# Virginia HB2629: Fishing license requirements; free fishing days.

Virginia HB2629, Fishing license requirements; free fishing days., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. (Republican); 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-HB2629-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB2629
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Fishing license requirements; free fishing days.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-13
- Last action: 2025-02-04, Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
- Sponsor: Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (6 yes, 4 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## 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

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

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

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-01-22 | House | Subcommittee recommends laying on the table | pass | 6 | 4 | 1 |

## Actions (6)

- 2025-02-04: Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (House)
- 2025-01-22: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (6-Y 4-N) (House)
- 2025-01-21: Assigned ACNR sub: Agriculture (House)
- 2025-01-16: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2629) (House)
- 2025-01-13: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (House)
- 2025-01-13: Presented and ordered printed 25104010D (House)

## Bill text

- Amendment, 2025-01-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1026509.HTML)
- Introduced, 2025-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1019541.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1019540.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
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1026509.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1019541.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1019540.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-HB2629-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).