HB129Introduced in the House of Delegates
Deer; permit may be issued to kill if damaging residential plants and certain property.
Introduced by Mitchell Cornett, District 46
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Killing of deer damaging residential plants and certain property. Allows the Director of the Department of Wildlife Resources or his designee to issue a permit to kill a limited number of antlered deer when such deer cause damage to residential plants and the Director or his designee determines, upon inspection, that there is clear and convincing evidence that the damage was done by antlered deer. Upon a landowner or lessee's request, the bill also requires the Director or his designee to issue a permit to kill antlerless deer on commercial agricultural production lands when such deer cause damage to fruit trees, Christmas trees, crops, horticultural plants, or personal property utilized for commercial agricultural production within the Commonwealth. When such damage is caused by antlered deer, the bill requires the Director or his designee to issue a permit to kill a limited number of antlered deer if the Director or his designee determines that there is clear and convincing evidence that the damage was done by antlered deer. The bill also changes the extent to which a person can assist in hunting when his hunting license has been revoked or suspended in the Commonwealth by prohibiting such person from assisting in hunting until the hunting restriction has been lifted. Current law allows such a person to assist in hunting after a certain period of time.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0912)
April 13, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
House of DelegatesStage: Senate substitute agreed to by House (91-Y 8-N 0-A) · March 10, 2026
91
Yes
8
No
0
Absent or Not Voting
99 delegates recorded in this House of Delegates vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each delegate voted
| Delegate | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Hope | 1 | Yes |
| Adele McClure | 2 | Yes |
| Alfonso Lopez | 3 | Yes |
| Charniele Herring | 4 | No |
| Kirk McPike | 5 | Yes |
| Richard Sullivan | 6 | Yes |
| Karen Keys-Gamarra | 7 | Yes |
| Irene Shin | 8 | Yes |
| Karrie Delaney | 9 | Yes |
| Dan Helmer | 10 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102876D
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Assigned HACNR sub: Agriculture
House subcommittee offered
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N)
Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute (21-Y 1-N)
Committee substitute printed 26106494D-H1
Read first time
Read second time
committee substitute agreed to
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
Read third time and passed House (88-Y 9-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB129)
Senate subcommittee offered
Assigned HACNR sub: Rural Affairs
Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute (13-Y 2-N)
Committee substitute printed 26108431D-S1
Substitute bill reprinted 26108431D
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB129)
Read third time
Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Passed Senate with substitute (33-Y 7-N 0-A)
Senate substitute agreed to by House (91-Y 8-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB129ER)
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB129)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 912 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0912)
Verify the information
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