# Virginia HB2335: Blue catfish; digital free fishing license program, sunset.

Virginia HB2335, Blue catfish; digital free fishing license program, sunset., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Shelly A. Simonds (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-02-04 (Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2335-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB2335
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Blue catfish; digital free fishing license program, sunset.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-08
- Last action: 2025-02-04, Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
- Sponsor: Shelly A. Simonds (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Agriculture
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Free fishing license program; blue catfish; sunset. Directs the Department of Wildlife Resources to create a program that allows a person to obtain a digital fishing license at no cost through the Department's Go Outdoors Virginia mobile application to catch blue catfish. The bill requires the Department to establish certain eligibility requirements as provided in the bill and to establish guidelines for the administration of the program, including an incentive program to recognize program participants that catch the most blue catfish by weight, length, or number. The program has an expiration date of July 1, 2029, after which the Department is required to examine and report on the effectiveness of the free digital fishing license program in reducing the Commonwealth's population of blue catfish.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Shelly A. Simonds (Democratic), House

## Actions (5)

- 2025-02-04: Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (House)
- 2025-01-22: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2335) (House)
- 2025-01-17: Assigned ACNR sub: Agriculture (House)
- 2025-01-08: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (House)
- 2025-01-08: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25103474D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2025-01-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015958.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015957.PDF)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015958.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015957.PDF)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2335-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).