# Virginia SB707: Dogs; devocalization, prohibited, exception, penalty.

Virginia SB707, Dogs; devocalization, prohibited, exception, penalty., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by J.D. "Danny" Diggs (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0829)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB707-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB707
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Dogs; devocalization, prohibited, exception, penalty.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-14
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0829)
- Sponsor: J.D. "Danny" Diggs (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 9 (253 yes, 13 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Devocalization of dogs prohibited. Makes it unlawful for any person engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine to perform a surgical devocalization procedure on a dog, except when such procedure is necessary to treat or relieve any injury, disease, or congenital defect that is causing or may cause the dog physical pain or harm.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- No elective cat declawing or dog devocalization: benefit, low. The law bans veterinarians from declawing cats, except for medical need. A vet must document a claw, nail bed, or toe problem that threatens the cat’s health. It can also be done to protect an owner’s life or health if a doctor documents that need; “owner” includes household members. Declawing incl…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: J.D. "Danny" Diggs (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-02 | House | Passed House | pass | 89 | 10 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | House | Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources | pass | 19 | 3 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 14 | 0 |   |

## Actions (36)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0829) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 829 (effective 7/1/2026) (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 (SB707) (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB707ER) (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 (89-Y 10-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)
- 2026-02-24: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (House)
- 2026-02-24: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-24: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-13: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB707) (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Committee substitute printed 26105721D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Assigned HACNR sub: Companion Animals (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Senate subcommittee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Senate subcommittee offered (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB707) (Senate)
- 2026-01-21: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/21/2026 10:26 am) (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105207D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222916.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222915.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191353.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191352.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115997.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115996.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-28: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1099141.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1099140.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092099.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092098.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/1222916.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222915.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191353.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191352.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115997.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115996.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1099141.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1099140.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092099.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1092098.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)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB707-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).