Virginia 2018 Regular Session Status: Enacted

SB 859 — Airbow hunting; authorized to hunt deer & small game when hunter is licensed to hunt w/bow & arrow.

Last action — Signed by President

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 17, 2018. Enacted.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 70% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 7 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Authorizes the use of an arrowgun, a pneumatic-powered air gun, for hunting and allows certain disabled hunters to obtain an archery license for hunting with an arrowgun. This bill is identical to

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

73 added · 77 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of Bill SB 859 introduces specific definitions for what qualifies as a "bow" and "arrow," clarifying that only bows with a peak draw weight of 10 pounds or more are included. It also reinforces that individuals cannot hunt if they are impaired by alcohol or drugs, which is crucial for public safety. This change is important because it helps establish clear guidelines for hunting practices and ensures that only responsible, capable individuals are engaging in these activities. Additionally, the bill maintains the structure for obtaining a special muzzleloader license, ensuring that hunters follow the necessary regulations.

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Latest
SESSION history | hilite | pdf | print version 18107370D SENATE BILL NO.
SESSION history | hilite | pdf | print version VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER An Act to amend and reenact §§ 15.2-916, 15.2-1209, 18.2-285, 18.2-286, 29.1-306, 29.1-307, 29.1-519, 29.1-521, 29.1-521.2, 29.1-524, 29.1-525, and 29.1-549 of the Code of Virginia, relating to arrowgun hunting;
859 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources on February 21, 2018) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Chafin) A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 15.2-916, 15.2-1209, 18.2-285, 18.2-286, 29.1-306, 29.1-307, 29.1-519, 29.1-521, 29.1-521.2, 29.1-524, 29.1-525, and 29.1-549 of the Code of Virginia, relating to arrowgun hunting;
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
[S 859] Approved   Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
The term "bow" does not include bows that have a peak draw weight of less than 10 pounds or that are designed or intended to be used principally as toys.
The term "bow" does not include bows that have a peak draw weight of less than pounds or that are designed or intended to be used principally as toys.
In the counties west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and counties east of the Blue Ridge where rifles of a caliber larger than.22 caliber may be used for hunting wild birds and animals, game birds and animals may be hunted with pistols or revolvers firing cartridges rated in manufacturers' tables at 350 foot pounds of energy or greater and under the same restrictions and conditions as apply to rifles, provided that no cartridge shall be used with a bullet of less than.23 caliber.
In the counties west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and counties east of the Blue Ridge where rifles of a caliber larger than .22 caliber may be used for hunting wild birds and animals, game birds and animals may be hunted with pistols or revolvers firing cartridges rated in manufacturers' tables at 350 foot pounds of energy or greater and under the same restrictions and conditions as apply to rifles, provided that no cartridge shall be used with a bullet of less than .23 caliber.
In no event shall pistols or revolvers firing cartridges rated in manufacturers' tables at 350 foot pounds of energy or greater be used if rifles of a caliber larger than.22 caliber are not authorized for hunting purposes.
In no event shall pistols or revolvers firing cartridges rated in manufacturers' tables at 350 foot pounds of energy or greater be used if rifles of a caliber larger than .22 caliber are not authorized for hunting purposes.
The use of muzzleloading pistols and.22 caliber rimfire handguns is permitted for hunting small game where.22 caliber rifles are permitted.
The use of muzzleloading pistols and .22 caliber rimfire handguns is permitted for hunting small game where .22 caliber rifles are permitted.
The use of muzzleloading pistols of.45 caliber or larger is permitted for hunting big game where and in those seasons when the use of muzzleloading rifles is permitted.
The use of muzzleloading pistols of .45 caliber or larger is permitted for hunting big game where and in those seasons when the use of muzzleloading rifles is permitted.
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Action History

  1. Signed by President

  2. Signed by Speaker

  3. Enrolled

  4. Title replaced 18107370D-H1

  5. Passed by temporarily

  6. Passed House with substitute (84-Y 14-N)

  7. Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB859H1

  8. Committee substitute agreed to 18107370D-H1

  9. Read third time

  10. Read second time

  11. Assigned ACNR sub: Subcommittee #1

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

  13. Read first time

  14. Placed on Calendar

  15. Read second time and engrossed

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

  17. Presented and ordered printed 18104773D

Sponsors

  • A. Benton "Ben" Chafin · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on · 9 voted No

Sponsors (1)

  • A. Benton "Ben" Chafin

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 House with substitute

Passed 84 Yea · 14 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 841400
Total 841400
% of votes cast 86%14%0%0%
How each member voted (98)
Member Party Vote
Cline — Nay
Habeeb — Yea
James — Yea
Landes — Yea
Rodman — Yea
Turpin — Nay
Collins — Yea
Helsel — Yea
Hugo — Yea
Ingram — Yea
Lindsey — Yea
Pogge — Yea
Mr. Speaker — Yea
Bell, Richard P. — Nay
Jones, S.C. — Nay
Peace — Nay
Stolle — Yea
Toscano — Yea
Yancey — Yea
Adams, Dawn M. — Yea
Adams, Les R. — Yea
Aird, Lashrecse D. — Nay
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Ayala, Hala S. — Yea
Bell, John J. — Yea
Bell, Robert B. — Yea
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bourne, Jeffrey M. — Yea
Bulova, David L. — Yea
Byron, Kathy J. — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Carter, Lee J. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Nay
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Cole, Mark L. — Yea
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Davis, Glenn R. — Yea
Edmunds, James E., II — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Fariss, C. Matthew — Yea
Filler-Corn, Eileen — Yea
Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. — Yea
Freitas, Nicholas J. — Yea
Gilbert, C. Todd — Yea
Gooditis, Wendy W. — Yea
Guzman, Elizabeth R. — Nay
Heretick, Steve E. — Yea
Hurst, Chris L. — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Yea
James W. Morefield — Yea
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Nay
Jennifer D. Carroll Foy — Nay
Jones, Jerrauld C. "Jay" — Yea
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Keam, Mark L. — Yea
Knight, Barry D. — Yea
Kory, Kaye — Yea
LaRock, Dave A. — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Levine, Mark H. — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Yea
McGuire, John J., III — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Yea
Miyares, Jason S. — Yea
Mullin, Michael P. — Yea
Murphy, Kathleen — Yea
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Nay
Paul E. Krizek — Nay
Plum, Kenneth R. — Nay
Poindexter, Charles D. — Yea
R. Lee Ware — Yea
Ransone, Margaret B. — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Yea
Robinson, Roxann L. — Yea
Rush, Nick — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Sickles, Mark D. — Nay
Terry G. Kilgore — Yea
Terry L. Austin — Yea
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Yea
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
Tony O. Wilt — Yea
Tyler, Roslyn C. — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety environment
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 859 do?
Authorizes the use of an arrowgun, a pneumatic-powered air gun, for hunting and allows certain disabled hunters to obtain an archery license for hunting with an arrowgun. This bill is identical to
Who sponsors SB 859?
SB 859 is sponsored by A. Benton "Ben" Chafin.
What is the current status of SB 859?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 17, 2018. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 859?
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