Virginia 2024 Regular Session Status: Enacted

HB 1025 — Deer, bear, turkey, or elk; claiming after struck by motor vehicle.

Last action — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0083)

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 10, 2024. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on March 14, 2024.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 70% · moderate confidence
  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 8 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Claiming a deer, bear, turkey, or elk struckby motor vehicle. Allows any deer, bear, turkey, or elk thatappears to have been killed in a collision with a motor vehicle tobe claimed by and awarded to any person. Current law allows a deeror bear to only be claimed by and awarded to the driver of a motorvehicle who collides with such animal.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

25 added · 25 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendment to Virginia's § 29.1-539 clarifies the process for claiming deer, bear, turkey, or elk that have been struck and killed by motor vehicles. Now, individuals involved in such accidents must report to a conservation police officer or law enforcement, who will assess the animal before awarding it to the claimant. Additionally, if the vehicle driver or discoverer does not claim the animal, it can be awarded to someone else. This change is important as it ensures proper reporting and management of wildlife, making it clearer how these situations should be handled by both drivers and authorities.

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SESSION ENROLLED VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY –– CHAPTER E An Act to amend and reenact § 29.1-539 of the Code of Virginia, relating to claiming deer, bear, turkey, or elk struck by motor vehicle.
VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- 2024 SESSION CHAPTER 83 An Act to amend and reenact § 29.1-539 of the Code of Virginia, relating to claiming deer, bear, turkey, or elk struck by motor vehicle.
R O [H 1025] Approved L L 1.
[H 1025] Approved March 14, 2024 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1.
E § 29.1-539.
§ 29.1-539.
Any person driving a motor vehicle who collides with a deer or, bear, turkey, or elk or who discovers a deer, bear, turkey, or elk that has been killed in a collision with a motor vehicle may, upon compliance with the provisions of this section and at any time of year, keep the deer or bear claim such animal.for his own use as if the animal had been killed by that person during hunting season for the B.
Any person driving a motor vehicle who collides with a deer or, bear, turkey, or elk or who discovers a deer, bear, turkey, or elk that has been killed in a collision with a motor vehicle may, upon compliance with the provisions of this section and at any time of year, keep the deer or bear claim such animal for his own use as if the animal had been killed by that person during hunting season for the aniB.
Any person so killing any deer or, bear, turkey, or elk or who discovers a deer, bear, turkey, or elk that has been killed in a collision with a motor vehicle shall immediately report the accident to the a conservation police officer or other law-enforcement officer of the county or city where the acHident such animal and if he believes that the deer or bear such animal was killed by the a collision with the a motor vehicle or injured to such an extent as to require its death, he shall award the animal t5 the person claiming the deer or bear, it and shall give the person a certificate to that effect on Rorms furnished by the Department call for service number or a report number.
Any person so killing any deer or, bear, turkey, or elk or who discovers a deer, bear, turkey, or elk that has been killed in a collision with a motor vehicle shall immediately report the accident to the a conservation police officer or other law-enforcement officer of the county or city where the accident occurred.
The conservation police officer or other law-enforcement officer shall view the deer or bear such animal and if he believes that the deer or bear such animal was killed by the a collision with the a motor vehicle or injured to such an extent as to require its death, he shall award the animal to the person claiming the deer or bear, it and shall give the person a certificate to that effect on forms furnished by the Department call for service number or a report number.
If any person driving a motor vehicle who collides with a deer, bear, turkey, or elk, or person not claim such animal, a conservation police officer or other law-enforcement officer may award such does animal to any other person who wishes to claim it pursuant to this section.
If any person driving a motor vehicle who collides with a deer, bear, turkey, or elk, or person who discovers a deer, bear, turkey, or elk that has been killed in a collision with a motor vehicle, does not claim such animal, a conservation police officer or other law-enforcement officer may award such animal to any other person who wishes to claim it pursuant to this section.
View plain text versions (3)

Action History

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0083)

  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 83 (effective 7/1/24)

  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024

  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024

  5. Signed by President

  6. Signed by Speaker

  7. Impact statement from DPB (HB1025ER)

  8. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1025ER)

