# Virginia HB1365: Fishing license requirements; free fishing days.

Virginia HB1365, Fishing license requirements; free fishing days., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0834)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1365-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1365
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Fishing license requirements; free fishing days.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-20
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0834)
- Sponsor: Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 8 (213 yes, 9 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

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.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Virginia anglers get more license-free days: benefit, low. The law raises the yearly limit from three to six free fishing days each for saltwater and inland waters. The Commissioner chooses saltwater days, and the Board chooses inland days. Anglers do not need the respective fishing license on those designated days. The saltwater exemption does not cover p…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | Passed Senate | pass | 39 | 1 |   |
| 2026-03-06 | 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 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources | pass | 14 | 1 |   |
| 2026-02-17 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 92 | 4 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | House | Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources | pass | 19 | 3 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 10 | 0 |   |

## Actions (28)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0834) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 834 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-01: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1365) (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 (HB1365ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Passed Senate (39-Y 1-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 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)
- 2026-03-03: Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (14-Y 1-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed House (92-Y 4-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-16: Read second time and engrossed (House)
- 2026-02-13: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-11: Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (19-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2026-02-10: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1365) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-30: Assigned HACNR sub: Agriculture (House)
- 2026-01-20: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (House)
- 2026-01-20: Presented and ordered printed 26104570D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222936.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222935.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210727.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210726.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-20: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1091704.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1091703.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/1222936.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222935.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210727.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210726.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1091704.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1091703.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-HB1365-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).