# Virginia SB344: Mammalian wildlife; separation and hybridization prohibited, exceptions.

Virginia SB344, Mammalian wildlife; separation and hybridization prohibited, exceptions., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Jennifer B. Boysko (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (House concurred in Governor's recommendation (67-Y 30-N 0-A)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB344-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB344
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Mammalian wildlife; separation and hybridization prohibited, exceptions.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-22, House concurred in Governor's recommendation (67-Y 30-N 0-A)
- Sponsor: Jennifer B. Boysko (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 9 (260 yes, 90 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 4

## Summary

Department of Wildlife Resources; premature separation and hybridization of mammalian wildlife prohibited; exceptions. Makes it unlawful to prematurely separate any mammalian wildlife offspring born in captivity from the mother prior to the offspring turning four months of age, except that wildlife offspring may be prematurely separated if a medical necessity exists pursuant to a written order from a veterinarian with appropriate species-specific experience and expertise licensed to practice in the Commonwealth. The bill excludes the following from its provisions: (i) agricultural animals; (ii) noncommercial transfers or trades between accredited zoological facilities; (iii) an accredited zoological facility, as defined in the bill, that retains the mammalian wildlife offspring separated by such zoological facility; (iv) the Department of Wildlife Resources, a person operating under a wildlife rehabilitator, scientific collection, or endangered and threatened species permit approved by the Department, or a person operating under a species recovery plan approved by the Department; (v) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; or (vi) any person rendering emergency neonatal aide, including the temporary separation of up to 72 hours until a licensed veterinarian can be engaged for assessment and treatment. The bill also makes it unlawful to intentionally and for commercial purposes propagate mammalian wildlife of different species, also known as hybridization. This bill is identical to HB 112.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Fish farm permits and license-free fishing: benefit, medium. The Board creates a permit for private facilities to raise and sell trout, catfish, largemouth bass, and other sunfish. If a permitted facility lets the public fish and the permit fee is paid, people fishing there do not need a separate state fishing license. The law caps Board wildlife permit fees…
- Teachers can display wildlife without a permit: benefit, low. Elementary and secondary school teachers may possess and display wildlife for class. No permit application or permit fee is required. Teachers must notify the Department and follow Board standards on allowed species, cages, no release, and reporting sickness or escape.
- No commercial breeding of mammal hybrids: cost, low. It is illegal to intentionally breed hybrids of different mammal species for sale. Commercial propagation of mammal hybrids is banned.
- No early separation of captive young mammals: mixed, low. It is illegal to separate captive-born mammal young from the mother before four months old, unless the Board sets a different age for that species. A licensed Virginia veterinarian can order an earlier separation for medical need, and caretakers must try to reunite the young after treatment. Other…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jennifer B. Boysko (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 67 | 30 |   |
| 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 24 | 15 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | House | Passed House | pass | 74 | 25 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | House | Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources | pass | 19 | 3 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 26 | 14 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | Senate | Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute | pass | 10 | 3 |   |

## Actions (38)

- 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (67-Y 30-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (24-Y 15-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1004) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (SB344ER2) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1004 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-04-22: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Governor's recommendation received by Senate (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB344) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB344ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-02: Passed House (74-Y 25-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-02: Read third time (House)
- 2026-02-27: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-25: Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (19-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2026-02-12: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (House)
- 2026-02-12: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-12: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-11: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB344) (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Read third time and passed Senate (26-Y 14-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Committee substitute printed 26107014D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute (10-Y 3-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-27: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104692D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225099.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225098.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220942.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220941.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219145.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191309.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191308.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116092.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116091.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115018.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115017.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098383.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098382.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089712.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089711.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/1225099.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225098.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220942.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220941.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1219145.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191309.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191308.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116092.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116091.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115018.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115017.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098383.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098382.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089712.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089711.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB344-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).