SB261Introduced in the Senate
Cruelty to animals; malicious killing of a dog or cat, penalty.
Introduced by William Stanley, District 7
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
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 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.
Where it stands
Left in Appropriations
March 10, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
House of DelegatesStage: Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N) · March 4, 2026
22
Yes
0
No
0
Absent or Not Voting
22 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Charniele Herring | 4 | Yes |
| Paul Krizek | 16 | Yes |
| Kathy Tran | 18 | Yes |
| Joshua Thomas | 21 | Yes |
| Luke Torian | 24 | Yes |
| Briana Sewell | 25 | Yes |
| David Reid | 28 | Yes |
| Bill Wiley | 32 | Yes |
| Ellen McLaughlin | 36 | Yes |
| Terry Austin | 37 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101240D
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/14/2026 6:34 pm)
Assigned HACNR sub: Companion Animals
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB261)
Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (12-Y 0-N 1-A)
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
Read second time
Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Placed on Calendar
Read first time
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (9-Y 0-N)
Reported from Courts of Justice and referred to Appropriations (20-Y 2-N)
Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety
Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
Read second time
Motion to rerefer to Appropriations agreed to
Rereferred to Appropriations
Left in Appropriations
Verify the information
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