HB730
Cruelty to animals; malicious killing of a dog or cat, penalty.
Status:
In House
Latest Action:
Feb. 4, 2026
House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Chief Patron:
Will Davis (R)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Introduced. Cruelty to animals; malicious killing of a dog or cat; penalty.
Creates, under the animal cruelty provisions, a Class 6 felony for any person who maliciously kills any dog or cat that is a companion animal whether belonging to him or another. Currently, such felony applies only to a person who (i) tortures, willfully inflicts inhumane injury or pain not connected ... (More) with bona fide scientific or medical experimentation, or cruelly and unnecessarily beats, maims, or mutilates any dog or cat that is a companion animal whether belonging to him or another and (ii) as a direct result causes serious bodily injury to such dog or cat that is a companion animal, the death of such dog or cat that is a companion animal, or the euthanasia of such animal on the recommendation of a licensed veterinarian upon determination that such euthanasia was necessary due to the condition of the animal. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/13/2026 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103441D
- 01/13/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
- 01/14/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/14/2026 9:08 am)
- 01/23/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB730)
- 01/27/2026 - House: Placed on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Agenda
- 02/03/2026 - House: Placed on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Agenda
- 02/04/2026 - House: Referred from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and referred to Courts of Justice (Voice Vote)
- 02/04/2026 - House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
