Fishing license requirements; free fishing days.
Introduced
Moved
Reached a final decision
Became law
Derived from the official record below.
Officially: “An Act to amend and reenact §§ 28.2-302.5 and 29.1-301 of the Code of Virginia, relating to fishing license requirements; exemptions; free fishing days.” Read the full text
2026 session
What it does
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.
From the official legislative record, shown verbatim. Not legal advice.
Where it is
Introduced · Jan 20, 2026
Acts of Assembly Chapter 834 (latest official status)
Latest official status shown, exactly as the official record states it. The step by step history lives on the official page linked below.
The numbers
10
sponsors on the bill
Sponsors
Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.Timothy P. GriffinKaren HamiltonEllen H. McLaughlinDelores Oates Charlie SchmidtIrene ShinWendell S. WalkerLuther Cifers, IIIGlen H. Sturtevant, Jr.
Recorded votes
Passed Senate (39-Y 1-N 0-A)Senate · 2026-03-10 · P · Y 39, N 1
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate · 2026-03-05 · P · Y 39, X 1
Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (14-Y 1-N)Senate · 2026-03-03 · P · Y 14, N 1
Read third time and passed House (92-Y 4-N 0-A)House of Delegates · 2026-02-17 · P · Y 92, N 4, X 4
Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (19-Y 3-N)House of Delegates · 2026-02-11 · P · Y 19, N 3
Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)House of Delegates · 2026-02-04 · P · Y 10
Roll-call results shown verbatim from the Virginia legislature’s records. A result reflects that roll call’s own motion, not the bill’s overall outcome.
Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record. Last action: Acts of Assembly Chapter 834.