HB597Introduced in the House of Delegates
Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund; created, voluntary contributions, report.
Introduced by Shelly Simonds, District 70
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund established; voluntary contributions; report. Establishes the Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund to provide grants for projects that conserve or enhance wildlife corridors prioritized by the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan and associated wildlife crossing infrastructure projects. The Director of the Department of Wildlife Resources shall administer the Fund in collaboration with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Department of Forestry, and the Department of Transportation. The Director of the Department of Wildlife Resources shall submit a report to the General Assembly by November 1 of each odd-numbered year concerning the amount of public and private funding received by the Fund, the awarding of grants from the Fund, and the progress of funded projects, including data on the use of project infrastructure by wildlife. The bill also provides mechanisms for individuals to make voluntary contributions to the Fund through a Department of Motor Vehicles electronic transaction and an individual income tax return.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0636)
April 13, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Passed Senate (25-Y 15-N 0-A) · March 10, 2026
25
Yes
15
No
0
Absent or Not Voting
40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | No |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | No |
| Chris Head | 3 | No |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | No |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | No |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | No |
| William Stanley | 7 | Yes |
| Mark Peake | 8 | No |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105131D
Referred to Committee on Appropriations
Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources
Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)
Reported from Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB597)
Read first time
Read second time and engrossed
Read third time and passed House (65-Y 32-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read third time
Passed Senate (25-Y 15-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB597ER)
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 (HB597)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 636 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0636)
Verify the information
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