# Virginia HB129: Deer; permit may be issued to kill if damaging residential plants and certain property.

Virginia HB129, Deer; permit may be issued to kill if damaging residential plants and certain property., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Mitchell Cornett (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0912)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB129-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB129
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Deer; permit may be issued to kill if damaging residential plants and certain property.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-02
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0912)
- Sponsor: Mitchell Cornett (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 10 (295 yes, 27 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

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 The bill also changes the extent to which a person can assist in hunting when his hunting license has been revoked or suspended in the Commonwealth by prohibiting such person from assisting in hunting until the hunting restriction has been lifted.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.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Past hunting convictions no longer bar helpers: benefit, low. The law removes the two-to-five-year ban on helping with authorized deer or bear kills after a hunting or trapping conviction. People with those convictions can help once their Virginia hunting license and privileges are no longer suspended or revoked.
- Farm deer permits allow unlimited antlerless kills: mixed, medium. Virginia must issue requested permits to farm owners or lessees for unlimited antlerless deer kills on qualifying commercial production land. Deer must be damaging fruit trees, Christmas trees, crops, horticultural plants, or property used for commercial farming. Permits expire December 31; renewal…
- Homeowners get permits for damaging deer: mixed, low. Virginia wildlife officials may give written permission to kill antlerless deer damaging residential plants, including ornamental plants and noncommercial crops. Antlered deer require an inspection and clear, convincing proof that they caused the damage. Officials may approve only a limited number…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mitchell Cornett (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-10 | House | Senate substitute agreed to by House | pass | 91 | 8 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 33 | 7 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute | pass | 13 | 2 |   |
| 2026-02-10 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 88 | 9 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute | pass | 21 | 1 |   |
| 2026-01-28 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 10 | 0 |   |

## Actions (39)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0912) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 912 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB129) (House)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB129ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Senate substitute agreed to by House (91-Y 8-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-09: Passed Senate with substitute (33-Y 7-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB129) (House)
- 2026-03-06: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Substitute bill reprinted 26108431D (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Committee substitute printed 26108431D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute (13-Y 2-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Assigned HACNR sub: Rural Affairs (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Senate subcommittee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB129) (House)
- 2026-02-11: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Read third time and passed House (88-Y 9-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-09: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-09: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-09: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-06: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-04: Committee substitute printed 26106494D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-04: Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute (21-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-01-28: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-28: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-19: Assigned HACNR sub: Agriculture (House)
- 2026-01-02: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (House)
- 2026-01-02: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102876D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224567.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224566.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210604.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210603.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1192075.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1192074.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179211.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179210.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1117913.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1117912.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-28: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100178.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100532.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100177.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100531.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082511.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082509.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224567.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1224566.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210604.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210603.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1192075.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1192074.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179211.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179210.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1117913.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1117912.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100178.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100532.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100177.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100531.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082511.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1082509.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB129-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).