Bill Commons

VA HB 1365

enacted

Fishing license requirements; free fishing days.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

Quick answers

Did VA HB 1365 pass?

Yes. VA HB 1365 has been enacted into law as of 2026-04-13. Latest recorded action (2026-04-13): Approved by Governor-Chapter 834 (effective 7/1/2026)

What is VA HB 1365 about?

Fishing license requirements; exemptions; free fishing days. Increases from three to six days the maximum number of free fishing days, during which a person is allowed to fish without a fishing license, that the Board of Wildlife Resources may designate for inland waters in the Commonwealth and the Commissioner of Marine Resources may designate for saltwater recreational fishing in the Commonwealth.

Who sponsors VA HB 1365?

Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. is the primary sponsor of VA HB 1365, joined by 9 cosponsors.

Description

Fishing license requirements; exemptions; free fishing days. Increases from three to six days the maximum number of free fishing days, during which a person is allowed to fish without a fishing license, that the Board of Wildlife Resources may designate for inland waters in the Commonwealth and the Commissioner of Marine Resources may designate for saltwater recreational fishing in the Commonwealth.

Introduced
2026-01-20
Latest action
2026-04-13 — Approved by Governor-Chapter 834 (effective 7/1/2026)
Bill type
bill
Last updated

Sponsors

  • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.primary
  • Luther Cifers, IIIcosponsor
  • Wendell S. Walkercosponsor
  • Irene Shincosponsor
  • Charlie Schmidtcosponsor
  • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.cosponsor
  • Ellen H. McLaughlincosponsor
  • Karen Hamiltoncosponsor
  • Timothy P. Griffincosponsor
  • Delores Oatescosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2026-01-20

    Presented and ordered printed 26104570D

    introduction

  2. 2026-01-20

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    referral-committee

  3. 2026-01-30

    Assigned HACNR sub: Agriculture

    referral-committee

  4. 2026-02-04

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)

  5. 2026-02-10

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1365)

  6. 2026-02-11

    Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (19-Y 3-N)

    committee-passage

  7. 2026-02-13

    Read first time

    reading-1

  8. 2026-02-16

    Read second time and engrossed

    reading-2

  9. 2026-02-17

    Read third time and passed House (92-Y 4-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  10. 2026-02-18

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  11. 2026-02-18

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    referral-committee

  12. 2026-03-03

    Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (14-Y 1-N)

    committee-passage

  13. 2026-03-05

    Rules suspended

  14. 2026-03-05

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  15. 2026-03-05

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  16. 2026-03-06

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  17. 2026-03-09

    Passed by for the day

  18. 2026-03-10

    Read third time

    reading-3

  19. 2026-03-10

    Passed Senate (39-Y 1-N 0-A)

    passage

  20. 2026-03-30

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  21. 2026-03-30

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1365ER)

    passage

  22. 2026-03-30

    Signed by President

    passage

  23. 2026-03-31

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  24. 2026-03-31

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  25. 2026-03-31

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    executive-receipt

  26. 2026-04-01

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1365)

  27. 2026-04-13

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 834 (effective 7/1/2026)

    executive-signature

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Subcommittee recommends reporting

    2026-02-04 · 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

    2026-02-11 · pass · 19-3

    Member-level votes (22)
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • 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: no
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
    • Tony O. Wilt: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: yes
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: yes
  • H VOTE:

    2026-02-17 · pass · 91-4

    Member-level votes (99)
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: yes
    • Jason S. Ballard: yes
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
    • 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: not voting
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Mitchell Cornett: yes
    • 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.: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: yes
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • 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: not voting
    • 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: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: not voting
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Don Scott: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: yes
    • Holly M. Seibold: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Irene Shin: yes
    • Marcus B. Simon: yes
    • 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: no
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: yes
    • Madison Whittle: no
    • 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

    2026-03-03 · pass · 14-1

    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: yes
  • 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

    2026-03-10 · pass · 39-1

    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: yes
    • 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: no
    • 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

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:

Use this data

Every field on this page is available from the free public API — no key or licence required. Fetch this bill as JSON: GET /api/v1/bills?jurisdiction=VA&identifier=HB 1365. See the API docs or the MCP server for AI assistants.

Known limitations

  • Sponsor party and chamber affiliation are not yet captured by this API.
  • Committee referrals are not yet captured.

See the methodology page for data sources and limitations.