  9. Enrolled

  10. Passed Senate (37-Y 3-N)

  11. Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N)

  12. Passed Senate (37-Y 3-N)

  13. Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N)

  14. Passed Senate (36-Y 4-N)

  15. Read third time

  16. Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N)

  17. Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (14-Y 0-N)

  18. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

  19. Constitutional reading dispensed

  20. VOTE: (98-Y 0-N 1-A)

  21. Read third time and passed House (98-Y 0-N 1-A)

  22. Read second time and engrossed

  23. Read first time

  24. Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N)

  25. Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)

  26. Assigned ACNR sub: Natural Resources

  27. Impact statement from DPB (HB1025)

  28. Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

  29. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104241D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on · 4 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (147)

147 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 147 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Passed Senate (37-Y 3-N)

Passed 37 Yea · 3 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 37300
Total 37300
% of votes cast 93%8%0%0%
How each member voted (40)

Official roll call →

Passed 40 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 40000
Total 40000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (40)

Official roll call →

Passed Senate (36-Y 4-N)

Passed 36 Yea · 4 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 36400
Total 36400
% of votes cast 90%10%0%0%
How each member voted (40)

Official roll call →

Passed 38 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 38002
Total 38002
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
How each member voted (40)

Official roll call →

Passed 14 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 14001
Total 14001
% of votes cast 93%0%0%7%
How each member voted (15)

Official roll call →

VOTE: (98-Y 0-N 1-A)

Passed 97 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 97002
Total 97002
% of votes cast 98%0%0%2%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Anne Ferrell Tata — Yea
Arnold, Jonathan, E. P. — Yea
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Batten, Amanda E. — Yea
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Yea
Bonita G. Anthony — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
Bulova, David L. — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Yea
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Yea
Cordoza, A.C. — Yea
Coyner, Carrie E. — Not Voting
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Delores Oates — Yea
Earley, Mark L., Jr. — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Yea
Ennis, N. Baxter — Yea
Eric Phillips — Yea
Eric R. Zehr — Yea
Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. — Yea
Freitas, Nicholas J. — Yea
Gilbert, C. Todd — Yea
Green, W. Chad — Yea
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Yea
Higgins, Geary — Yea
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Yea
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Yea
James W. Morefield — Yea
Jason S. Ballard — Yea
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Yea
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Kannan Srinivasan — Yea
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Kent, Hillary Pugh — Yea
Knight, Barry D. — Yea
Laura Jane Cohen — Yea
LeVere Bolling, Destiny — Yea
Lovejoy, Ian T. — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Yea
Maldonado, Michelle Lopes — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Yea
Marty Martinez — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Jones — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Yea
Mike A. Cherry — Yea
Milde, Paul V. — Yea
Mundon King, Candi — Yea
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Obenshain, Chris — Yea
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. — Yea
Owen, David — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
Phillip A. Scott — Yea
R. Lee Ware — Yea
Rae Cousins — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Yea
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Rozia A. Henson, Jr. — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Not Voting
Scott A. Wyatt — Yea
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Sickles, Mark D. — Yea
Taylor, Kim A. — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Yea
Terry L. Austin — Yea
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Yea
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Yea
Timothy P. Griffin — Yea
Tony O. Wilt — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Yea
Will Davis — Yea
Wren M. Williams — Yea

Official roll call →

Passed 22 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 22000
Total 22000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (22)

Official roll call →

Passed 10 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 10001
Total 10001
% of votes cast 91%0%0%9%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
Alfonso H. Lopez — Not Voting
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Yea
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
R. Lee Ware — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Yea
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 1025 do?
Claiming a deer, bear, turkey, or elk struckby motor vehicle. Allows any deer, bear, turkey, or elk thatappears to have been killed in a collision with a motor vehicle tobe claimed by and awarded to any person. Current law allows a deeror bear to only be claimed by and awarded to the driver of a motorvehicle who collides with such animal.
Who sponsors HB 1025?
HB 1025 is sponsored by Tony O. Wilt.
What is the current status of HB 1025?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 10, 2024. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 1025?
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