# Virginia HB1396: Dogs; hunting game animals, fur-bearing animals, and nuisance species, permits, civil penalties.

Virginia HB1396, Dogs; hunting game animals, fur-bearing animals, and nuisance species, permits, civil penalties., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Marty Martinez (Democratic); status passed house, last action 2026-03-04 (Continued to 2027 in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)) (as of 2026-11-06).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1396-2026
- As of: 2026-11-06
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1396
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Dogs; hunting game animals, fur-bearing animals, and nuisance species, permits, civil penalties.
- Status: passed house
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-22
- Last action: 2026-03-04, Continued to 2027 in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
- Sponsor: Marty Martinez (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Finance and Appropriations
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 6 (102 yes, 60 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Department of Wildlife Resources; permits; use of dogs in hunting game animals, fur-bearing animals, and nuisance species; civil penalties. Directs the Department of Wildlife Resources to establish a permit for persons and a permit for organizations that hunt game animals, fur-bearing animals, or nuisance species with the aid of dogs and makes it unlawful for any person to (i) release a dog to hunt, pursue, or chase any game animal, fur-bearing animal, or nuisance species on any tract of real property or (ii) engage in hunting for any game animal, fur-bearing animal, or nuisance species with the aid of any dog unless such person has been issued a permit to hunt with dogs by the Department. The bill exempts from permitting requirements any person or organization (a) engaged in mounted fox hunting or hunting waterfowl, migratory birds, or upland game birds; (b) using a tracking dog to retrieve a wounded or dead bear, turkey, or deer; (c) whose dog remains in the immediate visual presence and control of such person or organization; or (d) on public lands where hunting is allowed. Finally the bill subjects any person who violates the provisions of the bill to a civil penalty of no more than $50 for a first violation and no less than $100 but no more than $250 for a second or subsequent violation within three years.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Marty Martinez (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-04 | Senate | Continued to 2027 in Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | Senate | Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 8 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-17 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 55 | 39 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | House | Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute | pass | 15 | 7 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Subcommittee failed to recommend passing by indefinitely | fail | 3 | 5 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 6 | 3 |   |

## Actions (23)

- 2026-03-04: Continued to 2027 in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1396) (House)
- 2026-02-26: Committee substitute printed 26108421D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1396) (House)
- 2026-02-24: Assigned HACNR sub: Companion Animals (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Senate subcommittee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-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 (55-Y 39-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-16: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-16: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-16: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-13: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-11: Committee substitute printed 26107741D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-11: Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute (15-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-02-11: House committee offered (House)
- 2026-02-04: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (6-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Subcommittee failed to recommend passing by indefinitely (3-Y 5-N) (House)
- 2026-02-04: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-30: Assigned HACNR sub: Agriculture (House)
- 2026-01-22: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (House)
- 2026-01-22: Presented and ordered printed 26105415D (House)

## Bill text

- Substitute, 2026-02-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182544.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182543.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177799.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177798.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139562.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1141739.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139561.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1141738.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128720.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128719.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127461.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127460.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093713.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093712.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB20: Minimum wage; farm laborers or farm employees, temporary foreign workers. (signed)
- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB1011: Compost and other products containing organic soil amendments; waste disposal infrastructure, etc. (signed)
- HB848: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; material noncompliance by landlord, rent escrow, relief. (signed)

## Sources
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182544.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182543.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177799.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1177798.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139562.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1141739.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1139561.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1141738.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128720.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1128719.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127461.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127460.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093713.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093712.PDF)

## Related
- [HB20: Minimum wage; farm laborers or farm employees, temporary foreign workers.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB20-2026)
- [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)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB1011: Compost and other products containing organic soil amendments; waste disposal i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1011-2026)
- [HB848: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; material noncompliance by landlord, re…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB848-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1396-2026 (as of 2026-11-06).