SB344
Mammalian wildlife; premature separation and hybridization prohibited, exceptions.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 10, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Chief Patron:
Jennifer Boysko (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. 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 ... (More) 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. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/13/2026 - Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104692D
- 01/13/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
- 01/27/2026 - Senate: Senate committee offered
- 02/03/2026 - Senate: Senate committee offered
- 02/03/2026 - Senate: Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute (10-Y 3-N)
- 02/04/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26107014D-S1
- 02/05/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 02/05/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/05/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
- 02/06/2026 - Senate: Read second time
- 02/06/2026 - Senate: Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to
- 02/06/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)
- 02/09/2026 - Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (26-Y 14-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB344)
- 02/12/2026 - House: Placed on Calendar
- 02/12/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/12/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
- 02/24/2026 - House: Placed on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Agenda
- 02/25/2026 - House: Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (19-Y 3-N)
- 02/27/2026 - House: Read second time
- 03/02/2026 - House: Read third time
- 03/02/2026 - House: Passed House (74-Y 25-N 0-A)
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Enrolled
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB344ER)
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB344)
- 03/05/2026 - House: Signed by Speaker
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Signed by President
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
- 03/10/2026 - Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
