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
- Marty Martinez: yes
- John Chilton McAuliff: yes
- Adele Y. McClure: yes
- Garrett McGuire: yes
- Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes
- Joseph P. McNamara: yes
- Delores L. McQuinn: yes
- Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
- James W. Morefield: yes
- May Nivar: yes
- Delores Oates: yes
- Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
- Justin Pence: yes
- Eric Phillips: yes
- Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price: no
- Sam Rasoul: yes
- Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
- David A. Reid: yes
- Chris S. Runion: yes
- Charlie Schmidt: yes
- Don Scott: yes
- Phillip A. Scott: yes
- Holly M. Seibold: no
- Briana D. Sewell: yes
- Irene Shin: yes
- Marcus B. Simon: no
- Shelly A. Simonds: yes
- JJ Singh: yes
- Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
- Anne Ferrell Tata: yes
- Joshua E. Thomas: yes
- Virgil Thornton: yes
- Luke E. Torian: yes
- Kathy K.L. Tran: no
- H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: yes
- Wendell S. Walker: yes
- Jeion A. Ward: yes
- R. Lee Ware: yes
- Vivian E. Watts: yes
- Michael J. Webert: yes
- Madison Whittle: yes
- Bill Wiley: yes
- Rodney T. Willett: yes
- Wren M. Williams: yes
- Tony O. Wilt: yes
- Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: yes
- Scott A. Wyatt: yes
- Eric R. Zehr: yes
Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute
2026-03-03 · pass · 13-2
Member-level votes (15)
- David W. Marsden: yes
- Mark D. Obenshain: yes
- Richard H. Stuart: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
- David R. Suetterlein: yes
- T. Travis Hackworth: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
- Russet Perry: yes
- Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
- Timmy French: yes
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
- Danica A. Roem: no
- Kannan Srinivasan: yes
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: no
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)
2026-03-05 · pass · 39-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
- Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Luther Cifers, III: yes
- Christie New Craig: yes
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Bill DeSteph: yes
- J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
- Tara A. Durant: yes
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Timmy French: yes
- T. Travis Hackworth: yes
- Christopher T. Head: yes
- Michael J. Jones: yes
- Emily M. Jordan: yes
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- L. Louise Lucas: yes
- David W. Marsden: not voting
- Ryan T. McDougle: yes
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
- Mark D. Obenshain: yes
- Mark J. Peake: yes
- Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
- Russet Perry: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: yes
- Bryce E. Reeves: yes
- Danica A. Roem: yes
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Kannan Srinivasan: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
- Richard H. Stuart: yes
- Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
- David R. Suetterlein: yes
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
Passage R
2026-03-09 · pass · 33-7
Member-level votes (40)
- Lashrecse D. Aird: no
- Lamont Bagby: no
- Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: no
- Jennifer B. Boysko: no
- Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
- Luther Cifers, III: yes
- Christie New Craig: yes
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Bill DeSteph: yes
- J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
- Tara A. Durant: yes
- Barbara A. Favola: yes
- Timmy French: yes
- T. Travis Hackworth: yes
- Christopher T. Head: yes
- Michael J. Jones: yes
- Emily M. Jordan: yes
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- L. Louise Lucas: yes
- David W. Marsden: yes
- Ryan T. McDougle: yes
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
- Mark D. Obenshain: yes
- Mark J. Peake: yes
- Stella G. Pekarsky: no
- Russet Perry: yes
- Todd E. Pillion: yes
- Bryce E. Reeves: yes
- Danica A. Roem: no
- Aaron R. Rouse: no
- Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
- Kannan Srinivasan: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
- Richard H. Stuart: yes
- Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
- David R. Suetterlein: yes
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
- Angelia Williams Graves: yes
H VOTE:
2026-03-10 · pass · 91-8
Member-level votes (99)
- Jessica L. Anderson: yes
- Bonita G. Anthony: yes
- Alex Q. Askew: yes
- Terry L. Austin: yes
- Jason S. Ballard: yes
- Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: yes
- Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
- Katrina Callsen: yes
- Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
- Betsy B. Carr: yes
- Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
- Mike A. Cherry: yes
- Nadarius E. Clark: yes
- Laura Jane Cohen: yes
- Joshua G. Cole: yes
- Nicole Cole: yes
- Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
- Mitchell Cornett: yes
- Rae Cousins: no
- Will Davis: yes
- Karrie K. Delaney: yes
- Lindsey Dougherty: yes
- Mark C. Downey: yes
- Michael B. Feggans: yes
- Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: yes
- Lily V. Franklin: yes
- Margaret A. Franklin: yes
- Debra D. Gardner: yes
- Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: yes
- Jackie H. Glass: yes
- Timothy P. Griffin: yes
- Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
- Karen Hamilton: yes
- C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
- Dan I. Helmer: yes
- Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: no
- Phil M. Hernandez: no
- Charniele L. Herring: no
- M. Keith Hodges: yes
- Patrick A. Hope: yes
- Hillary Pugh Kent: yes
- Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
- Terry G. Kilgore: yes
- Paul E. Krizek: yes
- Amy J. Laufer: yes
- James A. "Jay" Leftwich: yes
- Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
- Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
- Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
- Marty Martinez: yes
- John Chilton McAuliff: yes
- Adele Y. McClure: yes
- Garrett McGuire: yes
- Ellen H. McLaughlin: yes
- Joseph P. McNamara: yes
- Kirk McPike: yes
- Delores L. McQuinn: yes
- Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
- James W. Morefield: yes
- May Nivar: yes
- Delores Oates: yes
- Israel D. O'Quinn: yes
- Justin Pence: yes
- Eric Phillips: yes
- Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
- Marcia S. "Cia" Price: no
- Sam Rasoul: yes
- Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
- David A. Reid: yes
- Chris S. Runion: yes
- Charlie Schmidt: yes
- Don Scott: yes
- Phillip A. Scott: yes
- Holly M. Seibold: no
- Briana D. Sewell: yes
- Irene Shin: yes
- Marcus B. Simon: no
- Shelly A. Simonds: yes
- JJ Singh: yes
- Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
- Anne Ferrell Tata: yes
- Joshua E. Thomas: yes
- Virgil Thornton: yes
- Luke E. Torian: yes
- Kathy K.L. Tran: no
- H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: yes
- Wendell S. Walker: yes
- Jeion A. Ward: yes
- R. Lee Ware: yes
- Vivian E. Watts: yes
- Michael J. Webert: yes
- Madison Whittle: yes
- Bill Wiley: yes
- Rodney T. Willett: yes
- Wren M. Williams: yes
- Tony O. Wilt: yes
- Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: yes
- Scott A. Wyatt: yes
- Eric R. Zehr: yes
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z
Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:
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