# Virginia HB2379: Dangerous dogs; criteria for adjudication.

Virginia HB2379, Dangerous dogs; criteria for adjudication., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Eric R. Zehr (Republican); status failed, last action 2025-01-22 (Stricken from docket by Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N)) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2379-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB2379
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Dangerous dogs; criteria for adjudication.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-08
- Last action: 2025-01-22, Stricken from docket by Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N)
- Sponsor: Eric R. Zehr (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (22 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Dangerous dogs; criteria for adjudication. Allows a court to find an animal is a dangerous dog if the threat, injury, or damage was sustained by a person who was willfully trespassing or if at the time of the acts complained of the animal was protecting its kennel, its offspring, or its owner's property. The bill retains the restriction on a court from finding an animal is dangerous if such animal was responding to pain or injury to itself, its owner, or another person but requires the other person to be in the animal's presence.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Eric R. Zehr (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-01-22 | House | Stricken from docket by Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources | pass | 22 | 0 |   |

## Actions (3)

- 2025-01-22: Stricken from docket by Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N) (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 25102555D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2025-01-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1016132.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1016129.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/1016132.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1016129.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2379-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).